Conwell-Egan advances to state final
MECHANICSBURG, PA. » Peaking at the perfect time of the season, the Conwell-Egan High School softball team rolled into the PIAA Class 2A state championship game with a 7-2 victory over Claysburg-Kimmel on Monday.
Playing at the Cumberland Valley High School, Conwell-Egan rode the strong pitching of Ahlana Sesar and more slugging by standout center fielder Katey Brennan to up its record to 13-9 and reach its first state final in program history.
Conwell-Egan will play for the championship on Friday at 11 a.m. at Penn State University. Its opponent will be undefeated Neshannock after it beat Laurel in Monday’s other semifinal.
“It’s really cool,” said veteran Conwell-Egan coach Sandy Hart of reaching the state final. “The team has really come a long way from where we were at the start of the season. Once we got the injuries and illnesses straightened out, things came together.”
Sesar had just one strikeout, but limited Claysburg-Kimmel to four hits. Conwell-Egan, meanwhile, pounded out nine hits and took full control of the game with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Philadelphia Catholic League Player of the Year, Brennan led the way with two doubles. Also collecting two hits for the Eagles were Ange Bresnan, Cassidy Blaskof and Cecilia McBeth. McBeth also led the team in RBIs with two. Claysburg-Kimmel 000 020 00 — 2 4 2 Conwell-Egan (13-9) 001 150 x — 7 9 2 WP-Sesar. LP-Walters. 2B-Brennan (CE) 2.
PIAA CLASS 4A
TUNKHANNOCK 13, VILLA JOE MARIE 0
ALLENTOWN, PA. » Taking on a strong and hard-hitting Tunkhannock team at Patriot’s Park, Villa Joe Marie saw its season come to an end with this state semifinal loss. VJM finished with a 19-4 record after repeating as the District 1 Class 4A champion.