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HAZLE TWP. — Before every stepping on a high school softball field, the Tunkhannock Tigers had the proverbial target on their backs. The situation was created three years ago when the bulk of the roster finished second at the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon.

Hazleton Area, Tunkhannock’s opponent on a brisk Friday afternoon, knows that feeling as well. The Cougars have been the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 champs every year since 2013 and played for the PIAA Class 6A state title in 2019.

Round one of the matchup went to Tunkhannock thanks to one of those World Series players. Paige Marabell hit two two-run homers and finished with six RBI as Tunkhannock defeated Hazleton Area 9-5 in a WVC Division 1 game.

“I think we have a bit of a target on our back,” said Marabell, who is the daughter of Tunkhannock football coach Mike Marabell, “but that happened three years ago. It’s time to show them that we’re better than we were when we were 12.”

Tunkhannock (3-0 Div. 1, 3-1) took over sole possession of the division. Hazleton Area fell to 2-1 in the division and 2-2 overall.

“I’ve been with the program 12 years and (assistant coach) Ronny (Hampsey) said he’s been here 16 and this is the first time we’ve beaten them in 16 years,” Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty said. “It’s a huge win for us. We’ve come close a couple times and I think we lost it in the bottom of the seventh last time we were here.”

Tunkhannock took a 9-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh Friday. Hazleton Area used RBI singles by Gabby Terraccino and Olivia Wolk and a three-run homer by Julia Mooney to pull within 9-5. Tunkhannock pitcher Kaya Hannon, also a World Series alum, retired the final three batters to end the rally attempt.

“I said to them in the bottom of the seventh when they came in it’s about pride,” Hazleton Area coach Bob Bertoni said. “We haven’t been shut out in a long, long time. It seemed like we got focused in that last inning and we weren’t focused in the first six.”

Tunkhannock won the WVC Division 2 title in 2019, the last year high school softball was played after last season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A brand-new cast got things rolling early as Ellie McNeff was hit by a pitch and Marabell followed with a blast over the left field fence.

Marabell knocked in two more runs in the second inning with a single. Gabby Wood followed with a two-run single for a 6-0 lead.

Marabell added a two-run homer in the sixth, scoring McNuff who had reached on her second double of the day. McNeff’s double was noteworthy. A slap hitter, McNeff dropped a double and single into short left field earlier. Hazleton Area shifted its defense in the sixth to cover the spot and she slapped a double over the left fielder’s head.

Nicole Howell completed the Tunkhannock scoring with a home run to start the seventh.

The teams are scheduled to play again May 4 at Tunkhannock.

Tunkhannock 9, Hazleton Area 5 

Tunkhannock`AB`R`H`BI

McNeff 2b`3`3`3`0

Marabell c`4`2`3`6

Schultz ss`4`1`1`0

Wood 1b`4`0`2`2

Howell lf`3`1`1`1

Hannon p`3`0`0`0

Huff 3b`4`0`1`0

Kulsicavage rf`3`1`1`0

James cf`4`0`0`0

Totals 32`9`12`9 

Hazleton Area`AB`R`H`BI 

Mrochko ss`2`1`0`0

Terraccino rf`3`1`2`1

Wolk cf`4`1`2`1

Mooney 1b`4`1`1`3

Peters c`4`0`0`0

Daniels lf`4`0`2`0

Forsythe dh`3`0`0`0

Gombeda 3b`3`1`1`0

Katchur 2b`3`1`1`0

Kennedy p`0`0`0`0

Totals`29`5`8`5 

Tunkhannock`240`002`1 — 9 

Hazleton Area`000`000`5 — 5 

2B — McNeff, Schultz, Huff. HR — Marabell 2, Howell, Mooney.

Tunkhannock`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Hannon W`7.0`8`5`5`3`6

Hazleton Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Kennedy L`0.0`2`2`2`0`1

Katchur`1.1`3`4`4`0`0

Terraccino`5.2`7`3`3`1`4

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H.S. Softball: Paige Marabell drives in six runs as Tunkhannock defeats Hazleton Area