SOFTBALL: Eastern York advances to state quarterfinals

• Eastern York advanced to the PIAA Class 4-A state quarterfinals on Monday afternoon.
• The Golden Knights grabbed 4-3 triumph over Bonner-Prendergast.
• Eastern will take on Tunkhannock in Thursday's state quarterfinals.

The Eastern York softball team advanced to the PIAA Class 4-A state quarterfinals on Monday afternoon with a 4-3 triumph over Bonner-Prendergast.

The game was played at Arcadia University in Glenside, north of Philadelphia.

The Golden Knights (17-5) entered the game as the District 3 4-A runner-up, while Bonner-Prendergast was the District 12 4-A champion.

Maelynn Leber was Eastern's starting and winning pitcher. She struck out three, walked one and gave up five hits in a complete-game effort. She also doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning for the deciding run.

Also for Eastern, Morgan Winter was 3 for 4 and drove in three runs, while Kiersten Grove also had two Eastern hits.

In Thursday's state quarterfinals, Eastern will face District 2 champion Tunkhannock, a 7-0 winner over District 4 champion Shikellamy in their first-round state playoff on Monday.

Fairfield also wins: Eastern, however, wasn't the only York-Adams softball team to triumph on Monday in first-round state action.

District 3 2-A champion Fairfield downed District 5 2-A champion Windber, 5-2, at Everett High School. Courtney Harbaugh went the distance to get the win for the Knights, allowing six hits, while striking out six without a walk.

Gena Eiker (three hits, run) and Ashley Roberts (two hits, double, two runs, RBI) led the Fairfield offense. Fairfield improved to 14-7.

In Thursday's state quarterfinals, Fairfield will play District 1 champion Bristol, a 10-0 winner on Monday over District 12 runner-up Philadelphia Academy.

The sites and times for Thursday's quarterfinal games have yet to be determined.