Heavy rain that caused flooding in the Fairchance area forced Pittston Area to adjust and improvise at the 10-11-year-old Little League Softball state tournament.
When fields were left unplayable for what would have been the second day of the tournament, July 29, players instead spent the day together at the Fayette County Fair. In the evening, they learned their coaches could turn a hotel parking lot into an impromptu practice facility.
When it returned to the field, Pittston Area put together two wins on the same day, finishing one opponent in the shortest possible game and taking care of another in an extra inning.
After losing the opener, Pittston Area used the two wins July 30 to ultimately finish third in the six-team, double-elimination tournament.
“Going out there, they were very excited,” Pittston Area manager Joe Mihalka said. “They never gave up and they played as a team.
“I think the first game we had a little bit of jitters in the field that hurt us.”
Natalya Soto drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the second win, a 7-6 victory over Lower Perkiomen that sent the team into Monday’s elimination bracket final.
Earlier in the day, Pittston Area defeated host Fairchance, 22-11, in four innings.
Olivia Walter and Abigail Nowakowski had three hits each against Fairchance. Serenity Lostrick and Emma Rinaldi added two each.
Katie Wywoda struck out five and walked three against Fairchance. She then had four strikeouts and just two walks in the win over Lower Perkiomen.
Walter, Maura Mihalka and Cassie Hintze each had two hits against Lower Perkiomen.
“The Lower Perk game, the girls kept their composure,” Joe Mihalka said. “The coaches? Man, were we nervous in the dugout.”
Hintze started the winning rally with a single. She moved to second on a Riley McCawley groundout, stole third and scored on Soto’s single.
DuBois eliminated Pittston Area, 20-12.
Nowakowski had three hits in the final game. Maura Mihalka and Hintze added two each.
Walter and Wywoda each had doubles.
Williamsport won the state title.
Joe Mihalka was assisted by coaches Willie Rinaldi, Ken Nowakowski and Pete Wywoda.
The remainder of the roster included Alyvia Doran, Marisa Christ, Samantha Thomas and Brianna Carrozza.
Joe Mihalka said it was a great experience for all. At the team and family dinner prior to the tournament, Pittston Area parents met parents from Lower Perkiomen, who had relatives from Pittston, as well as people from DuBois and Williamsport with acquaintances in the area.
Girls traded social media contact information with those they met through competition.
“They made new friends, in a short period of time, that will last a lifetime,” Mihalka said. “I got to coach 13 great girls with Pete, Willie, Ken.
“We’ll never forget them.”
Cassie Hintze scores the winning run for Pittston Area in the bottom of the seventh inning of a state tournament game with Lower Perkiomen.
