PUNXSUTAWNEY 3, CLEARFIELD 1

May 28, 2008 - District 9 Class AAA Softball Championship Game at Brockway

By Fred Kavelak

BROCKWAY - Angie Burke pitched a three-hitter and drove in runs with two of her three hits to lead Punxsutawney past Clearfield 3-1 in the District 9 Class AAA softball championship game at the Brockway Area High School Field Wednesday afternoon.

Two runs in the top of the seventh inning decided the pitching duel between Burke and Lady Bison Mandy Rowles, who allowed eight singles.

The junior right-handers registered seven strikeouts apiece. There were no walks in the game.

Burke had beaten the Lady Bisons twice during the regular season, 5-1 with a three-hitter on April 8 and 3-2 with a five-hitter on May 14.

Clearfield (11-7) broke the ice in the fourth inning on Megan Butler's single through the middle, a sacrifice bunt and two wild pitches.

Punxsutawney (14-6) got the equalizer in the fifth after Amber Lellock's fly ball to right was misplayed. Pinch-runner Ashley Barenchik advanced to third on Angie Laska's infield hit and scored when Burke looped a single over third base.

In the seventh, Lellock led off with a single to center and moved to second on a groundout. An error on Laska's single through the left side enable Lellock to tally the winning run. After Laska reached third on a groundout, Burke bounced a single to left for the insurance run.

Punxsutawney and Clearfield have alternated as 9-AAA champions the last four years.

The Lady Chucks will play the District 7 (WPIAL) champion Monday in the first round of the PIAA Playoffs. Ellwood City (18-1) and Belle Vernon (15-7) meet in the title game Thursday night.

PUNXSUTAWNEY --- 3

Angie Burke p 4032, Kelsey McFarland 2b 4010, Allie Miller cf 3000, Tina Elgin 1b 3010, Sara Ruehle c 3000, Amber Lellock rf 3110, Ashley Barenchik pr 0100, Ashley Spack dp 2000, Hannah Neal ph 1000, Angie Laska ss 3120, Megan Kauffman lf 2000, Jenna Reitz ph 1000, Sarah Depp 3b 1000.  TOTALS: 24 3 8 2.

CLEARFIELD --- 1

Alanna Luzier 2b 3010, Megan Butler 3b 3110, Ashley Lias ss 2010, Mandy Rowles p 3000, Julie Colesar 1b 3000, Alyssa Anderson cf 3000, Kenzie McGovern c 3000, Suzie Colesar rf 3000, Carrie Harbold dp 2000, Sarah Kovalick lf 0000.  TOTALS: 25 1 3 0.

Score by Innings

Punxsutawney   000 010 2 - 3 8 1

Clearfield          000 100 0 - 1 3 2

Errors - Laska; S. Colesar, Kovalick. PB - McGovern 1. LOB - Punxsutawney 5; Clearfield 4. 2B - Luzier. Sac - Lias. SB - Burke, Laska.

Pitching

Punxsutawney - Burke 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.

Clearfield - Rowles 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.

WP - Burke 3; Rowles 2.

W - Burke (5-4). L - Rowles (11-7).

Umpires - Ron Caskey (home plate), Neil McIssac (first base), Jim Thomas (second base), Rob Burr (third base).