High School Softball: Marcavage Notches 500th Career Strikeout as Vikings Punch Ticket to Final Four

 Led by a 17-strikeout performance by Tori Marcavage, the Vikings eliminated Pope John Paul II from Pioneer Athletic Conference Final Four contention by posting a 3-1 win in the first half of a double header on Friday.

In the process, the Kutztown-bound Marcavage notched her 500th career strike to continue to establish a Perkiomen Valley School record every time she fans someone.

With one out in the seventh inning, the milestone fanning came at the expense of Golden Panthers pinch hitter Kelly Romberger, as Marcavage struck out the side for the second consecutive inning to seal the win and a PAC-10 Final Four berth.

“We need to win the game,” said Marcavage, the consummate team player. “I think we can beat anyone in the league if we play our game, we have really started coming together at the right time and are clicking right now.”

 “She is special,” said Pope John Paul II coach John Bilella. “We don’t see a lot of girls like that; she is tough. We had a chanced that game with the bases loaded and no one out, and she struck out the side. I am very happy with the way our girls battled today.”

Vikings coach Dan McLaughlin presented Marcavage with the game ball following the first end of the twin bill. Marcavage and her teammates celebrated the achievement after the games were finished and Perk Valley had claimed the third seed.

“Tori (is) only focusing on winning the games,” said McLaughlin. “Someday down the road I think she will look back and realize what an accomplishment it is, but right now she just wants to win every time she takes the mound, which is what makes her the player she is.”

In the opening game, Brittany Shoemaker scored twice, and Jess White, Marcavage and Erin Hamm drove in one run a piece to pace Perkiomen Valley to the win.

As the back end of the double header got under way, Pope John Paul II assumed the role of home team with Diedre Weiber taking the pitching duties for the Golden Panthers.

Marcavage started for the Vikings and tacked on three more strikeouts, bringing her career total to 504, before giving way to Jess White after loading the bases in fourth inning with the Vikings leading 1-0.

Erin Schwab ripped a ball down the line that got away for catcher Rebecca Tarquino, scoring two runs and giving Pope John Paul II a 2-1 edge.

After being eliminated from playoff contention in the first game, the Golden Panthers were looking to return the favor to Perk Valley in the night cap, as news of Pottsgrove’s win over Owen J. Roberts echoed through the crowd.

The Grove win made is imperative that the Vikings win or be eliminated, as the Falcons held the tie-breaker edge.

“Somehow everybody heard about it,” said McLaughlin. “I didn’t want them to hear it, as there was enough pressure on already. We did what we had to today and took care of our end. Now it’s anyone's game.”

In the top of the fifth Kelsey Lewulllis--whose season-long on-base percentage is more than .500--delivered as had all season long by bouncing a single over the head of pitcher Diedre Weiber, driving in two runs to give the Vikings a 3-2 lead.

Lewullis later scored on a single by third baseperson Nicole Bangert, who also drove in the first Perk Valley run with a base hit.

“We can beat anyone,” said Lewullis. “We showed today that we can bounce back and are really playing as well, as we have all year. With Owen J. losing a couple of games now, it lets us know that anybody can win this thing now.”

White retired the side in order in the last two innings to close out the game and preserve the Vikings' invite to the PAC-10 Final Four.

“We talked about the Super Bowl after the Pottsgrove losses, which was the low point of our season,” said McLaughlin. “Everybody knew the Packers won. What they didn’t know is that they were 8-6 at one point and considered out of the playoffs. The losses made us 8-6, and the girls said that they could be like the Packers.”

Whether or not Perkiomen Valley is the PAC-10's Green Bay Packers remains to be seen,

But one thing is certain.

On Tuesday evening, the Vikings (12-6 in league play) will square off against Spring-Ford at Pine Forge in the opening round of the Final Four, with a berth in the championship game on the line.