Five Berks softball teams to play District 3 playoff games on Tuesday

Five Berks softball teams will continue their District 3 playoff runs on Tuesday.

No. 2 seed Kutztown (18-5) will look to conclude its tear through the Class 3A bracket with a win over fifth-seeded Susquenita (19-3) in the championship game at 3 p.m. at Lebanon Valley College in Annville.

“We’re not going to settle,” Cougars coach Kevin Conrad said following his team’s victory in the semifinals. “We just got to play our game.”

Kutztown beat No. 3 seed Bermudian Springs 15-0 in four innings in the semifinals. Susquenita defeated top-seeded Littlestown 5-4. Both teams already have clinched berths in states.

“When we come ready to play, I think we can play with anybody,” Conrad said. “I’m real pleased with the effort we have right now.”

The Cougars will be trying to win their 10th district title, which would tie them with rival Brandywine Heights for the second-most in District 3 history. Chambersburg has won 13 titles. Kutztown, which will playing in its 16th district final, won its last championship in 2019.

Susquenita is going for its third title. The Blackhawks won the Class 2A title in 2014 and beat Brandywine in the 2A final in 2019.

In Class 4A Tuesday, two Berks teams will square off in the semifinals, as No. 1 seed Hamburg (17-4) will host fifth-seeded Fleetwood (15-5) at 4:30 p.m. The two sides played once in the regular season, with the Hawks winning 11-4.

Hamburg beat No. 8 seed Conrad Weiser 9-2 in the quarterfinals, while the Tigers defeated fourth-seeded Northern Lebanon 10-1. The winner will advance to the title game on Thursday and qualify for the PIAA Tournament, while the loser will move to the third-place game on Thursday. The top three teams will qualify for states.

The Hawks will be trying to advance to the final for the second straight season. The Tigers are in the semifinals for the first time since 2002.

No. 7 Middletown (17-5) will play at No. 3 Big Spring (18-3) in the other semifinal.

In Class 5A, Berks champion and No. 1 seed Exeter (20-2) will host fifth-seeded South Western (17-3) at 4:30 p.m. in one semifinal, while No. 11 Twin Valley (16-7) will play at No. 2 Shippensburg (19-3) at 4:30 p.m. in the other.

Exeter beat No. 9 seed Mechanicsburg 7-3 in the quarterfinals, while South Western topped fourth-seeded Lower Dauphin 6-2.

The Eagles lost in the semifinals last season, falling to Twin Valley. The Mustangs are in the semifinals for the first time since 2007.

Twin Valley beat No. 3 and defending champ Lampeter-Strasburg 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Shippensburg beat No. 10 Northeastern 1-0 in eight innings.

The Raiders are making their fourth straight appearance in the semifinals, having won each of the previous three. They won the title in 2018 and 2019. The Greyhounds are in the semis for the first time since 2014.

The Class 5A title game is Thursday. The four semifinalists already have qualified for states.

Source: Berkshire mont