Softball – Hornets face Liberty for the second time this season with a berth in the District XI 6A championship game on the line. PREVIEW

Photo courtesy of Tom Ashelman.

Who – No. 2 seed Emmaus (18-4 overall) vs No. 3 seed Liberty (18-4)

What – District XI Class 6A Semifinals

When/Where – Tuesday, May 28, 4:30 p.m./Pates Park

What’s on the line – A berth in the championship game on Thursday, May 30 vs winner of No.1 Nazareth or No. 4 Freedom. Winner also clinches a berth in the PIAA State Tournament

Coaches – Emmaus: Rich Giering (3rd yr); Liberty: Sam Carrodo

Head-to-Head – Liberty won 12-4

How they got here – Emmaus defeated Pleasant Valley 9-2; Liberty defeated Stroudsburg 3-1

Probable starters (Emmaus) – Sr. RF Molly Yard (.471 avg), Sr. SS Bri Amey (.552), Jr. 2B Sadie Haefeli (.450), Sr. 1B Emma Kozy (.413), Soph. C Abby Derr (.484), Sr. 3B Taylor Gitski (.362), Sr. LF Taylor Bruckler (.333), Sr. P Autumn Held (.431), Soph. CF Taylor Hauver (.241)

Liberty – So. P Adelynn Smith, Jr. CF Addison Sabo, Sr. SS Ariana Castillo, Soph. 1B Leah Onia, Soph. 3B Adrianna O’Neill, Soph. DH McKenna Beck, Fr. LF Elioriana Quayle, SR. RF Sam Kurnovich, Sr. Madison Noll

GAME NOTES – Emmaus and Liberty meet for the second time this season with a berth in the D11 championship game on the line … The Hurricane won the first meeting on April 17 at Williams Street Field 12-4. Liberty used a 7-run fourth inning and banged out 13 hits in the win …A season ago in districts, the Hornets beat Liberty in the opening-round 11-3 before losing to the eventual champ, Nazareth, 9-2 in the semifinals …Emmaus has now reached the semis the last three years. The Hornets have not won a District XI title since 2007.