EBENSBURG — The District 6 Class 3A softball quarterfinals between top-seeded and 19-0 Central Cambria and eighth-seeded Philipsburg-Osceola on May 23 in Ebensburg appeared to be a mismatch.
But the Lady Mounties, who were 7-13 and had lost six straight games to end the regular season, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in District 6 history.
Thanks to No. 8 hitter Emily Herr’s three-run home run off Central Cambria ace and Notre Dame recruit Kami Kamzik in the second inning, Alivia Bizzarri’s pitching with runners on base and strong defense, P-O stunned the Lady Red Devils, 4-2.
“It feels great to know that we’re back, we can still do it, still play as a team and have each other’s back,” Herr said.
“All I’ve got to say is what a game,” Bizzarri said. “No one gave up. Everybody stuck behind me.”
“I knew they could do it,” P-O coach Steve Frank said. “Bad luck has been following us for a while.”
The win advanced P-O into the semifinals, where the Lady Mounties will play at fourth-seeded Forest Hills, a 2-0 winner over Westmont Hilltop, at 4 p.m. on May 25.
Kamzik, a tall right-hander, tossed a four-hitter, struck out 14 and walked one.
But one of those hits was Herr’s first home run at any level. After Kamzik struck out the first four batters, Jocey Williams walked and Abby Vaux reached on an infield hit after faking a bunt attempt.
Herr, a senior center fielder, then pounded a Kamzik offering over the right-center field fence. Her jubilant teammates were there to greet Herr as she touched home plate.
“It was my first one, so I really didn’t know what to do,” Herr said, laughing. “But I was just like, ‘Oh I guess I’ve got to run the bases.’ As soon as I hit it, I kind of knew. I heard everyone screaming, so I was like, ‘Okay that kind of just confirmed it.’
“A few games ago, I hit one and the yellow piping on the top of the fence kind of robbed me. It didn’t go over. It bounced off and went back into the field. Finally getting this one actually felt really good, especially being my senior year.”
“Emily hitting the home run was like a spark,” Bizzarri said. “It made me feel like I had room to wiggle. Emily hit that bomb that started the fire. All the confidence just got up.”
Central Cambria, which left nine on base, loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but Bizzarri caught a pop-up for the third out.
Bizzarri tossed a five-hitter, struck out 10 and walked eight. But four of her walks were to Kamzik, who hit 11 home runs during the regular season. Bizzarri didn’t give her anything to hit in the strike zone in three at-bats and intentionally walked her one time.
After Kamzik walked and stole second with one out in the third inning, Bizzarri fielded an Aubrey Ruddek ground ball and threw to first baseman Abby Vaux for the second out. Vaux threw home to catcher Williams, who put the tag on the sliding Kamzik to complete a double play for the third out.
Central Cambria loaded the bases again in the fifth and had runners on second and third in the sixth. Both times, though, Bizzarri came up with strikeouts to end the inning.
“I had a rough end to the season, and I’m finally back,” Bizzarri said, “and it feels good to be back. At the end of the season, I don’t know what happened. Now I’m out of it, and it felt really good.”
In the top of the sixth, Payton Barnett’s looping pop-up fell in short left field and bounced toward foul territory for a double. She moved to second on a wild pitch. Bizzarri hit a fly ball into shallow right field, but Barnett tagged and raced home on the sacrifice fly.
Vaux began the bottom of the seventh by catching a low line drive at her feet.
But then Kamzik walked and Keira Link singled. A ground ball out for the second out moved the runners to second and third.
Cleanup hitter Kathryn Scott pounded a double off the left field fence to score Kamzik and Link. But Bizzarri struck out Olivia Janosik for the final out.
“She got hurt in the middle of the season, and I think it’s been taking a while (to recover),” Frank said. “She’s back. She was hitting her spots and was comfortable and in control.”
The celebration began on the P-O side.
“It finally came together,” Frank said. “Let’s hope we stay there.”
RAMS BREEZE IN PLAYOFF OPENER
Second-seeded Penns Valley is a win away from likely playing Bald Eagle Area in the District 6 finals. The Lady Rams opened the District 6 Class 2A playoffs with a 12-0, five-inning win on May 22 at home over Mount Union.
Penns Valley’s Taylor Bumgardner fired a two-hitter, struck out seven and walked one.
The Lady Rams, who scored nine runs in the second inning, only had six hits, but they took advantage of a combined 10 walks by two different pitchers. Elle Dinges had three of those hits, knocked in a run and scored three times.
Scotty Dinges and Madison Bowen both delivered two RBIs. Avery Dinges and Haddey Stover scored two runs apiece.
“We had great at-bats tonight, and Taylor set the tone in the circle,” Penns Valley coach Terry Bumgardner said. “The ladies were ready to play tonight.”
The Lady Rams (15-4) will take on sixth-seeded Southern Huntingdon at 4 p.m. on May 25 at home in the semifinals. Southern Huntingdon beat third-seeded West Shamokin, 5-3.
BEA’S ALBRIGHT FIRES NO-HITTER
Top-seeded Bald Eagle Area opened the District 6 Class 2A playoffs in convincing fashion on May 22 at home, getting a no-hitter from Sierra Albright in a 10-0, five-inning quarterfinal win over eighth-seeded Homer-Center.
Albright recorded her ninth shutout of the season by striking out eight, walking none and pitching to one batter over the minimum for five innings.
BEA, which scored six runs in the first inning, got two hits apiece from Ava Stere and Alyssa King. Kendra Uberti delivered a two-run hit.
“Sierra was so close to a perfect game but was really happy we won as a team,” BEA coach Don Lucas said. “The no-hitter, obviously, was great also. Right out if the gate, we put the ball in play and forced them to make plays. They played very good defensively. All in all, it was a well-played game.”
The Lady Eagles (18-2), who beat Jersey Shore, 7-5, in their only game last week, will take on fourth-seeded Marion Center at 4 p.m. on May 25 at home in the semifinals. Marion Center beat fifth-seeded Cambria Heights, 12-2.
STATE COLLEGE, BELLEFONTE BEGIN PLAYOFFS
State College and Bellefonte opened the postseason on May 24.
Second-seeded State College (8-10) was to play top-seeded Mifflin County on May 24 at Saint Francis University in the District 6 Class 6A championship.
The winner of that game will play the District 8/10 winner on May 30 at a site and time to be determined.
Bellefonte (12-6) is the only team entered in the District 6 Class 4A playoffs, so the Lady Red Raiders were to play District 8’s Obama Academy on May 24 at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson.
The winner will play the District 9 champion on June 1 at a site and time to be determined.
Bellefonte suffered a 3-2 loss at Tyrone last Tuesday in its final regular season game.
