TOWER CITY
Four years ago, Hannah Nestor, Haley Nestor, Maura Kreiser, Kyrsten Miller and Bindy Boyer stepped onto the field as Williams Valley starters.
They’ve been in the lineup ever since.
They keep on winning, too.
And they added to their legacy Tuesday night by defeating rival Tri-Valley 4-1 in the District 11 Class A championship game at Blue Mountain’s Patton Field.
With the win, the Vikings seniors improved their career record to 86-11, an .887 winning percentage. Their résumé now includes two District 11 championships, two D-11 silver medals and the 2013 PIAA Class A championship — the first in school history.
“You’ve got to create your own legacy,’’ Williams Valley coach Lee Reiser told his players. “That (state championship team) was Cassidy (Pinchorski’s) and Kylie (Doyle’s) team. This is your team.’’
By winning another district title, the Vikes (20-2) earned one of the 16 spots in the PIAA Class A Tournament. Williams Valley will open PIAA play on Monday against the District 12 champion, Girard
Academic Music Program, better known as GAMP (5-9). Game time is 5 p.m. at Blue Mountain’s Patton Field.
“It’s really been a joy to play with them,’’ first baseman Haley Nestor said. “I grew up with all of them. They’re also my best friends.
“I think it really shows we have a bond like no other. We’re like sisters.’’
Miller, the right fielder, agreed.
“I couldn’t ask for a better year. I couldn’t ask for a better team,’’ she said.
Playing travel ball together since they were 8 or 9 years old, these seniors are family. They spend as much time together off the field as they do on it, going out to eat with the entire team, spending hours together at each other’s homes.
That bond carries over to the softball diamond.
“These are the best memories I’ll ever have in my life,’’ said Boyer, the left fielder. “I couldn’t ask for better group of seniors to play with.’’
Williams Valley has a chance to make more memories with a state tournament run. As they proved as sophomores, winning a state title isn’t just a dream — it can come true.
“It’s such a great feeling,’’ said Kreiser, the catcher. “I hope we can go all the way and make my senior season last.’’
While softball is a major focus this time of year, Williams Valley’s players are more than athletes. They’re scholars, too.
Reiser told a story about a scrimmage with Pottsville leading up to this year’s district playoffs. Between innings, Kreiser and shortstop Hannah Nestor, ranked among the elite in their class, snuck in a few moments studying for their finals.
Talk about time management.
In fact, most of Williams Valley’s roster is on the honor roll, with many ranked among the best in their class.
The Nestor twins will attend Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, while Kreiser is headed to Shippensburg University.
Miller will attend Harrisburg Area Community College with the intent to transfer to Millersville University and become a special education teacher.
Boyer is going to Penn State Schuylkill where she will study radiology.
They can get it done on the field, too. They’ve all come through in big games at one time or another.
Here’s a sampling:
• Hannah Nestor — Going 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI in the 2013 District 11 championship win over Tri-Valley; playing tremendous defense and making a season-saving catch in the seventh inning against Northeast Bradford in the 2013 state semifinals; and collecting three RBIs in the state championship win over Neshannock;
• Haley Nestor — Going 2-for-3 with three runs scored in the 2013 state playoff opener against Bloomsburg; delivering the game-tying RBI single, stolen base and go-ahead run scored to beat Northeast Bradford;
• Miller — Connecting for the go-ahead RBI single in the 2-1 win over Northeast Bradford and contributing two RBIs in the 13-0, state-championship romp over Neshannock;
• Boyer — Going 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and six RBIs in a 12-2 triumph over Hyndman Charter in the 2013 state quarterfinals;
• Kreiser — Driving in three runs in the state title game against Neshannock; calling her own pitches and handling the pitching staff since Lacey Bixler went down with an injury late in the 2013 season.
As sophomores, they contributed to history by winning the school’s first state softball championship.
As seniors, they have a chance to go for it again.
They’ve set the bar exceedingly high for the next generation. Since May 6, 2013, Williams Valley has gone 51-3 (.944).
“I really want all the seniors to leave all the heart and dedication we put into that sport,’’ Hannah Nestor said. “We’ve always given 100 percent.
“I want the younger kids learn from us and make the team better as the years go on.’’