What to look for when Bald Eagle softball takes on Avonworth in PIAA Class 3A semifinals
Bald Eagle softball reached the PIAA Class 3A softball semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Deer Lakes on June 9.
The Lady Eagles will take on Avonworth at 4:30 p.m. on Monday at Saint Francis University’s softball field. The winner will take on the winner of the game between Lewisburg and Palmerton in the state title game at Penn State’s Beard Field on Thursday at 1 p.m. Here are some of the players and numbers to look out for as the Lady Eagles look to challenge the Lady Lopes.
Matchup by the numbers
Bald Eagle enters the game with a 17-4 record and a District 6 Class 3A championship under its belt. Eight of the Lady Eagles’ batters are hitting over .300 for the season, with the team’s collective batting average sitting at .363. The Lady Eagles get on-base over 40% of the time (.432) as a team and are slugging at a .514 clip collectively. Bald Eagle owns an earned run average of 2.21 in 141.2 innings pitched, holding teams at bay with its stellar pitching.
Avonworth boasts a 22-3 record heading into its matchup with the Lady Eagles. The Lady Lopes are 14-1 at home, 3-1 on the road and 5-1 in neutral site games. They outscored opponents 201-49 and won the WPIAL Class 3A championship.
Key contributors
Pitching and defense come at a premium for Bald Eagle. First-year pitcher Sierra Albright has commanded the zone with authority, pitching 115.2 innings, holding a 2.06 ERA and notching 113 strikeouts on the year. She’s walked just 21 batters the entire season and teams are hitting just .184 against the right-hander. Albright has struck out at least 10 batters 10 times this season.
Her battery mate is first-year catcher Kailey Eckert. The backstop has 170 putouts on 197 total chances for a fielding percentage of .995. She’s made just one error behind the plate and has 26 assists. Eckert has caught eight runners stealing. Offensively, she’s slashing .443/.536/.571.
The Lady Eagles are dangerous throughout their lineup, but there are a few offensive standouts who stir the pot for Bald Eagle.
Bald Eagle’s leadership begins with senior shortstop Madison Perry. Not only does she lead the team in batting average (.471), but she’s also driven in the most runs with 21. Perry gets on-base at a clip of .549 and immediately poses a threat on the basepaths with a team-high 15 steals on the season. She’s also put the ball in play with .914 contact rate, trailing outfielder Marina Shawley.
Senior third baseman Autumn Tobias has also been one of the unsung leaders of the team. She poses an immediate threat — owning a perfect 1.000 rate while stealing bases. Tobias has stolen 11 bases, trailing Eckert (14) and the aforementioned Perry. The senior makes teams pay at the plate, with a .356/.415/.534 slash line, 17 RBI and two home runs.
There’s also senior second baseman Katelyn Smitchko, who has been instrumental in the lineup, providing power from the keystone position. She leads the team in home runs (4) and slugging percentage (.694). Smitchko holds a batting average of .419 on the year and has driven in 16 runs.
Junior first baseman Ava Stere has continued to attack the ball and has shown patience at the plate. Stere slashes .427/.482/.693 and leads the team with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.175. She’s also scored 25 runs, trailing just Eckert (27). The first baseman leads the team with 11 doubles on the year and has three homers.
Shawley is another senior that’s provided power from the outfield with a triple on the year. She’s batting .311 on the year. Designated player Kierra Serb adds another bat as a left-handed hitter with a .324 batting average. First-year player Sydney Thompson is second on the team with nine extra-base hits and is fifth on the team in steals with seven. First-year center fielder Taylor Habovick has contributed in a big way of late, going 2-for-3 from the plate and driving in two runs against Deer Lakes. She’s usually a sure-handed outfielder with a .944 fielding percentage in center.
This story was originally published June 12, 2022 at 3:21 PM.
