BROCKWAY, Pa. – Scoring four runs in the top of the eighth inning, Moniteau completed a rally in the District 9 Class 2A “true second” game to beat Curwensville, 10-6, and earn the second and final PIAA playoff berth awarded to District 9.
The Lady Warriors trailed 6-5 going to the seventh inning but tied the game on a 1-out Emma Covert double to right field.
Addison Siple was able to pitch her way out of that jam without allowing the go-ahead run to score, but Moniteau got to the Curwensville freshman in the eighth.
Addy Williams and Autumn Stewart led off the eighth with back-to-back singles, and when Emily Staab reached on an error the bases were loaded for Ashley Huffman, who hit into a fielder’s choice with Williams out at the plate.
But Brianna Rottman came through with a go-ahead infield single on a two-strike pitch to put Moniteau up 7-6.
Lily Staab followed with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 8-6, and then Covert delivered the knockout blow with a two-run triple to center.
Covert was 2-for-5 with three RBIs while Williams was 2-for-4.
Rottman added a 1-for-3 day with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI, Lily Staab was 1-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Stewart was 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
Addison Butler was 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored for Curwensville with Addison Warren going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Teagan Harzinski also went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Lady Tide, and Ava Hainsey was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Moniteau used two pitchers in an unorthodox manner.
Covert started and went the first two innings allowing two runs on three hits
Mariska Shunk then took over in the third inning and worked into the sixth inning before Covert took back over with one out and a runner on second. She ended up allowing the inherited run to score to give Curwensville a 6-5 lead on a Butler two-out single but didn’t allow another run over the next 2 ⅓ innings.
Covert got the victory with a final line of 4 ⅓ innings pitched with two earned runs allowed on six hits while striking out one.
Shunk went 3 ⅓ innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one,
Siple took the loss going eight innings allowing 10 runs, one earned, on seven hits, a walk, and a hit batter while striking out nine.
Moniteau will play District 10 champion Sharpsville in the PIAA playoffs Monday, June 5.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 14, FOREST AREA 4, 5 INNINGS
DUBOIS, Pa. – Emily Mourer hit a home run and drove in five runs to lead Elk County Catholic into the PIAA Class 1A playoffs with a 14-4, five-inning win over Forest Area in the District 9 Class 1A “true second” game at Heindl Field in DuBois.
Mourer was 3-for-4 while also adding a double and a run scored.
Lydia Anderson tripled twice for the Lady Crusaders while going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, Lucy Klawuhn was 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a triple. She scored three runs scored drove in three. Caitlyn Volmer also went 2-for-3 with a an RBI.
Anna Stitt was 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs for Fores Area with Izzy Flick going 2-for-3.
Mourer got the win going five innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four.
Flick took the loss going 4 ⅓ innings allowing 10 runs, five earned on five hits and four walks while striking out five.
ECC will play the second-place team out of District 6, either West Branch or Claysburg-Kimmel, Monday June 5.
