The first and last games of Thursday’s District 2 softball tripleheader at Wilkes University are championship rematches from last season.
The middle game will be a battle of one team seeking its first district championship in 18 years against another vying for its first in 36 years.
All that for just $6 for grown-ups and $4 for students. Now that’s a bargain.
Actually, fans are getting more than they bargained for when the D2/4 Class 6A championship game between Hazleton Area and Williamsport was postponed Wednesday because of field conditions. It was moved to 1:30 p.m. Thursday and will be followed by the D2-4A championship with the D2-3A title game the nightcap.
Here’s a look at the three games:
Hazleton Area vs. Williamsport
D2/4-6A Championship
1:30 p.m., Wilkes University
Hazleton Area (18-3) and District 4’s Williamsport (10-7) are playing for the subregional title and a state berth for a sixth consecutive year. The big stat — Williamsport has scored just three runs in those previous five games, which included a 1-0 win in 2012. Hazleton Area won three meetings via shutout and the 2014 game 15-2.
Hazleton Area won 2-0 last year, but perhaps not too much could be gleaned from it. The Cougars have five of 10 starters from that game back, including first baseman Megan Trivelpiece (.437, 6 HRs, 32 RBI) and catcher Hope Kinney (.443, 3 HRs, 24 RBI). Williamsport has just four girls back led by pitcher Mikayla Aldenderfer (3.29 ERA) and third baseman Skyler Colorusso (15 RBI).
Williamsport left six runners in scoring position in last year’s 2-0 loss to Hazleton Area. The Cougars, though, squandered more scoring opportunities.
The winner plays Monday in the PIAA Class 6A state playoffs against the District 1 fourth seed, the loser of Thursday’s Spring-Ford (20-3) vs. Coatesville (18-5) game.
If Hazleton Area loses, it will play Delaware Valley for the D2-6A championship, but neither team will advance to states.
Wyoming Area vs. Tunkhannock
D2-4A Championship
4 p.m., Wilkes University
By getting to the title game, Tunkhannock (12-4) and Wyoming Area (10-7) have locked up spots in the PIAA Class 4A state playoffs. It’s been awhile since either team made the state playoffs.
Tunkhannock last appeared in states in 1999 when it won the D2-3A championship. It was the Tigers’ only District 2 title since the PIAA started state softball playoffs in 1975. Wyoming Area hasn’t been to states since 1981 when it won the D2-3A crown for a third consecutive year. The Warriors also won the D2-3A title in 1976.
The teams played twice this year, with Tunkhannock winning 5-1 on May 4 and Wyoming Area coming out on top 9-6 in eight innings on May 10.
Pitchers Hope Jones and Kendra Schultz combined to strike out 11 Warriors in the 5-1 victory. The offense was clicking as well as all but two starters had hits. Wyoming Area managed just two hits — a single each by Kristi Skok and Kari Melberger.
Since the setback, Wyoming Area has lost just one game — 9-4 to Nanticoke, the team the Warriors defeated 6-5 in 10 innings in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Warriors pounded out 10 hits in the second go-round with Tunkhannock. Pitcher Gwen Glatz was roughed up in the first meeting with the Tigers, but rebounded with three innings of one-hit relief.
The winner plays the District 4 champ — either Milton (19-1) or Shikellamy (13-8) — on Monday. Those teams had their game rained out Wednesday and will play at 6 p.m. Thursday. The loser gets District 11 champ Bangor (21-1).
Holy Redeemer vs. Mid Valley
D2-3A Championship
7 p.m. Wilkes University
When the 10-team tournament began, top-seeded Holy Redeemer (18-1) and second-seeded Mid Valley (19-1) were all but rubber-stamped to play for the championship. Neither made it there with ease.
Redeemer had to rally to defeat Dunmore 7-5 and then won 2-0 over Lake-Lehman, a team the Royals defeated 12-0 twice during the Wyoming Valley Conference season. Mid Valley fell behind 5-1 to Lakeland in the semifinals before rallying for a 9-7 win.
The game is a rematch of last season’s D2-2A title contest won by Redeemer 5-4 in nine innings. If Thursday’s game is even as half as thrilling, it will be worth the price of admission. Redeemer rallied with a run in the sixth to tie the game 3-3, then fell behind 4-3 in the ninth and scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. The victory propelled the Royals to a second consecutive PIAA Class 2A state championship.
Just about everyone is back for both teams. Redeemer returned eight of nine starters from that epic title battle. Mid Valley had eight of 10 and the two newcomers — freshman Lacy Harrington (.483, 30 RBI) and sophomore Danielle Jason (.448, 15 RBI) — have been outstanding.
The winner plays Monday against the loser of Thursday’s District 4 championship game between Mifflinburg (18-2) and North Penn-Liberty (16-9).
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