Local Sports

Coming up short: South softball caps spectacular season in semis

MILL HALL -- Mikaiya Hills took a seventh inning fastball off the elbow, eliciting groans throughout the stadium as seemingly every fan felt her pain.

Hills stayed down for a few minutes, but picked herself up, stayed in the game and took first base. Moments later she dove head first, back toward first base, landing on that sore elbow.

That is South Williamsport softball. The result was not what the Mounties wanted Tuesday at Central Mountain High School, but this team's will was never broken. And in defeat, that continued shining through one last time.

Sierra Albright threw a brilliant four-hit shutout, striking out 16 and Bald Eagle Area broke a scoreless tie with a four run sixth inning as it defeated South, 4-0 in the Class AA Eastern Region final. The Eagles (20-2) move on and face undefeated Everett in Thursday's state championship at Penn State's Beard Field.

South ends its season having produced some wonderful memories while reaching the state semifinals for the first time since 2004.

"The girls fought right to the last pitch," South coach Tom O'Malley said. "I'm proud of the season they had and hopefully we can build on where we were last year and continue to get better."

"This is a good group of girls. They have a really young, strong core. I couldn't have been happier to play with anyone else," shortstop Aleigha Rieppel said. "They welcomed me in, being the only senior starting, and I'm so proud of every single one of them."

Rieppel basically was speaking for the entire community as well. Because when the game ended, all South players heard were cheers and applause from their Blue-clad army of fans. It was one last well-deserved salute following a spectacular season.

"We always have a big support system," Rieppel said after playing another outstanding defensive game at shortstop. "I wouldn't want anyone else behind us."

The fans wouldn't any other team for which to cheer.

South finished 21-3, its most wins in 19 years, while navigating a demanding regular season schedule and repeating as District 4 champions. The Mounties won five playoff games, giving them eight in two seasons and return all but two players next year. Along the way, South also defeated four district champions this season, taking another step forward after reaching last year's state quarterfinals.

A team which started working in January and kept grinding all season, South won 20 of its last 22 games. Every player contributed and made an impact and the team played selfless softball. Losing the last game hurts, but the way South played all season is what those who participated and/or watched will remember most.

"It stings now but they can hold their heads up high," O'Malley said. "They were a fun team to watch that's for sure."

That continued against BEA. Alizabeth Schuler took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning, Gianna Goodman produced two hits and left fielder Maddie Pinkerton made an incredible diving catch in the third inning, taking away what looked like a sure triple.

South also threatened three times in the first four innings, putting two runners on each time. Albright, however, pitched the game of her life and did what no other team could, shutting out the potent Mounties.

Albright has pitched well throughout the last two years and was the ace a year ago when BEA reached the Class AAA state semifinals. But she was even better than usual Tuesday, repeatedly delivering in tight spots before not allowing a hit over the last three innings.

"Everything was good," Albright said. "I was hitting my spots well and all my pitches were working."

Albright upped her season strikeout total to 263 against a team which had scored multiple runs in all 23 games and which had outscored its first two state tournament opponents, 25-0. Goodman led off the bottom of the first but Albright struck out the side, working around an intentional walk to Schuler and leaving two runners on.

Goodman hit a one-out single in the third inning and stole second. Schuler again was intentionally walked and Albright again delivered, producing an inning ending strikeout. Lily Reidy smashed a one-out double in the fourth and went to third on Hills's two-out single.

Hills took second base soon after but Albright remained unflappable. Throwing smoke, but offsetting that with a nasty change-up, Albright collected her 11th strikeout and ended another threat. That started a run of eight straight batters retired before Hills was hit by the seventh inning pitch.

Equally impressive, Albright did not walk a batter other than the two intentional ones to Schuler. The right-hander induced 22 swings and misses, while throwing 78 of her 108 pitches for strikes.

"I don't even know. I haven't really processed it yet," Albright said. "I've been looking forward to this since my freshman year, playing at Penn State so we're all so excited."

"Hat's off to Albright," South coach Tom O'Malley said. "We had a couple chances but she made the pitches when she had to."

Schuler shined in the circle as well and ran her playoff scoreless innings streak to 15 2/3 innings before BEA broke through in the sixth. The Eagles delivered five straight hits with Kailey Eckert igniting the rally with a one-out triple. Alexa Baney broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single a batter later before Sydney Thompson singled and Ava Stere hit an RBI ground-rule double. Alyssa King hit a clutch two-out, two-run single and BEA went up, 4-0.

"It was a well-played game by both sides. We were fortunate to string enough hits together," BEA coach Don Lucas said. "In a game like this, that's what it comes down to."

Like South, BEA features a strong, young core and does not start a senior. Both teams have been working since January and South players likely will be attacking the offseason hard again.

The Mounties took another big step forward this season and now the goal is to take an even bigger one in 2024.

"It hurts and that's the feeling you have to remember for next year," O'Malley said. "It's not a good feeling but hopefully we can learn from this and keep moving forward."

"These girls have drive and I know they're going to work hard over the next year and I believe they're going to go all the way next year," Rieppel said. "They don't want to feel this again. They're going to learn from this and I believe they'll make it."

BEA 000 004 0--4 6 0

South 000 000 0--0 4 1

Sierra Albright and Kailey Eckhart. Alizabeth Schuler and Lily Reidy. W--Albright. L--Schuler, (17-3).

Top BEA hitters: Eckhart 1-4, 3B, R; Alexa Baney 1-3, RBI, R; Sydney Thompson 1-3, R; Ava Stere 1-3, 2B, RBI, R; Alyssa King 1-3, 2 RBIs; Rachel Bryan 1-3. Top South hitters: Gianna Goodman 2-4, 3B; Reidy 1-3, 2B; Mikayia Hills 1-2.

Records: BEA 20-2. South 21-3.