Even if you’re not a starting player for Northwestern Lehigh softball; stay ready.

The Tigers often take big, early leads, and coach Kate Farber isn’t shy about getting experience for young players.

In Monday’s 19-0 win over Jim Thorpe, Farber sent six pinch-hitters — three freshmen, two juniors, and a sophomore — to the plate, and they all reached base.

“We’ve been really fortunate that our starters get off to a nice hot start, and we’re able to get our young players into games. They do a really nice job,” said Farber of her younger players. “We’ve gotten them all in, sometimes all at once, sometimes a couple here and there, but we’ve had a lot of games for them to see time.”

Starting pitcher Lizzie Diehl retired the first six hitters she saw before surrendering a leadoff single to Jocelyn Montefour to start the third. Of the nine hitters that Diehl faced, she struck out seven. The hit by Montefour was the only ball hit out of the infield by the Olympians.

In the first inning, Northwestern sent 12 hitters to the plate. They came through with five singles — one of them on a bunt — three walks, and a double by Lilly Kinnon. Every player either scored a run or drove in a run as the Tigers took a 7-0 lead.

In the second, the first six hitters reached base and Farber started the roll call of players off the bench.

Lexie Zentz and Anna Seyler both drew bases-loaded walks, and after a Natalie Conner single to drive in two runs, Evelyn Alboucq walked to reload the bases. Freshman Payton Shafer then pinch-hit with a hard ground ball through the middle of the infield to drive in a pair of runs that made it 16-0.

Annabelle Dynda drew the eighth walk of the game for Northwestern that reloaded the bases. Another walk to pinch-hitter Emily Diehl pushed home a run, and her big sister, Lizzie, followed with a two-run double for a 19-0 lead.

“It’s a little tough sometimes, some times when you don’t get too many chances, but it’s a lot of fun being on this team and learning more from the older players. I am so happy I have gotten to play with this team. It’s a big switch from middle school to high school, and I’m picking up a lot,” said Shafer, who has been playing softball since before she was 10 years old.

“I got so used to watching my brother play baseball that I wanted to play something. It just seemed too cool and it’s been really fun.”

Lizzie Diehl, who has committed to Lock Haven University where she will continue her softball career and pitch for the Bald Eagles, has taken on a larger share of the pitching duties this season and responded well. She and the other seniors on the team are ready for what lies ahead in the postseason.

“We’re in a good position going into the postseason, but we know that it gets tougher the further you go,” said Diehl. “We’ve shown that our offense is capable of putting up a lot of runs and our pitching is ready for the postseason, so I like where we’re at right now. We have a target on us, but we’re ready to go.”

YOU GUYS FIGURE IT OUT ... While the lower half of the playoff picture in the Colonial League is a blur, Northwestern just has to sit back and wait to see who it will face in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Tigers will be the top seed, and will host the No. 8 seed Friday afternoon. There are currently five teams fighting for the last four playoff spots in the league.

WHO GOES WHERE? ... The top three spots in the District 11 4A standings will be occupied by Blue Mountain, Northwestern and Palmerton. The question is, in what order? Blue Mountain is 17-1 with two tough games left against Pine Grove (18-1) and Pottsville (10-7). Northwestern’s schedule is done, and it finished at 17-3. Palmerton (16-3) has one game remaining against Northern Lehigh (12-7). It all comes down to if Blue Mountain wins the Schuylkill League, or Northwestern or Palmerton wins the Colonial League, to determine who will be the top seed.

Jim Thorpe 0 0 0 - 0 1 3

Northwestern 7(12)x - 19 11 0

Huff and Sully; L. Diehl and Dunstan, Alboucq. W - Diehl. L - Huff.

Records: Jim Thorpe (4-14; 2-13); Northwestern (17-3; 16-1).