Softball: Vikings Weather Big Spring Comeback Bid, Advance to District Final

 

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Vikings Weather Big Spring Comeback Bid, Advance to District Final

Rain threatened to delay Northern Lebanon’s District 3 semifinal matchup on Thursday, with the #3 seeded Vikings set to travel to #2 Big Spring for a 4:15 p.m. start. Instead, a change of plans moved the game to Keystone Fieldhouse in Carlisle, where the turf infield allowed the game to be played a few hours later under the lights.

Once the game finally began, Northern Lebanon made the wait worth it.

Behind a strong complete-game effort from Addison Hollenbach and a four-run 2nd inning, the Vikings held off Big Spring for a 5-4 win, clinching a return trip to the District 3 Championship Game while also securing a spot in the PIAA State Championship Tournament.

Hollenbach was locked in from the circle, striking out ten and walking just one while going all seven innings. The right-hander allowed eight hits and four runs, but continued to battle as Big Spring tried to erase a five-run deficit late.

Northern Lebanon struck first in the top of the 2nd. Sophia Roye reached to start the inning, and Makenzie Westfollowed with a walk to give the Vikings a scoring chance. Keira Palski then singled to load the bases before Ryleigh Hopkins brought home the game’s first run with a single. Stephanie Palkovic followed with the biggest swing of the inning, driving a double that scored two more runs. An error then allowed another run to score, giving Northern Lebanon a 4-0 lead.

The Vikings added another run in the 4th, pushing their advantage to 5-0. West reached on a walk, and Palski came through again with a hit as Northern Lebanon created another scoring opportunity. Hopkins then drove in her second run of the night, giving the Vikings what would become an important insurance run.

Big Spring started to fight back in the bottom of the 5th, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 5-2. Zoey Zimmermandoubled twice for the Bulldogs, while Hannah Darhower helped drive the rally from the bottom of the order. The Bulldogs added another run in the 6th, then made things even tighter in the 7th when Kennedy Klein hit a solo home run to center field.

Even with Big Spring building momentum, Hollenbach stayed steady. With the Vikings’ lead down to one, she finished off the Bulldogs and sent Northern Lebanon back to the District 3 Championship Game for the second straight season.

Northern Lebanon finished with ten hits in the win. Palski and Hopkins each collected two hits, while Palkovic went 1-4 and led the Vikings with two RBI. Hollenbach, Addison Kubica, Roye, Mykenah Johnson, and West also added hits as Northern Lebanon put pressure on Big Spring throughout the night.

Big Spring, which finished with eight hits, made its late push behind Darhower, who went 2-3 with two RBI. Zimmerman also collected two hits, both doubles, while Klein added the 7th-inning home run for the Bulldogs.

Northern Lebanon is now 20-4 and will play in Tuesday’s District 3 AAAA Championship against the winner of Friday’s semifinal between Kennard-Dale and Fleetwood. The championship game will be played at Millersville University, with the game time still to be announced.

For the Vikings, the win guarantees a return trip to the PIAA State Championship Tournament. It also sends Northern Lebanon to the District 3 Championship Game for the 2nd straight season and the 3rd time overall, as the Vikings will pursue their 1st ever District title.

Northern Lebanon 5, Big Spring 4

 

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	R	H	E
Northern Lebanon	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	5	10	3
Big Spring	0	0	0	0	2	1	1	4	8	2

 

 

 

Northern Lebanon Leaders

Ryleigh Hopkins: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 TB
Stephanie Palkovic: 1-4, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 TB
Addison Hollenbach: 1-4, SO, TB
Addison Kubica: 1-4, TB
Sophia Roye: 1-4, R, TB
Mykenah Johnson: 1-4, TB
Makenzie West: 1-3, 2 R, BB, TB
Keira Palski: 2-2, R, BB, 2 TB

Pitching
Addison Hollenbach (W): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

Big Spring Leaders

Kendall Boring-Gutshall: 1-4, R, TB
Kennedy Klein: 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 4 TB
Izzy Fry: 1-4, R, RBI, 3B, 3 TB
Zoey Zimmerman: 2-4, 2 2B, 4 TB
Shaun Adler: 1-3, TB
Hannah Darhower: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2B, 5 TB

Pitching
Brylee Stum: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Rilee Stewart: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Zoey Zimmerman: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

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