{"id":132661,"date":"2026-05-27T03:47:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/132661\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T03:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:47:11","slug":"kennard-dale-shuts-out-northern-lebanon-in-district-3-class-4a-softball-final-high-school-softball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/132661\/","title":{"rendered":"Kennard-Dale shuts out Northern Lebanon in District 3 Class 4A softball final | High School Softball"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kennard-Dale softball coach Joe DiCandeloro coaches his team to be \u201cexcellent in the ordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior third baseman Lilly Fleming made an excellent play, far from ordinary, in the top of the sixth inning of a one-run game, quite probably saving the Rams\u2019 defense of their District Three Class 4A championship.<\/p>\n

In a rematch of the 2025 title game, Kennard-Dale repeated as champion Tuesday evening at Millersville\u2019s Seaber Softball Stadium with a 3-0 victory over Northern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The Rams (23-0), who won 4-1 in 2025 before going on to finish second in the PIAA tournament, broke up a taut game last year with a run in the sixth inning and a two-run seventh.<\/p>\n

This time it was a two-run sixth that broke open an equally taut pitcher\u2019s duel between Rams junior Taryn Ashenfelter and the Vikings\u2019 Addison Hollenbach.<\/p>\n

Ashenfelter, a Seton Hall recruit who struck out 15 and didn\u2019t walk a batter in the \u201925 victory, came into Tuesday\u2019s championship with a microscopic 0.34 earned-run average and a .122 opponent batting average.<\/p>\n

She was going to be a long night in the batter\u2019s box for the Vikings, a fact they were well aware of.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a good pitcher, we knew that coming in,\u201d Vikings head coach Bob Bashore said. \u201cThe girls had the right attitude, they went out and competed.\u201d<\/p>\n

None competed harder than Hollenbach, who took a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning. She matched Ashenfelter K for K in the early going, finishing with seven strikeouts against two walks.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was great,\u201d Bashore said. \u201cI thought she did a fantastic job.\u201d<\/p>\n

And yet she trailed, 1-0, after Addie Argiro worked a one-out walk in the fourth inning, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.<\/p>\n

The Vikings (20-5) touched Ashenfelter for a third-inning single to right from Mykenah Johnson and Addison Kubica\u2019s fourth-inning double to right, but both runners were left stranded at second base.<\/p>\n

Again, Ashenfelter didn\u2019t walk a batter and finished with 12 strikeouts, including the 700th of her career.<\/p>\n

And yet, the Vikings had the opportunity to, at the least, tie the game, or better still take the lead in the sixth inning.<\/p>\n

With two outs, Steph Palkovic and Hollenbach reached base on back-to-back errors by shortstop Maddie Argiro.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur team doesn\u2019t get rattled,\u201d DiCandeloro said. \u201cWe just make our adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

That brought Kubica to the plate, where she worked a 2-2 count before ripping Ashenfelter\u2019s next pitch toward left. Heart-in-the-throat time for DiCandeloro?<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019m used to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reacting to the crack of the bat, Fleming took one step into the hole.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew she was going to come at me at some point in the game,\u201d Fleming said of Kubica\u2019s at-bats. \u201cIt was just reach up, and it was there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fleming snared the ball, squeezed it and the threat was over.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo inches either way and we\u2019re taking the lead, or at least tying the game,\u201d Bashore said. \u201cWho knows the way it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Fleming broke up Hollenbach\u2019s no-hitter with a double to the left-field alley. She took third on a wild pitch and scored on Elaina Zabkowski\u2019s ground out.<\/p>\n

Addie Argiro kept the inning going with a single, stealing second and scoring on Alex Davis\u2019 base hit for the 3-0 lead.<\/p>\n

The Vikings mounted one last rally in the top of the seventh as Alyssa Shirey singled and took third on Makenzie West\u2019s two-out double. Ashenfelter induced Keria Palski to pop up to the circle, sealing the victory and the championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a solid team over there,\u201d said Bashore, nodding to the Rams\u2019 celebration. \u201cThey haven\u2019t lost a game yet for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vikings now look ahead to the PIAA tournament, set to begin June 1. They will travel north to face the District 2 champion, either defending state champion Valley View or Tunkhannock.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


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