In a span of less than seven days, Pine Grove's superb softball team has taken charge of the Schuylkill League Division I race.

The Cardinals had to fend off Tamaqua not once, but twice during that span.Friday, Pine Grove finished off the sweep of the regular season series with a 4-3 victory.The win puts the Cardinals (12-2 overall, 9-1 league) in the driver's seat as the division race heads down the home stretch."The key was to jump out in front and get a hit or two," said winning manager Ryan Leffler. "We were able to execute … put the pressure on them."Indeed the Cardinals applied that pressure from the onset. Leadoff hitter Kate Rittenbaugh punched an opposite field double to fuel a two-run, first inning uprising. After a sacrifice, Trish Kopinetz drilled a shot to left for an RBI and Caitlyn Becher drove in the second run with a fly out."They get that early lead, and we're trying to catch them," offered Tamaqua coach Jill Barron. "We booted it around today. We didn't make good decisions. I really felt that we gave them the game."Pine Grove scored a tainted run in the third and added a solo run in the sixth using three singles.In between, Tamaqua was trying to shake off its hitting blues. The hitting attack was silent until the fourth inning when, with one out, Miranda Chinchar singled to end Lehman's perfect game. Cailyn Joseph then delivered the big blow in the inning when she ripped an RBI double.Trailing 4-1, the Raiders made it interesting in the sixth. With one out, Brooke Zellner singled before Chinchar continued her hot hitting, this time booming a triple to the gap in right center. Moments later Joseph picked up her second RBI on a fly out. Although losing pitcher Jada Schellhammer clouted a two-out double, she was stranded when Lehman managed to wiggle out of further troubles.That was the last time the Raiders were able to get Lehman on the ropes as she retired Tamaqua in order in the seventh, picking up her 10th strikeout.NOT FINISHED YET ... Tamaqua (14-2 overall, 8-2 league) still controls its own destiny as far as the league playoffs are concerned. The Raiders need to finish either first or second in the division race to make the Schuylkill playoffs. They are currently a half game ahead of North Schuylkill for second place and just one game behind Pine Grove in the loss column.PUNCH-AND-JUDY ... Pine Grove plays small ball as well as any team in the league. It uses a running bunt tactic even when the corners are pulled in to try and deny it.USING THOSE PUPPIES ... Tamaqua's stellar shortstop Taylor Donnon made three outstanding plays in the same inning on balls that were hit behind her. The third out was a big time play in short left field.HITTING RANGE ... Tamaqua managed just five hits, two of those coming from Chincher. Pine Grove collected 10 hits, with Jen Kauffman, Avery Nagle and Rittenbaugh each contributing two.Pine Grove 201 001 0 - 4 10 1Tamaqua 000 102 0 - 3 5 1Lehman and Kopinetz; Shellhammer and Zellner. W - Lehman. L - Shellhammer.