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Lewisburg softball looking for first state title, joining ranks with other school athletics

Lewisburg's softball team lines up on the field at Central Columbia High School for the national anthem ahead of the PIAA Class AAA semifinal against Palmerton on Monday. The Green Dragons won, 12-1 to advance to their first state final in program history. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

Lewisburg’s softball team had already made program history when it advanced to its first Class AAA state semifinal ever this postseason. The Green Dragons took things a step further with a 12-1 win over Palmerton on Monday.

In their first state final appearance, the Green Dragons (19-3) will take on WPIAL champion Avonworth (20-5) Thursday at Beard Field on the campus of Penn State University at 12:30 p.m.

“We know we’re all going to remember this for the rest of our lives. This is something we’ll be telling our kids,” Lewisburg center fielder Ryan Brouse said. “It’s great, we knew that this is a special team and we really wanted to push each other to make it this far.”

The Green Dragons opened their season with an 0-2 start after consecutive losses to Central Columbia and Bloomsburg. But an eight-game win streak ignited a Cinderella run that eventually saw the first District 4 title in 26 years for the program.

“It’s definitely something huge. This team is something special and to be a part of it, I’m honored,” Lewisburg pitcher Kimmy Shannon said. “To bring that plaque back to our hallway and say we got this far, it’s something we’ve been dreaming of since the beginning of the season. I think it speaks to the amount of work we’ve put in every day.”

Lewisburg center fielder Ryan Brouse is introduced ahead of the PIAA Class AAA softball semifinal against Palmerton at Central Columbia High School on Monday. The Green Dragons won, 12-1 to advance to their first state final in program history. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

“Lewisburg High School” and “state final” are often used in the same sentence. The school district is a powerhouse in cross country and track and field.

The boys soccer team ran the table, 22-0 to capture the state title two seasons ago for its fourth championship and third since 2015, all while coming off another appearance in the big game once again this past fall.

Softball had never been a part of that conversation until now. The 2022 squad avenged that season opener with a 7-4 win over Central Columbia in the District 4 title game after edging reigning district champion Loyalsock, 3-2.

“I think Lewisburg has always had good sports. But to make it this far, the furthest you can make it in high school softball, it’s incredible,” Shannon, who won state gold in swimming this past winter, said. “Our team is so strong, and Lewisburg is so strong. This season has been one of the best and I think we contribute that to the fans, the people and the school itself, being able to make this happen and grow the program to where it is now.”

Since the District 4 tournament, the Green Dragons have let up just three runs in the PIAA bracket with a shutout of Palisades and a 7-2 outing over Kutztown. Against Palmerton, Lewisburg made 15 hits in an errorless effort.

Having outscored state opponents 33-3, Lewisburg is riding an 11-game win streak and hopes to make it 12 for all the marbles.

“Winning districts was amazing and now I think we want to just keep pushing ourselves to keep going further. We’ve already made history for our school. But we’re not stopping yet,” Brouse said. “We really want to keep going and we know we can do it. It’s just all about helping each other and playing how we know how.”

Along with the hopes of going the distance and bringing home their first state championship, the Green Dragons also hope the story of the 2022 team draws more numbers for the program.

“We’re lucky if we get 15, 16 girls out for a season. I’m hoping this draws some interest from the younger girls and they just keep coming up through,” Lewisburg coach Ken Wagner said. “We have a good feeder program of seventh and eighth-grade girls. We probably have close to 20 girls coming up through, so if it brings more interest and gets more girls to play, we can keep this going.”

Avonworth defeated Westmont Hilltop (6-3), Karns City (7-4) and Bald Eagle Area (9-2) in the state tournament.

As the top-seed in the WPIAL, four senior starters — left fielder Catherine Barie, first baseman Emily Davis, third baseman Meghan Fissore and reserve Ciera Jiminez — also won the WPIAL title as freshmen in 2019.

The Green Dragons have already made program history and joined the ranks of the school’s other athletic programs making the state final. Now, Lewisburg has one last obstacle in the way in the form of the western regional champ out of Pittsburgh.

“Softball has always been — no one’s really appreciated the team as much because we’ve never made it this far. We just want to keep continuing this,” Brouse said. “Soccer, they just find a way to push each each year and make it far and we just really want to keep doing that with softball. Next year do the same and really keep helping the program with younger generations. We want to be one of those teams everyone knows.”

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