JEFFREY REINHART

Questions or comments during the game? Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll try to oblige jreinhart@LNPnews.com

HERSHEY — Greetings from high above the A-Turf playing surface in Hersheypark Stadium. I made it. Welcome to my live blog of the PIAA Double-A spring girls’ championship game, where in about 30 minutes or so, L-L League champ Lancaster Mennonite will take on Fleetwood for all the state marbles. Fleetwood beat Mennonite 2-1 in the district playoffs a few weeks back, so the Blazers have some revenge on their minds. I’ll pass along any pre-game notes, leading right up until the ball drops at high noon.

And yes, that’s my weak attempt at photography on my camera phone. That’s my view from the press box in Hersheypark Stadium. Not a bad seat, eh? That’s Mennonite’s players somewhere down there in their red warm-up shirts. If you click the photo, it enlarges. Gotta love all of this multi-media stuff. Gotta do a few things, and then I’ll start posting updates. Stick and stay, won’t you?

A little pre-game warm-up music for the crowd … That’s the way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like it.

PRE-GAME STUFF — Warm-ups are winding down … Fleetwood is on the bench to the left; Mennonite to the right. … Wow, no snacks in the press box. Thought the PIAA might have some hot dogs and soda up here. Oh yeah, I’m on a diet. I wouldn’t want to be chowing down on any hot dogs. Diet update tonight, by the way. … Starting lineups on the way.

FIRST HALF

Game on! Ole, ole-ole-ole … Early cross by Mennonite thwarted. We’re in the feeling-out stage; both teams looking to control tempo. … Corner for Fleetwood with 36 minutes to go — header by Steph Barnett on goal; save by Mennonite’s Laura Gochnauer. … Not a bad crowd for a Friday at noon … The one side of the bleachers is pretty full. … What is this horrible music blaring over from Hersheypark? Very annoying. … Another chance for Fleetwood — missed wide. … Mennonite’s Bethany Engle shot from like 25 yards out goes high. First scoring chance by Mennonite. Still 0-0, 32 minutes to go. … Under 30 minutes, still scoreless. A lot of midfield action. Neither team is really establishing anything. … Plenty of action, but not many chances for either team. … Great chance by Fleetwood at 25:35, but Mennonite breaks it up. Re-start. … Shot by Fleetwood’s Emily Arndt. Gochnauer makes the save at 24:55. … Big rush by Fleetwood. High shot batted down by Gochnauer. Huge save at 24:20. … Mennonite’s Katelyn Vanderhoff on the doorstep pushes shot just wide. First great chance by Mennonite. Still 0-0 at 22:57. … Great run by Mennonite, which got a nice shot on goal but missed. Still 0-0 with 16:02 to go. Action is getting better; more runs. … Shot by Mennonite’s Lisa Wingard from the right side, but not enough on it. Still scoreless at 13:36. … Some pretty good soccer here despite the lack of scoring chances. Action around the midfield has been pretty fierce; some good battles. But still no score. … Goooooooooaaaaaaaallllll at 10:47 by Mennonite’s Kelsey Gorman in front, chipped a lefty shot into the lower right corner. Fleetwood whiffed on an attempted clear, and Gorman found herself all alone in front of the cage. 1-0 Mennonite. … Coming up on five minutes to go. Fleetwood trying to make something happen. … About 2 minutes to go. Mennonite had a couple of chances up top, but Fleetwood broke them up. … Fleetwood really wants to put the pressure on, but can’t get anything started. Mennonite’s speed has been a big plus so far, particulary Ally Brown and Lisa Wingard, who have been pesky. … Wow! Vanderhoff with a great shot right in the middle of the box, but a clutch save by Fleetwood.

HALFTIME — Mennonite 1, Fleetwood 0 on a goal by Kelsey Gorman.

Halftime tunes … R.O.C.K. in the USA A little Mellencamp action.

SECOND HALF

Game on! Anxious to what adjustments Fleetwood makes to counter Mennonite’s speed game. … Early corner for Fleetwood by Elizabeth Bergman — cleared easily by Mennonite’s Sarah Dickinson. … Shot by Fleetwood — second of the half, but both were pretty weak. Still 1-0 with 34:25 to play. … Gooooooooaaaaalllllll by Fleetwood ties the game at 34:04 by Ariel Gehringer from Steph Barnett, who drew a triple team and slipped a sweet feed to Gehringer right in front, and she blasted a shot past Mennonite keeper Dani Zeamer. We’re all tied up. … Fleetwood means business, gang. Tigers are controlling pace and tempo for sure. … Vanderhoff had a good chance in front for Mennonite a minute or so ago, but couldn’t control the ball. 1-1 with 31:02 to go. … Mennonite’s Kori Wenger launches a shot from about 25 yards out that hits the top of the crossbar. Close call. Mennonite picking up some steam. … 25:27 to go, and both teams are making spirited runs, but no goals. … Coming up on 20 minutes. Tons of action; no goals. … Bit of a lull with not many chances; lots of midfield action. … 15 minutes to go — still 1-1; should be a heck of a finish. … Corner for Mennonite at 11:10. Bethany Engle will take it — nice defensive play by Fleetwood, which got the clear after Vanderhoff got her foot on it in the box. 1-1, 10:15 to go. … Nice rush by Fleetwood. Corner for Tigers, taken by Bergman at 8:37 — nice play. Cleared. … Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaalllllllll by Fleetwood at 8:20 by Victoria Kinek. Mennonite goalie Dani Zeamer went up to make a save and batted the ball down. Kinek was johnny-on-the-spot, and chipped it in. … Gooooooooaaaaaallllllll Mennonite ties it up on its next trip at 7:09 by Ally Brown off a nice cross in front. Wow. … Mennonite direct kick from the top of the box after Gorman was taken down at 3:45 or so — Goooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll by Gorman on the direct kick — bent it high and over the wall and into the upper right corner. Mennonite leads 3-2 with 3:38 left. … Under 2 to play — looks like a state title for Mennonite (oooh, jinx, what?).

FINAL: Mennonite 3, Fleetwood 2. Blazers win Double-A state title. Thanks for tuning in.