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Strong pitching leads No. 1 South Williamsport softball over No. 4 Northwest in District 4 Class AA semifinals

South Williamsport's Alizabeth Schuler throws out a pitch against Northwest in the District 4 Class AA semifinals at Elm Park Tuesday. Schuler struck out 14 in a two-hit, 4-0 shutout to advance to the district championship. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

Alizabeth Schuler’s pulled hamstring at the Myrtle Beach tournament is a distant memory with no lingering doubt. No. 1 South Williamsport’s freshman ace pitcher made that crystal clear on Tuesday.

“I feel fully healthy,” Schuler said. “I feel there’s no doubt I can trust my hamstring with anything I throw.”

Schuler — who entered the game 9-3 with a 2.21 ERA — has trust in herself and at this point, the rest of the Mounties do as well. And with good reason.

Behind 14 strikeouts and just two hits allowed, Schuler lit up No. 4 Northwest behind a solid field around her. South Williamsport defeated the Rangers, 4-0 in the District 4 Class AA semifinals at Elm Park.

With the win, the Mounties (14-5) clinched a berth in the PIAA tournament and will face No. 3 Muncy in the District 4 championship at Elm Park Friday at 4:30 p.m.

“I sort of noticed my pitches were working very well, and I had a lot of confidence in my defense to make the plays,” Schuler said. “I felt comfortable throwing whatever my dad (assistant coach Chris Schuler) gave me.”

Sage Lorson was a red blip in the Mounties’ lineup and presented a huge threat at the plate, and one the Rangers (13-7) took seriously. After a leadoff home run from Lorson in the bottom of the second inning — the first hit of the game — Northwest wasn’t taking any more chances with the freshman first baseman.

With a runner on third and Lorson up to bat in the following inning, she was intentionally walked and with her coming up in the order again later in the game with two outs and no runners on, a mound visit was deemed a necessary precaution.

“She had a lot of good, quality at-bats and she has the capability of doing that every day,” South Williamsport coach Tom O’Malley said on Lorson, who recorded a base hit after the mound visit. “She hits the ball hard and she squared them up today and was a big asset to the offense.”

Gianna Goodman led off the bottom of the third with a double and after advancing to third base on a fielder’s choice, Aleigha Rieppel brought her home on a sacrifice fly to extend the Mounties’ lead, 2-0.

Freshman third baseman Lily Reidy knocked an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning and after singling and working her way to third in the sixth frame, Gianna Godfrey brought her home on a sacrifice bunt.

Kayla Pickering and Charleigh Miner both made up the Rangers’ two hits, the latter getting stranded at second base twice.

Emily Davis pitched the entire game for Northwest, and although she didn’t strike out a single batter, she was able to limit the Mounties’ damage by pitching to contact and keeping South Williamsport out of rhythm.

“She made the pitches when she had to. She had us out in front a little bit or a little late at times and we weren’t hitting in the right hitting zone there,” O’Malley said on Davis. “They made the plays, had a lot of quality defensive plays and we had a couple key hits when we needed it, but for the most part, she did a nice job keeping us off balance.”

Davis let up seven hits and stranded five runners on base.

“With no strikeouts and keeping the game close, that’s a credit to her,” O’Malley said.

Muncy also shut out its District 4 semifinal opponent with a 3-0 win over No. 2 Wyalusing. With both the Indians and Mounties guaranteed at least a state play-in game for the PIAA tournament with a loss, or better seeding with a win, two strong fields will be going head-to-head.

“I am so very confident in my team and in myself,” Schuler said. “I feel like we’re going to win. We got this.”

Northwest 000 000 0 — 0 2 3

South Williamsport 011 101 x — 4 7 0

Emily Davis and Taite Gunther. Alizabeth Schuler and Olivia Beck. W: Schuler. L: Davis.

Top South Williamsport hitters: Sage Lorson 2-2, HR; Lily Reidy 2-3, 2B, RBI.

Records: South Williamsport 14-5, Northwest 13-7.

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