Hailey Strunk dropped to the ground almost immediately after being struck below the left knee on a line drive back to pitcher.
But the Hamburg sophomore never thought about leaving.
Despite holding a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, Hamburg’s hope for a victory in a PIAA Class 4A Softball Tournament opener against visiting Elizabeth Forward Monday afternoon appeared in jeopardy.
But Strunk got back up and — after allowing a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning — ended the game with a shot of her own.
Strunk hit a two-run homer to straight-away center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Hamburg a 5-4 win over Elizabeth Forward that advanced the Hawks to the PIAA quarterfinals for the second straight year.
“I knew whatever I had to do I was going to stay in,” Strunk said. “There was no taking me out of this game.”
The victory advances District 3 champion (20-4) Hamburg to the quarterfinals Thursday to face Clearfield or Franklin, site and time to be determined.
District 7 runner-up Elizabeth Forward (16-4) looked like it was ready to advance after losing pitcher Shelby Telegdy — one pitch after her foul pop was dropped — hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead.
But Strunk was optimistic heading into the bottom of the seventh.
“We never give up,” Strunk said. “We had the top of the order coming up.”
Kylah Reading, who had hits in her first three at-bats, including a home run that put Hamburg ahead 2-1 in the fifth, grounded back to the pitcher.
Amelia Gassert followed with a double off the left-field fence to set the stage for Strunk.
“I felt something off Mia’s hit,” Strunk said. “I knew something good was going to happen.”
Strunk looked at three straight pitches out of the strike zone before taking a pitch right down the middle. When Telegdy grooved another pitching down the middle, Strunk unloaded.
“My timing was off all day,” said Strunk, who earlier popped out twice and grounded back to the pitcher. “As soon as I saw that second pitch right down the middle I knew something had to happen.”
Strunk circled the bases and was mobbed at the plate as she and her teammates celebrated.
“They never quit, you’ve got to give it to them,” said Hamburg coach Zena Lutz.
Hamburg finished with 13 hits but was thwarted by double plays in each of the first two innings.
Elizabeth Forward took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by Telegdy. Hamburg tied it in the fourth when Katie Behler led off with a single and scored on an error.
After Reading’s home run put Hamburg ahead for the first time, Elizabeth Forward answered. Grace Smith hit a liner off Strunk’s leg that caromed into right field. After she got back up, Strunk threw one practice pitch and decided to stay in the game.
The Warriors tied it on an RBI single by Maddi Best before Hamburg regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Jenna Shuman.
That set the stage for the opposing pitchers to trade two-run homers in the seventh.
The battle had Strunk leaving the field with ice on her right shoulder and left leg and a smile on her face.
“She’s tough,” Lutz said. “I knew she’d be alright.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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