BEA softball expects challenge from Blackhawks in state semifinal

Prior to Thursday’s state quarterfinal game at Heidl Field, the Bald Eagle Area softball team got to bear witness to its potential semifinal opponent, Susquenita, as it completed an 8-1 rout over a strong 22-1 Sharon squad.

For many, that would up the intimidation factor ten-fold, seeing one great team stifled by another. But though the Eagles expect a tremendous challenge from the Blackhawks on Monday, they feel they’re up for it if they can put their best foot forward.

“We’ve just got to prepare. We’ve got to make sure we’re on our A-game because they’re a good team,” said Bald Eagle senior Alexa Baney on Susquenita following Thursday’s win. “It’s gonna be a good game.”

“We’re going to have to play very, very well,” emphasized head coach Don Lucas.

For Susquenita, that win marked its 24th in a row, with the Blackhawks heading into Monday’s game having not lost a game since 2024. Their postseason road includes an 11-0, three-inning shellacking of Philipsburg-Osceola, the team the Eagles defeated 8-0 in the district championship, and they also have a win over Central Cambria, the last team BEA lost to prior to its own 16-game win streak.

Defensively, Susquenita is led by a stout one-two punch of Braelyn Prinz and Ayahna Fleisher from the mound, Fleisher which has been more active and will likely be Monday’s starter. Against Sharon, Fleisher tossed a four-hit, one-run game.

Both head into the matchup with ERAs under 1.25, big reasons the Blackhawks have given up just 26 combined runs this season – just over one run per game.

It’ll be a battle of standout pitchers, with Bald Eagle Area’s Sierra Albright heading into the matchup with a 0.78 ERA of her own to match up well.

Offensively, Fleisher is also a leader, batting above .500 with over 30 RBIs on the season. The only player than trumps her in the lineup Tierney Stuempfle, who’s batting a .550 with over 43 RBIs. Apart from them, four other batters bat above .400.

It isn’t a team with many weaknesses, one which gave Sharon phenom pitcher Madelyn Vogan headaches on their way to a big win. Of its 24 opponents this season, just three have held Susquenita under ten runs, with its closest battle coming in a 2-0 defensive duel against Kutztown in the District 3 Class AAA championship.

But that’s the reality of being one of the state’s final four teams. The quartet that remains features the best of the best, and no opponent is expected to be easy. The Eagles know this well, having experienced three straight semifinals and faced two state champions in the previous three seasons.

The game is set to take place at 4 p.m. at Central Columbia Elementary School in Bloomsburg. The winner of Monday’s game will face the winner of District 2 champ Mid Valley and District 11 champ Pine Grove in the title game, with that outing set to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.