ORWIGSBURG — Wednesday afternoon, Maura Kreiser did her thing as Williams Valley’s catcher — calling pitches behind the plate, stinging line drives and knocking in runs in the middle of the Vikings’ lineup.
Wednesday evening, the senior donned a cap and gown, received her high school diploma and spoke as the valedictorian of the Class of 2015.
“It’s an awesome day. ... It’s just a really exciting day for me,’’ Kreiser said.
And for Hannah and Haley Nestor, Kyrsten Miller and Bindy Boyer, the Vikings’ other four seniors.
During the day, they helped Williams Valley rout Girard Academic Music Program 15-0 in a PIAA Class A Softball Tournament first-round game at Blue Mountain’s Patton Field.
A few hours later, they joined Kreiser in collecting their diplomas. All five seniors are headed to college to further their education.
“They were just ready,’’ Williams Valley coach Lee Reiser said. “... As soon as they warmed up, it was, ‘OK, take care of business and get out of here.’ ’’
Williams Valley (21-2) advances to today’s quarterfinals against District 3 champion Millersburg (23-2), a 4-2 winner over Bristol on Wednesday. Game time is 4:30 p.m. at Halifax High School.
Just to get to the game against District 12 champ GAMP (5-10), the Vikings had to wait through two days of rainouts and site changes.
Finally, they got back to where they started, playing at Blue Mountain High School. The Eagles’ staff did a remarkable job getting the diamond in playing shape; field conditions didn’t affect the game at all.
Williams Valley’s players took it from there. Tianna Yanoscak pitched a three-inning perfect game, the Vikes cracked 10 hits all over the yard and sent the Pioneers packing in 43 minutes.
Yanoscak needed just 29 pitches (20 strikes) to mow down GAMP. She struck out six.
“I thought I was pitching pretty well,’’ Yanoscak said. “I’m gonna have to step it up for tomorrow, though.
“It’s exciting,’’ she added. “Hopefully we can do it for our seniors because they deserve it.’’
At the plate, Williams Valley wasted no time in taking command.
In the bottom of the first, Hannah Nestor walked, stole second and scored when Rayanne Hawk blooped a triple down the right-field line. Ten pitches in, the Vikes had the only run they needed.
They were far from finished, though. They sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, posting a nine-spot that settled the issue.
Kate Whelski and Kyrsten Miller laced two-run singles during the uprising. Kreiser and Yanoscak added RBI singles, the latter making it 9-0 after one inning.
Every Williams Valley starter reached base at least once.
“It means a lot,’’ Kreiser said about continuing in states. “We want the season to be as long as it can because we’re all upset for (our careers) to be over. It means a lot that we can keep going.’’
The second inning brought more of the same as Williams Valley sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six more runs to set up the three-inning 15-run rule.
Yanoscak, Whelski and Kreiser cracked RBI singles, while Miller delivered a two-run triple.
Miller paced the offense by going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Whelski knocked in three runs, and Hannah Nestor scored three times.
Now it’s on to Millersburg, a team Williams Valley defeated 12-2 in five innings on April 14.
The difference between that game and today is that ace pitcher Marlo Roadcap didn’t throw against the Vikings.
Roadcap struck out 11 and allowed two earned runs in the win over Bristol. For the season, she’s 21-1 with a 0.81 ERA and 270 strikeouts in 147 innings.
“The kids hit (against GAMP),’’ Reiser said. “They were patient and didn’t swing at bad pitches. ... The only problem is you’re going to see a fireballer (today).
“You have to adjust and be ready to play no matter what the competition is,’’ he added. “I think they’re old enough and mature enough now to handle that.’’
Game Summary
PIAA Class A First Round
At Patton Field, Orwigsburg
GAMP (0) — Fanelli 2b 1 0 0 0, Hoffman p 1 0 0 0, Buono c 1 0 0 0, Retallick ss 1 0 0 0, Romano cf 1 0 0 0, Boccuti lf 1 0 0 0, Wall 1b 1 0 0 0, Sceno rf 1 0 0 0, Papa 3b 1 0 0 0. Totals 9 0 0 0.
WILLIAMS VALLEY (15) — Han. Nestor ss 2 3 1 0, Hawk cf 3 1 1 1, Yanoscak p 2 0 2 2, McNeal cr 0 1 0 0, Whelski 2b 3 1 2 3, Kreiser c 2 0 2 2, Thomas cr 0 1 0 0, Pinchorski 3b 1 2 0 0, Hal. Nestor 1b 1 1 0 0, Diegert 1b 0 0 0 0, Miller rf 2 2 2 4, Whitcomb cr-rf 0 1 0 0, Boyer lf 2 1 0 1, Calnon cr-lf 0 1 0 0. Totals 18 15 10 13.
GAMP (5-10) 000 — 0
Williams Valley (21-2) 96x — 15
E — GAMP 4, Williams Valley 0. LOB — GAMP 0, Williams Valley 2. 3B — Hawk, Miller. SB — Han. Nestor, Yanoscak, Whitcomb.
GAMP IP H R ER BB K
Hoffman L,4-9 2 10 15 8 6 0
Williams Val. IP H R ER BB K
Yansck W,15-2 3 0 0 0 0 6
WP — Hoffman 2. T — :43.