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EBENSBURG -- The District 6 Class 3A softball quarterfinals between top-seeded and 19-0 Central Cambria and eighth-seeded Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday in Ebensburg appeared to be a mismatch.
But the Lady Mounties, who were 7-13 and had lost six straight games to end the regular season, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in District 6 history.
Thanks to No. 8 hitter Emily Herr's three-run home run off of Central Cambria ace and Notre Dame recruit Kami Kamzik in the second inning, Alivia Bizzarri pitching in tight moments and strong defense, P-O stunned the Lady Red Devils, 4-2.
"It doesn't get any more disappointing," Central Cambria coach Stephen Ruddek said. "We've told our girls all season long our biggest opponent was ourselves. Not to take anything away from Philipsburg because they played a great game, and I'm sure they executed the plan they wanted to do, but we're better than that. We didn't show up today."
"I knew they could do it," P-O coach Steve Frank said. "Bad luck has been following us for awhile."
The win advanced P-O into the semifinals, where the Lady Mounties will play at fourth-seeded Forest Hills, a 2-0 winner over Westmont Hilltop, at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Kamzik tossed a four-hitter, struck out 14 and walked one.
But one of those hits was Herr's first home run at any level. After Kamzik struck out the first four batters, Jocey Williams walked and Abby Vaux reached on an infield hit after faking a bunt attempt.
Herr, a senior center fielder, then pounded a Kamzik offering over the right-center field fence. Her jubilant teammates were there to greet Herr as touched home plate.
"It was my first one, so I really didn't know what to do," Herr said laughing. "But I was just like 'Oh I guess I've got to run the bases.' As soon as I hit it, I kind of knew. I heard everyone screaming, so I was like 'Okay that kind of just confirmed it.'"
"Emily hitting the home run was like a spark," Bizzarri said. "It made me feel like I had room to wiggle. Emily hit that bomb that started the fire. All the confidence just got up."
Central Cambria, which left nine on base, loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but Bizzarri caught a pop-up for the third out.
Bizzarri tossed a five-hitter, struck out 10 and walked eight. But four of her walks were to Kamzik, who hit 11 home runs during the regular season. She didn't give her anything to hit in the strike zone in three at-bats and intentionally walked her one time.
"The game plan was to not allow her to hit anything," Bizzarri said smiling.
After Kamzik walked and stole second with one out in the third inning, Bizzarri fielded an Aubrey Ruddek ground ball, threw to first baseman Abby Vaux for the second out. Vaux threw home to catcher Williams, who put the tag on the sliding Kamzik to complete a double play for third out. Central Cambria loaded the bases again in the fifth and had runners on second and third in the sixth. Both times, though, Bizzarri came up with strikeouts to end the inning.
"I thought she threw a good game," Coach Ruddek said. "We kind of anticipated that was the game she was going to pitch. Unfortunately, what was one of our strong suits all season, of adjusting to pitchers and hitting well, didn't happen today."
In the top of the sixth, Payton Barnett's looping pop up fell in short left field and bounced toward foul territory for a double. Bizzarri then chased her home with a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and Kamzik and Keira Link on third and second, respectively, cleanup hitter Kathryn Scott pounded a double off the left field fence to score two runs. But Bizzarri struck out Olivia Janosik for the final out.
"I told the girls we were undefeated in the regular season, won the Laurel Highlands, and those were two big goals we had," Coach Ruddek said. "We're going to have to hang our hats on those because that's as far as we got this year."
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (4): Gustkey 2b 300, Barnett rf 311, Bizzarri p 200, Bryan 3b 301, Williams c 200, Wayland cr 010, Vaux 1b 311, Jarrett dp 300, Herr cf 311, Hampton ss 200, Havens lf 000. Totals: 24-4-4.
CENTRAL CAMBRIA (2): Kamzik p 000, K. Link 2b 311, Ruddek ss 400, Scott c 402, O. Janosik 1b 400, Krawcion cf 100, Blasko 3b 301, Rozsi rf 301, M. Janosik lf 300. Totals: 25-2-5.
SCORE BY INNINGS
P-O 030 001 0--4 4 1
Central Cambria 000 000 2--2 5 0
E--Williams. 2B--Barnett, Bryan; Scott. HR--Herr. RBIs--Herr 3, Bizzarri; Scott 2. SF--Bizzarri. SB--Kamzik, Scott. PO--Nileski (by Williams). DP--Philipsburg-Osceola. LOB--Philipsburg-Osceola 1, Central Cambria 9.
PITCHING
Philipsburg-Osceola: Bizzarri (W)--7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 8 BB, 10 SO.
Central Cambria: Kamzik (L)--7 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO.
Records: Philipsburg-Osceola (8-13); Central Cambria (19-1)
Time of Game: 1:50