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It's a feat that doesn't happen very often: Winning PIAA gold for the Juniata Indians.
In fact, the last state titlist came in 2003 when Juniata's wrestling team won the PIAA Class 2-A Dual Meet Team championship.
The Juniata softball team hopes to strike it rich this season with a PIAA 3-A crown, after falling one victory short a year ago.
The lasting memories of a season ago were seeing the sea of red as the Indian faithful filled the stands at Penn State's Beard Field at the Nittany Lion Softball Complex.
Last year, Juniata fans came by the droves, decked from head to toe with as much red as they could find. They helped pack the house and eagerly waited to support their beloved Indians.
In the end, the thrill of victory eluded Juniata and its supporters, and they suffered the agony of defeat, dropping a 1-0 decision to Mid Valley in a good, old-fashioned pitchers' duel.
But the reigning Pennsylvania Pitcher of the Year is back and hungrier than ever to taste PIAA gold in senior Elizabeth Gaisior, who has enough accolades - and strikeouts - to fill this edition and many more.
Juniata fans will likely turn out in large numbers for today's contest. Hopefully, this time around Happy Valley will live up to its name for the Indians.
At 25-2, the Indians have been nearly flawless this season as they lost once in the regular season and in the District 6 championship game. The state tournament trail has seen Juniata be simply dominant as they've ridden the arm of Gaisior and gotten some timely hitting. Now, they stand on the precipice of history.
"The season goal was to not only get back to Penn State, but to come back with a gold medal," Juniata coach Craig Bubb told reporters after being Conwell-Egan Catholic in the PIAA semifinals on Monday.
The Indians posted three runs in the first inning and never looked back. Three runs is almost a lock for Gaisior, who fanned 20 in the contest. She struck out all opposing batters in the first five innings and only allowed two hits en route to a complete-game shutout.
Gaisior might be the state's best hurler, but Juniata also has Regan Lowrey behind the plate. Bubb called the catcher "a warrior and the emotional leader for this team."
So a tip of the cap to them as well as Lexie Frontz, Shalelyn Armstrong, Sophia Smith, Savannah Marshall, Victoria Moore, Alexa Kuhn, Ashley Piper and Ava Lauver. Rounding out the roster are Riley Lyter, Kalynn Brown, Hope Kehler, Ashlyn Fisher, Destiny Yohn, Mollee Hockenberry and Addison Rutherford.
Way to go!
Bubb, a successful travel-team coach during the summer months, after taking over for Erin Cressman, who guided the Indians out of the pandemic. Cressman moved back to New England to be closer to family, leaving the program in the capable hands of her former assistants. Bubb took over as head coach, with assistants Jack McCurdy, Jordan Shirey and Olivia Riden as assistants.
They are hoping the experience of last year's state title run will get them over the hump.
So, whether you're a Juniata Indian supporter, a Mifflin County Husky backer, an East Juniata Tiger diehard, a Belleville Mennonite School Thunder fan, a Mount Union Trojan enthusiast, Juniata Christian School Lion admirer, or a Midd-West Mustang stalwart, today we all should stand and cheer:
"Go Big Red!"