SOFTBALL: Boyertown prevails 17-16 over Perkiomen Valley for first PIAA tournament berth since 1996

GRATERFORD >> The Boyertown softball team qualified for the PIAA Championships for the first time in 28 years, dating back to 1996, on Tuesday.

Some in attendance might say the way the Bears earned that spot took 28 years off their lives.

The circumstances of Boyertown’s 17-16 victory over Pioneer Athletic Conference rival Perkiomen Valley in a District 1-6A playback game almost had to be seen to be believed.

The Bears came back from a 7-0 deficit to score 15 unanswered runs over three innings to lead 15-7 entering the bottom of the sixth. That’s when the VIkings mounted their own furious rally, charging back to tie it 15-15.

But the Bears kept coming. Kyra Neiswender’s RBI triple and Hailey Schildt’s RBI single in the top of the seventh gave Boyertown a 17-15 that was just enough. Neiswender, making her second pitching appearance of the game, gave up a solo home run to Sammy Petersen but got the final two outs for an improbable save.

Final: Boyertown 17, Perkiomen Valley 16, District 1 6A softball playback

The Bears rally from 7-0 down, then 15-14 down and have earned a place in the state tournament pic.twitter.com/QQZYoenDBv

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) May 28, 2024

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Boyertown players celebrate after the final out of Boyertown’s 17-16 win over Perkiomen Valley in a District 1-6A playback game on May 28 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Like most in attendance, Neiswender couldn’t make sense of what had taken place over the preceding 2:40. What the Boyertown junior did know after playing four positions, pitching twice, and going 3-for-5 with two RBI, was that the Bears showed resilience to find a way through.

“Honestly, I can’t tell you what you just saw either. The only thing I can tell you is you saw a ton of heart from this Boyertown softball team,” Neiswender said. “You saw a bunch of girls who did not want to give up who did not want this to be their last game of the season. You saw a bunch of girls who were told prior to the game that it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen States and since we’ve gotten this far and you saw a ton of girls who were just determined.

“This team has heart. This team wants it and it was just so incredible to see everybody just step up.”

Boyertown improved to 18-7 and earned the first trip to states of its current elevated three-year run. Injury derailed Boyertown’s back-to-back PAC title bid in 2023, then Perk Valley upset the Bears in this year’s final 7-1 on May 16.

Perkiomen Valley saw its season come to a close with a 20-5 record, a massive turnaround from going 9-12 in 2023.

“We’re way beyond where I honestly anticipated at this time,” said first-year head coach Mickey Marsilio. “States wasn’t even in the conversation when the season started. Winning the PAC wasn’t even in the conversation when the season started. To win a district game, to make it a couple hits away from advancing into States, to hang a banner that says PAC champions in the first year, it’s a great sendoff for the seniors.”

Perkiomen Valley’s seniors include Ashley Carosi, Erin Carosi, Gianna Corropolese, Denise Hurd, Audrey Powers and Bella Reedy.

Perkiomen Valley’s Gianna Corropolese (14) is congratulated by Maci Strechay after scoring a run in the sixth inning against Boyertown during a District 1-6A playback game on May 28 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

The game featured 33 runs, 26 hits and eight errors, a statistical anomaly compared to what each team has done all season, including in their previous three matchups (Boyertown 2-1 on April 15, PV 4-2 on May 2, PV 7-1 on May 16).

Shortstop Rielynn Carey had a big day out of the No. 9 spot going 3-for-3 (three doubles) with four RBI while No. 8 hitter and center fielder Aubrey Gilbert was 2-for-3 (two doubles) with four RBI. Right fielder Jenna Fox and third baseman Hailey Schildt had two hits each.

For PV, second baseman Bella Reedy had two doubles and four RBI and junior starting pitcher Maci Strechay was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Boyertown’s Ella Hurter delivers to the plate against Perkiomen Valley in a District 1-6A playback game on May 28 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

It was an uncharacteristic pitching day for both sides.

PV’s Strechay pitched the first five innings for PV, losing her control in the fourth after three scoreless frames. She exited after giving up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits. Reedy entered in relief but was struck for seven runs (three earned) on seven hits in the 6th as the Bears tied it 15-15 from down 15-8. Strechay (6 IP, 9H, 10R, 7ER, 4K) returned to pitch the seventh but the Bears tacked on two more, the last providing the winning margin.

“This was our fourth time seeing her and we were done with her striking us out all the time,” Neiswender said. “Props to her. She’s an incredible pitcher. She knows where to put the ball and she does very very well on the mound, but we were ready to hit and show that what happened in PACs was not the team we are and that we belonged here.”

Boyertown hoped to combine Neiswender and regular starter Ella Hurter for seven innings, opting to start Neiswender with the hope Hurter could take it to the finish line. Neiswender couldn’t get out of the second, forcing Hurter into action earlier than envisioned. The left-handed power pitcher went 4 ⅓ innings and allowed three hits, seven runs (five earned) with four strikeouts and five walks.

“It’s really good pitchers on both sides. I can’t believe the score was that way. If you told us we were going to score that many, we would’ve expected we win by a lot. Or if you said they scored that many, they win and they win by a lot,” Marsilio said. “Maybe it’s some familiarity. We played a couple of weeks ago, we played near the end of the season. We knew them a little better, they knew us better. Never did I expect a football score to break out.”

Perkiomen Valley’s Ashley Carosi tags out Boyertown’s Aubrey Gilbert at third base in a District 1-6A playback game on May 28 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

After both teams had leads that looked insurmountable at different stages, the Bears and Vikings were somehow level through six innings, 15-15.

The Bears turning to Neiswender to re-enter at pitcher after only managing four outs as the starter felt on brand for the crazy contest. But the All-State first team utility player of 2023 and Lehigh commit came up with the goods with some help from Schildt, who made a great play at third base for the first out..

“It’s a difficult thing because I don’t really pitch a lot other than school ball. But today I was determined,” Neiswender said. “My team worked so hard to score those 17 runs and I was not letting us lose after scoring 17 runs. I knew that my defense had my back. … I just knew that my team needed me in that moment.”

Boyertown will play in the District 1 fifth-place game at Council Rock South on Thursday.