EDWARDSVILLE — As well as Hope Jones was pitching for Tunkhannock on Thursday, it was time for Kendra Schultz to take over.
The strategy has worked most of the season and it did again in the District 2 Class 4A softball championship game at Wilkes University.
Schultz pitched three perfect innings of relief to back Jones’ three-hit effort as the Tigers defeated Wyoming Area 3-0 for their first district championship since 1999.
“It’s usually a certain inning where the other team might be in their lineup,” Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty said. “We want Kendra to come in and get comfortable. But it’s feel thing more than anything. I talk to the pitching coaches and see what’s working better for the different girls and the different pitches.”
Just about everything was working for the Jones-Schultz duo as Wyoming Area (10-8) was shut out for the first time this season.
“Hats off to Tunkhannock,” said Wyoming Area coach John McNeil, whose team was trying to get the program’s first district championship since 1981. “We didn’t play well in spots. We didn’t hit the ball like we should have.”
Wyoming Area, though, will continue on as District 2’s second seed in the PIAA Class 4A playoffs. The Warriors will play District 11 champion Bangor (21-1) on Monday. Tunkhannock (13-4) plays D4 champion Shikellamy (14-8).
Kari Melberger had two of Wyoming Area’s three hits, but was stranded at second in the second and fourth innings. Jess Parente had the other hit when she opened the fourth with a single, but she was erased on a fielder’s choice.
The fourth inning was Wyoming Area’s best chance at scoring as Kristi Skok got to third and Melberger was at second with one out. Hope Jones, though, struck out the final two batters she faced before giving way to Schultz.
Schultz recorded two strikeouts and seven pop-outs to end the game.
“I knew my defense had my back and they always come in clutch,” Schultz said. “They’re always giving me the best pep talks and they’re always making the plays when I need them to. I had a good mindset. It was awesome.”
Tunkhannock took a 1-0 lead in the third. Hailey Farr opened the inning with a single to left and moved to second on Jenn Bulford’s sacrifice bunt. An out later, she scored on an error on Faith Jones’ flyball.
Farr added a two-run single in the fourth to boost the advantage to 3-0. Jena Simmons and Sarah Traver walked earlier and scored on the drive to center field.
“Hailey hasn’t been hitting much this year,” Hegedty said. “She was in a little bit of a slump. But what we’ve been seeing in practices and some of our live practice scrimmages she was really getting back out of that slump. We got her back in the lineup and, boy, she’s hitting the ball well right now.”
Tunkhannock’s last trip to states in 1999 ended with a first-round loss to Williamsport in the Class 3A tournament. Wyoming Area made it to the Class 3A state semifinals in 1981.
District 2 4A Championship
Tunkhannock 3, Wyoming Area 0
Wyoming Area`AB`R`H`BI
Glatz p`2`0`0`0
Pizzano ss`3`0`0`0
Parente c`3`0`1`0
Skok 3b`3`0`0`0
Melberger 2b`3`0`2`0
Silinskie lf`3`0`0`0
Kopetchny cf`3`0`0`0
Karcutskie rf`2`0`0`0
Graham 1b`2`0`0`0
Totals`24`0`3`0
Tunkhannock`AB`R`H`BI
HJones p`3`0`0`0
FJones ss`2`0`0`0
Mokychic cf`3`0`2`0
Simmons 3b`2`1`0`0
Schultz 1b`2`0`1`0
Traver lf`1`1`0`0
Carpenter pr`0`0`0`0
Dunn rf`3`0`0`0
Farr dp`2`1`2`2
Bulford 2b`2`0`0`0
Krispin c`0`0`0`0
Totals`20`3`5`2
Wyoming Area`000`000`0`—`0
Tunkhannock`001`200`x`—`3
E: Wyo Area 1. LOB: Wyo Area 4, Tunkhannock 5. SAC: Bulford, Schultz. SB: Melberger, Traver.
Wyo Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Glatz (L)`5`5`2`1`2`0
Graham`1`0`1`1`1`1
Tunk`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
HJones (W)`4`3`0`0`1`4
Schultz (S)`3`0`0`0`0`2
