Heartbreak in Bristol, Minersville’s summer of softball is done

Aly Heffron attempts to make a diving catch for Minersville in their 5-3 defeat to Toms River (NJ) in the Little League Softball Mid-Atlantic Region Championship on Thursday afternoon. Courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball

BRISTOL, CT – With a late comeback attempt by Minersville in the bottom of the sixth, they could not get enough runs to extend the game and season. They fell to Toms River (NJ) by a score of 5-3 on Thursday afternoon at Breen Field.

After being up 1-0 since the first inning, New Jersey scored the equalizer in the fifth inning on a Miners error. The sixth inning was huge for New Jersey as they scored four runs in the top of the sixth off of more errors and hits. There was an attempt to keep the game going by Minersville, but they only scored two runs to make the final 5-3.

Toms River went 1-2-3 to start the inning with a single by Analeise Curley to Grey Hopkins in left field. Curley tried to take second but went too far and was tagged out at first. A strikeout and a lineout to Aly Heffron followed. After Heffron hit a single, there was a groundout. Maddie Graver walked and Emalyn Daubert followed with a single. Kenzie Gressens struck out to have the bases loaded with two outs. Shea Holley drew a walk to bring Heffron in to make the game 1-0 in Minersville’s favor. A popout followed to conclude the inning.

In the second inning, New Jersey went 1-2-3 again with a strikeout, a groundout to Graver, and a popout to Graver. After Mallory Hopkins took a walk, Finley Frantz sacrificed herself on a bunt to advance her (M. Hopkins). Grace Wetzel drew a walk, and a strikeout and a groundout followed.

After a groundout to Graver, Franki Velardi tripled on a flyball over Mallory Hopkins’ head in center field. Two groundouts were next with one to Graver in the circle and another one to Frantz at second base. Pennsylvania started the bottom half with a popout and a lineout. Graver kept the inning alive with a single to Mischa Koeppen in center field. A groundout ended the third inning.

New Jersey went 1-2-3 once again with a popout to Heffron at shortstop, a strikeout, and a groundout to Graver. With a lineout and a flyout to start the Miners’ attempt on offense, Addison Burlile hit a single for her first hit in Bristol, but a popout followed for the third out.

Aviana Gay started the fifth inning with a single, but a sacrifice bunt by Jaelyn Brown was the first out. A popout to Burlile was the second out, but an error in the infield followed and Gay scored from second to tie the game at one. Minersville responded by getting the third out with a groundout to Heffron. With a strikeout to start for the Miners offense, Wetzel got a single. However, Kendalyn Mike grounded into a fielder’s choice, and a popout ended the inning.

Going into the sixth inning, Toms River started with Sophia Tolentino being hit by Graver. Velardi and Leiana Gay followed with a single. Koeppen grounded back to Graver, but she overthrew the catcher trying to get the force out at home, causing New Jersey to take the 2-1 lead with no outs. Gia Gatto had a single to make their lead 3-1, and Shaelyn Seaman followed up with a double to make the score 5-1 still with no outs. A fielder’s choice from Graver to Daubert to get the force out was the first one. Aviana Gay drew a walk, but Brown hit into another Toms River fielder’s choice to Withelder at third who threw to Daubert for the second out. Graver collected another strikeout to allow Minersville to start a late comeback attempt.

After a strikeout (dropped third strike) to start the bottom of the sixth, a flyout happened to put the Miners on their final out. Graver came through clutch with a single and an error allowed Daubert to reach base. Gressens kept the rally going by hitting a single and bringing Graver in to make the score 5-2. Holley also hit a single and scored Daubert to make the game 5-3 with a runner on third with two outs. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania, their season came to an end on a groundout.

For the Miners, their season ends at 9-2 with a 3-1 record in Bristol. As for Toms River, they will continue onto the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina. They open up against Asia-Pacific on August 2nd at 1:00pm on ESPN2.

AUTHOR NOTE – This Minersville team represented the Skook and all of Pennsylvania not just with their results, but with respect, which fans and teams from Minersville are known for. 

The fans showed up and brought positive energy for the team from day one. The league bringing a fan bus to Bristol shows how dedicated everyone is to each other and Thursday’s game was a great example. Around half of the Miners bleachers were occupied by passionate fans. 

There is NO REASON why the players, coaches, parents, families, or community should hang their heads.

This past week was a great display of the future of Minersville and Schuylkill County softball. Even though some of these girls are not from Minersville, one question that needs to be asked after this appearance on the national stage is…

IS MINERSVILLE AND SKOOK SOFTBALL BACK ON THE MAP?

MINERSVILLE (PA, 3-1) – 1 0 0 0 0 2

HITTING

Aly Heffron (SS) (1-3, 1 run, 1 K)

Payton Withelder (3B) (0-3)

Maddie Graver (P) (2-2, 1 run, 1 walk)

Emalyn Daubert (C) (1-3, 1 run)

Kenzie Gressens (RF) (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K)

Shea Holley (2B) (1-2, 2 RBI, 1 walk)

Addison Burlile (1B) (1-3)

Mallory Hopkins (CF) (0-1, 1 walk)

Finley Frantz (2B) (0-1, 1 K)

Grace Wetzel (1-1, 1 walk)

Kendalyn Mike (0-2, 1 K)

Grey Hopkins (LF) (0-2)

Stolen Bases – Heffron

PITCHING

LP – Graver (6.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 K’s)

FIELDING

Errors – Frantz, Graver

Toms River (NJ, 4-1) 0 0 0 0 1 4

HITTING

Analeise Curley (3B) (1-3)

Aviana Gay (2B) (1-2, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 K)

Jaelyn Brown (P) (0-2)

Briella Bognar (RF) (0-3, 2 K’s)

Carly Leonard (LF) (0-2)

Juliana Florek-Doslik (1B) (0-2)

Sophia Tolentino (0-1, 1 run)

Franki Velardi (SS) (2-2, 1 run)

Leiana Gay (C) (1-2, 1 run)

Mischa Koeppen (CF) (9-2, 1 run, 1 RBI)

Gia Gatto (1-2, 1 RBI)

Shaelyn Seaman (1-2, 2 RBI, 1 K)

Doubles – Seaman

Triples – Velardi

HBP – Tolentino

Stolen Bases – Curley

PITCHING

WP – Brown (6.0 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned run, 4 walks, 4 K’s)

FIELDING

Errors – Curley