Softball playoff preview: 'It is anybody's game!'

After splitting four regular-season softball games with Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Berks, going 3-1 against Lancaster Bible College and 4-0 against Penn State Abington, it’s easy to understand why Pennsylvania College of Technology coach Angela Stackhouse says of the United East Volt Division playoffs, “it is anybody’s game.”

The second-seeded Wildcats (15-5 in conference games and 25-9 overall) open the double-elimination tournament at noon on Friday against third-seeded Penn State Berks (13-7, 20-13).

All games are hosted in Middletown by regular-season division champ Penn State Harrisburg.

In games between Penn College and Berks since 2016, Berks holds a 17-10 edge, although since 2021, Penn College leads 10-8. In splits this season, the Wildcats won by scores of 8-3 and 5-4, while Berks won 2-0 and 4-1.

Top-seeded PS Harrisburg (15-5, 26-12) opens at 10 a.m. Friday against the winner of a Wednesday elimination contest between fourth-seeded Penn State Abington (11-9, 18-18) and fifth-seeded Lancaster Bible College (6-14, 14-23). That winner plays the Penn College-Berks winner at 2 p.m. on Friday while the Penn College-Berks game loser goes against the loser of the earlier Harrisburg game, also at 2 p.m.

Action continues on Saturday with games at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an “if needed” game at 3 p.m.

The Volt champ will then face the UE’s Skye Division winner in a best-of-three series on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, on the Volt Division winner’s home field.

“Finishing as one of the top teams in the conference is where we expected to be at this point in the season. The conference gets more competitive each year, and as usual, as we head into May, it is anybody’s game!” Stackhouse said.

“Pitching is always a major contributor to our team’s success. We have been fortunate to have some of the top pitching in the conference for many seasons, and we are grateful for the body of work the staff puts in each season,” the coach continued.

In conference-only games, junior pitcher Mackenzie Weaver of Montoursville is 7-4 with a 1.54 ERA. She has 75 strikeouts (more than 400 for her career) and 10 walks. Freshman Fayth Anderson of Lykens is 8-1 with a 2.40 ERA, 76 strikeouts and 22 walks.

“We have been able to make better adjustments in the batter’s box this season, which has been a major contributor to some come-from-behind wins,” Stackhouse said. “We have had some key leaders step up for us in big moments both defensively and offensively. Weaver (batting .309 in UE games with 18 RBIs), senior Maggie Mangene of Boalsburg (.415 with 11 RBIs), senior Madison Shaffer of Trout Run (.426 with 15 RBIs) and junior Madison Herriman of Danville (.431 with 14 RBIs) have helped lead the way in clutch situations.”

Also hitting over .300 is sophomore Lexi Snyder of Hegins (.328 with 18 RBIs).

In UE games, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 130-52 and own a .319 to .191 batting average advantage. The pitching staff ERA is 1.98 for the Wildcats and 4.58 for their opponents, and the fielding percentage difference is .951 for Penn College and .917 for its opponents.

The key to playoff success?

“I think it comes down to staying composed and wanting it bad enough. We can certainly compete with anyone we face and the team that hits will be the winner. Teams have so many at-bats by postseason play that they will score runs. It will be a matter of out-hitting opponents and making all the plays we should on defense,” Stackhouse said.

Schedule/Record/Series History
Overall: 25-9
UE Volt Division: 15-5
Friday, May 3 — United East Volt Division playoffs at Penn State Harrisburg vs. Penn State Berks, noon (Berks leads 17-10)

For more about the United East, visit the conference website.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.