First Posted: 7/30/2013

They went in to the final four as the No. 1 seed. But sometimes the numbers just don’t matter.

After pretty much cruising through the 9-10 state softball tournament last week, Greater Wyoming Area hit a wall in the semifinals. The locals suffered a 5-0 loss to Newberry Sunday at Caln Little League and were eliminated from a chance to win the state title.

Greater Wyoming Area essentially finishes third in the state.

It was a mostly easy week for the locals in pool play in Thorndale. The locals got their first win in the state tournament with an 11-3 drubbing of Northwest Bethlehem. Two days later, Greater Wyoming Area was pushed to the brink and needed a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning from Stephanie Nowak to take down Drexel Hill, 6-5.

In the final game of pool play, and a chance to knot up the No. 1 seed, Greater Wyoming Area did everything it needed to in a 16-6 mercy-rule win over Lionsville that featured 13 strikeouts from Nowak in just five innings.

Newberry 5

GWA 0

Lily Harden logged three singles as Greater Wyoming Area’s run ended in the semifinals of the 9-10 softball state playoffs at Caln Little League Sunday with a 5-0 loss to Newberry.

Nicole Filinskie smacked two singles, while Evan Freeman chipped in one single for Greater Wyoming Area.

Kari Melberger recorded eight strikeouts in loss.

After throwing a no-hitter in a win Wednesday, Newberry’s Alexis Schuler threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Schuler also had a triple and two RBIs for Newberry. Hailey Debrody had a pair of hits for Newberry and Olivia Fessler, Kristen Smith and Hailey Holtzapple all had an RBI. Newberry plays West Point for the state championship today at 6 p.m.

GWA 16

Lionsville 6

5 innings

Stephanie Nowak struck out 13 and delivered a double at the plate as Greater Wyoming Area defeated Lionsville 16-6 in five innings of the 9-10 state softball tournament.

Ellie Glatz went 4-for-4 with three singles, one triple and five RBI while Lily Harden had three singles in the Greater Wyoming Are victory.