Central Bucks South keeps on rolling toward state title

Central Bucks South will look to extend its journey in the PIAA Class AAAA softball tournament today.

And the end is in sight.

The Titans (22-2) will try to advance to Friday's state championship with a victory over Shaler, the District 7 second seed that is also nicknamed the Titans.

The winner of today's game, to be played at 2 p.m. at Shippensburg University, will face the winner of the other semifinal, which pits Parkland against Waynesboro.

To win today, C.B. South coach Jennifer Robinson will likely rely on the pitching duo of Devon Utterback and Francesca Carullo. The pair usually alternate starts, and Utterback started in Thursday's victory over Governor Mifflin in the state quarterfinals.

But that does not mean that Carullo, who throws slightly faster than Utterback, will start today. Robinson, who usually allots three innings to the starter and four to the reliever, changed up the rotation Thursday, when it was Carullo's turn to start.

Either way, the pitcher will likely have plenty of backup in the field and at the plate. The Titans turned two double plays and threw a runner out at the plate in Thursday's victory

The big hitters for the Titans lately have been Nicole Rodi, Morgan Decker, Molly Hare, and Lauren Klepchick.

The Titans exploded for 10 runs in four innings last Monday in a four-inning, 10-0 victory over Central in the first round of the state tournament.

The Titans are trying to duplicate Hatboro-Horsham's feat of last season, when the Hatters lost the District 1 championship game but rebounded to win the state title.

The Titans lost the District 1 title game to Spring-Ford.

Like Central Bucks South, Shaler (15-5) avenged a loss in a WPIAL championship game and beat Hempfield on Thursday in the quarterfinals to advance to today's game.

Keep an eye on the Central Bucks South infielders today. Shaler coach Skip Palmer used the bunting game to beat Hempfield when the bats would not come alive Thursday.