During her four years at Northern Lehigh, Jordyn Hemingway has experienced a little bit of everything as a member of the softball program.

Well, almost everything.

One thing the Bulldog senior had never experienced was playing in a District 11 championship game.

Thursday afternoon against Catasauqua, she did everything in her power to change that.

Hemingway’s big day at the plate powered Northern Lehigh to a 5-3 victory over the Rough Riders in the Class 2A semifinals. The win sends the Bulldogs into Tuesday’s title game against Minersville - a 6-4 winner over Williams Valley last night.

Hemingway finished the day 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs. The Bulldogs scored runs in three different innings - and Hemingway was in the middle of each one.

“I made playing for a district championship one of my main goals before the season started,” said Hemingway. “Northern Lehigh has a great softball tradition, but we hadn’t played in a championship game during my time here and I wanted to change that.

“I’m really excited that we were able to make that happen by winning today. Everyone played well and everyone contributed. It was a great team win.”

While numerous Bulldogs had a hand in the win, nobody contributed more than Hemingway.

She delivered an RBI single to left to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the first, added a two-run single to center in the third, and then capped her big day with a leadoff single to right in the fifth that eventually led to her scoring the tie-breaking run.

“I try to keep it simple when I’m at bat. I just try to hit the ball hard and hit it where it’s pitched,” said Hemingway about her use of the entire field.

Hemingway’s first-inning hit scored Kylee Snyder, who opened the inning with a single.

After Catty took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, the Bulldogs answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Singles by Arabella Heintzelman and Haylie Fenstermaker were followed by a wild pitch. Hemingway then drilled a shot back through the middle that deflected off pitcher Delaney Troxell’s leg and into the outfield for a two-run single.

Catasauqua (10-12) pushed across an unearned run to tie that game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth.

But Northern Lehigh (15-8) once again answered right back. Singles by Hemingway and Cadence Peters preceded a clutch two-out, two-run triple down the right field line off the bat of Peyton Hoffman.

“We spend a lot of time talking to the girls about not worrying about bad things that happen, and having the mindset to just forget about it and move on,” said Northern Lehigh coach Kate Farber. “We call it a goldfish mentality. Goldfish don’t remember what happens at one end of the tank by the time they reach the other end. That’s how we want to be.

“I think you saw that from our kids today. Every time Catasauqua did something in their half of the inning, we came right back and answered.”

Because they did, the Bulldogs are going to play for a district title.

REACHING A GOAL ... During her Bulldog career, Hemingway has been part of a little bit of everything. She experienced missing the entire 2020 season when COVID canceled play. She had been on teams that qualified for districts in 2021 and 2022, but lost in the quarterfinal round. She played in Colonial League playoff games. She made numerous all-star teams and received a number of individual honors - including the 2022 Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Player of the Year Award. She will now be able to add playing for a district championship to that list.

BULLDOG BATS ... In addition to Hemingway’s three hits, Northern Lehigh got one each from Snyder, Fenstermaker, Peters, Hoffman, Skyelar Horack and Heintzelman.

A WINNING PAIR ... Emma Smith pitched the first four innings for Northern Lehigh, allowing two runs on four hits. Lilyanah Watt tossed the final three innings, allowing one unearned run and three hits. Smith struck out two and walked one. Watt struck out one and walked one.

Catasauqua 002 010 0 - 3 7 2

No. Lehigh 102 020 x - 5 9 1

Troxell and Becker; Smith, Watt (5) and Stock. W - Watt. L - Troxell.