H.s. Softball: Pine Grove Shuts Out Tri-valley To Secure Schuylkill League Title

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The Lady Cardinals are back on top of the Schuylkill League once again.

Pine Grove’s softball team captured the Schuylkill League title as they shut out Tri-Valley, 4-0, at North Schuylkill’s Dot Seidel Field Friday. This is Pine Grove’s first league title since 2019.

“I am just proud of the kids. They worked hard all year long,” said Pine Grove’s head coach Ryan Leffler. “They set some goals at the beginning of the year and this was one of them and they went out there today and got it done.”

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The Pine Grove softball team takes a group photo after beating Tri-Valley 4-0 in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Pine Grove junior Callee Leffler (7) screams all the way home after hitting a home run as Pine Grove and Tri-Valley face off in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Tri-Valley senior Mady Schwalm (44) swings for the ball as Pine Grove and Tri-Valley face off in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Pine Grove head coach Ryan Lefflerhigh fives Pine Grove sophomore Jamie Dinger (99) after the team beat Tri-Valley 4-0 in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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The Tri-Valley softball team receives second place medals after losing 4-0 to Pine Grove in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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The Pine Grove softball team takes a group photo after beating Tri-Valley 4-0 in the Schuylkill League softball championship game at North Schuylkill High School, Friday, May 16, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Pine Grove softball wins Schuylkill League Championship with 4-0 victory over Tri-Valley

Sophomore Jamie Dinger was remarkable on the mound once again. Dinger threw a complete game shut out and recorded nine strikeouts. Junior Callee Leffler crushed a solo homer to center field. The Florida State commit also scored three runs and forced a walk.

“It feels amazing,” said Dinger. “Just to be in the moment and feel the tension going through everyone’s body and just being in control of the game.”

Pine Grove (21-2) wasted no time on getting on the scoreboard. Callee Leffler led off the bottom of the first inning reaching on an error to first base. Hannah Aungst moved Leffler to second base after a sacrifice bunt. Madison Shiffer advanced Leffler to third base after a ground out. Addison Zimmerman came up next and hit a RBI single into center field to make it 1-0.

“We had each other’s backs today,” said Callee Leffler. “I am really proud of what we did.”

Dinger retired Tri-Valley in order in the top of the second after forcing a ground out, strikeout and line out. The Lady Cardinals didn’t get any runs in the second inning, but they did strike in the third inning.

Callee Leffler added her third home run of the tournament after she crushed a solo shot to center field. Leffler crossed home plate as her teammates waited to celebrate with her to put Pine Grove up 2-0.

“I was just staying in my approach and knowing my swing,” said Leffler.

Tri-Valley (16-6) recorded their first hit of the game in the third inning thanks to a Cassi Snyder single. Dinger stayed poised and left Snyder on as she recorded back-to-back-to-back strikeouts to leave the Bulldogs scoreless.

“She has been doing it all year,” said Coach Leffler. “She just stayed the course and did a great job mixing her pitches up.”

Pine Grove added some big insurance in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a bunt out, Leffler reached base on a walk. Following a strike out. Leffler got to second on a steal and Shiffer drove Leffler in with a double into right field to make it a 3-0 game. Zimmerman came up next and hit a RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

That was all Dinger needed to close this one out as she handled business on the mound and her offense gave her run support.

“Having a good offense on my shoulder is really amazing,” said Dinger. “The offense puts runs on the board and we get to shut them down with defense.”

Dinger retired six straight in the sixth and seventh innings. Dinger forced a ground out to second with the last out. Then it was celebration time for Pine Grove as they hugged one another and pumped their fists up in the air.

“I am proud of the kids. This is something they are going to talk about for the rest of their lives,” said Coach Leffler.

Pine Grove will gear up for the District 11 3A playoffs. The Lady Cardinals will hold the first seed and face Northern Lehigh, May 22nd with a time and place to be determined. Tri-Valley will be the number one overall seed in the District 11 1A playoffs with the opponent, time and place to be determined.

Pine Grove 4 — Leffler CF 2 3 1 1, Aungst SS 2 0 0 0, Shiffer 1B 3 1 1 1, Zimmerman RF 3 0 2 2, Dinger P 3 0 0 0, Bohr C 3 0 1 0, Clark 3 0 1 0, Flynn 2B 3 0 1 0, Umbenhauer 3B 2 0 0 0

Tri-Valley 0 — Snyder CF 3 0 1 0, Leonard SS 3 0 1 0, Mad. Schwalm 2B 3 0 0 0, Witmer 3B 3 0 0 0, Mya. Schwalm DP 3 0 1 0, Stiely LF 3 0 0 0, L. Rodichok C 2 0 0, K. Rodichok P 2 0 0 0, Tobin RF 2 0 0 0

2B — Shiffer; HR — Leffler;

PG (21-2) — 1 0 1 0 2 0 — 4

TV (16-6) — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0

Pine Grove

IP H R ER BB SO

Dinger 7.0 3 0 0 0 9

Tri-Valley

K. Rodichok 6.0 7 4 3 1 4