(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from May 30, 1996).

By Rod Heckman

TIMES NEWS Staff

ALLENTOWN - Northern Lehigh has posted many comebacks over their storied softball history.

But none, possibly, was any bigger than the rally the Bulldogs pulled off last night at Patriots Park.

Moments after giving up the go-ahead run to Schuylkill League powerhouse Minersville in the District 11 Class AA championship game, Nolehi pushed across two runs in their last at-bat to pull out a 3-2 victory and the district title.

The comeback not only gave the Bulldogs their third district crown over the past four years but also prevented what would have been a disastrous loss.

Through the first six frames, Northern Lehigh had numerous chances to build a huge lead against the Battlin’ Miners. The Bulldogs left eight runners on base, including six in scoring position, over that period.

“We definitely had some missed opportunities there,” said Nolehi head coach Dennis Hock. “We had some good hitters up that were quite capable of producing, but their pitchers just made some good pitches. They didn’t give in.

“To come back against Minersville, though, is special. When you’re down against them, they usually don’t let you up.

“This one is definitely sweeter. Coming back after the loss to Southern Lehigh in the Colonial League championship and the sour note we went through (three straight losses) during the regular season, this is my medicine.”

Hock had to be sick to his stomach after the Battlin’ Miners snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth.

With one out, Holly Mahal worked Bulldog hurler Vanessa Strohl for a walk. On a ground out to third, Mahal took second base. After the out was recorded, though, Mahal got caught in a rundown between second and third. Nolehi, however, couldn’t capitalize on the base-running mistake as Mahal scampered back to second base.

That play turned out to be huge as on the next pitch to Audra Landers, the Miners’ cleanup hitter stroked a single to left scoring Mahal to make it a 2-1 contest.

What that run did, though, was only set up a more dramatic seventh inning for the Bulldogs.

“It was kind of disappointing,” said Strohl of the feeling on the bench before the start of the seventh frame. “I was kind of upset at myself because the girl that scored I had walked.

“I was kind of scared going to the plate in the seventh because I was 0-for-3 in my first three times up. I just bore down and ran as hard as I could. It payed off.”

Strohl led off the top of the seventh, desperately needing to get on base. The senior speedster sent a chopper to second base which she beat out for an infield single.

On the first pitch to the next batter, Allison Kuntz, Strohl easily swiped second base to put herself in scoring position.

“We were hoping to keep her off base,” said Minersville mentor Ken Schneck. “Unfortunately, she (Strohl) got on in the last inning. I knew where she was going on the first pitch.”

“They went up on us heading into the seventh and it was looking like it was going to be their game,” said Hock, “and boom, all of a sudden we get Strohl on. She’s our catalyst and when she gets on, more times than not she scores.”

Strohl did exactly that two batters later to tie the game at 2-2. Kuntz reached first and moved Strohl to third when she beat out an infield hit on a chopper up the middle that deflected off of pitcher Katie Rowlands’ glove.

Sophomore catcher Mandy Hoffman then delivered what was probably the Bulldogs’ biggest hit of the season. After taking a pitch out of the strike zone, Hoffman lined a single to right field to plate Strohl with the tying run.

The inning, however, wasn’t over for Nolehi. After a strikeout, Gale Treskot grounded into a force play, leaving runners at first and third with two outs. Tiffany Oertner sent a hot shot to third base, which got away from Landers allowing Kuntz to cross home with the go-ahead run.

Strohl, who finished with a two-hitter, put an end to the late-inning dramatics by getting three ground outs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game and set off a celebration at the pitcher’s mound.

“The misplay at third base opened the door for us,” said Hock. “The ball was hit hard enough for that to happen. She got caught in an in-between hop. It was unfortunate for them.”

“It’s a tough way to lose the ballgame,” said Schneck, “but they were really hitting the ball today.”

The Bulldogs did pound out 10 hits in the game, including four from their bottom three players in the lineup.

Two of those hits helped tie the game in the third inning. After the Miners scored an unearned run in the home second on a single by Kim Wenner and a three-base error, the Bulldogs’ bottom-of-the-order brigade got the run right back.

Karen Breidinger, whom Hock used a designated hitter for the night before, lined a one-out triple down the leftfield line in the third. The ninth hitter in the order, Laurie Rentschler, then poked a single up the middle to score Breidinger with the tying run.

“They really came up big,” said Hock of his hitters at the end of the lineup. “Breidinger’s a gamer. She came out tonight and had a real big game. It’s the same thing with Laurie. She hasn’t had a lot of hits lately, but she’s always a tough out. She usually gets the bat on the ball.”

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they left the bases loaded in the inning as Minersville starter Amelia Demcher got a key two-out strikeout.

Nolehi also wasted triples by Ali Ferrari in the fourth and Treskot in the sixth and had Rentschler at second in the fifth but came away empty.

“This means an awful lot to us,” said Hock. “And anytime you can beat Minersville to achieve this, it’s a double win for us. Because they are a very solid ballteam.”

GAME NOTES ... Northern Lehigh now has a 22-4 record and will compete in the PIAA playoffs, which begin Monday. The Bulldogs will face Elco at 4 p.m. at Patriots Park in the first round. Minersville ends its season at 19-4 as District 11 only sends one team into the state tournament ... The Miners were forced to use three pitchers as their No. 1 starter, Rowlands, has been suffering from arm problems. Rowlands did pitch in the game, but her status was questionable before the game started ... Kuntz led Nolehi with three hits, while Rentschler had two. The Bulldogs had more triples (three) in the game than Minersville had hits (two) ... Strohl struck out five and walked two in her mound effort, the first time she’s worked on back-to-back days this season. “Vanessa was definitely sharper tonight then she was against Palmerton,” said Hock. “It was her game to win or lose, though.” Schneck commented on Strohl, “We didn’t hit tonight and that was due to Strohl’s pitching. She kept us off stride all game.”

No. Lehigh 001 000 2 - 3 10 2

Minersville 010 001 0 - 2 2 2

Strohl and Hoffman; Demcher, Ciotti (5), Rowlands (6) and Fitzpatrick. W - Strohl. L - Rowlands.