PIAA Softball First Round Recaps for Tuesday, June 5th

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 | 11:14 AM

It was a rough day Monday for PIAA baseball and softball opening round contests as Mother Nature wiped out most of the action with games delayed until Tuesday. However, the west had a clean slate on Monday…with the exception of two softball games played at Penn State University. Rain suspended one game and postponed the other, forcing two for Tuesday in Happy Valley. Here is a recap of both of those First Round contests.

Thanks to Todd Brown for his help on these recaps.

PIAA CLASS AA First Round:

Neshannock Lancers 5 – Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties 3 in 8 Innings
Neshannock scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a three-all tie, as the Lancers knocked of the defending state champion Philipsburg-Ocseola Mounties 5-3 at Beard Field on the campus of Penn State University.  In a game that went back and forth, Neshanock scored a run in the top of the 7th inning to take a 3-2 lead.  With runners on second and third with two outs, Madison Altmyer hit a hard grounder to third which went off the glove of the P-O third baseman, who then made the tag on the runner who was running to third base, but the run had already crossed the plate before the out was made to give the Lancers a one-run lead.  Philipsburg-Osceola came right back though in the bottom half of the inning.  Down to their last out, Katie Burge singled into centerfield scoring Mackenzie Burge to send the game to extra innings.  The Lancers looking for a big hit in the eighth got it, as Rayanna Furst hit a 2-run double to give Neshannock the lead for good.  The Lancers improve to 21-1 on the season and will take on District 10 champ and undefeated Fairview, while Philipsburg-Osceola ends their year with a record of 20-5.

PIAA CLASS AAA First Round:

Big Spring Bulldogs 1 – Bellefonte Red Raiders 0
In a game that was dominated by pitching, Big Spring scored a run in the top of the seventh inning, which proved to be the only run of the game, defeating the Lady Red Raiders 1-0 at Beard Field at Penn State University.  It was a game that featured just four hits, as Taylor Mansfield drove in the only run, a double down the left-field line scoring Morgan Paynter.  Calli Pastor kept the Bellefonte high-powered offense in check, allowing just two hits on the afternoon while striking out ten.  Her mound opponent Hannah Cooper was just as strong, also allowing just two hits, and striking out five.  Big Spring moves in the PIAA quarterfinals where they will tangle with District 10 Champion Fort Lebeouf, as they bring their overall record to 21-4.  Bellefonte sees their season end with a record of 18-5.