HS Softball: Pine Grove holds off Tri-Valley on Rick Kline Day
Pine Grove and Tri-Valley players gather for a group photo after their game Saturday on Rick Kline Day at Hegins Park. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
HEGINS — To get where it wants to be at the end of the season, Pine Grove’s softball team will need everybody to contribute in every phase of the game.
Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Tri-Valley on Rick Kline Day at Hegins Park is an example of the complete game the Cardinals hope to play when the games matter most.
Sophomore right-hander Chelcy Clark pitched a complete-game three-hitter and got error-free defense behind her — including a 6-3 double play from shortstop Hannah Aungst. Pine Grove (12-1) also got its bunts down and delivered some clutch hits to win its fourth game in six days.
“They’re growing as a unit and coming together more every game,” Pine Grove coach Ryan Leffler said. “I’m proud of their effort all week. They’re a great group. They’re fun to be around.”
Meanwhile, Tri-Valley (9-3) completed a 4-1 week that included victories over Pottsville, Weatherly, Shenandoah Valley and Minersville.
Tri-Valley starter Kora Rodichok kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for the first three innings, but Pine Grove broke the scoreless tie in the fourth. Jamie Dinger led off with a double to the gap in left-center, and flex Nicole Morgan came in to run for her. After Morgan took third on a groundout, Tailyn Bohr delivered her second sacrifice bunt of the game. Tri-Valley was going to first on the bunt, then realized the play was at the plate, but it was too late as Morgan scored.
“I’m really happy with the way we executed the small ball early,” Ryan Leffler said. “One through nine. They go in groups. We challenge them in practice. We put them in situations at practice. (Friday) we did a lot of small ball at practice, a good hour, and we executed it today.”
Pine Grove kept the pressure on in the fifth inning, getting their timing down against Rodichok the third time through the order. Callee Leffler, who went 2-for-3, led off with a single, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on Madison Shiffer’s RBI single. Addison Zimmerman followed with a single, and Myah Schwalm came on relief of Kora Rodichok.
The runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, but the Dawgs cut down a run at the plate on a ground ball, shortstop Cassi Snyder to catcher Lydia Rodichok. Clark, though, blasted a two-out, two-run double over the center fielder’s head to make it 4-0.
Clark, who retired the first 10 batters (and 14 of the first 15) she faced, carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning, Alina Leonard, who went 2-for-3, led off with a double and scored when Mady Schwalm smashed a two-run home run over the deep fence in left field. Clark rebounded to record the final three outs, including her seventh strikeout of the game.
“We ran into a hot team and a hot pitcher,” Tri-Valley coach Marty Shade said. “I’m proud of the way the girls didn’t give up. … A big crowd. That’s how Schuylkill League softball should be.”
NOTES: Before the game, a statement was read in recognition of the reason for the day. It says, “Rick Kline Day has been held since 2014 in support of the Tri-Valley High School Softball Association in memory of Coach Rick Kline. Coach Kline coached Tri-Valley varsity softball alongside his long-time good friend, Marty Shade, for over 20 years. They shared many highs and lows together and always managed to make it through the lows as a team. Coach Kline loved the game of softball. He enjoyed coaching his girls and making an impact in their lives on and off the field. He loved serving his community, helping friends and being a family man. Unfortunately, in May of 2013, Coach Kline was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and fought a hard battle until his passing on December 31st, 2013. In memory of Coach Kline, his daughter, Kate, started a softball tournament to raise funds for individuals going through cancer and develop scholarships at TVHS for seniors in recognition of their service to their community as well as senior softball players. His legacy will live on forever in our hearts and memories for years to come.”
Game Summary
PINE GROVE (4) — Leffler cf 3 1 2 0, Aungst ss 2 0 0 0, Shiffer 1b 4 0 2 1, Zimmerman rf 4 1 1 0, Dinger dp 4 1 1 0, Clark p 3 0 2 2, K. Umbenhauer cr 0 0 0 0, Bohr c 1 0 0 1, Flynn 2b 3 0 0 0, M. Umbenhauer 3b 2 0 1 0, Morgan lf 0 1 0 0. Totals 26 4 9 4.
TRI-VALLEY (2) — C. Snyder ss 3 0 0 0, Leonard cf 3 1 2 0, Ma. Schwalm 2b 3 1 1 2, Witmer 3b 3 0 0 0, My. Schwalm 1b-p 3 0 0 0, L. Rodichok c 3 0 0 0, K. Rodichok p 1 0 0 0, Gerber pr 0 0 0 0, Stiely lf 2 0 0 0, Tobin rf 2 0 0 0. Totals 23 2 3 2.
PG (12-1) 000 130 0 — 4
TV (9-3) 000 000 2 — 2
E — Pine Grove 0, Tri-Valley 2
DP — Pine Grove 1
LOB — Pine Grove 7, Tri-Valley 2
2B — Dinger, Clark, Leonard
HR — Ma. Schwalm
SB — Leffler
CS — Leffler
SAC — Bohr 2, Aungst
Pine Grove
IP H R ER BB K
Clark W,7-0 7 3 2 2 1 7
Tri-Valley
IP H R ER BB K
K.Rodichok L,5-2 4.1 8 3 3 1 2
My. Schwalm 2.2 1 1 1 2 0
WP — My. Schwalm. PB — L. Rodichok. T — 1:54.
Minersville 13, Brandywine Heights 3
ORWIGSBURG — Bella Rizzardi went 4-for-4 with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored to power Minersville past Brandywine Heights in the opening game of the Blue Mountain Tournament.
Eila O’Brien also had a big game, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and two runs scored. Other top hitters for the Miners included Rilynn Brennan, 2-for-4, two runs, one RBI; Isabella Cruz, 2-for-2, one run, one RBI; and Payton Frantz, a single, two RBIs and a run scored.
Cali Laudeman went the distance in the circle, striking out six and walking one.
Blue Mountain Tournament
BH (4-4) 201 00 — 3 8 2
Min (5-7) 202 18 — 13 13 0
Steventon, Crist (5) and Ronco; Laudeman and McGrath. W— Laudeman (3-2). L — Steventon.
HITS: Brandywine Heights — Steventon, Henry 2, Bortz 2, Schuster 2, Arnold. Minersville — Sterner, Brennan 2, Rizzardi 4, Frantz, O’Brien 2, Cruz 2, Motuk.
2B — Schuster 2, Steventon, Rizzardi 3, O’Brien. 3B — O’Brien.
Blue Mountain 16, Brandywine Heights 1
ORWIGSBURG — Blue Mountain jumped on Brandywine Heights with an 11-run first inning and rolled to a victory in the second game of the Blue Mountain Tournament.
Addyson Fishburn sparked the Eagles by going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI. Emmerson Frie went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Other top hitters for Blue Mountain included Avery Hudock, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored; Karley Koch, a triple, two runs and two RBIs; Aryana Reilly, 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs; Emily Leonard, 2-for-2 with two RBIs; Callie Peel, a single, two runs and two RBIs; and McKenna Manbeck, a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Leonard pitched a five-hitter, striking out two and walking one.
Blue Mountain Tournament
BH (4-5) 0 1 0 — 1 5 2
BM (8-2) (11)14 — 16 12 0
Crist and Ronco; Leonard and Cavadini. W— Leonard (2-2). L — Crist.
HITS: Brandywine Heights — Steventon 2, Bortz, Tomaine, Arnold. Blue Mountain — Fishburn 2, Hudock, Frie 2, Koch, Reilly 2, Leonard 2, Peel, Manbeck.
2B — Fishburn, Manbeck, Frie. 3B — Koch, Hudock.
Blue Mountain 9, Minersville 0
ORWIGSBURG — Chloe Brown hurled a one-hit shutout, striking out 11 and walking two, to lead Blue Mountain past Minersville in the final game of the Blue Mountain Tournament.
