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CHAMPIONS: Jersey Shore crowned district champions after 10-2 win over Shamokin

Members of the Jersey Shore High School softball team pose with their plaque and medals after defeating Shamokin High School in their high school softball district championship game, 10-2. (The Express/Shareik Flowers)

TURBOTVILLE — Ever since Shamokin handed Jersey Shore a frustrating loss in the regular season, all Shore head coach Randy Smith and his troops wanted was another shot at the Lady Indians.

As a result of Shore’s 6-0 win over Milton and Shamokin’s 4-3 defeat of Danville in the District IV Class AAAA semifinals, Smith and Company got their wish and they made the most of it by pounding the Lady Indians, 10-2, Wednesday night to capture the 2018 District IV Class AAAA softball championship.

With the win, the Lady Dawgs lived to play another day, this time in the opening round of the PIAA state tournament. They are slated to play the District XI champion Monday at a time and site to be determined.

“These girls wanted this win bad,” said a happy Shore head coach Smith. “We talked about it all week and we were just hoping that the bats would come alive and they sure came alive tonight.”

Not knowing what to expect from his troops in his “rookie” season as the Shore mentor, Smith was beaming when asked how he felt about his players matured and improved during the season.

“It is really nice when everything comes together like it has for us,” said Smith. “Going into he season we didn’t really know what to expect from them, and boy, I couldn’t have asked for a better season than this in my first year as head coach. I really didn’t expect us to get to the championship game, let alone win it. This is just fantastic.”

Shore opened the scoring in the second inning when Lexi Schuler smacked her first of three hits a single to left field. On the heels of Schuler’s base hit, Alyssa Stover ripped an RBI double to right field to chase Schuler home for the game’s first run and a 1-0 Shore lead.

Still holding the 1-0 lead after three innings, the Lady Dawgs got tired of waiting around for something to happen as their bats exploded for eight hits that resulted in eight runs to blow the game wide open at 9-0 Shore. Sending a dozen hitters to the plate, the merry-go-around continued as the Orange & Black sent 12 hitters to the plate.

“Everything just clicked for us in that inning,” said Smith. “They hit very well, they ran the bases well and it was just great to see them take advantage of all of the situations to get the win. What they have done is just fantastic and I can’t say enough about the job they have done.”

Shamokin scored its only two runs of the game in the fifth on singles by Payton Whary and Kelsee Dunn along with a double by Chloe Kramer. After surrendering the runs to the Lady Indians, Shore tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Stover smacked her second double of the game and rode home on an RBI single to right by Hailey Stetts.

As she has done in most all of Shore’s wins, Kylie Russell had things well under control in the circle as she gave up the two runs on just six base hits. For her seven innings of work, Russell fanned a half dozen Shamokin batters, surrendering three bases on balls, two of the intentional variety.

“She (Russell) has been like that for us all year,” said Smith. “She just does a great job for us in the circle and the biggest key to her success is that she throws strikes.”

“I knew I had to bear down and work hard to get those outs,” said Russell. “I think I had an advantage over them this time because I knew what pitches most of them could hit whereas the first time, I had no idea as to what their strengths were. I couldn’t have done this without the help of my teammates, especially on defense. I am just so proud of them.”

Joining Stover in the multiple hit parade for Shore was Schuler who finished with three hits good for three RBI while scoring three runs. One of Schuler’s hits was a solo home run in the massive Shore fourth inning.

“I came here ready to hit today and I was able to see the ball really well,” said Schuler. “We faced her (Shamokin pitcher Payton Whary) before so we had a good idea of what to expect from her. They got a shutout against us the last time so we definitely had to come back and show them what we can do. As for going to the state tournament, we are so excited about having that opportunity.”

“She (Schuler) is a hitter, that’s for sure,” said Smith. But she is a complete ball player. In addition to her hitting, she made some nice plays in the field as well.”

Other Lady Dawgs who came through with clutch hits in the fourth-inning uprising were pitcher Russell with her second double of the game, McKenna Russell with an RBI single, Brianna Herman with a single and run scored, Schuler with a two-run single good for a pair of RBI, Hailey Stetts with a single, Arizona Shreck with a double and Gabby Vuocolo with a two-RBI single to center field.

Shamokin 000 020 0 — 2 6 2

Shore 010 801 x — 10 13 0

WP: Kylie Russell. LP: Payton Whary

Top Shamokin Hitters: Chloe Kramer 2-for-3, double, run scored; Kaia Bonshock 1-1, double; Payton Whary 1-for-3, run.

Top Shore Hitters: Kylie Russell 2-for-4 2 doubles, run, 1 RBI; Lexi Schuler 3-for-4, two singles, home run, 3 RBI; Alyssa Stover 2-for-4, 2 doubles; Hailey Stetts 2-for-4, two singles, run, RBI; Arizona Shreck 1-for-4, double; Gabby Vuocolo 1-for-3, run, 2 RBI.

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