It didn’t matter that mistakes set it back or that the game’s inning count almost doubled by the time it was all said and done. That resolve extended through and through, through constant pressure from an exceptional foe and the addition of a rowdy crowd enjoying an excellent game. And while the final outcome indicated otherwise, the Eagles fought like winners until the last run.

The first run through 90 minutes of extras was the difference maker. After the Eagles evened the score at 3-3 with an out to spare, both defensive units became immovable walls for the next 11 frames of action before the Cardinals loaded up the bases in the bottom of the 13th. They’d send it home from there with an RBI sacrifice fly, winning their first state title since 2019 by a score of 4-3.

“We had good opportunities and in a game like this, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities. They (Pine Grove) took advantage of some of those opportunities and that ended the game,” said Bald Eagle Area head coach Don Lucas on the performance. “But I’m not gonna let this define us, I’m so proud of these girls.”

Losses always sting, especially in a game like this with added stakes involved. This was a moment Bald Eagle’s deep senior class had been striving to make its way back towards since they first experienced the championship in 2023, and to come up short one win away was heartbreaking.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Sydney Thompson, left, and Addisyn Burns, right, walk off the field during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

But in making it back to the big one, not shying away after giving up three unanswered runs and giving a formidable opponent more than just a run for its money, the Eagles could still hold their heads up high. From their four-year semifinalists to junior Addisyn Burns to their three first-year starters, there’s so much to be proud of at the end of the day.

“It’s never easy to take a loss like this, but the major take away from it is that we did fight hard, didn’t give up until the last out,” said senior Kailey Eckert on the performance.

After taking a 2-0 lead off three straight hits from Kendall Gavlock, Kailey Eckert and Addisyn Burns in the top of the third, Pine Grove struck back swiftly. Florida State commit Callee Leffler hit a little league home run one frame later off the back of multiple errors, and that disastrous play carried into the fourth, as the Cardinals turned a walk and two hits into a 3-2 lead.

But like it has all season, Bald Eagle Area didn’t let those mistakes get to it, falling back into its defensive groove through the final three innings of regulation. Double plays from Addisyn Burns and Raelee Repasky capped the fourth and sixth innings respectively, and Sierra Albright fell one strike short of an immaculate inning through a fifth-inning retirement.

“We knew that the game wasn’t over at the beginning, even though that’s where we started making our mistakes,” said Eckert. “We picked each other up, fought through it and kept going.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area sophomore Raelee Repasky slides for a base during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

“We had each other’s backs through it all, and just pushed through until we couldn’t any longer,” emphasized Burns.

Things still seemed dire as Pine Grove stifled it offensively following that active third, retiring the side relatively seamlessly through the fifth and sixth with 15 combined pitches. But as Sierra Albright stepped up for what could’ve been the final at-bat of her Bald Eagle career, she broke the slump, knocking a leadoff double into center.

“I didn’t want the game to be over just yet,” said Albright on the at-bat. “So, I knew I had to at least put the ball in play and get on base, so we had a shot from there.”

From there, a sacrifice bunt from Maelee Yoder got her pinch runner – senior Gabbie Perry – to third and an ensuing sacrifice fly from Taylor Habovick got the Eagle home. The Cardinals stifled a promising attack from there, but BEA retired the side the following half, and that put the outing in extras.

There, the Bald Eagle field fought valiantly, stifling promising attack after promising attack to keep Pine Grove from walking it off. It stranded two runners in scoring position in the eighth with an absurd catch from third baseman Raelee Repasky and when a runner was placed on second in the tenth, the Eagles stifled multiple attempts at home.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area senior Kailey Eckert arrives safely on base during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

It just couldn’t establish much offensively throughout the span and eventually, the Eagles’ immovable defense finally gave. Their best chance came in the 12th when they loaded the bases with one out, but that promise was quickly followed by two outs.

Albright pitched 167 times and finished with 12 strikeouts to just five hits and walks through 12 2/3 innings pitched. And on the other end, Pine Grove’s Jamie Dinger pitched 150 times and struck out ten to 12 hits and three walks through 13.

The Eagles faced a worthy challenger when it came to resolve, defensive talent and composure, but for the team to fight as long as they did given the difficulty of defending in an international tiebreaker is commendable. It’s gut-wrenching, yes. But as mentioned earlier, the two-time runners-up should ride off into the sun set with their heads held high.

“We wanted to end this amazing season with another win, but it just didn’t happen,” said Albright. “We gave it our all, fought hard until the end.”

“It didn’t work out, but I’m very proud of the team,” said first baseman Kendall Gavlock on the effort.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area senior Sierra Albright pitches during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

PIAA CLASS AAA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Pine Grove 4, Bald Eagle Area 3 (13 INNINGS)

BEA 002 000 100 000 0 – 3 12 5

PG 001 200 000 000 1 – 4 5 3

Sierra Albright and Kailey Eckert. Jamie Dinger and Tailyn Bohr. W – Dinger. L – Albright.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area sophomore Kendall Gavlock secures an out at first during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

Top Bald Eagle Area hitters: Kailey Eckert 3-4, 2 2Bs, run; Addisyn Burns 2-5, 2B, 2 RBIs; Sierra Albright 2-5, 2B; Kendall Gavlock 1-3, 2B; Taylor Habovick RBI. Top Pine Grove hitters: Jamie Dinger 2-6, 2B, 2 RBIs, run; Addison Zimmerman 1-3, run, Tailyn Bohr 1-5, RBI; Callee Leffler run, 3 BBs.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area seniors Alexa Baney, left, and Taylor Habovick walk off the field during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area head coach Don Lucas calls a mound visit during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area fans cheer during the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Bald Eagle Area softball team poses with its PIAA runner-up trophy the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area seniors pose with their PIAA runner-up trophy following the PIAA Class AAA softball championship against Pine Grove at Penn State's Beard Field. The Eagles fell 4-3 in 13 innings.