Season ends for the Tide

The best season in Columbia softball history came to a heated end last Tuesday afternoon at Millersville University.


Under the blazing sun, the Crimson Tide lost to Annville-Cleona 8-3 in the District Three Class AA semifinals. Had the Tide beat the Little Dutchmen, they would have advanced to the district championship. Instead, the Tide, who won their first-ever Lancaster-Lebanon League section title, are left with just memories from an 18-5 season.

And one could very well say, the weather had an affect on the game. In the brutally hot late afternoon softball game, neither team played at a championship level and neither pitcher, Emily Detz for the Tide or Alyssa Montalvo for A-C had their best stuff. Montalvo threw more than 120 pitches through the first five innings of the game. Detz' pitch count stood at 81 through six.

This was a “would have, should have” game, particularly for the Tide. “Would have” as in if the Tide would have gotten a big hit here and there, or would have made a play in the field, they “should have” probably won.

The “would haves” started in the first inning.

Detz quickly got the first two outs when A-C's number three hitter Haley Hirn ripped a hit just inside the third base bag, just past Jenna Plastino. The Tide's hot corner player stayed with the ball and gunned down Hirn going to second for the third out. However, the first base umpire called obstruction on the Tide's Valessa Carollo, keeping the inning alive. As fate would have it, Kaylynn McKinney roped a double off Kayla Lambert's glove, allowing the first run to score.

In their half of the first with two outs, Lambert and Ashlyn Phillips walked and moved up a base on a Montalvo wild pitch. But for the first time and not the last time in the game, Montalvo got out of the inning with a strikeout.

It was the first of 14 runners left on base for the Tide.

In the second, the Tide tied the game and was left looking for more, Alex Slick with one out roped a double to the opposite field and moved to third when Emily Groft's comebacker to Montalvo was misplayed. With one out, the Tide had the makings of a big inning. When Jenai Plowden reached base on A-C's second error of the inning, Detz was able to work Montalv for a walk to tie the game at one. But Montalvo was able to fan the next two batters and the Tide wad left with another empty feeling.

In the third, A-C pushed ahead 2-1. Mistakes hurt the Tide. A-C's first batter, Crystal Miller reached when Groft and Carollo collided on an infield pop. She was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Casey Ditzler, Following a single off the bat of Alex Reidinger, Detz got Hirn on a pop to second and it looked good for the Tide when Detz fanned McKinney for what could have been the third out, but the ball scooted past Tide catcher Phillips, who recovered to throw the ball to first. In a bang-bang play, the umpire ruled the A-C batter safe and Ditzler sprinted home from second with the go ahead run.

At that point, both A-C runs were unearned.

Outside of a walk to Plastino in the third, the Tide went down easily.

One of the game's biggest turning points was the fourth. A-C reached Detz for four hits and three runs, all with two outs. Jannell Bowman doubled off the outstretched arms of Seibert to center and it looked like the Tide was going to get out of the inning when on a comebacker, the Tide got the out at first and appeared to have the double play, getting Bowman attempting to go to third, but on a bang-bang play, the Tide didn't get the call and the inning continued. Ditzler and Reidinger singled and the Tide fell behind 5-1.

Back came the Tide in their half of the fourth.

Groft and Plowden reached on infield hits. With Detz at the dish, she hit the ball to Ditzler, who booted the ball. For the second time in the game, the Tide had the bases juiced, this time with no outs. A fielder's choice off the bat of Seibert forced Groft at home. Lambert then walked to force in a run, giving the Tide new life. But that was the only run the Tide scored as another “would have,” “should have” chance went by the wayside.

A-C got some more base runners in the fifth, but failed to score.

With one out, the Tide got something going in their half of the fifth. With one out, Slick walked and moved to second on Groft's sacrifice bunt. Slick would score when Plowden singled. Following a two-out intentional walk to Detz, Montalvo struck out Seibert to end the inning.

That changed the hole momentum of the game. A-C broke the game open in the top of the sixth, scoring three insurance runs on one solid single, a blooper that found grass and an infield bunt.

Although the Tide got two base runners in their final two at-bats, they never threatened again and saw their magical season end.

Tide girls move on

Will the third time be a charm for the Columbia girls' softball team?


That question will be answered Tuesday when the Crimson Tide meets Section 4 rival Annville-Cleona in the semi-finals of the District Three Class AA playoffs. The two qualified for the semi-finals with opening round wins Thursday.

A-C, who finished second behind the Tide in Section 4, blanked Littlestown, 4-0. The Tide, the Section 4 champs, got past Bermudian Springs, at Spring Grove, 9-1.

And there will be plenty at stake on Tuesday.
For the winner, they get a trip to the District Three championship on Thursday and also qualify for the PIAA tournament. The loser sees their season end.

And the Tide girls only lost four games this season – two of them were to A-C. There was a 2-0 loss at Glatfelter Field on April 14 and a day after wrapping up their first Section title, the Tide girls lost a meaningless 8-2 decision to the Little Dutchmen.

Last Thursday, playing for the first time in a week, the Tide girls were a little sluggish, but still had enough juice to record their second district playoff win in two years.
The Eagles reached Tide hurler Emily Detz for four hits, three in the sixth when they scored their lone run and one in the fifth. Detz struck out 10.

The Tide didn't get the scoreboard until the second. Jenna Plastino led the inning off with a walk, but was forced at second when Vallesa Carollo grounded into a fielder's choice, Alex Slick then singled, but Carollo later scored on a ground out.

In the third, the Tide went up2-0 on a single by Detz, a couple of wild pitches and she scored when Bermudian booted Kayla Lambert's ground ball to third.

The Tide got some breathing room in the fourth. Carollo scooted around the bases with an inside-the-park and a homer to lead off the inning. A walk to Slick and wild pitch scored another run. The final run came on a double steal executed by Megan Seibert and Detz.'

In the fifth, the Tide added a single run scored by Ashlyn Phillips on a ground out off the bat of Carollo.

In the sixth when the Tide scored their final three runs of the game, Jenai Plowden, Detz and Emily Hooper touched the plate.

Another perfect day

Columbia senior Emily Detz fired her second perfect game of the  season this afternoon.
Detz fanned five and didn't allow a ball out of the infield as the Tide dominated Garden Spot, 15-0.
It was Detz' second perfect game of the season.
The game was about 15 minutes or so late getting started as Garden Spot's bus got lost coming to Columbia and ended up near Middletown.
The Tide has a big game this afternoon at home against Pequea Valley.

Softball champions

The Columbia girls' softball team won the 2010 Garrett Field Summer League on Friday, Aug 13. They beat Lancaster 1-0 in the championship game. Jenai Plowden tripled in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brittany Germer for the game's only run. Emily Detz pitched the shutout for the Tide. The Tide went 4-0 in the playoffs to win the summer league. Detz pitched three shutouts and gave up only two runs in 27 innings of work. Back Row Left to Right: Coach Ben May, Coach Matt Phillips. Middle Row: Vallesa Corolla, Jenna Plastino, Alex Slick, Brittany Germer, Kelsey Habestroh, Jenai Plowden, Ashlyn Phillips. Front Row: Emily Hooper, Emily Detz, Emily Groft, Kayla Lambert. Missing from photo: Megan Seibert, Mercedes Rentas, Alexis Eckman.

Softball coach cites family

It was a record setting year for the Columbia girls' softball team in 2010.
They had their first winning season, qualified for the district playoffs for the first time in school history and won a playoff game.
The architect of the success was first-year coach Brad Brubaker.
Brubaker stunned his team last night when he announced he was leaving the program after one season to become head coach at Section 4 rival Lancaster Mennonite. He told CHS Athletic Director Jim Rhoads on Monday. Brubaker told his team after a summer league game ar Garrett Park in Willow Street.
"I was presented with a situation that I felt I needed to act on as a father. Dean Weiant, Lancaster Mennonite's coach for the past four years was left go about three weeks ago. My daughter Madison, who is heading into her sophomore year, plays at LMH. They have been terrible. They were the only team not to win at least one game in 2010 and have lost 19 straight dating back two years," Brubaker said this morning.

"To the point, Madison asked me to help them get better. As a father I need to place her interests at the top of my priority list and do everything I can to help. So I accepted the position as head coach at LMH," Brubaker said.
Assistant coaches Pinky Geraci and Ali Merrifield will join him at LMH.
"It has been my privilege to have coached at Columbia. If I had seen this coming I would never have come to Columbia for just one year. I take with me many great memories from a season where the girls accomplished so much. I urge them to continue with their dedication to the game and pursue the Section 4 championship in 2011 with all their effort," the coach said.

Record setters have big week

Last week, the Columbia girls’ softball team became the school’s best softball team ever with a win over Cocalico.

The 6-0 win over Cocalico was the Tide’s seventh of the season, the most in CHS softball history since 1995 when Columbia went 7-9.

Friday, they broke the record with a 5-2 win at Elco.

The win improved the Tide’s Section 4 record to 7-2 and overall mark to 8-3.

But with the program history changing, the Tide is eyeing a bigger prize, a section title and league playoffs berth.

And with seven games left in the league season, the Tide has a big week to reach those lofty goals. Coach Brad Brubaker’s teams hosts Northern Lebanon on Monday, travels to Donegal on Wednesday and then Pequea Valley on Friday. The combined league record of the three is 21-5 with Donegal unbeaten in league play at 9-0 and leading Section 3. Northern Lebanon, who beat Pequea Valley on Friday is 6-3 in league play and Pequea Valley is 6-2 in Section 4.

Columbia scored in the top of the first inning when Emily Detz, who had walked and stole second base, then advanced to third on a passed ball, scored after Ashlyn Phillips walked and continued on to second. The play distracted ELCO pitcher Carrie Stamm and Detz scampered home.

The Tide would add two runs in the second inning when jacked an RBI triple plating Kayla Lambert. Detz would later score an a Valessa Carollo fielders choice hit. Jenna Plastino and Phillips added two runs in the fifth and the Tide secured the win behind the 3-hitter thrown by Detz. She struck out 12 and walked one in the win.

Tide back to winning ways

Junior pitcher Emily Detz broke open a 0-0 tie game in the second inning with a grand slam home run that cleared the left field fence and led the Crimson Tide to a 6-0 win over visiting Cocalico in a L-L League Section 3/4 crossover game.
 Detz went 2-3 at the plate and also walked in four appearances. In the circle, she struck out 14, while walking two and yielding just 4 hits on the rain-soaked afternoon at Glatfelter Field.



The win improved Columbia to 6-2 in Section 4 and 8-3 overall, and established a new single season school record for wins by the softball team. The previous mark of 7 wins was set in 1995 when the tide finished 7-9.

The Crimson and Gold visit Elco on Friday looking to keep pace with Section 4 front runner Pequea Valley. The Tide currently sits in second place in Section 4, a game ahead of Annville-Cleona.

Looking down the road

Most coaches and players prefer to have the motto of "playing them one at a time."
Looking ahead is for everyone else. So, with the Columbia girls' softball unbeaten through the first five games of the league season, let's look ahead as those ever dangerous crossover games begin.
The Tide is scheduled to play McCaskey in a make-up game tomorrow before opening crossover play against Section 3 on Friday.
That's when the Tide will entertain L-S, who brings a 3-2 record into the game.
It will be "Big Friday" around the L-L League in softball. In addition to that game, Section 3 leading and also unbeaten Donegal will travel to Annville-Clrona (3-2) and Manheim Central, who the Tide will play Monday puts its 3-2 record on the line against Pequea Valley (3-1).
Donegal leads Section 3 with a 5-0 record, followed by Central and L-S at 3-2. Northern Lebanon is 2-2.
Columbia has 11 league and 2 non-league games left.

Four straight for the Tide girls

No one will deny this probably has been one of the worst years athletically in the history of Columbia High School sports.


Two teams went winless on the season and heading into the spring season, the only team that enjoyed success has been the Crimson Tide wrestling team. They finished with a winning record and did well in their tournaments and invitationals.

But overall, success has been few and far between.

Welcome to the end of the 2010 spring sports season and some reason to be proud to wear the crimson and gold again.

With wins this week over Pequea Valley, Eastern York, Lebanon Catholic and Lancaster Catholic, the Crimson Tide softball team is as hot as the weather was last week until Friday.

The Tide girls won all four games, three impressive fashion, to improve their overall record to 4-1.

Columbia has been playing high school softball since 1984 and in those 26 years never had a four-game winning streak.

And, the Tide girls have never been in the upper echelon of Section 4 in the L-L League and find themselves tied for first place with unbeaten Annville-Cleona with a 3-0 record. And Monday, the Tide and A-C faceoff for first place at Glatfelter Field.

It’s the biggest game ever in school history and the biggest high school game played at Glatfelter Field since some District Three and state playoff games were played on the field in the 1990s.

Friday, the Tide girls became the first Columbia team to beat Lancaster Catholic this season, turning back the Crusaders on their home field, 10-1.

Junior Emily Detz had her fourth big game of the week. She didn’t allow Catholic a hit the sixth inning with two outs and wound up with a one-hitter and fanned 14 Catholic hitters along the way. She didn’t walk anyone.

Columbia made the most of seven hits in the game, scoring five times in the sixth. Catholic also helped the cause walking five Tide batters and committing five errors in the field.

Detz has 63 strikeouts in five games and just four walks. This week alone, the fireballer has struck out 63 batters and pitched three one-hitters.



For more on the Columbia softball program, check out Jeff Reinhart’s View from the Press Box later this weekend. You can link it to the right on this page.