UNIVERSITY PARK -- Big Spring High School made its biggest plays of the game when it counted the most -- in the seventh and final inning -- and defeated Valley View 2-1 on Friday afternoon to win the PIAA Class AAA Softball Championship at Penn State University.
Down 2-1 in the seventh, Valley View's Gina Cocchetti tried to score the tying run on a passed ball, but was a tagged out by Big Spring pitcher Taylor Mansfield for the final out of the game.
Big Spring plated two runs in the top of the seventh.
Mansfield crushed a one-out triple to dead center and later scored the tying run when Brittany Wagner nailed a double. Pinch-hitter Emma Hegenroeder then hit a ground ball to short; the Valley View shortstop threw high, allowing Wagner to score the go-ahead run.
Valley View scored its run in the bottom of the fourth.
The championship is the first PIAA title for Big Spring.
