Daniel Boone rallies past Cumberland Valley, advances to District 3-AAAA final

WILLOW STREET — Maggie Koch thought she had a two-run double in the third inning. But her line drive was ruled a foul ball.

Two innings later, Koch delivered the key hit in Daniel Boone’s 5-3 victory over Cumberland Valley on Tuesday in the District Three Class AAAA softball tournament at Garrett Field.

“I was really excited,’ Koch said. “I was singing a song in my head.’

Her two-run double inside the left-field line rallied the Blazers from a 4-3 deficit.

“Maggie has been a solid hitter all season,’ Daniel Boone head coach Traci Huddleson said. “She has been very consistent in pressure situations.’

Bekah Slattery registered 12 strikeouts and finished with four hits to help the second-seeded Blazers advance to the district title game for the second time in three years.

Sydney Hayes scored two runs for Daniel Boone, which will take on Lower Dauphin (a 7-2 winner over Penn Manor in Tuesday’s other semifinal).

“We’re really excited to be alive, the last remaining spring team at school to still be playing,’ said Slattery, who eclipsed the 300 strikeout plateau for the season. “We’re determined to go all the way. This team wants to win the (district) championship.’

The Blazers rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Cumberland Valley, the tournament’s third seed. With runners on second and third in the third inning, Koch smacked a line drive down the third base line. Both runners crossed the plate, but had to return after the trio of umpires ruled it foul.

After Koch struck out, Gabby Willman followed with a two-out single to get them within 3-2.

Daniel Boone mounted the decisive rally in the fifth, stringing together five consecutive hits against Eagles starting pitcher Jen Hanshaw.

Koch’s two-run double inside the left-field line brought home Slattery and Hayes, whose slide at the plate beat the tag of Cumberland Valley catcher Katie Wingert.

Savanah Toth’s RBI single to right capped the flurry.

“I knew we could come back,’ Koch said. “I have faith in my team.’

A shaky defensive performance by the Blazers in the second inning helped Cumberland Valley score three runs. A misplay on an infielder grounder allowed the first run to score.

The Eagles added two more runs on a grounder and a bunt single to go ahead 3-0.