Stroudsburg softball sweeps the rivalry in pivotal win over Pleasant Valley
BRODHEADSVILLE — Stroudsburg softball needed a win for a number of reasons. It would bring the Mounties closer to an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Tournament berth; the perfect divisional record would remain intact; and it would give the team the same amount of wins as Pleasant Valley overall (12) and in EPC play (10).
Most importantly, it would give the Mounties bragging rights over their divisional rival, which they earned in a 5-2 victory over the Bears, sweeping the season series on the road.
"It's very important for the team. We battle hard every time we play Pleasant Valley," Stroudsburg coach Maynard Frantz said after the win. "It was very important for us to come out here and play our best game. And I feel today, heart and souls were with the kids today and they played very hard for me."
It was a defensive game for the first several innings until Elena Trotter put Stroudsburg on the board with a two-run home run over the center field wall. That was enough to spark the offense, which was able to add three more runs in the later innings to keep the Bears at arm's length.
"I took an extra like five seconds right before I got in that box and I just I really just thought to myself, 'Whatever happens, happens,'" Trotter said. "But as soon as I see it and it's there, I'm swinging."
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Frantz complemented Trotter's consistency, noting she's moved around in the batting order throughout the season. Thanks to her, Stroudsburg's offense found its stride to bring home the win.
"I think it's really easy for me to keep that because our team has been hitting really well this year," Trotter said. "If we had any like weaker hitters on the team, it'd be a lot harder to get that like energy up and going. But they just make it so easy because they're so energetic, and they really want to win.
With the Mounties' conference record now at 10-4, they are the seventh team to reach double-digit wins in EPC play. This can prove pivotal down the stretch, as only the top eight qualify for the conference tournament. They have already qualified for the district tournament, but an EPC playoff berth grants them another opportunity to hang a banner before the year is over.
"We take pride in what we produce up in Stroudsburg. I'm very proud," Frantz said. "I always tell the girls that you're playing for your high school to prove that we are a team to be reckoned with, and I take very much pride in how these kids battle and work hard."
Pleasant Valley is still in good shape to make the EPC tournament with a 10-5 conference record with only one EPC game left. However, two of their remaining three games will be against the top team in Class 1A (Tri-Valley) and 3A (Palmerton). It'll be a test for the Bears before reaching the postseason.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: PV-Stroudsburg Softball follow-up
