DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette South Williamsport’s Gianna Goodman slides safe at home earlier in the season.

Class AA State Championship

South Williamsport (24-2) vs. Neshannock (25-0) at Penn State’s Beard Field, 11 a.m.

South road to Penn State: In District 4, beat Wyalusing, 15-0; Troy, 3-0 and Muncy, 2-0; in states, beat Brandywine Heights, 15-3; Bristol, 6-4 and Bald Eagle Area, 3-0

South notes: South is seeking the second state title in program history and first since 2003. That also is the last time South played in the state final. This will be the fourth appearance for South in the state championship. The Mounties have won 16 straight games and defeated 5A state semifinalist Central Mountain, 5-2 late in the regular season. South also took 5A state finalist Pittston to eight innings, dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker in which it hit four triples off Gianna Adams and scored three of the nine runs she has allowed all season. Counting the state tournament, South has defeated seven district champions in its last 15 games. South avenged a state semifinal loss against BEA in Monday’s Eastern Region championship as Alizabeth Schuler threw a five-hit shutout. Sage Lorson clobbered two home runs and the defense made several outstanding plays. South features a balanced offense in which seven players are hitting .385 or higher. Center fielder Mikaiya Hills has produced multi-hit games in all three state tournament games and Maddie Pinkerton and Emily Holtzapple sparked the go-ahead sixth inning rally in a comeback state quarterfinal win against Bristol. Schuler has thrown four postseason shutouts, including a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the district final against Muncy. Kendall Cardone also has pitched well this season and is 5-0. Gianna Goodman has helped set the tone from the lead-off spot and has an area-high 10 triples. Catcher Lily Reidy is hitting .486 and first baseman Abby Lorson has 28 RBIs. Second baseman Emma McLaughlin has played strong defense in her first season starting and made the final out against BEA. South hit well as the game progressed against BEA ace Sierra Albright who had thrown four straight playoff shutouts at one point, scoring three runs over the final three innings.

Neshannock road to states: In District 7, beat Riverside, 11-1; Our Lady of Sacred Heart, 5-0 and Bentworth, 3-0; in states, beat West Shamokin, 11-0; Saegertown, 5-0 and Laurel, 1-0

Neshannock notes: The Lancers are seeking their second state title in three years. They also are 73-1 over the past three seasons and won 48 straight games before eventual state champion Everett snapped the streak with a 9-6 victory in last year’s state semifinals. Neshannock is seeking its third state championship, also winning the 2012 crown when it edged Warrior Run, 4-3 in eight innings. The Lancers returned to the championship in 2013 but were denied a repeat title. Pitcher Addy Frye has put together a sensational season and is 18-0 with a 0.48 ERA, allowing 47 hits in 102 innings and striking out 205. The junior who has committed to pitch at Providence has been at her best in the playoffs, throwing three straight one-hit shutouts in states and striking out 43 in those games. She struck out 12 in Monday’s hard-fought win against rival Laurel. Neshannock defeated Laurel for the third time as Frye hit a first-inning RBI single and scored Miley Anderson for the game’s lone run. Frye is potent with the bat as well, hitting .476 and leading the team with five home runs. Anderson is hitting a team-high .489 with two home runs, 12 RBIs and 39 runs. She also has 11 stolen bases in the playoffs. She went 3 for 4 with three runs in the quarterfinal against Saegertown. Four starters are hitting .417 or higher, including three-year starting catcher Gabby Perod who has 13 doubles and 23 RwBIs. Kent State recruit Gabby Quinn is tied with Frye with five home runs and also has 26 RBIs. Neshannock highlighted its regular season with a 1-0 win against 3A state finalist Harbor Creek. They also blanked 5A District 7 champion Armstrong, 6-0. Abigale Measel combined on a one-hitter in that game, striking out six in her three innings. She has been outstanding when called upon, going 6-0 and allowing just eight hits in 32 innings with 65 strikeouts. Coach Jackie Lash is 99-11 in her four seasons at Neshannock.

Game-by-Game

Results

South Williamsport (24-2)

South 26, Lewisburg 0

South 14, Wyalusing 1

South 11, Warrior Run 1

South 15, Berwick 0

South17, Bloomsburg 0

South 7, Mifflinburg 0

South 1, Loyalsock 11

South 11, Montoursville 2

South 10, Towanda 2

South 3, Pittston 4, 8 innings

South 8, Northeast Bradford 3

South 13, Midd-West 1

South 13, Bucktail 2

South 13, Southern Columbia 1

South 14, Shikellamy 3

South 7, Danville 5

South 8, Williams Valley 0

South 5, Central Mountain 2

South 13, Danville 5

South 11, Montoursville 1

District 4 Class AA Playoffs

Quarterfinals

South 15, Wyalusing 0

Semifinals

South 3, Troy 0

Championship

South 2, Muncy 0

State Tournament

First Round

South 15, Brandywine Heights 3

Quarterfinals

South 6, Bristol 4

Semifinals

South 3, Bald Eagle Area 0

Neshannock (25-0)

Neshannock 11, Ambridge 0

Neshannock 15, Aliquippa 0

Neshannock 7, Shenago 0

Neshannock 12, Union 2

Neshannock 15, New Brighton 0

Neshannock 3, Laurel 0

Neshannock 10, Riverside 0

Neshannock 5, Laurel 1

Neshannock 17, Freedom 0

Neshannock 17, Freedom 0

Neshannock 18, Aliquippa 0

Neshannock 8, Cathedral Prep 0

Neshannock 19, New Brighton 0

Neshannock 6, Armstrong 0

Neshannock 8, Mohawk 1

Neshannock 5, North Allegheny 3

WPIAL Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Neshannock 11, Riverside 1

Semifinals

Neshannock 5, OLSH 0

Championship

Neshannock 3, Bentworth 0

State Tournament

First Round

Neshannock 10, West Shamokin 0

Quarterfinals

Neshannock 5, Saegertown 0

Semifinals

Neshannock 1, Laurel 0

Projected Lineups

South Williamsport

1 Gianna Goodman, SS, .448

2 Mikaiya Hills, CF, .419

3 Alizabeth Schuler, P, .494

4 Lily Reidy, C, .486

5 Abby Lorson, 1B, .467

6 Sage Lorson, RF, .385

7 Kendall Cardone, 3B, .417

8 Maddie Pinkerton, LF, .284

9 Emily Holtzapple, DH for Emma McLaughlin, 2B, .267

Reserves: Jewelana Jasper, Allison Nolan, Lilliana Brewer, Alyssa Barnes, Carly Loudenslager

Head Coach: Tom O’Malley 63-11 in 3 years at South

Assistants: Cory Goodman, Adam Lorson, Chris Schuler, Lexi Schuler, Scott Lowery

Neshannock

1 Miley Anderson, LF, .479

2 Jaidon Nogay, CF, .455

3 Addy Frye, P, ..476

4 Gabby Perod, C, .417

5 Gabby Quinn, 3B, .358

6 Abigale Measel, 1B, .358

7 Callie Biondi, SS, .312

8 Ali Giordano, 2B, 365

9 Katherine Nativio, RF, .188

Reserves: Ella Skodak, Aleena Frengel, Gianna DeSalvo, Giada Cappabianco, Aubrie Ragone, Gianna Paglia

Head Coach: Jackie Lash 99-11 in 4 years at Neshannock

Assistants: Don Nogay