Greencastle-Antrim’s softball squad is one win away from playing for a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 5A state championship.
But making it to the big game will be easier said than done for the Blue Devils, who face West Chester East in the semifinals on Monday, June 9. The Vikings, after all, boast a high-powered lineup fueled by star batters Caelyn Rodriguez and Ava Cross, two girls who have combined for 33 extra-base hits. Throw in ace pitcher Ava Ferri, and it’s easy to see how Greencastle could have its hands full against the District 1 runner-up.
The Blue Devils, however, have a powerful squad of their own. Greencastle — led by a couple of strong batters in Meadow Gambacurta and Caroline Logsdon, as well as strikeout specialist pitcher Kiersten Swain — has a team that’s rolled over two state playoff opponents by a combined 12-1 score.
We’re expecting fireworks when the Vikings and Blue Devils cross paths on Monday afternoon at Hershey High School. We’ve selected this star-studded contest as our Game of the Week.
The high school sports season ends after this week, so this will be our final Game of the Week story until the fall.
PIAA Class 5A Semifinals
Greencastle-Antrim vs. West Chester East
First pitch: Monday, 4 p.m., at Hershey High School
Records: The Blue Devils are 21-3, while the Vikings check in with an 18-8 record.
Last game: Greencastle-Antrim pitched a 3-0 shutout over District 2 champion North Pocono in the state quarterfinals, while West Chester East surged to a 6-3 victory over Springfield Delco.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the state championship on Friday to take on Penn-Trafford or West Allegheny. The season is over for the loser.
Meet the Blue Devils: Mark DeCarli, recently named the Mid-Penn Colonial Division’s Coach of the Year, has been the man at the helm for Greencastle’s dominant season … The Blue Devils cruised to a 13-1 record in the Colonial to finish in a tie for first place with Big Spring … Greencastle earned the No. 1 seed for the District 3 tournament, but the Blue Devils were upset by No. 5 Red Land in the semifinal round … Greencastle rebounded by thrashing Twin Valley 11-0 in the third-place game to secure its spot at the PIAA Championships … The Blue Devils kicked off states with a 9-1 win over District 1 champion Marple Newton before advancing to the semifinals with a 3-0 win over North Pocono … Greencastle is led by a group of six players who were recognized as Colonial Division All-Stars: First Teamers Caroline Logsdon, Meadow Gambacurta, and Kiersten Swain, Second Teamers Zhen Reuter and Kaidyn Zimmerman, and Third Teamer Kindal Rice … Gambacurta, a senior shortstop, is batting .479 with 10 doubles, five home runs, 37 runs, and 42 RBI … Senior third baseman Logsdon is hitting at a .434 clip with five triples, 39 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases … Swain, a sophomore, is the No. 1 pitcher for Greencastle. She’s won 12 games this season, boasts a 1.45 ERA, and has struck out 116 batters over 82 1/3 innings.
Meet the Vikings: Head coach Bobby Swier’s West Chester East squad is in the midst of its eighth trip to the state playoffs … During the regular season, the Vikings posted a 13-6 record for fifth place in the Ches-Mont League, before marching through the District 1 tourney and falling 2-0 to Marple Newton in the title game … East opened states with a 5-4 win over District 12 champion Cardinal O’Hara before punching its ticket to the semifinals with a 6-3 victory over Springfield Delco … The Vikings are powered by sophomore slugging shortstop Caelyn Rodriguez, who is batting .400 with 11 doubles, eight home runs, and 37 RBI. Rodriguez is coming off a freshman season that saw her club nine home runs … Seniors Daria Cross and Ava Cross provide some speed and power of their own. Daris is batting .377 and has stolen 19 bases, while Ava is hitting at a .367 clip with 14 extra-base hits … Lauren Maguire (.354) and Ava Ferri (.329) are two other batters boasting an average above .300 … Speaking of Ferri, she is the Vikings primary pitcher. The sophomore right-hander is 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and has struck out 96 batters over 165 1/3 innings.
Sandrik’s pick: Blue Devils by 2.
