Here we go again: Shot at state title on line in Carmichaels-C-H fourth meeting
Mark Marietta
They played three times and all three games could’ve gone either way.
Now the Carmichaels and Chartiers-Houston softball teams will meet for a fourth and final time this season with a shot at winning the PIAA Class A championship on the line.
The two split two regular season games, the Lady Bucs winning at Carmichaels, 6-5, and the Lady Mikes winning a 15-inning suspended game at C-H, 7-5, which led to the two tying for the Section 2 title.
The third meeting came in the WPIAL semifinals with Chartiers-Houston pulling out a 3-2 victory before going on to defeat Union in the district championship game.
Now it’s time for Round 4 which will be played at 2 p.m. today at Peterswood Park.
“When you look at it on paper, we really are an even matchup,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “And the games have kind of played out that way.”
The only other area team that remains alive is WPIAL Class AAAA champion Elizabeth Forward which must travel to Norlo Park Softball Complex, located in Fayetteville, just east of Chambersburg, to take on Archbishop Wood in a 4 p.m. state semifinal game today.
The site will result in a trip of approximately two hours and 45 minutes from Elizabeth Forward High School for the Lady Warriors, while Archbishop Wood, located about 50 miles north of Philadelphia, also has a significant trek of around two and a half hours.
The Lady Vikings (13-7) are the third place team out of District 12 and defeated District 3 champion Trinity, 8-1, in the first round and District 9 champion St. Mary’s, 5-4 in 10 innings, in the quarterfinals.
Elizabeth Forward (22-1) advanced with wins over District 3 third-place team Big Spring, 1-0, and Chartiers Valley, the third-place team out of the WPIAL, 11-1.
Carmichaels (18-3) got to the PIAA final four with wins over District 10 champion Cambridge Springs, 2-1 in eight innings, and District 6 champion Claysburg-Kimmel, 8-1. Chartiers-Houston (20-2) knocked out District 5 runner-up Berlin Brothersvalley, 2-1, and District 6 runner-up West Branch, 4-0.
“It could come down to a bounce of the ball here or there. I’m just hoping the softball gods are with us tomorrow,” Briggs said with a laugh. “But it’s always about pitching and defense, and maybe who gets that one key hit at the right moment. I expect the same type of close game that we had the other three times we played. I’d be surprised if it was any different.”
Both teams are battle-tested, having come out of arguably the toughest Class A section in the PIAA, one that put three teams, including perennial power West Greene, in the WPIAL final four. Even Jefferson-Morgan, the fourth-place team in the section, won a playoff game for the fifth consecutive season.
“I’d say our section would have to be the best in the state,” Briggs said. “There were no real layups even against the teams that didn’t make the playoffs. Everybody in there has got good pitching.
“Playing in that type of section definitely helps you out when you go up against other teams in the WPIAL playoffs and the states.”
The other Class A semifinal pits District 2 champion Old Forge against District 9 champion DuBois Central Catholic. Today’s winners will play in the PIAA final at 11 a.m. Thursday at Nittany Lion Softball Park at Penn State University.
If Elizabeth Forward advances, it would play the winner between District 11 champion Blue Mountain and District 11 runner-up Northwestern Lehigh on Friday at 1:30 p.m., also at Penn State.