Sami Houseal. Courtney Eckman.
Two pitchers for Donegal and Lampeter-Strasburg high schools, respectively, who both graduated last year and who could both dominate a game every time they went on the mound.
Add another name to that list: Abby Hoover.
The Indians' junior hurler dazzled Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 rival L-S with a one-hitter for a 5-1 win in a District 3 Class Triple-A semifinal game Tuesday night at Manetas Park (formerly Zinn's Diner), Denver.
Donegal will join Pequea Valley in vying for a District 3 championship after the Braves won their Class Double-A semifinal Tuesday, 7-1 over Hanover.
"Abby Hoover was the real deal again tonight," said L-S coach Tim Shoff, whose team won't be able to defend its district title. "She pitched another fantastic game against us."
Third-seeded Donegal, which improved to 21-3, will take on fifth seed Greencastle, a 1-0 winner over top-seeded Susquehannock Tuesday, in the Triple-A title game. That game is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Brightbill Park, Harrisburg.
"She's pitched well beyond my expectations, all year long," said Donegal coach Tom Hartman. "We had an idea, because we have her in the summer. But her location has been ... it's about location. The previous pitcher here (Houseal) was about location, and Abby's pitching right to our strength: our defense."
The lone hit for L-S was an infield single by Ashley Lehman with two outs in the third inning.
"The same game plan as always, just going to get the out," said Hoover, who struck out eight and walked one. "Not necessarily a strikeout, but let my fielders do the work. Getting the out."
"(Houseal) was always a competitor. She left me big shoes to fill," Hoover added. "It was tough coming in here this season. It was harder than I expected."
Oddly, Hoover's fielders contributed to the Pioneers' only run Tuesday, an unearned run in the fifth inning. Hoover's only other glitch besides the hit and the walk — a hit batter with two outs — started the uprising and the normally-reliable defense committed three errors — Donegal's only errors in the game — to allow courtesy runner Sarah Jamieson to score.
But Donegal already had a 2-0 lead at that point. Morgan Kibler grounded a single up the middle with one out in the third for the first hit off Lauren McHale, and Jen Swarr and Nicky Hess followed suit, with Hess' hit driving in Kibler.
After a pair of walks, Kaitlyn Houseal's infield single plated the other run.
Darkening skies threatened the game almost from the start, and with Swarr on first and nobody out in the bottom of the fifth, lightning forced the umpires to halt the game. Rain soon followed and the game was delayed about an hour.
When it resumed, Hess drew a walk and, one out later, Taylor Hatt doubled to right field, plating both runners. When the relay throw to home went out of play, Hatt was sent home, giving the Indians a 5-1 lead.
The win was the third this season for Donegal, which went 16-0 in L-L Section 3, against L-S. "To beat a team three times ... like L-S, it's a tough chore," said Hartman.
"Tim's teams are well-coached, and it's fun to play them," Hartman added. "Everyone wants to make out there's a bitter rivalry. No. It's great for the L-L League, great for softball and great for both teams."
The Pioneers (17-5) will play Thursday prior to the Donegal game (4:30 p.m.), taking on Susquehannock for third place and a berth in the PIAA Tournament.
CLASS DOUBLE-A
Pequea Valley 7, Hanover 1
Leading 1-0, the Braves (18-3) took control with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jess High held the Hawkettes (16-6) to two hits. Tiffani Williams belted a two-run home run and Cayla Fuller added a two-run double.
Pequea Valley will take on the winner of today's game between Brandywine Heights and Kutztown. The title game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Manetas Park, Denver.
Sports writer Philip Glatfelter can be reached at
pglatfelter@LNPnews.com or 291-8777.
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