Coming off the biggest win in program history, Southern Columbia now sets its sights on another goal - reaching the PIAA semifinals.

The Tigers (21-3) take on District 1 champ Bristol (20-1) today at 2 p.m. at Lebanon Valley College in a Class A quarterfinal game. After beating eight-time and defending state champion Minersville in the first round, the Tigers' confidence is probably as high as it can get.

That doesn't mean there aren't things to work on. Head coach Al Cihocki is concerned that Southern batters have struck out 30 times in the past two games.

"We're not hitting the ball well," Cihocki said. "We're not seeing it well. We're seeing all these risers as we go on and the kids are having a tough time with them. We've done all kinds of stuff in practice. One thing we can do is get way back in the box so they have a little more time to think. Some people think you're better off in front."

No matter what the approach, Cihocki said the Tigers need to put the ball in play more than they have in recent games.

In Bristol, the Tigers will be facing an offensive juggernaut that has outscored opponents 213-30. But Cihocki is more concerned about his own team.

"I checked them (Bristol statistics) out," he said. "But who have they played? They've played a bunch of charter schools. I don't think they've played the competition we've played. I've got a good pitcher (Mallory Tomaschik) and they've got to hit her. I think she's peaking at the right time."

That being said, the Warriors do have some gaudy numbers. They're hitting .407 as a team with a slugging percentage of .544. Nine of the 10 regulars are hitting .300 or better, and the 10th is at .296. By comparison, the bottom half of Southern's order hits about .220.

But Cihocki points out that even those players have been contributing in big ways.

"Erin Troup (.199) has had two big hits for us to win ball games," Cihocki said. "And our girls at the top can really hit. Mallory has seven home runs, Kristin Blass has been getting on base at leadoff, and Taylor Hoffman has been crushing the ball.

"They should have confidence. We've beaten Central Columbia, we've beaten Loyalsock (not to mention Minersville). Muncy has been getting better as the year went on. We're playing loose."

Sophomore pitcher Mary Wallick is a two-way star for the Warriors. Wallick has a 1.24 ERA with 146 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 107 innings. Wallick also hits .600 with 16 extra base hits and a .971 slugging percentage. Catcher Kaley Crohe is another big bat with a .567 average, 31 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Morgan Cullen hits .424 with 28 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.

Winner of the game plays the winners of the Northeast Bradford-Greenwood game, which will be played at 4:30 at Bloomsburg University's Jan Hutchinson Field.

CLASS A SECOND ROUND

Southern Columbia (21-3) vs. Bristol (20-1)

When: Today, 2 p.m.

Where: Lebanon Valley College

How they got here: Southern Columbia defeated defending state champion Minersville 2-1 in the first round/ Bristol was a 15-0 winner over GAMP (Girard Arts and Music Program).

Head coaches: Southern Columbia - Al Cihocki. Bristol - Michael Lalli.

Projected lineups: Southern Columbia - SS Kirstin Blass, jr. (.513, 33 R, 5 2B, 3 3B, 13 RBI); P Mallory Tomaschik, jr. (.380, 30 R, 8 2B, 7 HR, 27 RBI; 21-3, 1.31 ERA, 149 IP, 170 K, 38 BB); 3B Kayla Lavella, jr. (.449, 29 R, 7 2B, 4 HR, 27 RBI); DP Taylor Hoffman, fr. (.507, 21 R, 13 2B, 4 HR, 27 RBI); LF Erin Troup, jr. (.199, 14 R, 17 RBI); C Mary McGinley, sr. (,254, 12 R, 5 2B, 8 RBI); 2B McKenna Lupold, soph., (.226, 14 R, 4 2B, 11 RBI); CF Erin Yoder, soph., (.182, 23 R, 7 RBI); RF Kim Reigle, jr. (.228, 12 R, 1 HR, 10 RBI); 1B Megan Chaundy.

Bristol - 2B-OF Rose Marie Scalzo, soph. (.364, 19 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 15 RBI); C Kaley Crohe, sr. (.567, 31 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBI, 9 SB); INF Daniela Reilly, sr. (.296, 15 R, 10 RBI); 1B Morgan Cullen, sr. (.424, 28 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 20 RBI); P Mary Wallick, soph. (.600, 34 R, 8 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 35 RBI; (1.24 ERA, 146 K, 14 BB); OF Mariel Deluca, soph. (.383, 15 R, 4 2B, 9 RBI); OF Allyson Nocito, jr. (.317, 14 R, 3 2B, 16 RBI); OF Priscilla Weimer, jr. (.328, 19 R, 7 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBI); SS Olivia D'Emidio, fr. (.382, 18 R, 1 3B, 12 RBI).

Linksters

At Monroe Valley

1. (274) - Tom Umbenhauer 86-(13)-73, Bill Griffin 94-(-22)-72, George Brommer 77-(-14)-63, Bob Edwards 82-(-16)-66.

2. (280) - Joe Sitcosky 94-(-13)-81, Ray Bartosic 85-(-17)-68, Frank Hlavaty 78-(-14)-64, Ron Schneck 85-(-18)-67.

3. (283) - Todd Dreher 83-(-12)-71, George Blum 98-(-20)-78, Pete Lengle 83-(-19)-64, Frank Bartosic 84-(-14)-70.

4. (284) - Tom Takach 74-(-10)-64, Phil Lafferty 97-(-19)-78, Joe McGovern 83-(-17)-66, Don Adams 95-(-19)-76.

Par 3s: Ray Bartosic, No. 4; Tom Takach, No. 12; Frank Hlavaty, No. 17.

Blind holes: Frank Hlavaty, No. 24.

Birdies: Frank Hlavaty, Todd Dreher, Tom Umbenhauer, Ron Schneck, Pete Lengle 2, Tom Takach 2, Joe McGovern 2, Bob Edwards 2, George Brommer 3.

Next match: Friday at Rich Maiden, 9:30 a.m.

SELINSGROVE - Spencer Hotaling hit a line drive off the second baseman's glove for a walkoff RBI to give Selinsgrove a 4-3 Sussquehanna Valley American Legion win over Shamokin-Mount Carmel Wednesday.

Danny Lesko had a double and Austin Fry drove in a run for Shamokin-Mount Carmel, which dropped to 0-2 and hosts Bloomsburg.

Sham-MC 100 020 0 - 3 7 1

Selinsgrove 001 200 1 - 4 8 2

Extra-base hits: 2B - Lesko.

Zach Tocyloski, Austin Fry (6) and Sam Bressi; Justin Keiser, Dakota Zook (6) and Shaffer, Keiser (6).

W: Zook. L: Fry.

Mount Carmel Junior Baseball

Kulpmont Cougars 7, Anthracite Fire Co. 3

W: Matthew Ziv. L: D. James.

Cougars - Anthony Stutzcavage, single; Ziv, double, 2 singles; Michael Hood, single; D.J. Quinn, home run; Colin Herb, double; Conner Krakowski, single. Anthracite - W. Kalinoski, double.

Kulpmont Cougars 14, Shamokin Reds 3

W: Michael Hood. L: L. Kreski.

Cougars - Hood, 2 singles; Matthew Ziv, 2 doubles, 2 singles; Colin Herb, 4 singles; D.J. Quinn, home run, single; Austin Reed, 2 doubles; Anthony Stutzcavage, single; Conner Krakowski, 3 singles. Reds - T. Klembara, single; Kreski, single; Fantigrossi, 2 singles; G. Klembara, single.

Locust Gap 11, Marion Heights 1

W: Logan Wills. L: J. Bendas.

Locust Gap - Anthony Moser, triple, double, single; Wills, 3 singles; Stephen Reiner, home run, double, single; Evan Salamone, 3 singles; Zack Artman, double; Brad Shurock, 2 singles; Quentin Nahodil, 2 singles; Shawn Sheptock, double. Marion Heights - C. Steinhart, single; D. Murray, single.

Lower Anthracite Teener

Locust Gap 12, Clover Hose 2

W: Kenny Kropp. L: Jeff Ballard.

Locust Gap - Taylor Haladay, single; Colin Panko, single; Austin Joraskie, single; David Fletcher, single. Clover Hose - Ballard, single; Trevor Shuder, single.

Locust Gap 7, Cabrini 2

W: Kyle Karycki. L: Josh Scheuren.

Locust Gap - Tommy Moser, 2 singles; Taylor Haladay, double; Blake Panko, single; Karycki, single; Austin Joraskie, single; Tyler Thompson, single; David Fletcher, single; Colin Panko, single.

Locust Gap 11, Sunbury 8

W: David Fletcher. L: Drum.

Locust Gap - Tyler Thompson, 2 singles; Colin Panko, 2 singles; Blake Panko, single; Ethan Bartos, single; Austin Joraskie, single; Fletcher, single. Sunbury - Hollister, 2 singles.

The 6th annual AMSOil USAC Sprint Car Series Eastern Storm Tour is almost in the record books. Grandview Speedway hosted the opener on Tuesday night and last night's show at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway was too late for deadline.

Grandview battled early rain showers for the running of its Jesse Hockett Classic for the USAC stars. There was also a 45-minute delay after Coleman Gulick flipped through the turn three billboard on the second lap of the 40-lap main event. Gulick of Binghamton, N.Y., was OK.

Noblesville, Ind.'s Bryan Clauson returned to the dirt tracks following his rookie debut in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 last month, as the 22-year-old scored the $6,000 win in the 40-lap feature. Levi Jones, Kevin Thomas, Chris Windom and Jerry Coons Jr. completed the top five. Mark Smith of Snydertown was a qualifying heat winner and finished 14th.

The series pulls into Schuylkill County tonight for action at Big Diamond Speedway along with the 358 modifieds and roadrunners. Past USAC winners at the Minersville oval include Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, and Cole Whitt, current driver in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports.

The Eastern Storm winds up Saturday night with the final stop at Port Royal Speedway, as the USAC sprinters will share the card with the ARDC midgets and pro stocks.

Fans of Beaver Springs Dragway look forward to another great nostalgia event this weekend. The 11th annual Gasser Reunion hits the strip this weekend. Plenty of Willy's coupes and pickups, Anglias, Austins, Corvettes, and various other gassers of yesteryear will pack the track for the three-day event.

In talking to Bob McCardle on Monday, cars were already pulling in.

"We have a three-day weekend planned and already some of the travelers from the west coast are already setting up shop as we talk," stated the flamboyant track owner/promoter. "My crew works hard to make sure that everyone has a great time here at the "Beav"..., we are one big family and I am happy to have all of the great cars of the history of our sport here. The show will be great!" Gates open each day at 8 a.m., test and tune sessions are on the schedule today and tomorrow, while Sunday finds time trials at 10 a.m. and eliminations at 2 p.m.

Many local drivers found success in action at Numidia Dragway last weekend. Mike Mackey won street eliminator on Saturday while his father, Bob, took his MOPAR to victory lane in street eliminations on Sunday and Jason Vought was runner-up.

The University of Northern Ohio All-Star Sprint Car Series makes its second visit of the season to central Pennsylvania, as they head to Williams Grove Speedway tonight along with the ARDC midgets and travel south Saturday to Lincoln Speedway with the 358 sprinters also on the card.

Selinsgrove Speedway hosts the Paul Stine Chevrolet Late Model Championship Saturday night, a 30-lap feature worth $2,500 to the winner. A full slate of qualifying time trials, heats and consolation events will lead up to the feature event. Joining the late models on the card will be the 358 sprinters, pro stocks and roadrunners as gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m.

Other action on tap Saturday night includes Williams Grove's Saturday Night Series of winged super sportsman, limited late models and twin features for the street stocks. ... Grandview hosts the 358 modifieds, limited late models and sportsman. ... Hagerstown Speedway hosts the Steel Block Bandit late models along with the pure stocks and hobby stocks.

(Kaminski covers auto racing for The News-Item)

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin-Mount Carmel took advantage of a bad Bloomsburg lapse to score six runs in the fifth inning and take a 6-4 win in a Susquehanna Valley American Legion game Thursday.

Bloomsburg gave up two singles, two walks, three hit batters and committed two errors in the fifth inning.

Winning pitcher Ryan Burns also had a double and two singles, and Theo Deptula had two singles for Shamokin-Mount Carmel (1-2). Shamokin-Mount Carmel plays in the Kip Snyder Tournament at Line Mountain on Saturday.

Bloomsburg 002 200 0 - 4 8 4

Sham.-MC 000 060 X - 6 8 2

Extra-base hits: 2B - Ryan Burns. 3B - Cody Klinger.

Seth Loft, Kyle Maroney (5), Klinger (5) and Nick Risso; Austin Fr, Burns (4) and Dan Lesko.

W: Burns. L: Loft.

ANNVILLE - Southern Columbia's Mary McGinley, the Tigers' lone senior starter, is foregoing senior week at the beach to spend time with "family" next week.

That's because McGinley will be playing with her Southern teammates, whom she considers extended family, in the PIAA Class A semifinals Monday after defeating Bristol 6-1 at Lebanon Valley College Thursday.

"Not going to senior week kind of stinks, but I would rather be with my team," McGinley said. "I love them like a family."

McGinley, who went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a double, is a big reason the Tigers are moving on to face Greenwood, Monday at a site and time to be determined, for the right to play in the state championship game.

"It was a heck of a win," Southern Columbia head coach Al Cihocki said.

Thursday was about the unsung heroes in the Tigers' lineup, like McGinley, and the rest of the Tigers at the bottom of the order who have come together to exceed expectations.

The production from that group was a dramatic, and welcome, departure from the last two playoff games when they struggled.

"The bottom of the lineup really came through for us today and that's how we got our cushion," said McGinley, the No. 6 hitter.

On Thursday, McKenna Lupold, the No. 7 hitter, scored two runs, and No. 8 hitter Erin Yoder drove in two runs. It was production that was needed in a game that was only 2-0 after six innings after the Tigers left eight runners on

base through the first four innings.

"We could have busted that thing wide open," Cihocki said. "Finally, we got the bottom of the order to hit the ball a little bit."

It was the combination of Lupold and Yoder that got the Tigers on the board first.

Lupold doubled to center and then scored when Yoder followed it with a double.

Southern's one-run lead held up through some trying times and with a little luck.

The Warriors pop-bunted into two double plays and ran into four more outs to help out the Tigers.

Meanwhile, Southern's offense had to adjust to another new pitcher, a fact of the playoffs, but fared much better against Bristol's Mary Wallick, who allowed at least one baserunner in each inning and didn't possess the high heat that has haunted the Tigers' in the playoffs.

"They have to adapt quite a bit, but this pitcher wasn't as fast as the last two we've seen and she didn't have a rise ball. We've been hammering the kids all week not to swing at anything up here," Cihocki said, indicating balls that were letter high. "This girl came in, didn't have a rise ball and we finally got on her."

After striking out a combined 30 times in their last two games, the Tigers struck out just four times.

The Tigers added a run after Taylor Hoffman doubled to the left-center gap to start the fifth inning. Nicole Hoffman came in to pinch run, promptly stole third and scored on a McGinley single.

McGinley also doubled as part of the Tigers' seventh inning, when Southern scored four runs to break the game wide open.

"It feels really good," McGinley said. "The last two games I haven't hit as good as I should, and this game was better."

In the top of the seventh, Taylor Hoffman was hit by a pitch. Erin Troup followed with a single, then came McGinley's run-scoring double. Lupold then walked and Yoder drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Kirstin Blass wrapped up the inning with a two-run triple to push the Tigers' lead to 6-0.

Bristol's only run came in the bottom of the seventh, but Tomaschik ended the game with one of her four strikeouts.

"That was icing on the cake," Cihocki said about the big inning. "We had them and we were playing good defense, but any time you get runs is a plus. Other than that, it was a pretty hairy game."

Game Summary

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (AB-R-H-BI) - Blass 4-0-2-2, Tomaschik 5-0-2-0, Lavella 2-0-0-0, T. Hoffman 3-1-1-0, N. Hoffman 0-1-0-0, Troup 3-1-1-0, McGinley 4-0-3-2, Kremser 0-0-0-0, Lupold 2-2-1-0, Yoder 4-1-1-2, Reigle 3-0-0-0, Vought 1-0-0-0, Chaundy 0-0-0-0. Totals 30-6-11-6.

BRISTOL (AB-R-H-BI) - Crohe 3-0-1-0, Reilly 3-0-0-0, Wallick 3-0-1-0, Weimer 3-0-2-0, Clark 0-1-0-0, Cullen 2-0-1-0, Scalzo 3-0-0-0, Nocito 2-0-0-0, D'Emido 2-0-0-0, Deluca 1-0-0-0, Thompson 0-0-0-0. Totals 22-1-5-0.

Southern 010 010 4 - 6 11 2

Bristol 000 000 1 - 1 4 1

Extra-base hits: 2B - McGinley, Yoder, Weimer. 3B - Blass.

IP H R ER BB K

Southern Columbia

Tomaschik 7 5 1 1 2 4

Bristol

Wallick 7 4 6 6 4 3

ANNVILLE - Southern Columbia softball coach Al Cihocki was pleased that his team was hitting the ball and getting on base in Thursday's PIAA Class A state quarterfinal game against Bristol after they mostly flailed away unsuccessfully in their two previous games.

Only problem was, once they were on base, they tended to stay there.

Southern left at least one runner on base in every inning, and seven in the first three innings alone, and clung to a 1-0 lead after four innings, putting a little more weight on the shoulders of pitcher Mallory Tomaschik.

But she said she wasn't worried at all.

"We were hitting a lot more than we did in the last two games, and I knew that if we were hitting that well, we'd eventually break through," said Tomaschik.

She was right.

Southern finally bunched four runs together in the top of the seventh inning, mixing three hits with a Bristol error, a hit batter and a walk, to turn a 2-0 lead into a 6-0 lead, and although Bristol scored a harmless run in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers pretty much stamped their ticket to the semifinal round by finally finding their offense.

Southern (22-3) will play Greenwood, a 3-1 winner over Northeast Bradford, in the state semifinal Monday at a site and time to be determined.

But even without the offense, Tomaschik pitched well enough that the insurance run

Southern scored in the fifth inning probably would have been enough. Tomaschik limited the Warriors, a team with a .407 team batting average, to five hits, struck out four and walked only two, and was the beneficiary of three double plays, a combination of some good Southern fielding and some atrocious Bristol baserunning.

"That's probably the first time," Cihocki said when asked if he could ever remember one of his teams pulling three double plays in a game. "They helped us out a bit. They made some mistakes."

Bristol's baserunning trouble began early. Leadoff hitter Kaley Crohe singled in her first at-bat, but was doubled up when Daniela Reilly popped up a bunt attempt. Crohe did the popping up on the next double play, with Mariel Deluca getting doubled. Finally, in the fourth, Morgan Cullen lined out to left field and losing pitcher Mary Wallick, who was at third after hitting a double, was caught in a wild rundown in which Southern players exchanged at least six throws, one of which bounced off catcher Mary McGinley's shoulder. But Wallick stayed stuck between home and third and eventually was tagged out by shortstop Kirstin Blass.

"I don't think we've ever had that many double plays," said Tomaschik. "They messed up on the base paths and we capitalized."

Tomaschik said getting the second run helped her relax a bit in the late going.

"It took a lot of pressure off," she said. "I knew they had to get at least three runs to win."

ELYSBURG - Thousands of trapshooters from around the United States, Canada and other countries will converge on the Valley Gun and Country Club beginning today for the annual Pennsylvania State Shoot.

The actual shoot does not begin until Monday, but six events will be held today and Sunday, making up the Colonial Classic, which was instituted several years ago to make the shoot a two-weekend event.

Monday will be Media Day, highlighted by media shoot in the morning. All three events on Tuesday will be sponsored by Cabela's. The week's biggest events begin Thursday with class championships in singles and doubles.

The Krieghoff Handicap and Krieghoff Challenge highlight Friday's competition, with the state doubles and singles titles on the line next Saturday. That day will also include the annual Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony

The Pennsylvania State Handicap Championship will close out the competition next Sunday.

Total Non-Stop Action celebrates its 10th anniversary tonight on pay per view from Arlington, Texas, as it presents Slammiversary with heavyweight champion Bobby Roode defending the title against Sting in the main event.

The tag team titles are on the line when Christopher Daniels and Kazarian square off with A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle. Gail Kim and Miss Tessmacher battle for the Knockouts crown, and X-division champ Austin Aries faces Samoa Joe.

There will be a three-way with Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam vying for a promised title shot at this Thursday's live Impact in Orlando against the winner of tonight's match between Roode and Sting - or at least whoever leaves the arena with the belt.

With TNA surviving for ten years as a second national player in the pro wrestling business, it has forced WWE to work harder than it otherwise would have to and that is essentially good for everybody. Granted, despite having a roster heavily laden with former WWE stars, TNA has not been able to make any serious challenge to the WWE throne, but it has provided an alternative for fans and workers alike.

The Carter family has certainly been committed to the company and likely taken some heavy-duty monetary losses in the process. House show business has been relatively poor, despite favorable fan and critical acclaim. Pay per view buy rates have been miniscule compared to the other guys from Connecticut, and Dixie Carter mentioned the possibility of cutting back from monthly pay per views to maybe eight shows a year in the future.

Despite its shortcomings, here's hoping the company is around for another decade.

Things aren't all that rosy over at WWE, although financially any of us would like to be in their shoes. Submitted as proof of that assertion would be that creative appeared to be completely bereft of worthwhile ideas last Monday when we got John Cena versus announcer Michael Cole as the main event on Raw. Yes, it was for pure comedy through humiliation (with JR's barbeque sauce no less). But no, it was not anything resembling a competitive wrestling match that warrants a main event slot.

Some might say that Cena having to beat Tensai to get the bout with Cole could be considered somewhat of a main event, but that would be a real stretch on several fronts. Kane pinning C.M. Punk, who has been getting pinned a lot lately on television for a guy holding your company's most prestigious championship, would also be considered a better fit as a main event, but that isn't the way it was formatted.

With the lousy rating from the previous Monday fresh in everyone's mind, one would think there would be a big effort to stage a major comeback. Apparently, that came in the form of the announcement that Vince McMahon will be returning to Raw tomorrow evening. Sheamus also defeated Dolph Ziggler on Raw with the Brogue Kick, and Sin Cara returned with a pretty smooth win over Hunico. Give me any of the aforementioned matches ahead of Cena-Cole in the night's finale and I am much less annoyed.

Kelly Kelly, who has been around since way back in the ECW days of WWE, has apparently taken a leave of absence from the company to pursue some other interests under her real name of Barbara Blank (I kid you not), according to the Wrestling Observer. The same source is reporting that WWE Intercontinental champ Christian will be at Slammiversary for TNA as compensation for them allowing Ric Flair to appear at this year's WWE Hall of Fame event.

(Shamokin's Bill Gilger "arranged" the interview each week with The Insider)

Which Cinderella team will the glass cleat fit today?

Neither Southern Columbia nor Greenwood has ever won a state title in softball. Neither team has ever made it this far, and neither were realistically expected to this year.

To say Southern Columbia has a chance to do something special today - earn a trip to the PIAA Class A softball final in State College when it plays Greenwood at 2 p.m. today at Bloomsburg University's Hutchinson Field - is an understatement.

Meanwhile, Greenwood, who beat one of the bracket's favorites in Northeast Bradford 3-1 on Thursday, will also be looking for a program-defining win.

With Southern Columbia taking care of Minersville 2-1 in the first round and Greenwood knocking off the Panthers, a Tigers and Wildcats matchup isn't what anyone was expecting, but like so many other games at this point in the season, it will come down to slick defense and timely hitting.

Southern lost to Northeast Bradford 2-1 in the District 4 finals on those very merits, while Greenwood stuck with that formula to get past the Panthers in the state quarterfinals.

And now the Tigers and Wildcats are in the biggest game yet, with the winner playing the winner of Chartiers-Houston and Fannett-Metal at Penn State's picturesque Beard Field at 10 a.m. Friday.

Southern comes into today's game after seeing the bats come alive in its 6-1 win over Bristol. Seven players accounted for 11 Tigers' hits with three extra-base hits.

The Tigers have started out aggressively in each of their playoff games, but have fallen victim to the strikeout. The boost of confidence that comes with striking out only three times as a team against Bristol should help the Tigers.

If Southern can score early, it might be enough support for pitcher Mallory Tomaschik, who has been lights out this season with 174 strikeouts.

Greenwood struck out 11 times against Northeast Bradford, and its three runs came in an inning in which the Wildcats didn't have a hit.

While it appears the Wildcats are opportunistic, they are also paced on offense by freshman leftfielder Amy Heggenstaller. She has a .470 batting average with 18 runs scored and 40 runs batted in.

Salene Shaffer and AJ Seigle, who winter sports fans will remember from the basketball court, are hitting .469 and .429, respectively, and are lively on the basepaths with a combined 32 steals and 65 runs scored.

Pitching has been another story for the Wildcats. Junior hurler Jessica Heichel has been terrific in the postseason, but did not start the season as Greenwood's primary pitching option. That distinction went to Chelsea Hicks, who won two games this season, but also has a 3.85 earned run average.

Queue Heichel. She's gone 14-5 with a 1.38 ERA and a 75:8 strikeout to walk ratio.

Greenwood has responded to Heichel, much the same way the Tigers do behind Tomaschik, the only question remaining is who will be left standing between a couple teams no one expected to be playing this far into June.

CLASS A SEMIFINAL

When: Today, 2 p.m.

Where: Bloomsburg University's Hutchinson Field

How they got here: Southern Columbia defeated District 1 champ Bristol 6-1; Greenwood beat Northeast Bradford 3-1.

Head coaches: Southern Columbia: Al Cihocki. Greenwood: Troy Gantt.

Projected lineups: SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (22-3) - SS Kirstin Blass, jr. (.500, 33 R, 15 RBI, 5 DB, 4 TR); P Mallory Tomaschik, jr. (.369, 30 R, 27 RBI, 8 HR, 1 TR, 7 HR; 156 IP, 64 H, 47 R, 21 ER, 40 BB, 174 K); 3B Kayla Lavella, jr. (.437, 29 R, 27 RBI, 7 DB, 1 TR, 3 HR); DP Taylor Hoffman, fr. (.500, 22 R, 27 RBI, 13 DB, 1 TR, 4 HR); LF Erin Troup, jr. (.203, 15 R, 17 RBI); C Mary McGinley, sr. (.282, 12 R, 10 RBI, 6 DB); 2B McKenna Lupold, soph. (.234, 16 R, 11 RBI); CF Erin Yoder, soph. (.185, 24 R, 9 RBI); RF Kim Reigle, jr. (.217, 12 R, 10 RBI); 1B Megan Chaundy, jr.

GREENWOOD (17-5) - 3B Salene Shaffer, sr. (.469, 34 R, 17 steals, 21 BB); C Katie Osborne, jr. (.371, 10 R, 9 RBI); 2B Chelsea Hicks, jr. (.267, 14 R, 16 RBI, 2 HR); SS Brittany Fleisher, jr. (.310, 23 R, 20 RBI, 4 DB, 2 HR); 1B Kendra Seaman, sr. (.203, 12 R, 8 RBI); LF Amy Heggenstaller, fr. (.470, 18 R, 40 RBI, 8 DB, 2 TR); CF AJ Seigel, sr. (.429, 31 R, 13 RBI, 2 TR, 15 steals); RF Anne Morrow, sr. (.163, 6 R); P Jessica Heichel, jr. (.281, 5 R, 12 RBI; 121 1/3 IP, 97 H, 30 R, 24 ER, 8 BB, 75 K).

Liverpool's TJ Stutts inherited the lead on lap 21 and went on to win his first 358 sprint feature of the season at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night. It was the 14th win of his career at the Snyder County oval and he became the seventh different winner this season.

Brock Zearfoss was leading the main event when his car lost power with four laps to go. This gave Stutts the lead and eventual win. He earned $1,500. Blane Heimbach, Phil Walter, Jason Shultz and Pat Cannon completed the top five.

Dover's Coleby Frye earned $2,500 for his win in the 25-lap championship race for the late models. Jamie Lathroum, Gregg Satterlee, Bryan Bernheisel and Dylan Yoder completed the top five.

AJ Hoffman of Richfield won his fourth race of the season in the pro stock feature and Brian Johnson of Ashland won his second feature of the season in the roadrunner main event.

Fans contributed $2,457.06 as part of a "helmet collection" conducted by race car drivers Saturday night for the family of former late model racer and micro sprint car driver Roger Spencer, 51, of Montgomery, who died Friday night from an apparent heart attack while racing in the 25-lap micro sprint car feature at Selinsgrove Raceway Park.

Chris Windom was the winner of the USAC Sprint Car Feature at Big Diamond Speedway on Friday night. The event was part of the annual Eastern Storm. Tracy Hines, Chase Stockon, Damion Gardner and Levi Jones completed the top five. Bryan Clauson, who competed in the Indianapolis 500 in May, finished sixth. Clauson won two races during the Eastern Storm and was named the champion of the four-race series. Damion Gardner won the USAC feature at Port Royal Speedway. Clauson won at Grandview and New Egypt Speedways.

Jeff Strunk won the 358 modified at Big Diamond over Craig VonDohren, Duane Howard, Colt Harris and Meme DeSantis. Jim Kost won the roadrunners.

Brian Leppo won the All Star sprint feature at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night and Danny Dietrich beat the All Stars at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday.

Racing Recap

Friday

Big Diamond Speedway

USAC Sprints Eastern Storm

A-main, 30 laps: 1. Chris Windom. 2. Tracy Hines. 3. Chase Stockon. 4. Damion Gardner. 5. Levi Jones. 6. Bryan Clauson. 7. John Stanbrough. 8. Darren Hagen. 9. Jerry Coons Jr. 10. Dave Darland.

Heats: Hines, Gulick, Darland.

358 Modifieds, 30 laps: 1. Jeff Strunk. 2. Craig VonDohren. 3. Duane Howard. 4. Colt Harris. 5. MeMe DeSantis. 6. Ray Swinehart. 7. Kevin Albert Jr. 8. Rick Laubach. 9. Glenn Strunk. 10. Gary Hager.

Roadrunners, 20 laps: 1. Jim Kost. 2. Joey Brennan. 3. Chip Kennedy. 4. Terry Kramer Jr. 5. Kyle Killian.

Trail-Way Speedway

358 Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Steve Owings. 2. Jordan Givler. 3. Jeff Rohrbaugh. 4. Joe Trone Jr. 5. Mike Bittinger. 6. Austin Hogue. 7. Kyle Moody. 8. Keith Prutzman. 9. Ryan Wilson. 10. Randy Whisler.

Heats: Givler, Owings, Wilson.

Central PA Legends, 20 laps: 1. Tim Henry. 2. Bill Diehl. 3. Lucas Montgomery. 4. Harlon Leppo. 5. Richard Miller.

Limited Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Tom Senseney. 2. Chad Weaver. 3. Jason Chronister. 4. Matt Chronister. 5. Allen Haines.

Williams Grove Speedway

All Star Sprints Eastern Region

A-main, 30 laps: 1. Brian Leppo. 2. Stevie Smith. 3. Greg Hodnett. 4. Daryn Pittman. 5. Tim Shaffer. 6. Donnie Kreitz. 7. Lance Dewease. 8. Danny Dietrich. 9. David Gravel. 10. Brent Marks. /p

Fast Time: Smith, 16.776. /p

Heats: Logan Schuchart, Chad Layton, Danny Dietrich, Adam Wilt.

Dash: Leppo.

B-main: Tony Stewart.

ARDC Midgets, 20 laps: 1. Tim Buckwalter. 2. Steve Buckwalter. 3. PJ Gargiulo. 4. Parker Evans. 5. Drew Heistand.

Saturday

Lincoln Speedway

All Star Sprints Eastern Region

A-main, 30 laps: 1. Danny Dietrich. 2. Alan Krimes. 3. Fred Rahmer. 4. Cory Haas. 5. Aaron Ott. 6. Stevie Smith. 7. Tim Shaffer. 8. Dale Blaney. 9. Cap Henry. 10. Paul McMahon.

Fast Time: Stevie Smith, 14.308.

Heats: Tony Stewart, Gerard McIntyre Jr., Pete Miller, Daryn Pittman.

Dash: Tim Shaffer.

B-main: Smith.

358 Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Shane Hoff. 2. Keith Prutzman. 3. Brie Hershey. 4. Niki Young. 5. Tim Berkheimer. 6. Ryan Wilson. 7. Doug Hammaker. 8. Todd Rittenhouse Jr. 9. Cris Eash. 10. Tyler Ross.

Heats: Shane Hoff, Jeff Rohrbaugh, Keith Prutzman, Doug Hammaker.

Consolation: Jacob Allen.

Port Royal

USAC Sprints Eastern Storm

A-main, 30 laps: 1. Damion Gardner. 2. Tracy Hines. 3. Jon Stanbrough. 4. Robert Ballou. 5. Dave Darland. 6. Bryan Clauson. 7. Hunter Schuerenberg. 8. Levi Jones. 9. Jerry Coons Jr. 10. Chris Windom.

Fast Time: Clauson, 19.080.

Heats: Jones, Darland, CJ Leary.

ARDC Midgets, 20 laps: 1. Trevor Kobylarz. 2. Alex Bright. 3. Bruce Buckwalter Jr. 4. PJ Garguilo. 5. Brett Arndt.

Pro Stocks, 20 laps: 1. Derrick Garman. 2. John Heane. 3. Nate Fisher. 4. Shaun Miller. 5. Harold Ranck Jr.

Selinsgrove Speedway

Late Model Championship, 30 laps: 1. Coleby Frye. 2. Jamie Lathroum. 3. Gregg Satterlee. 4. Bryan Bernheisel. 5. Dylan Yoder. 6. Steve Campbell. 7. Andy Haus. 8. Dave Zona. 9. Jim Bernheisel. 10. Chad Davis.

Heats: J. Bernheisel, Frye, B. Bernheisel.

358 Sprints, 25 laps: 1. TJ Stutts. 2. Blane Heimbach. 3. Phil Walter. 4. Jason Shultz. 5. Pat Cannon. 6. Derek Locke. 7. Colby Womer. 8. Josh Beard. 9. Matt Horst. 10. Brian Nornhold.

Heats: Brock Zearfoss, Cannon, Beard.

Pro Stocks, 15 laps: 1. AJ Hoffman. 2. Hayes Mattern. 3. Jason Smith. 4. Nate Kerstetter. 5. Pete Lauver.

Roadrunners, 12 laps: 1. Brian Johnson. 2. Cory Long. 3. Ricky Bender. 4. Bob Bussey. 5. Bruce Wyland Jr.

Susquehanna Speedway Park

358 Limited Late Models, 25 laps: 1. Justin Ehrhart. 2. Carl Billet. 3. Bob Minnich. 4. Billy Wampler. 5. J.R. Rodriguez. 6. Chase Billet. 7. Steve Billet. 8. Gary Potts. 9. John Moser Jr. 10. Bobby Weaver.

Heats: Dan Zechman, Carl Billet, Chase Billet.

Street Stocks, 20 laps: 1. Doug Bennett. 2. Randy Zechman. 3. Nick Bloom. 4. Scott Thunberg. 5. Dave Latsha.

Xtreme Stocks, 20 laps: 1. Johnny Palm. 2. Cameron Benyou. 3. Pat McClane. 4. Chad Stine. 5. Adam Smith.

Williams Grove Speedway

Super Sportsman, 20 laps: 1. Steve Wilbur. 2. Scott Dellinger. 3. Mike Enders. 4. Frankie Herr. 5. Rick Barr. 6. Steve Fannasy. 7. John Stoner. 8. Carmen Perigo Jr. 9. Scott Geesey. 10. Lanny Hake.

Heats: Jeremi Hanson, Herr, Dellinger.

Consolation: Perigo Jr.

358 Late Models, 20 laps: 1. Gene Knaub. 2. Matt Henry. 3. Sam Gallagher. 4. Jared Miller. 5. John Ebersole.

Street Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Doug Hoffman. 2. Sam Rial. 3. Pat McNeal. 4. Craig Morgan. 5. Greg Diehl.

Street Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Morgan. 2. Hoffman. 3. Rial. 4. Diehl. 5. McNeal.

BLOOMSBURG - Kayla Lavella missed every pitch of every game last season.

Southern Columbia's junior third baseman is making up for it this year.

After injuring her knee in basketball season as a sophomore, Lavella had surgery and was unavailable to the Tigers' softball team after hitting .418 with eight doubles and 14 runs batted in as a freshman.

She's been back for all of 2012, and the Tigers were grateful for her presence in the lineup in Monday's 5-2 win over Greenwood in their PIAA Class A semifinal at Bloomsburg University's Hutchinson Field.

Lavella went 3-for-4, including a double, with two runs scored and two RBI from her No. 3 spot in the Tigers' lineup.

The success was also welcomed by Lavella, who worked hard to get back in shape for basketball season,

when she scored 15.5 points a game, but still felt restricted and ill-at-ease with the large black knee brace on her right leg.

While basketball season was one thing, softball, especially playing third base, is another.

The lateral movement, ability to charge the ball and bend to field were all challenges to Lavella's surgically-repaired ligaments.

"It was really hard coming back because I was really nervous," Lavella said. "I was stopping myself a lot during basketball season, but when softball season started, (my knee) became stronger. Soon, I'm going to take the brace off because I feel strong enough now."

Lavella will wear the knee brace when the Tigers play Fannett-Metal, a 7-2 winner over Chartiers-Hou. She laughed when it was suggested that perhaps it was a good-luck charm.

The junior has been a key part of the Tigers' offense all season.

She's now hitting .453 after Monday's game with 31 runs scored, 29 runs batted in and a plethora of extra-base hits that includes eight doubles, one triple and three home runs.

Lavella's production was part of an overall better offensive day for the Tigers.

Southern smacked 12 hits off of Greenwood's pitchers, drew two walks and most importantly, only struck out five times.

"We didn't hit well against Minersville, but we really concentrated on batting and everyone started hitting better," Lavella said. "I didn't hit well the past two games, but I started hitting better this game, which I think helped us."

With strikeouts down and confidence up, Lavella and the Tigers are primed for one more win, a clear sign that all the hard work was worth it.

BLOOMSBURG - Southern Columbia's post-game celebrations during this playoff run have been immediate and jubilant.

But it took a moment Monday for the Tigers to realize the magnitude of what they had just done.

By beating Greenwood, 5-2, in a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Bloomsburg University's Hutchinson Field, Southern Columbia earned a trip to the state final, where the Tigers will play Fannett-Metal at 10 a.m. Friday at Penn State's Beard Field in State College.

That's a lot for anyone to process in the moment between Mallory Tomaschik's strikeout of Greenwood's last batter and when the crowd erupted.

"It hasn't really set in yet," Tomaschik said after the game and the post-game talk by her coaches, and after her family greeted her with a congratulatory bouquet.

"It's hard to believe we got to the state championship because nobody expected it. I don't even think our own players expected to get this far."

The Tigers may not have expected it, but they came out swinging Monday with that goal in mind.

Southern opened the top of the first with four straight singles by Kirstin Blass, Tomaschik, Kayla Lavella and Taylor Hoffman.

The quick pounce scored three runs.

Tomaschik then went out to the circle and eased through a one-two-three inning.

The Tigers weren't done scoring.

Three straight doubles by Tomaschik, Lavella and Hoffman netted two more runs in the second inning. Before Greenwood knew what hit it, the Wildcats were down 5-0.

That kind of start was exactly what helped calm down the Tigers, and took away mounds of pressure in other areas of the game.

"I think it relieves all of us, not just me," Tomaschik said. "They know if they make a mistake, it's not a big deal, and that it's not going to drastically change the game that second. But we know we can't take it for granted."

Tomaschik came back out in the second and needed just seven pitches to get through the inning. Meanwhile, the 61 pitches Greenwood's Jessica Heichel needed to get through the first two innings, got her yanked in favor of Chelsea Hicks.

Hicks gave up four hits, two walks and two more Southern runners reached after swinging on wild strike threes that skittered away from the Wildcats' catcher, but no more runs.

"We're doing what we have to do to win," Southern Columbia head coach Al Cihocki said. "We left a ton of people on. If we get a hit here or there, we bust it wide open."

The late-inning hitting belonged to Greenwood.

Both Wildcats' runs came later in the game.

Heichel, who had two hits off Tomaschik, singled in the fifth inning, advanced on a passed ball, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an infield single.

In the sixth inning, Brittany Fleisher reached on a single up the middle, then scored when A.J. Seigel tripled to right.

From there, Tomaschik shut down the Wildcats, inducing two pops back to her and a strikeout looking for the third out.

Tomaschik also took care of the side in the seventh, with a ground out to her and two strikeouts.

And with that last out, a very pro-Southern crowd was making plans to go to State College Friday.

"This is great for the kids," Cihocki said. "They work hard and they're good kids. No matter what happens, they're a special ball club."

Game Summary

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (AB-R-H-BI) - Blass 3-1-1-0, Tomaschik 4-2-2-0, Lavella 4-2-3-2, Hoffman 4-0-2-2, Troup 4-0-1-0, McGinley 4-0-0-0, Lupold 4-0-2-0, Yoder 3-0-1-0, Reigle 2-0-0-0, Vought 1-0-0-0. Totals 33-5-12-5.

GREENWOOD (AB-R-H-BI) - Shaffer 3-0-0-0, Fleisher 3-1-1-0, Seigel 3-0-1-1, Heggenstaller 3-0-0-0, Osborne 3-0-0-0, Hicks 3-0-0-0, Heichel 2-1-2-0, Morrow 1-0-0-0, Seaman 3-0-1-1. Totals 24-2-5-2.

Southern 320 000 0 - 5 12 1

Greenwood 000 011 0 - 2 5 2

Extra-base hits: 2B - Tomaschik, Lavella, Hoffman. 3B - Seigel.

IP H R ER BB K

Southern Columbia

Tomaschik 7 5 2 2 0 9

Greenwood

Heichel 2 8 5 5 0 3

Hicks 5 4 0 0 2 2

SUNBURY - The third annual Ta-Ta Trot, a 5K Run/Walk, will be held Saturday, July 14, during the Sunbury Celebration on North Fourth Street. The event will benefit the Geisinger Marie Lamey Fund and Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

Organizers expect over 1,000 participants in this year's race. In 2011, 655 trotters participated raising $14,274.54 for breast health awareness.

A donation of $25 for teens/adults, and $10 for kids is required for participation. T-shirts are guaranteed for those that register before June 15 and a $5 day-of registration premium will be added. Socks are available for purchase for $7 and additional T-shirts are $12.

Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place runners in various age and gender categories. Team awards given for the most money raised, most trotters, and best dressed. All participants will be eligible for various door prizes given by local businesses.

For more information, to sponsor the event, or to register, call 214-5066 or visit www.tatatrot.com

Shamokin-Mount Carmel Legion team is now 3-3 after a pair of wins in the Kip Snyder Memorial Tournament over the weekend and a loss to Danville on Monday.

S-MC beat West Snyder 11-0 in the first game of the tournament on the strength of Danny Lesko's two-double, two-RBI game at the plate. Theo Deptula and Brody Young had two singles each. Jake Jones had a double and a single and Levi Craft had a single. Craft also picked up the win with eight strikeouts.

In the championship game, S-MC beat Catawissa 9-1. Jake Jones won for S-MC with 12 strikeouts. Deptula had three singles, Lesko had three doubles, Jones a double and Paul Gurba and Anthony Pupo a single each.

In Monday's 9-0 loss to Danville, Deptula and Mike Rodarmel each had a single for S-MC. Gurba struck out three batters and was tagged with the loss.

S-MC plays a doubleheader at Sunbury-Norry Wednesday starting at 5 p.m.

COAL TOWNSHIP - After 36 years in education, 32 seasons as a head basketball coach and 24 of those seasons at his alma mater - Shamokin Area - Joe Klebon has decided to retire.

It will become official, he said Tuesday night, at next week's meeting of the Shamokin Area school board.

During his time as head coach at Shamokin, Klebon, a guidance counselor in the high school, guided the Indians to 10 Schuylkill League Division I championships, seven overall Schuylkill League titles, eight District 4 Class AAA championships, one Heartland Conference title, 13 Knights of Columbus Tournament crowns and eight tipoff tourney titles.

His career total, counting his time at Shamokin Area and eight seasons as head coach at Warrior Run, is 581 victories.

"It's been kind of an honor to come back and coach at my alma mater," Klebon said Tuesdayday night. "It's been neat to be able to do.

"They say if you enjoy what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. It's not work. I've been blessed."

Klebon will also be retiring from his position as a guidance counselor in the district. He said he gave some consideration to remaining as the basketball coach, but decided against it.

"I thought about it, but I think you have to be in the building," Klebon said. "You have to be there with the kids.

"It's a tough decision when you sit down and start thinking things over."

Klebon's final Shamokin Area team qualified for the District 4 playoffs with an 11-11 regular season record, then dropped a tough 31-30 decision to No. 1 seed Danville in the semifinals.

"I was proud to coach," Klebon said of his career. "We had a long, successful run.

"We've had a lot of great kids here. The coaching staff has been an outstanding group to work with. The parents, administration, they've always been supportive."

Klebon said he will remain involved in the program to some extent and offer his assistance to the new head coach in whatever manner he can.

"I'll be there helping out," Klebon said. "I'll still be around.

"I'm not making a big deal out of this (retirement). Everybody, sooner or later in life, moves on to different things."

Klebon, who had back surgery late in the 2011-12 season, said he is pain free, but that situation also played into his decision to retire.

"My back is OK," Klebon said. "It's not the best, but I'm moving around and I'm pain free."

Teams throw around the word family like it's a plastic batting practice ball.

At Southern Columbia, family starts at the top and continues through the lineup.

Of the Tigers' assistant coaches, two have daughters on the team. Kevin Yoder, centerfielder Erin Yoder's dad, handles the pitchers, while Kirstin Blass's father, Jeff, helps with the outfielders.

And then there are the Hoffmans, very much at the center of everything the Tigers do.

The Hoffman that most opposing teams are aware of is freshman slugger Taylor, but her aunt, Tricia, is the Tigers' first base coach and admitted administrative guru. Taylor's grandmother, Sue, who is engaged to head coach Al Cihocki, keeps the team's book.

At Southern, softball practice is unofficial family-bonding time and they'll all take the field together at 10 a.m. Friday against Fannett-Metal for the PIAA Class A state title at Penn State's Beard Field in State College.

The family lessons have paid off for Taylor, who is having an outstanding season as the team's designated player and cleanup hitter.

Through 26 games, she is batting .500 with 14 doubles, a triple and four home runs.

Not even Taylor imagined her contribution to the Tigers' run would be this great.

"It's really exciting," Taylor said. "I thought coming into the season I'd be on the bench and cheer my team on, but I think being out there gives me more confidence."

The confidence her coaches have shown in her is well deserved. She had a two home run game against Montgomery early in the season and has come up big all postseason long.

"I knew she was a good ballplayer and I knew she could hit, but the way she's hit this year has been beyond our expectations," Tricia said. "She goes up there, and I'm not sure she realizes how big the moment is, and smacks the ball around. She's had big RBIs when we needed them in big games."

It's tough to say Taylor has been groomed specifically for this, but with so many coaches around all the time, it was hard for them not to point out things she should be doing better. But with the constructive criticism also came the unconditional support.

"Ever since I was little, Ciho (Cihocki) would tell me to this or do this, and having them helping me and supporting me the whole way really helps," Taylor said.

The typical trend in the playoffs is for opposing pitchers to try to challenge Taylor in her first at-bat before they quickly realize that one mistake could turn into a bomb in any direction.

"I'm proud of her and I hope we continue for one more game," Tricia said.

One more game also means Taylor's unofficial duties - cheer starter - will continue.

"I guess cheerleading helps," Taylor said. "I have a big mouth every day, so I figured I'd start the cheers."

The cheering is a help, but Taylor's bat is what the Tigers are really counting on.