Rachel Witner never doubted her team.

Even after Weatherly fell behind 4-0 Sunday, the coach remained confident the bats that had powered the Lady Wreckers through the first two games of the District 18 10-12 softball tournament would answer.

They did — and then some.

Weatherly scored 17 straight runs, escaped threats in the second and third innings and rolled past Stroudsburg 17-6 to improve to 3-0 and secure a spot in Wednesday’s championship round.

“I kept positive,” Witner said. “I know where girls can hit, and I told them, ‘Don’t think that this is over because we’re going to get right back in it.’ Our bats have been hot for the last two games before that, and I had confidence that we were going to time the pitcher and get the bat on the ball today.”

The victory continued the momentum created by a Weatherly program that captured District 18 and Section 6 8-10 championships and reached the state tournament last summer under Witner. Through three games this summer, the Lady Wreckers have outscored opponents 40-9.

Stroudsburg jumped in front 4-0 in the first inning on an RBI single by Gianna Forbes, a two-run single by Andrea Bond and an error.

But Weatherly answered immediately.

Jenna Jones singled home Isabella Durham, Rylee Minnick added an RBI single and Auri Rambaran followed with a two-run single to tie the game. A wild pitch allowed Rambaran to score before Myah Makowiec’s groundout plated Jade Miller to give the Wreckers a 6-4 lead.

“That was so important because it gave them the confidence that we weren’t out of it,” Witner said. “The girls stayed really poised and composed.”

Stroudsburg threatened to reclaim the momentum in the second inning, loading the bases with one out while trailing 6-4. But Minnick fielded a comebacker and threw home to catcher Durham to force out Isabella Derras, and then struck out Rosabella Acevedo to end the inning.

The Monroe County squad again put runners on second and third in the third, but Minnick stranded both with another strikeout.

“They were putting pressure on, but the girls just kept their heads and they made plays,” Witner said. “They didn’t fall short mentally. They kept their players on the bags where they needed to be. We had a play at home that was an out. Good heads-up on our bases and our infielders knowing where to throw the ball and our fielders getting to the bags when they needed to be.”

Weatherly added two runs in the second when Jones reached on an error that allowed Kenzie Clabia to score. Minnick delivered another RBI single to plate Jones and make it 8-4.

The Wreckers then put the game away with nine runs in the third. Durham highlighted the inning with a two-run triple that pushed the lead to 12-4, Jones added an RBI single and walks to Rambaran, Miller and Makowiec forced in three more runs. Rambaran scored on a wild pitch to make it 17-4.

Auri Rambaran led the offense, going 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Jones finished 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases, while Minnick went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored and seven strikeouts in the circle.

Durham tripled, drove in two runs and scored twice, while Miller went 1-for-1 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Makowiec drove in two runs and drew two walks. Cassidy Witner singled and scored twice, and Clabia walked and crossed the plate twice.

Jenna Covey and Jenna Sparacino also contributed to an offense and defense that repeatedly came through in key situations.

Witner also credited the addition of Minnick, along with fellow pitcher Kenzie Clabia, for giving Weatherly valuable depth in the circle.

“We gained Rylee Minnick, a strong pitcher from our 12s team that couldn’t, unfortunately, be on 10s last year, but she is an amazing asset to our team and throwing heat,” Witner said.

“Along with Kenzie Clabia as well. I used her our first game, and she did phenomenal, too. In these tournaments, pitching depth is huge.”

The coach also praised the defensive fundamentals and softball IQ that have developed with a group that has played together for years.

“We always say that it’s so important that if they are hitting our pitcher, that we are on top of our game, making solid fielding and solid throws,” Witner said. “We’ve really honed down on our fielding and we go through situations a lot because it always comes down to situations in games. They have great fundamentals, great IQ and know where the ball should go.

“We’ve had a lot of these girls since 8U. It just keeps getting better.”

UP NEXT ... Weatherly will play in the championship round Wednesday. An if-necessary game is scheduled for Thursday. “Any team can beat any other team on any given day,” Witner said. “You don’t want to take anything easy.”

Stroudsburg 400 2 - 6 7 4

Weatherly 629 x - 17 8 3

W - Minnick. L - Bond.