Balliet blasts Palmerton softball past Pen Argyl in district playoffs

Palmerton’s Mikayla Pengelly (15) makes a leaping catch to force out Pen Argyl's Katie Knecht and prevent runs from being scored in the 6th inning during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton catcher Kelsey Balliet forces out Pen Argyl's Callie Schneck at home in the 6th inning during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Kelsey Balliet eyes her two-run homer against Pen Argyl in the 6th inning to give them a 2-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl huddles up before facing Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl starting pitcher Kayla Holley delivers against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl starting pitcher Kayla Holley delivers against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton starting pitcher Carley Gaffney delivers against Pen Argyl during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton starting pitcher Carley Gaffney delivers against Pen Argyl during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Jillian Bradley connects for a base hit against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Grace Weaver makes a throw to first during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Jillian Bradley catches a line drive by Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Madison Green reaches up to catch a pop-up by Pen Argyl during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Morgan Rissmiller at bat against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Katie Knecht follows through while batting against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton’s Mikayla Pengelly looks up after fielding a grounder and goes onto throw out Pen Argyl's Callie Schneck at home, to prevent a run from being scored in the 6th inning during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton catcher Kelsey Balliet forces out Pen Argyl's Callie Schneck at home in the 6th inning during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton’s Kelsey Balliet, center, is all smiles as she celebrates with teammates Carley Gaffney, left, and Mikayla Pengelly after keeping Pen Argyl from scoring in the 6th inning during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Mikayla Pengelly is hit by a Pen Argyl pitch during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Alyssa Silliman at bat against Pen Argyl during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Kelsey Balliet rounds third after hitting a two-run homer against Pen Argyl in the 6th inning to give them a 2-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Kelsey Balliet is met by her teammates as she leaps to touch home plate after hitting a two-run homer against Pen Argyl in the 6th inning to give them a 2-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Madalynn Moyer goes to hit an RBI single against Pen Argyl in the 6th inning to give them a 3-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Madalynn Moyer beats the tag from Pen Argyl’s Callie Schneck to slide safe into second after hitting an RBI single in the 6th inning to give them a 3-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Palmerton's Madalynn Moyer beats the throw to Pen Argyl’s Callie Schneck to slide safe into second after hitting an RBI single in the 6th inning to give them a 3-1 lead during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

Pen Argyl's Morgan Rissmiller (9) at bat against Palmerton during the District 11 Class 3A softball quarterfinal on May 24, 2022.

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The Palmerton softball team’s bats were quiet for the first five innings against Pen Argyl senior pitcher Kayla Holley on Tuesday.

But in the sixth inning, with one big blast from Palmerton junior catcher Kelsey Balliet, the Blue Bombers took the lead and then went on to secure a 3-1 home victory in the District 11 Class 3A quarterfinal.

Balliet picked a good time for her first home run of the season, driving a pitch over the left-field fence to turn a one-run deficit into a lead.

“We played solid defense,” Balliet said. “We had the bats, but they had really good plays. Nothing you can do about that. We came through in the sixth inning.”

The home run was only the second hit of the game for third-seeded Palmerton.

The Blue Bombers will play second-seeded Pine Grove in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at Blue Mountain High School. Pine Grove beat MaST Community Charter 15-0 in four innings on Tuesday in a quarterfinal.

Sophomore shortstop Sydney Frantz walked to lead off the sixth inning for the Blue Bombers. After a popout, it was Balliet’s turn to blast a home run into the tree line.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Palmerton put together back-to-back singles from sophomore third baseman Megan Matsko and senior first baseman Madalynn Moyer, who drove in the the Blue Bombers’ final run of the game.

Palmerton got the momentum going in the top of the sixth with a pair of great plays in the field by freshman center fielder Mikayla Pengelly. The freshman made an impressive running catch for the second out of the frame. Then, Pengelly fielded a single hit by Pen Argyl senior third baseman Carina Cutone and delivered a strike to catcher Balliet, who tagged out Green Knights junior second baseman Callie Schneck at the plate.

“She’s a pretty special player out there as a freshman,” Palmerton coach Bob Hock said of Pengelly. “She could play anywhere on the field. Obviously, you can see what she’s capable of doing out there. She tracks balls so smoothly, so easily. She made that great throw. She bobbled for a split second, but didn’t panic.”

Blue Bombers sophomore pitcher Carly Gaffney struck out seven, walked one and held Pen Argyl to four singles in the game. She shut out the Green Knights in the final six innings.

“It was early, so I just knew that I had time yet,” Gaffney said about bouncing back after the first inning. “I had my team behind me. I knew we could score runs like we did.”

Matsko went 2-for-3 for Palmerton, which improved to 14-8 on the season.

Sophomore designated player Cadee Munjone walked twice for the Blue Bombers.

Holley struck out 10 batters, walked three and held Palmerton to four hits.

Cutone, who went 2-for-3 on the day, gave Pen Argyl a 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single.

Freshman center fielder Jillian Bradley reached base twice for the Green Knights, who ended the season with a 12-9 record after losing their final five games.

“We played really well. We had a big win against Northwestern,” Pen Argyl longtime coach Bill Schankel said. “At the end of the year, we came up a little short in these last four games. We had everything in control and we lost our last four games.”

Pen Argyl will say goodbye to seniors Cutone, Holley, catcher Morgan Rissmiller and left fielder Kendall Lobb.

“You always miss the seniors,” Schankel said. “You hope our younger girls learn from them. We can learn something from this and carry on what they started.”

The Blue Bombers move into the semifinals and hope to keep working toward their second consecutive district title.

“It is very important,” Moyer said about getting the championship. “We’ve been talking about it since Day 1.”

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Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com.

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