Emotions flow as Everett defeats Bald Eagle Area 12-1 in six innings to win PIAA Class 2A softball state title

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania – Everett’s Makenna Richards fought back the tears as she rounded first base and then again as she rounded third base at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Park.

The senior had just hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning of the PIAA Class 2A state championship game to give the Warriors a 10-1 lead over Bald Eagle Area in what eventually became a 12-1 win in six innings. It was her fourth hit in as many plate appearances in the game.

“Every kid dreams of playing at Penn State, every girl wants to go to the state championship,” Richards said. “And then going 4-for-4 with a home run, it's just absolutely amazing.”

After a slow start offensively, the Warriors poured it on in the final two innings, scoring five runs in the fifth and then adding seven more in the sixth.

“We were really nervous in the beginning,” Richards said. “I think we were all just playing super stiff and super tense. But then once we strung some hits along, we really just opened up.”

Everett also got some help from the Bald Eagle defense in the fifth inning.

Morgan Bowser started the inning off with a grounder to shortstop that was bobbled for an error and Cloe Price followed with a single. Jade Colledge moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt to give Olivia Hillegas runners on second and third with one out but the Eagles intentionally walked her to load the bases.

Kirstin Feathers came up with the bases loaded and hit a ball to shortstop that led to an error and the first two runs of the game for the Warriors.

With Richards up and runners at second and third, the Eagles pitched to her. She made them pay with her third hit of the game, an RBI single to make it 3-0. After Richards stole second, Marissa Hillegas hit a sacrifice fly to score Feathers and move Richards to third.

Addison Wood finished the scoring for the Warriors in the inning with a double that scored Richards.

When the dust settled, Everett had scored five runs on three hits and four Bald Eagle errors.

And then the bats just stayed hot in the sixth inning, as Bowser led off with a double and scored on a triple by Price. Olivia Hillegas added an RBI single and then Feathers singled behind her to set the stage for Richards.

The senior hit a line drive to left center that just kept rising until it skimmed the top of the wall and went out for a homer. She was surprised she even had a chance to hit, thinking the Eagles might walk her intentionally.

“I just thought they're not going to pitch to me,” said Richards, who had a game-high four RBIs in the game. “But then she just laid one in there. And I was like, this is it, I have to take it.”

After singles by Marissa Hillegas and Wood, Ava Weicht hit a two-run single to make it 12-1.

Every player in the lineup had at least one hit for the Warriors, led by Richards’ four and Weicht, Olivia Hillegas and Price who had two each.

“I think that once we break it open, we just take it around,” said Olivia Hillegas, who also had an RBI and two runs scored. “We've always been like that.”

And then Olivia Hillegas went out and got the final three outs of the game to complete her three-hitter and ended it with a strikeout, her ninth of the game. She threw her glove in the air and just stood there for a second before putting her hands on her knees and getting mobbed by her teammates.

“I've cried every single (playoff) game except literally since this game,” Hillegas said. “I have cried because I have been so thankful that it wasn't my last and today I didn't cry, surprisingly, because I think it was relief. I was like, ‘wow, we did it.’ So that was just a really good feeling.”