(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 locally and nationally, 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 June 13, 1979).

By Ed Hedes

Sports Editor

SHIPPENSBURG - Anita Herman, Panther Valley girls’ softball coach, wasn’t extremely pleased with the performance of her team during opening round action of the PIAA Softball Championships here.

“We played rotten,” she said. “But it’s good to get a game out of your system like this and still win by 15 runs.”

The Panthers did just that as they eliminated District 10 runnerup Mercyhurst Prep by a 22-7 score in a game called after five innings with the 10-run rule in effect.

This afternoon at 3 o’clock PV took on Mid-Valley, the District 2 champion and an 11-1 winner over Bloomsburg yesterday in the opening round.

The Panthers really didn’t play their best game of the year, but it wasn’t that bad when you can score 22 runs on just 10 hits. They took advantage of 10 walks and eight Mercyhurst errors to bat around in both the second and third frames, putting the game out of reach.

Winning pitcher Ann Kusko couldn’t get her “riser” over the plate and walked 12 Royals, but gave up just one hit and fanned eight for an exceptional afternoon, otherwise.

Mercyhurst was the kind of team you had to be cautious of. With a 4-10 record, it was hard to see how the Royals qualified for the state tournament, but you knew they were there for a reason.

The Royals jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning as they took advantage of their only base hit and a couple of free passes.

With two out and Stephanie Sivak on first via a fielder’s choice, Wendy Sturm singled to left and Joan Scolio took four pitches outside of the strike zone to load the bases. Kusko then walked the next two batters, forcing in the two runs, before striking out Mary Majchrzak to end the inning.

The Mercyhurst lead was short lived, however, as the Panthers bounced back with four runs in the bottom of the first, taking the lead to stay.

Christy Phillips walked, stole second, then after Colette Cormier reached on an infield error, both pulled off a double steal. With one out, Kim Gogal hit a foul pop outside of first and Phillips tug up to score the first PV run after it was caught.

Kusko was hit by a pitch, stole second and followed Colette Cormier across the plate when Yvonne Cormier smashed a double to centerfield. She circled the bases on the play as the ball got by the centerfielder, giving PV a 4-2 lead.

The Panthers didn’t work too hard in the field during the top of the second, but got a workout at the plate in the bottom of the frame, scoring 11 runs.

Penni Bortnyck started the rally when she reached on an error, followed by walks to Jackie Thomas and Phillips to load the bases with none out. Colette Cormier walked to force in one run, then Lyn Yurchak unloaded a double to drive home two more. Gogal followed with a single to knock in two more and went right around to third on an error by the leftfielder.

She scored moments later when Kusko reached on an error and moved to second on another Royal miscue. Yvonne Cormier singled to put runners at the corners, then stole second on a perfect double-steal, giving Kusko a free path to the plate from third.

Still with none out and the score 11-4, the Panthers added four more with Mary Jo Pisko, Thomas, Yvonne Cormier and Phillips crossing the plate with the big hit being a two-run single by Gogal.

Adding seven more in the third inning, the Panthers turned it into a real “laugher” as they capitalized on three more errors, three walks, a double by Colette Cormier and a base hit by Gogal to go up 22-2 at one point.

Mercyhurst took advantage of a PV careless spell that was just routine when you’re ahead by 20 runs, to score five in the fourth inning. Kusko walked six in the inning and some shoddy play by the Panthers mentally enabled the Royals to score the runs.

It was a long game, even though it was over in five innings, with 22 bases on balls delivered throughout the afternoon.

Gogal was the hitting star for the Panthers with five RBI on two hits, while Phillips, Yvonne Cormier and Mary Jo Pisko all added two apiece. Yvonne Cormier added three RBI to her credit while her sister Colette and Lyn Yurchak each had two.

So there are eight teams remaining in quest of the Class AA softball title entering today’s round, including District XI champion Minersville, a 21-1 winner over Curwensville yesterday morning.

Who knows, maybe it’ll be a rematch of the District 11 title game for the state championship ... but let’s not look ahead.

Mercyhurst 2 00 50 - 7 1 6

Panther Vy. 4(11)7 0x - 22 10 3