DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Sage Lorson of South Williamsport celebrates as she rounds the bases on a home run against Central Mountain earlier this year.
Class AAA
Loyalsock (20-3) vs. Juniata (23-2) at Bloomsburg Univ., 1 p.m.
Loyalsock road to Elite Eight: In District 4, beat Towanda, 9-0 and Athens, 9-8 in 9 innings; lost to Midd-West, 14-2; in states, beat Mid-Valley, 4-2
Loyalsock notes: Loyalsock is competing in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 and is trying to become the third Lancer team to reach the Final 4. Loyalsock is meeting a 2023 state finalist for a second straight game after dethroning defending state champion Mid-Valley Monday. Loyalsock rallied from a two-run deficit there and also a two-run eighth inning deficit against Athens in the district semifinals. Sophia Miller threw a five-hitter at Mid-Valley, closing with six straight scoreless innings while winning her 14th game. Kathryn Ray hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and has a team-high 31 RBIs. Freshman Addison Barowy has done an excellent job filling in for injured left fielder Bella Mileto who led the team in average and hits. Alena Barone hit a pinch-hit RBI single at Mid-Valley and Katie Ryder was 2 for 3 with a double and a run. Eight players collected hits in that win. Loyalsock swept the regular season series from fellow quarterfinalist Midd-West and Lydia Kresock threw three scoreless innings in relief in a 4-2 comeback win in Middleburg. Anna Luxenberger leads the team in stolen bases and Sofia Mileto has hit three postseason home runs and ignited a game-tying rally against Athens with an eighth inning single. Ray followed with a double before Maddie Luxenberger hit a game-tying two-run single.
Juniata road to Elite Eight: In District 6, beat Richland, 6-0; Central Cambria 5-4 in 11 innings; lost to Forest Hills, 2-1; in states, beat Kutztown, 2-0
Juniata notes: The Indians are trying to finish what they started last year when they reached the state final and dropped a 1-0 contest against Mid-Valley. Fordham-bound Liz Gaisior is one of the state’s top pitchers and became one of only four Pennsylvania players to ever top 1,000 career strikeouts last April. She has gone over 300 strikeouts for a second straight year and threw a two-hit shutout against Kutztown, fanning 18. She set a career-high with 28 strikeouts in the Central Cambria district semifinal game and struck out the first 12 against Kutztown before allowing a fifth inning double. She also is second on the team in batting average behind Lexi Frontz who hit .591 during Tri-Valley League play. Juniata captured the Tri-Valley League title, defeating Susquenita, 1-0 in the championship. Frontz hit a two-run fourth inning single to break a scoreless tie Monday against Kutztown. Juniata rallied from a 4-1, 11th inning deficit to avoid elimination in the District 6 semifinals, as Alexa Kuhn hit a two-out, two-run walk-off single. They also fought off elimination in the 10th inning after Central Cambria went up 1-0. Juniata has won 48 games the past two seasons. Regan Lowery is one of the team’s top hitters and stole 21 bases in league play.
Winner plays: Either District 4 champion Midd-West or District 12 champion Conwell-Egan
Class AA
South Williamsport (22-2) vs. Bristol (19-1) at Wilkes University, 3 p.m.
South road to Elite Eight: In District 4, beat Wyalusing, 15-0; Troy, 3-0 and Muncy, 2-0; in states, beat Brandywine Heights, 15-3
South notes: South is competing in the state quarterfinals for a third straight year and trying to reach the semifinals for a second straight season. The Mounties defeated Bristol, 10-0 in last year’s quarterfinals, but the Warriors return nearly all of last year’s players and have lost just one game this season while earning today’s coveted rematch. South has captured three straight district championships and all nine starters reached base against Brandywine Heights. Abby and Sage Lorson both had three hits, while Gianna Goodman, Mikaiya Hills and Alizabeth Schuler added two each. Lily Reidy sparked a big third-inning rally with a two-run double, Kendall Cardone smashed an RBI triple and Maddie Pinkerton an RBI single, while Emily Holtzapple scored a run. Schuler opened the postseason with 25 2/3 straight scoreless innings and threw a five-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in the district final. South has topped 20 wins in consecutive seasons and is the first team in program history to reach three straight state quarterfinals. The Mounties prepared for the postseason by playing a demanding schedule which included games against 5A state quarterfinalists Central Mountain and Pittston; 3A state quarterfinalists Midd-West and Loyalsock and 2A quarterfinalist Williams Valley.
Bristol road to Elite 8: In District 1, beat Morrisville, via forfeit, and Renaissance Academy, 13-5; in states, beat Mast Charter, 18-0
Bristol notes: Bristol has been one of District 1’s most consistent winners over the years and captured a 26th straight district championship. The Warriors feature a strong offense and are hitting a collective .424. They average 14 runs per game and seven starters are are batting .407 or higher. Amirah Bell is hitting a team-high .569 with 17 RBIs and 19 runs. Peyton McClain produced two extra-base hits against Mast Charter and is batting .534 with 28 RBIs and 35 runs, while Luciana Snyder is at .475 with a team-best 39 RBIs. Pitcher Brianna Slack leads the team in home runs with five, while hitting .466 with 37 RBIs. Mackenzie Powers is at .513 with 15 RBIs. Slack is a three-year starter and the junior is 17-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 90 innings. Bell has a team-high 22 stolen bases, Cayleigh Januszka 12 and McClain 11. Coach Dave Chichiliti coached for nine years at Neshaminy and is in his third year at Bristol, winning more than 200 games in his career. Bristol started the season 15-0 before losing 4-3 to Council Rock North in its second-to-last regular season game.
Winner plays: Either District 11 champion Williams Valley or District 6 champion Bald Eagle Area