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District 2 champion Hazleton Area is making its third consecutive appearance in the PIAA Class 4A state softball playoffs. The Cougars are hoping things go better than the last two times as they face District 3 runner-up Daniel Boone at 6 p.m. today at Wilkes University.
“This (senior) class never got to win in a state game yet,” Hazleton Area first-year coach Adrienne Rebarchak said. “They’ve always lost in that first game, so that was my goal this season. I would take them one more place than the ever been.”
That journey will involve a ghost from the past today — Daniel Boone pitcher Bekah Slattery. Two years ago, the crafty lefty confounded Hazleton Area as she struck out nine and allowed just four hits in a 4-1 victory. Last year, it was another District 3 runner-up, Lower Dauphin, that ousted Hazleton Area 2-0.
Hazleton Area (18-3) has been to the Class 4A state playoffs six times since the PIAA expanded to four classifications in 2005. The Cougars have been one-and-done on four occasions. They got out of the first round in 2010, only to be eliminated in the quarterfinals. The 2005 squad went the farthest, advancing to the semifinals where it was defeated by eventual state champion Pennsbury 11-0 in five innings.
Seven Cougars who played Daniel Boone (22-3) in 2013 are still regulars: infielders Mackenzie Yori, Maria Trivelpiece and Mikaela Browdy; outfielders Abby Sachse and Lexi Wolk; and pitchers Celine Podlesney and Samantha Varela. The problem that group has had in the previous two trips to states has been hitting. Hazleton Area is a combined 6 of 50 (.120) at the plate in their last two state games.
However, the bats have been strong down the stretch, pounding out nine hits in a 4-0 victory against Williamsport in the D2-4 Class 4A championship game.
“We’re just clicking. We’re hyped and we’re believing in each other,” Rebarchak said. “We know it’s one game at a time. The experience is definitely helping in these big games, but getting over that first game at states is going to be huge.”
Besides Slattery, catcher Savannah Toth and infielder Maggie Koch remain from the Daniel Boone team that played Hazleton Area in 2013. Koch had a key two-run double in a 5-3 semifinal victory over defending D3 champion Cumberland Valley.
The Blazers, though, struggled offensively in the championship game and two unearned runs in the eighth led to a 3-1 loss to Lower Dauphin.