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There’s an old adage in sports that it’s tough to beat a good team three times.

If Nanticoke wants to get a divisional championship, it will need to do so.

Nanticoke and Tunkhannock play at 4:30 p.m. Friday to decide the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 softball title. The game is at Wyoming Area’s Atlas Complex in West Pittston.

Both teams finished the regular season at 11-3, with Nanticoke defeating Tunkhannock 5-4 and 5-0. So it’s going to take another win vs. the Tigers, not an easy task said Nanticoke coach Ryan Stetz.

“I agree,” Stetz said, “but at the same time it seems like when we get into late May with this group of girls, we really have confidence in them. I trust our players. We’re going to go out and have fun and play with energy and I think we’ll do just fine.”

Nanticoke is a young but experienced team, winning the District 2 Class 3A championship and falling a game short of playing for the PIAA 3A state crown in 2015. Shortstop Rachel Roccograndi and first baseman Vanessa Tocket are the only seniors on the team. Eight of the 10 players who started the 5-0 loss to Bethlehem Catholic in the state semifinal have been starters this season. It would have been nine if designated player/pitcher Miranda Bohn didn’t break her hand against Holy Redeemer on March 31. She was cleared to return this week.

Many of Tunkhannock’s starters gained on-the-job experience this year. Infielder Kailey Reposa is the only senior in a starting lineup that features five freshmen — pitcher Hope Jones, shortstop Faith Jones, outfielders Kendra Schultz and Jenna Simmons and catcher Hailey Farr.

The Tigers have been solid at the plate for the most part, but the last two games have been a bit concerning. They had one hit in a 5-0 loss to Nanticoke on Monday and seven in a 4-0 win against Dallas on Wednesday. Three of those seven hits, though, didn’t leave the infield.

“I am a little bit concerned about the hitting,” Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty said. “I’m waiting for them to bounce out of it. It seems like were not focusing at the plate and not getting good pitch selection and hitting good pitches like we were earlier in the year. It seems like we’re a little anxious and jumping on some bad pitches.”

Tunkhannock’s other loss was a 4-0 setback to Division 1 champion Hazleton Area. The Tigers had seven hits against Hazleton Area, but were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

Nanticoke’s losses were 9-7 to Wyoming Valley West, 5-0 to Pittston Area and 6-2 to Hazleton Area. The Trojanettes didn’t have starting pitcher Leandra Ramos, who was sick, for the game against Valley West. Bohn, their No. 2 pitcher, was injured so they had to use their No. 3 and No. 4 pitchers.

In the first matchup, Nanticoke scored four times in the first inning and needed a run in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie and win. Cassie Novakowski had two RBI for Nanticoke, which had seven singles. Sarah Traver homered and Simmons had two RBI for Tunkhannock. The Tigers were shaky on defense as four of the five runs scored against Hope Jones were unearned.

In Nanticoke’s 5-0 win over Tunkhannock on Monday, Ramos lost a no-hitter on an infield single by Schultz to start the seventh inning. Jenna Lipowski, the WVC’s premier power hitter, homered and missed a second by about two feet. Tocket had two RBI.

Friday’s game will also set the seedings for Nanticoke and Tunkhannock in next week’s District 2 Class 3A tournament. The winner is the No. 2 seed and plays No. 15 seed Coughlin (0-15). The loser is the fourth seed and plays No. 13 Lake-Lehman (3-11).

Nanticoke’s Leandra Ramos throws a pitch during her one-hitter against Tunkhannock on Monday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL051716HSSOFTTunkNanticoke6-1.jpg.optimal.jpgNanticoke’s Leandra Ramos throws a pitch during her one-hitter against Tunkhannock on Monday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

By John Erzar

[email protected]

UP NEXT

WVC Division 2

Softball Championship

Nanticoke vs. Tunkhannock

4:30 p.m. Friday

at Wyoming Area’s Atlas Complex

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar