Montour softball team back in PIAA semifinals
Montour has reached the PIAA semifinals for the second time in three years. The WPIAL champion Spartans knocked off District 9 champion Punxsutawney 4-1 in the PIAA first round. The Spartans defeated Greensburg Salem, the third-seed out of the WPIAL, 4-1 in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Montour now heads to the PIAA semifinals where it will face Big Spring, the third seed out of District 3. The teams will meet Monday at St. Francis University at 4 p.m., with the winner advancing to the PIAA Class AAA championship game Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Penn State University.
Much like they did in 2010, the Spartans have ridden the arm and the bat of senior Kaitlyn Kutchman. In the PIAA quarterfinal win Kutchman went 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs while also firing a six-hitter.
"We are only a couple girls removed from our 2010 team," Montour coach Bill Wills said. "I think they know what to expect this time, they are confident and they are excited about it. Big Spring, they seem like they are a very solid team. They have winning games by one run or so, they look to have a pretty good pitcher and we know they are pretty solid from top to bottom."
Wills team is solid top to bottom as well. Overall Montour is batting .374, led by Stacey Capp (.523), Allison Hryadil (.430), Allison McMurtrie (.426) and Kutchman (.423). Those five players also happen to be the five starters who started for Montour in 2010. The team has combined to hit 14 home runs this year, led by Kutchman's four and Hryadil's three.
Montour now heads to the PIAA semifinals where it will face Big Spring, the third seed out of District 3. The teams will meet Monday at St. Francis University at 4 p.m., with the winner advancing to the PIAA Class AAA championship game Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Penn State University.
Much like they did in 2010, the Spartans have ridden the arm and the bat of senior Kaitlyn Kutchman. In the PIAA quarterfinal win Kutchman went 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs while also firing a six-hitter.
"We are only a couple girls removed from our 2010 team," Montour coach Bill Wills said. "I think they know what to expect this time, they are confident and they are excited about it. Big Spring, they seem like they are a very solid team. They have winning games by one run or so, they look to have a pretty good pitcher and we know they are pretty solid from top to bottom."
Wills team is solid top to bottom as well. Overall Montour is batting .374, led by Stacey Capp (.523), Allison Hryadil (.430), Allison McMurtrie (.426) and Kutchman (.423). Those five players also happen to be the five starters who started for Montour in 2010. The team has combined to hit 14 home runs this year, led by Kutchman's four and Hryadil's three.
softball