Softball: Northern Lebanon Brings the Heat, Pulls Away from East Pennsboro in District Opener

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Northern Lebanon Brings the Heat, Pulls Away from East Pennsboro in District Opener

Northern Lebanon entered the District 3 Playoffs looking to build on an 18-4 regular season that earned the Vikings the #3 seed in the Class 4A bracket and a home quarterfinal against #6 East Pennsboro. With summer-like heat settling over the region on Monday afternoon, the Vikings answered an early challenge and pulled away for a 9-2 win.

East Pennsboro struck first in the top of the 1st, as Mackenzie Roach delivered a two-run double to give the Panthers a quick 2-0 lead.

Northern Lebanon wasted no time responding. After an error brought in the Vikings’ first run in the bottom of the 1st, Alyssa Shirey drove a triple into the gap to score two more and put Northern Lebanon in front. Another East Pennsboro error allowed the Vikings to add one more run, turning an early deficit into a 4-2 lead after one inning.

From there, Addison Hollenbach took control in the circle. After East Pennsboro’s two-run 1st, she kept the Panthers scoreless the rest of the way, working around traffic while striking out 10 and walking three. Hollenbach went the full seven innings, allowing two runs on nine hits.

Northern Lebanon’s offense kept applying pressure, then created separation in the 5th. Stephanie Palkovic helped lead the middle-inning push, while the Vikings continued to put the ball in play and force East Pennsboro to make plays under pressure. The three-run inning stretched Northern Lebanon’s lead to 7-2.

The Vikings added two more runs in the 6th to put the game firmly out of reach. Ryleigh Hopkins set the tone from the leadoff spot with three hits and three runs scored, while Palkovic and Hollenbach each collected two hits. Shirey, Sophia Roye, and Palkovic each drove in two runs as Northern Lebanon finished with 10 hits.

East Pennsboro continued to battle at the plate, finishing with nine hits. Roach led the Panthers by going 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Clarissa Coleman added two hits. But after the 1st, East Pennsboro could not find the timely hit needed to cut back into the deficit.

Northern Lebanon also helped itself defensively, turning one double play and doing enough behind Hollenbach to protect the lead. The win sends the Vikings into the District 3 Semifinals, where Northern Lebanon will face #2 Big Spring, which defeated Bermudian Springs 17-2 on Monday. The semifinal, which will determine who advances to the District 3 Championship, will be played Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Big Spring.

Northern Lebanon 9, East Pennsboro 2

Northern Lebanon Leaders

Ryleigh Hopkins: 3-4, 3 R
Stephanie Palkovic: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
Addison Hollenbach: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB
Alyssa Shirey: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B
Sophia Roye: 1-3, 2 RBI
Keira Palski: 1-2, R, BB
Addison Kubica: RBI, SF

Pitching
Addison Hollenbach (W): 7.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

East Pennsboro Leaders

Mackenzie Roach: 3-4, 2 RBI, 2B
Clarissa Coleman: 2-4
Riley Falk: 1-3, R, BB
Lauren Stup: 1-4, R
Gracie Barder: 1-4
Chloe Panagakis: 1-1, BB

Pitching
Claira Lipschutz: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Kylie Runk: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K