State College very familiar with DuBois

Walt Moody

It's been the same scenario for State College softball team for the last few seasons — hurry up to win a District 6 Class AAAA title and then wait for a week for PIAA Tournament play to start.

CDT file photo/Christopher Weddle

State College pitcher Megan Brown will lead the 14-6 Lady Little Lions into their PIAA Class AAAA play-in game today against DuBois in Hollidaysburg.

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This year it’s a little different — hurry up, wait a week and hurry up again.

The Lady Little Lions (14-6) will finally get a chance to get back onto the field today as they meet District 9 champion DuBois in a PIAA play-in game at a 2 p.m. at Hollidaysburg’s Legion Field.

After taking a week off following a 6-2 win over Central Mountain in the District 6 title game, State College waited until late Wednesday to find out who its next opponent would be. DuBois knocked off District 10 champion Brockway 3-0 in a game that finished around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at Brockway High School.

Although, they had no practice time to prepare for DuBois, the Lady Little Lions are at least familiar with the Lady Beavers (16-4). The teams played twice during the regular season, with State College taking the opener 5-0 and DuBois winning 5-2 on May 14.

“I have mixed feelings playing against DuBois,” State College coach Rick Hall said. “We know we can beat them, but we also know they can beat us. I think they’re one of those teams that has gotten better since the season has went on, but there’s no fear factor in playing them.”

The Lady Beavers are led by pitcher Carly Wallock. Hall is wary of Lorianne Barbey and Alysha Lange at the plate.

“You can’t miss a pitch on them. Barbey and Lange, their No. 1 and No. 3 hitters, are two kids that you can’t afford to miss a pitch because they will make you pay for it. They’re pretty solid defensively and you’re going to have to hit the ball to beat them.

“I think we’ve learned some things from playing them twice and I think they’ve learned some things as well.”

DuBois coach Shawn Deemer, whose team has won 10 straight, expects a tough clash against the Lady Little Lions.

“State College has a nice one through four punch," Deemer said. "(Anna) Juska always finds a way to get on base so our goal tomorrow is to try to keep her off the basepaths. Megan Brown is a really good pitcher. She’s a spot pitcher and when she’s on she can really hit her pitches.”

Hall said his team is very motivated to make a run in the PIAA playoffs. The Lady Little Lions were eliminated in the opening round last season after advancing to the quarterfinals the previous season.

“They still seem to be focused,” Hall said of his squad. “Even though they won districts, these kids seem to have an attitude that, ‘Yeah, we feel good about winning districts, but we’re not done yet.’

“These kids have gotten a taste of it and they feel they have a shot of going far, but they also know it comes down to having to play your best every game from here on out. Once you lose, you’re done.”

Hall said the squad has a solid mix of youthful enthusiasm and veteran leadership.

“When you look at this team, there are three or four kids that have experienced being there,” he said of the PIAA playoffs. “I guess we’re kind of an in-between team. We’re experienced, but we’re still young because we only have two seniors on the team. They’ve tasted it before and know that the capability to compete with anybody because of the competition we’ve faced this year. They’re not satisfied yet.”

Hall said the team knows what they’ll get with Brown in the circle. Brown (11-3) has been solid all season. If his hitters, who made the most of their opportunities in wins over Hollidaysburg (5-0) and Central Mountain, get on track, Hall said the Little Lions could make a run in the PIAAs.

“I have felt this all year long that if we ever get the No. 1-9 hitters all hitting at the same time that this could be a dangerous team to face,” he said. “I’ve felt that the bottom part of my lineup is as good as — if not better than — anybody we’ve faced all year long.”