Juniata battles Harbor Creek in marathon title tilt, falls in ninth

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 13, 2024

Photos by Bob Hockenbrock

UNIVERSITY PARK – They battled like the champions they were and will be remembered by.

The legacy of this year’s Juniata softball team will not be marred by the courageous battle with Harbor Creek Thursday in the PIAA Class AAA championship game.

The gutsy Lady Indians took their opponents to the brink before falling 1-0 in a grueling nine inning affair.

The drama made the contest a nail biter from the first pitch until the first and last run was scored.

Juniata made two consecutive state championship appearances in their historic run for the group out of Mifflintown.

With a strong following, the Lady Indians gave their fans an exciting final finale even in defeat.

Veteran phenom hurler Liz Gaisior gave it all in her final pitching performance for Juniata.

She went the distance striking out 21 and held the Huskies to only two hits in the game.

Offensively, Juniata had four hits and had runners on but weren’t able to get them in.

Harbor Creek pitcher Addison Lucas also put on a strong effort in the circle striking out 10. She also picked up the win for the Huskies.

Picking up hits for Juniata were Shalelyn Armstrong, Regan Lowrey, Sophia Smith and Gaisior.

Though the Indians fell just one run short of their goal, the Lady Indians proved to everyone that they belonged especially after the hard road they took to get back for the chance of getting back to the big show.

Walking off the field as runner ups for the second season in-a-row might not be the way they wanted the season to end but they gave family, friends and fans one heck of a two year run.