Paulin’s second-inning blast paced the Polar Bears to their first district title and a 4-0 win over Mechanicsburg.
After decisive first-round victories in the state softball tournament Monday, Cumberland Valley and Northern march into Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Both teams, coming off District 3 titles, ended droughts with their first-round wins. The Eagles earned their first PIAA victory since 2014 while the Polar Bears punched their ticket to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006.
After holding serve in the first round at home, both teams hit the road for neutral-site games.
Following is a look at the quarterfinal matchups.
Class 6A
Cumberland Valley (18-5) vs. Haverford (21-5)
When/where: Noon at Twin Valley High School
How they got here: The District 3 champion Eagles jumped to a 6-0 lead over Garnet Valley in the first round and held on for a 6-3 victory. Meanwhile, the District 1 runner-up Fords had zero hits in their first four innings Monday before scoring a key fifth-inning insurance run sparked by a bunt single. It gave them enough for a 2-1 victory over Easton Area.
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Next up: The quarterfinal winner advances to the semifinals scheduled for Monday against Either District 1 bronze medalist Downingtown East or WPIAL champion Hempfield.
Notes: Cumberland Valley aims for its first state semifinal berth since it won Class 4A silver in 2015. The Fords, making their third straight PIAA appearance, advanced to the 2021 championship game. Haverford faced Garnet Valley twice and lost both games, suffering a 4-2 setback March 29 and a 6-1 defeat May 4. Before recording their first hit in Monday’s game, the Fords had been no-hit in their previous 11 innings. Emma Morgan leads Cumberland Valley with five RBIs through four postseason games. Junior Lucy Wolf has paced the Fords from the pitching circle while sophomore Sydney May has been the Eagles’ go-to arm.
Class 5A
Upper Dublin (17-7) vs. Northern (21-4)
Northern softball slugs its way to 13-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham in PIAA opener
When/where: 12:30 p.m. at Exeter Township High School
How they got here: On the heels of their first District 3 title, the Polar Bears pounded Hatboro-Horsham 13-0 in five innings to open the state tournament. The Cardinals, who finished fourth in District 1, also powered their way to a first-round win, defeating Cardinal O’Hara 13-1.
Next up: Awaiting the winner is a semifinal matchup Monday against either District 1 champion Oxford or District 2 runner-up Abington Heights.
Notes: Upper Dublin’s victory Monday was the program’s first state-tournament victory. Northern’s only other PIAA victory came in 2006 when the Polar Bears reached the quarterfinals. After allowing three runs in the first inning of their first district playoff game, the Polar Bears have shut out opponents in 21 of their last 23 innings, allowing four total runs during that stretch. Northern has hit at least one home run in all but one of its postseason games and has hit eight total with Hailey Irwin’s three leading the way. The Cardinals’ lineup boasts four sophomores and three freshmen. Hatboro-Horsham defeated Upper Dublin in the District 1 third-place game. The Cardinals and Hatters split a pair of games earlier in the season.
Photos: Cumberland Valley defeats Garnet Valley in PIAA softball
Cumberland Valley’s pitcher Sydney May reaches 200 career strike outs during the second inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Sydney May fires in a strike during the first inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Annika Shearer, left, slides safely into home in front of Garnet Valley’s Rylee Bailey during the third inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Emma Stroup makes a safe slide into second base ahead of the tag from Garnet Valley’s Zoey Rogers during the third inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Sydney May fields a ground ball to the mound in time to make the out at first base against Garnet Valley’s Jenna Fulmer during the second inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s pitcher Sydney May, right, crosses home plate during the second inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s pitcher Sydney May throws a strike during the third inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Annika Shearer smiles after hitting a single during the third inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Kayley Krause steals third in the fourth inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening against Garnet Valley at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Annika Shearer hits a single during the fifth inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game against Garnet Valley on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Emma Stroup, left, makes a safe slide into home plate for a run in front of Garnet Valley’s Rylee Bailey during the fifth inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Emma Morgan crosses home plate for a run in front of Garnet Valley’s Rylee Bailey during the fifth inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley takes the field during the seventh inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening against Garnet Valley at Cumberland Valley High School.
Cumberland Valley’s Emma Morgan fields a ground ball to the infield in time to make the out at first base against Garnet Valley’s Emily Orsini during the seventh inning in a PIAA Class 6A first round game on Monday evening at Cumberland Valley High School.
Tim Gross is the sports editor at The Sentinel and cumberlink.com. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at: @ByTimGross