PIAA Softball Capsule
Class A Championship Minersville (23-3) vs. Claysburg-Kimmel (22-4)
When/Where: Today, 3 p.m., Penn State University's Nittany Lion Softball Park, State College
Tickets: $8 adults, $4 students
How they got here: District 11 champion Minersville beat Bloomsburg 13-3 in six innings, routed Halifax 12-2 in five innings and thumped Bristol 10-1. District 6 runner-up Claysburg-Kimmel topped DuBois Central Catholic 8-2, downed Iroquois 6-1 and edged Neshannock 5-4 in 8 innings.
About the Miners
Head coach: Dave Homa (13th season, 250-51, .831)
PIAA history: Have won eight state championships (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2011) and finished second in 1991. ... Making 23rd appearance in state playoffs with all-time record of 50-14.
Projected lineup: SS Reighly Melochick, sr. (.492, 25 RS), CF Adrienne Kroznuskie, fr. (.616, 45 RS, 9 HR, 37 RBIs), RF Lindsey Snyder, jr. (.493, 3 HR, 27 RBIs), 1B Emily Mealey, fr. (.439, 40 RBIs), C Morgen Woodford, sr. (.479, 2 HR, 27 RBIs), 2B Leah Leshko, sr. (.418, 21 RS, 14 RBIs), 3B Rachel Sterner, soph. (.425, 19 RS, 17 RBIs), DP Maura Bentz, fr. (.341, 13 RS, 12 RBIs), LF Alyse Ryan, sr. (.357, 20 RS, 15 RBIs), P/flex Riley Gerenda, sr. (14-3, 1.21 ERA, 98.2 IP, 122 K)
Notes: Have been crushing the ball of late, piling up 35 runs on 37 hits in three state playoff games. Getting contributions up and down the lineup as every starter reached base at least once against both Bloomsburg and Halifax. ... Leshko had biggest hit against Bristol, a 3-run double that broke the game open. ... Have batted around once in each state playoff game. ... Losses to Williams Valley (twice) and Class AA finalist Central Columbia. Dethroned 2013 state champion Williams Valley in District 11 final ... Seniors Melochick, Woodford and Leshko will be playing in eighth state softball playoff game. They were starters on 2011 PIAA championship team. ... Melochick, a 2,000-point scorer in basketball, will play that sport at Division II Goldey-Beacom. ... 12 softball players were also members of basketball team that won Schuylkill League and District 11 Class AA titles and advanced to second round of state tournament. ... Win over Bristol improved all-time record to 797-154.
About the Bulldogs
Head coach: Mike Barbarini (14th season, 203-85, .705)
PIAA history: Making first appearance in championship game. ... Reached District 6 final the past six years and advanced to at least the state semifinals in three of those years.
Projected lineup: 2B Madison Ickes, sr. (.438, 29 RS, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 18 RBIs), RF Abby Kulick, sr. (.518, 29 RS, 10 2B, 1 HR, 22 RBIs), C Mallory Cox, sr. (.398, 23 RS, 2 HR, 22 RBIs), P Kiersten Coho, sr. (.310, 21 RS, 2 HR, 27 RBIs; pitching - 19-3, 1.68 ERA, 129 IP, 176 K), 3B Kenyara Morgan, fr. (.409, 14 RS, 18 RBIs), SS Hannah Claycomb, jr. (.373, 16 RS, 21 RBIs), LF Merceduze LeMaster, sr. (.182), CF Christina Wannyn, jr. (.230, 10 RS), DP Whitney Helsel (.348), 1B/flex Kari Glass, jr.
Notes: In knocking off Neshannock, ensured that no finalist from 2013 championships returned this spring. Won District 6 titles in 2009, 2011 and 2013; runner-up in 2010, 2012, 2014. Reached state final four in 2009, 2011 and 2014. ... Team revolves around RHP Coho, who has signed to pitch at Division I University of Hartford. Decent speed but not overpowering. Struck out five in each of last two games. Delivered two-run double in top of eighth inning as Bulldogs held on to defeat Neshannock. ... Club allowed just 40 runs all season, an average of 1.54 per game. ... Losses came to Southern Huntingdon, Bellwood-Antis and Williamsburg. ... District 6 final was played at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Directions: Take Route 901 West toward Lavelle and take Route 54 West to Danville. Merge onto Interstate 80 West and continue to Centre County. Take Bellefonte exit (Pa. Route 26, Exit 161) toward U.S. 322/Bellefonte/I-99 South/State College. Take the Innovation Park exit toward Beaver Stadium. Nittany Lion Softball Park is near the East Area dorms, on the corner of Park Avenue and University Drive. The field faces the Bryce Jordan Center, opposite Jeffrey Field, which is home to Penn State soccer and lacrosse. Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.
- Compiled by Bob Lipsky