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STATE COLLEGE — Throughout Blackhawk’s postseason run in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs, there has been a simple formula to the Cougars’ success and that has been to start fast and the results will come.
While Blackhawk got off to that signature fast start, Valley View’s bats staged a five-run comeback in a massive fourth inning to defeat the Cougars 13-8 to claim back-to-back PIAA 4A high school softball championships on Friday, June 12 at Beard Field.
“When the lights come on and it’s time to play, these girls come out and get off to fast starts,” Blackhawk head coach Jim Riggio said. “Things were moving, scoring five in the first two innings and would have loved to take that fourth inning back, but if you told me that we would score that much against Valley View, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
After cutting into the Blackhawk (15-6) deficit in the third inning, Valley View (24-3) put together a fourth inning of epic proportions, tagging the Cougars for nine runs on nine hits.
The inning consisted of six straight hits to begin the frame and four extra-base hits, capped off by catcher Maggie Hanett’s bases-loaded three-RBI single to give Valley View a five-run lead of its own.
“There might have been a couple of above-average plays that we could have made, but Kylie Prisuta has been our mule all year and you allow her to get out of those jams,” Riggio said. “I decided to walk the pitcher to load the bases. I wasn’t going to let her beat us.”
Despite the lopsided nine-run inning from Valley View, it wasn’t for a lack of effort from the Blackhawk bats, with the team ending Valley View’s impressive nine-game shutout streak.
Required Reading: Blackhawk softball dances its way to PIAA championship on historic run
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The middle of the order for Blackhawk was the driving force to the team’s offensive success, with center fielder Addy Ramer and Lara Selick combining for all eight of Blackhawk’s runs.
Ramer finished with five RBIs, driving in a pair in the second inning with a double down the left field line, another on a sacrifice fly earlier in the game, followed by a two-run home run to left field in the sixth.
Selick did her damage with a pair of RBI singles in the first and second innings, followed by a sacrifice fly to right field in the fourth.
“I just play the game,” Ramer said. “Knowing that it’s my senior year and playing in the final game of my high school career, I wanted to go out with a bang. As a team, that’s the way that we play. We always go for it all no matter who we play.”
While the ending was not one that Blackhawk would have liked, it came following another historic run, reaching the state semifinals and championship game for the first time in the program’s history.
“We had such a talented group during this run. Kylie [Prisuta] and Morgan Alexander are two of my best friends and I cannot wait to see what they both do in the future,” Ramer said.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Blackhawk falls to Valley View in PIAA 4A softball championship
Continue reading...
While Blackhawk got off to that signature fast start, Valley View’s bats staged a five-run comeback in a massive fourth inning to defeat the Cougars 13-8 to claim back-to-back PIAA 4A high school softball championships on Friday, June 12 at Beard Field.
“When the lights come on and it’s time to play, these girls come out and get off to fast starts,” Blackhawk head coach Jim Riggio said. “Things were moving, scoring five in the first two innings and would have loved to take that fourth inning back, but if you told me that we would score that much against Valley View, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
After cutting into the Blackhawk (15-6) deficit in the third inning, Valley View (24-3) put together a fourth inning of epic proportions, tagging the Cougars for nine runs on nine hits.
The inning consisted of six straight hits to begin the frame and four extra-base hits, capped off by catcher Maggie Hanett’s bases-loaded three-RBI single to give Valley View a five-run lead of its own.
“There might have been a couple of above-average plays that we could have made, but Kylie Prisuta has been our mule all year and you allow her to get out of those jams,” Riggio said. “I decided to walk the pitcher to load the bases. I wasn’t going to let her beat us.”
Despite the lopsided nine-run inning from Valley View, it wasn’t for a lack of effort from the Blackhawk bats, with the team ending Valley View’s impressive nine-game shutout streak.
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Required Reading: Blackhawk softball dances its way to PIAA championship on historic run
Required Reading: Blackhawk knocks off Harbor Creek in PIAA 4A softball semifinals
Required Reading: Despite loss, Hopewell's James Armstrong completes impressive sophomore year
The middle of the order for Blackhawk was the driving force to the team’s offensive success, with center fielder Addy Ramer and Lara Selick combining for all eight of Blackhawk’s runs.
Ramer finished with five RBIs, driving in a pair in the second inning with a double down the left field line, another on a sacrifice fly earlier in the game, followed by a two-run home run to left field in the sixth.
Selick did her damage with a pair of RBI singles in the first and second innings, followed by a sacrifice fly to right field in the fourth.
“I just play the game,” Ramer said. “Knowing that it’s my senior year and playing in the final game of my high school career, I wanted to go out with a bang. As a team, that’s the way that we play. We always go for it all no matter who we play.”
You must be registered for see images attach
While the ending was not one that Blackhawk would have liked, it came following another historic run, reaching the state semifinals and championship game for the first time in the program’s history.
“We had such a talented group during this run. Kylie [Prisuta] and Morgan Alexander are two of my best friends and I cannot wait to see what they both do in the future,” Ramer said.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Blackhawk falls to Valley View in PIAA 4A softball championship
Continue reading...
