Pine Grove's Hannah Aungst bunts during a game against Blue Mountain on April 16 at Susan Y. Stump Field. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

Pine Grove is back on top.

The Cardinals ruled the initial T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll on March 31, but an early season loss to North Schuylkill dropped Pine Grove as low as No. 3. With seven straight victories since then, including triumphs over Williams Valley, Blue Mountain and Tri-Valley, the Cards return to No. 1.

Many schools had a busy week leading up to Easter as teams and athletic directors tried to make up games rained out/”colded” out during that spell of awful weather earlier this month. As a result, there’s been some movement in this week’s poll.

Pine Grove (12-1) has eight shutouts in 13 games this season and has allowed just 18 runs all spring. They’ve gone up a level in the last two weeks, and the Cards are only getting better.

Blue Mountain (10-2) drops a spot to No. 2 after falling 5-0 at Pine Grove. The Eagles, though, rebounded with four straight wins, including a sweep at their Blue Mountain Tournament over the weekend and a 12-2 victory over Pottsville on Monday.

North Schuylkill (8-2) slips a spot to No. 3 even though the Spartans have won five in a row. NS will have a chance to climb the rankings when it visits Blue Mountain this evening.

Williams Valley (12-1) is closing the gap on Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill. The Vikings’ only loss this season was a 9-2 setback to Pine Grove, and they’ve won four in a row since. Included in that stretch was a 5-2 triumph over nearby District 3 rival Upper Dauphin.

Schuylkill Haven (9-2), winners of four straight, stays at No. 5. The Hurricanes have a huge game today at Tri-Valley. Schuylkill Haven rallied past the Dawgs 6-5 in eight innings on March 27.

Tri-Valley (9-3) had a 4-1 week, with the only loss a 4-2 decision to Pine Grove on Rick Kline Day at Hegins Park. The Dawgs have been beset by injuries all season, but coach Marty Shade and his staff have used freshmen and inexperienced sophomores to fill in. Wins over Pottsville and Minersville proved the Dawgs are improving. Their three losses — to Schuylkill Haven, Williams Valley and Pine Grove — came by a total of five runs.

Tamaqua (7-5) remains at No. 7, though the Blue Raiders have dropped two in a row to Pottsville (3-0) and North Schuylkill (4-3). Tamaqua hosts Pine Grove today and visits Blue Mountain on Saturday, with a home game against Panther Valley on Thursday in between.

In the latest District 11 rankings, Tri-Valley (A), Williams Valley (AA) and Pine Grove (3A) stand atop their respective classifications. As of today, 14 of the 16 Schuylkill League teams would qualify for districts. Blue Mountain remains second in 4A to Northwestern Lehigh, with North Schuylkill third, Tamaqua fifth, and Panther Valley seventh, respectively, in the same division. Schuylkill Haven is second to the Vikings in Class AA, with Marian second to Tri-Valley in Class A.

Look for the T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll each Monday.

T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll

(Through games played Monday, April 21)

1. Pine Grove (12-1)

Last poll: No. 3

Last week’s results: W Mahanoy Area (10-0, 6 inn.), W Blue Mountain (5-0), W Lourdes (11-0, 5 inn.), W Tri-Valley (4-2)

This week’s schedule: at Tamaqua (Tuesday), Pottsville (Thursday), at Northampton (Saturday at Pates)

2. Blue Mountain (10-2)

Last poll: No. 1

Last week’s results: L Pine Grove (5-0), W Panther Valley (11-0, 5 inn.), W Brandywine Heights (16-1, 3 inn.), W Minersville (9-0)

This week’s schedule: at Pottsville (W 12-2, 6 inn., Monday), North Schuylkill (Tuesday), at Mahanoy Area (Thursday), Tamaqua (Saturday)

3. North Schuylkill (8-2)

Last poll: No. 2

Last week’s results: W Mahanoy Area (16-0, 4 inn.)

This week’s schedule: Tamaqua (W 4-3 Monday), at Blue Mountain (Tuesday), Panther Valley (Thursday)

4. Williams Valley (12-1)

Last poll: No. 4

Last week’s results: W Upper Dauphin (5-2), W Nativity (15-0, 4 inn.), W Marian (16-0, 4 inn.)

This week’s schedule: at Shenandoah Valley (Tuesday), Weatherly (Thursday)

5. Schuylkill Haven (9-2)

Last poll: No. 5

Last week’s results: W Marian (11-1), W Shenandoah Valley (18-1, 5 inn.), W Nativity (16-1, 3 inn.)

This week’s schedule: at Tri-Valley (Tuesday), Minersville (Thursday), Oley Valley (Friday)

6. Tri-Valley (9-3)

Last poll: No. 6

Last week’s results: W Pottsville (8-4), W Weatherly (18-0, 3 inn.), W Shenandoah Valley (19-1, 3 inn.), W Minersville (11-1, 5 inn.), L Pine Grove (4-2)

This week’s schedule: Schuylkill Haven (Tuesday), at Nativity (Wednesday)

7. Tamaqua (7-5)

Last poll: No. 7

Last week’s results: W Lourdes (11-0, 5 inn.), W Panther Valley (12-0, 5 inn.), L Pottsville (3-0)

This week’s schedule: at North Schuylkill (L 4-3 Monday), Pine Grove (Tuesday), at Lourdes (Thursday), at Blue Mountain (Saturday)

—- Compiled by Bob Lipsky

Unofficial Schuylkill League Leaders

As reported to T102sportsnow.com through games of April 21. Statistics at the end of the season will be requested from each team via maxpreps or other programs.

Doubles

Hannah Aungst, Pine Grove 10; Liv Witmer, Tri-Valley, 8; Bella Rizzardi, Minersville, 6; Madison Shiffer, Pine Grove, 6; Jamie Dinger, Pine Grove, 5; Molly Evans, Tamaqua, 5; Morgan Labosky, Shenandoah Valley, 5; Quin Smeltz, Williams Valley, 5; Addison Zimmerman, Pine Grove, 5

Triples

Callee Leffler, Pine Grove, 8; Brigid Flynn, North Schuylkill, 5; Aubrey Scanlan, Pottsville, 4; Malina Letcher, Marian, 3; Olivia Marasco, Weatherly, 3; Hailey Mroczka, Mahanoy Area, 3; Morgan O’Brien, Panther Valley, 3

Home Runs

Emmerson Frie, Blue Mountain, 6; Sage Smeltz, Williams Valley 5; 11 tied with 2

Pitching Wins

Chloe Brown, Blue Mountain, 7-0; Chelcy Clark, Pine Grove, 7-0; Sage Smeltz, Williams Valley, 7-0; Peyton Eckert, Pottsville, 6-6; Jamie Dinger, Pine Grove, 5-1; Brigid Flynn, North Schuylkill, 5-1; Kora Rodichok, Tri-Valley, 5-2; Janessa Prudente, Panther Valley, 5-5