State finalists from last season met in a non-league softball season opener for both teams Wednesday.
Maranda Runco led the way as Mid Valley, a 2021 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A state finalist, jumped ahead at home and held on for a 3-2 victory over Class 4A Tunkhannock.
Runco tossed a three-hitter and did not allow an earned run while striking out 11. She also went 3-for-3 with a home run and drove in all of her team’s runs.
Kat Davis led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored on a one-out single by Runco.
Chiara Zavislak singled with two out in the bottom of the third and came home when Runco followed with a home run to right field.
Runco was still working on a one-hitter when Tunkhannock used a Mid Valley error to extend the top of the sixth.
Emily Schultz singled to keep the inning going.
Kaya Hannon then tripled to drive in two runs, but was thrown out trying to score.
Runco then retired all three batters in the seventh, ending the game on a strikeout.
Zavislak had two hits for Mid Valley.
Hannon struck out 10 in the loss. She allowed seven hits and walked two.
The Lady Tigers and Spartanettes finished 2021 as the No. 1 teams in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams. Tunkhannock led the Big Schools while Mid Valley was first among Small Schools.
