Zellner’s HR lifts Tamaqua past Northwestern

Tamaqua’s Brook Zellner went from being questionable, to being probable, to being exceptional.

Zellner’s three-run homer in the third inning jumpstarted the Blue Raider offense and led to an 11-1 mercy-rule victory over Northwestern in the quarterfinal round of the District 11 Class 4A softball playoffs on Wednesday.

Zellner’s blast not only allowed Tamaqua to dig out of a 1-0 deficit, but it ignited a nine-run explosion that all but sealed the outcome.

Not bad for someone who Tamaqua coach Jill Barron was worried might not even be able to play.

“Brooke had a doctor’s appointment earlier in the day and had to get some shots,” Barron said. “Her doctor’s appointments sometimes knock her down for the rest of the day and really take everything out of her.

“I was checking in with her throughout the day and was relieved when she told me she was feeling alright. I’m just really happy she was able to play, and she was able to get us going today.”

The sixth-seeded Tigers (11-10) had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI double by Kayla Mitman.

Thanks to Zellner, that lead didn’t last long.

After Courtney Hoffman and Miranda Chinchar worked one-out walks to start the home third, Zellner jumped on the first pitch she saw and drove it over the fence in left center field.

“After walking the two batters in front of me, I thought their pitcher might try to get ahead in the count,” Zellner said. “So I wanted to be ready for the first good pitch I saw. I just wanted to hit it hard.”

Zellner did just that.

“I knew it was gone as soon as she hit it,” Barron said. “It was nice to get the lead after they had scored in the top of the inning.

“I thought Brooke’s hit got us going offensively, and then the rest of the team helped keep it rolling after that.”

During the third inning, Tamaqua sent 14 batters to the plate, pounded out six hits, and drew five walks. Kaitlyn Stauffenberg added a two-run single, Taylor Donnan and Hoffman both had RBI singles, and Chinchar capped it with a run-scoring double.

“Give Tamaqua credit, they are a good hitting team,” Northwestern coach Josh Zimmerman said. “We had one bad inning where we walked some people and gave them a couple extra outs – and Tamaqua took advantage of that like good teams do.

“We’re a young team. We need to learn how to limit damage and not let those types of innings happen.”

Chinchar added an RBI single in the fifth and Hoffman singled and eventually raced home on a Tiger error in the sixth to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.

“As a senior, I knew that a loss meant the end of my high school career,” Zellner said. “I came in with the attitude that I was going to play my heart out and do whatever I could to make sure this wasn’t my last game. So it felt nice to contribute like I did.”

NEXT UP … Tamaqua will face second-seeded Bangor today in the semifinals at Pates Park in Allentown at 4 p.m. The Slaters had a quarterfinal round bye.

MILESTONE … Chichar’s two hits gave her 100 for her career. The junior first baseman now has a team-high 35 hits this season, and improved her batting average to .500.

HITTING STARS … Chinchar and Stauffenberg both had two hits and two RBIs for the Raiders. Donnan also had a pair of hits. Hoffman scored twice, while Zellner knocked in three. For Northwestern, Kayla Mitman had two hits and an RBI. Sam Sisco reached base twice and scored a run.

Northwestern 001 000 - 1 5 2

Tamaqua 009 011 - 11 10 0

E. Akelaitis, Sanatana (3), E. Akelaitis (4) and A. Akelaitis; Schellhammer and Zellner. W-Schellhammer. L-E. Akelaitis. HR: Tamaqua – Zellner (3rd, two on).