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).