First, the Nanticoke Area community rallied behind its softball team.
“Our students traveled down, our fans showed up,” said head coach Ryan Stetz. “It was a great atmosphere.”
Then, the Trojanettes rewarded their faithful fans with a thrilling win.Two hours south at Methacton High School on Monday, lefty Miranda Bohn turned in another phenomenal performance in Nanticoke Area’s 4-3 PIAA Class 4A playoff win against Upper Perkiomen.
Madison Stashak re-entered the game in the top of the ninth and hit a game-winning single that scored Megan Murphy.
“We’ve been playing with confidence for three weeks, but this is awesome,” Stetz said. “The girls are having a blast and I couldn’t be happier for them. We’re going to celebrate this win and, by Thursday, we’ll be focused. But we’re going to enjoy every second of it.”
In eliminating the District 1 champion Indians (17-5), the District 2 runner-up Trojanettes (11-6) advance to play Thursday in the state quarterfinals against East Pennsboro at a time and place to be announced.
On Monday, Nanticoke Area relied heavily on Bohn, which is no surprise considering she’s pitched every inning of Nanticoke Area softball this season
“She is just moving the ball in and out — you can’t time her right now,” Stetz said.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the third, Nanticoke Area tied the game with Jilann Baron’s single that scored Gabby Rakowski
Brinley Sobeck scored during the next at-bat, a fielder’s choice by Murphy, which put Nanticoke Area ahead 3-2.
Upper Perkiomen tied the game in the fifth before each lineup went silent, piling up matching scoreless frames in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings
“They were comparable to what we’ve seen all year,” Stetz said of the Indians. “They were as good as advertised.”
Bohn pitched all nine innings and allowed just six hits. Only one run was earned
Given the one-run lead on Stashak’s line drive single up the middle that scored Murphy, Bohn closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.
Murphy was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a double and a home run
Bohn, Sobeck, Baron, Katie King, Stashak and Jen Kurkoski had one hit apiece.