“We’re in a very tough (Mid-Penn) Conference where we’ve played competitively against some of the top teams in the state this year,” Fasolo said. “We have the mindset that we can play with any team, and we used that to motivate ourselves for this game.”

Second-seeded Altoona fought tooth-and-nail against top-seeded State College Tuesday, filling the bases in the top of the seventh inning and getting the potential tying and winning runs on base before finally succumbing, 5-4.

“State College is a tough team, and I’m real proud of the fight that our players showed today, loading the bases in the last inning and coming within a run,” Fasolo said. “It always stings a little bit more when you get that close, but I’m real proud of this team.”

State College senior pitcher Addie Harpster proved to be the game’s hero. Besides driving in three runs with a groundout and two-run single at the bat, Harpster made two pitching appearances in the game via the re-entry rule, starting and finishing the game and earning a save.

Altoona's Kaya Sprankle heads home to be greeted by her teammates after homering as the first batter of the game. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

After allowing Altoona just one hit in four innings in a starting role, Harpster went back on the mound in the seventh inning after Altoona had loaded the bases against winning pitcher Paige Moriarta.

Down 5-3, Altoona mounted its comeback threat when leadoff hitter Kaya Sprankle drew a walk and moved to second base on Natalie Baker’s single to right field. Catcher Jayda Yost singled to center field, loading the bases, and Harpster was brought in to put out the fire.

She succeeded in doing so, striking out Kendall Cogan before surrendering a sacrifice fly by Skyler Reed that allowed Sprankle to score for the third time in the game.

With runners on first and third, Harpster notched her ninth strikeout of the game, getting Lilly Snyder swinging, to secure State College’s second consecutive District 6 championship.

“I know that I have a really good defense behind me that would have my back with each and every pitch,” Harpster said.

Harpster is one of seven seniors on the State College roster this year.

“Our seniors are really good leaders,” State College coach Courtney Morrison said. “This is a win that took our entire team to accomplish. We got key hits today, and we got outs when we needed to get them.”

Sprankle, a junior left fielder, shined for Altoona, belting a solo homer to left field off Harpster leading off the top of the first inning and scoring the Lady Lions’ second run after drawing a third-inning walk and crossing the plate on a throwing error.

State College (11-9) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning on successive singles by M.J. McShea, Jessica Hawbaker and Moriarta and a run-producing groundout from Harpster.

After Altoona went ahead, 3-2 with a run in the top of the fifth inning when Baker’s fielder’s choice bunt allowed Graycie Price to slide home, State College went ahead, 5-3 with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Harpster’s two-run single to short center field plated Sydney Wells, who had doubled, and Hawbaker, who had reached on an infield single. Harpster then scored State College’s fifth run of the game on a passed ball.

State College moves on to meet Erie McDowell in a PIAA state tournament play-in game next Tuesday at a District 6 site to be determined.

Altoona graduates just two seniors, so Fasolo’s squad will use Tuesday’s championship game appearance as a building block for next season.

“We’ll have the majority of our team coming back next season, and that’s something that we’re excited about,” Fasolo said.

ALTOONA (4): Sprankle lf 232, Baker ss 401, Yost c 301, Rowles cr 000, Cogan 3b 400, Snyder 1b 301, Worley 2b 300, Schneider p 000, Price dh 110, Bettwy rf 300. Totals – 23-4-5.

STATE COLLEGE (5): Wells 3b 412, McShea rf 411, Hawbaker ss 321, Mellott 2b 000, Moriarta dh-p 101, Harpster p 311, Stahl 1b 100, Williams ph-lf 100, Sikorski c 200, Rhinehart ph 100, McTavish cf 301, True lf 100, Schneck pr 000. Totals – 24-5-7.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Altoona 101 010 1–4-5-0

State College 200 030 x-5-7-1

2B–Wells. HR–Sprankle. RBI–Sprankle, Baker, Reed, Harpster 3, Moriarta. SF–Reed. LOB–Altoona 8, State College 7. HBP–Moriarta 2 (by Schneider); True (by Schneider).

PITCHING

Altoona: Schneider (L) 6IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 6SO, 2BB.

State College: Moriarta (W) 2+IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 5SO, 3BB; Harpster (SV, 2 appearances) 5IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, 9S0; 2BB.

Umpires: Don Moss (plate); Scott Cable (first base); Wes Myers (second base); Jason Borofey (third base).

Records: Altoona (3-16); State College (11-9).