SHIPPENVILLE, Pa. (D9Sports) – We are counting down the Top 10 high school sports moments from the 2016-17 season in Jefferson and Clearfield County sports, and today we are on Nos. 3 and 4.
(Photo: Brookville celebrates its 2017 D9 2A baseball championship. Photo by Cory Geer)
No. 4: DuBois Central Catholic Softball Goes Back to PIAA Semifinals
Getting to the PIAA semifinals in any sport once is an accomplishment. Do it twice with basically the same group of players? Now that’s something to be proud of for a lifetime.
In 2016, the DuBois Central Catholic softball team won the District 9 Class 1A title and then won a pair of PIAA playoff games to reach the PIAA semifinals where the Lady Cardinals lost to West Greene.
For most of the 2017 season manager George Heigel wouldn’t mention the goal was another shot at West Greene. But that’s what it was.
And DCC, who beat Coudersport 9-0 in the D9 title game, reached it thanks to a tremendous offensive output that saw the Lady Cardinals score 56 runs in their first five playoffs games including wins of 19-3 over Carmichaels and 9-3 over Commodore Perry in the PIAA playoffs to reach the semifinals once again.
Read the story on the win over Commodore Perry
The offense was still there against West Greene, five runs were scored, but again the Pioneers ended DCC’s season with a 9-5 victory.
But it was a great season nonetheless for the Lady Cardinals, who went 23-2 and made the return journey to the PIAA semifinals just as fine as the first one.
No. 3: Brookville Baseball Makes Cinderella Run to PIAA 2A Semifinals
Going into the 2017 season, many expected the year to be a learning one for the Brookville baseball team. After all, the Raiders had just two seniors and a junior and plenty of sophomores and freshmen on the squad.
And when Brookville started the year 5-9 that script seemed to be holding true.
But then a funny thing happened. The Raiders got hot and stayed hot.
Starting with a 2-1 win over rival Punxsutawney on the road May 10, Brookville won four of its final six regular-season games and went to the playoffs at 9-11 as the No. 5 seed in a six-team D9 Class 2A bracket.
The Raiders played like a No. 1 seed.
First, they beat fourth-seeded Coudersport on the road 8-1. They then crushed top-seeded Johnsonburg 13-1 to set up a title game against No. 6 seed Brockway, who they dispatched 2-0 to win their first D9 title since 2012. (Read the title-game story).
The great story didn’t end there.
Brookville topped Conemaugh Township 4-3 in opening round of the PIAA playoffs on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Ben Caun and then did the unthinkable and rolled past Saegertown 7-3 to reach the PIAA semifinals for the first time in school history (Read the Saegertown story).
In the semifinals, the young Raiders met up against juggernaut Bishop McCort, which had finished second in the state in 2016. The Crushers were a bit much for Brookville beating the Raiders 10-3 but it didn’t take away from a fantastic season and the future of Brookville baseball looks bright.
COUNTING DOWN THE TOP 10 STORIES IN JEFFERSON AND CLEARFIELD COUNTIES HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ACTION IN 2016-17
10. Brookville Wrestling Continues D9 Dominance
9. Ashley Hallowell of DuBois and Leah Miller of Punxsutawney
8. Will Myers Becomes All-Time Leading Scorer at Clearfield
7. Brockway Girls’ Soccer Wins First Title
6. Unlucky 13 – Punxsutawney’s Streak of Baseball Championships Ends at 13
5. Aaron Park – Brookville
4. DuBois Central Catholic Softball Goes Back to PIAA Semifinals
3. Brookville Baseball Makes Cinderella Run to PIAA 2A Semifinals
2.
1.
Editor’s Note: The countdown will take Sunday off and resume Monday, June 26.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
