ORWIGSBURG - The Pine Grove softball team played small ball from beginning to end Thursday evening at James Patton Field at Blue Mountain High School.

And no matter how much Northern Lehigh was trying to clone the bunting game in practice, it just doesn't feel the same until you actually face it. And then it become frustrating for the Bulldogs in a 5-1 loss in Thursday's District 11 Class 3A championship game."We practiced and practiced it, but there is nothing like it until you've got to face [it live]," said Northern Lehigh head coach Bob Hicks. "They're a heck of a team, and I'm not taking anything away from them. We don't see this type of [softball] in the Lehigh Valley, and they're very exceptional and what they do best."The Bulldogs had the Cardinals well scouted, even so much they shifted players in the middle infield, flip-flopping the shortstop and second baseman. When a right-handed batter took to the box, the shortstop moved to second. When a left-handed hitter was swinging away, the second baseman was back in her traditional position.That still had little effect and never did quell the Cardinals approach to this pitcher-oriented sport. Pine Grove kept bunting, kept stealing bases when Northern Lehigh failed to cover second base.The Bulldogs (17-6) had plenty of fire in their belly. They fell behind 3-0 in the first inning with only one ball leaving the infield. A pair of errors opened the floodgates to cause the damage. Two innings later, Pine Grove struck for another run, getting an infield single from Jess Kaufman, who stole second and zoomed all the way home, never breaking stride on an RBI groundout by Caitlyn Becher.Then it was time to mount a charge, and clearly Northern Lehigh seemed to garner momentum in the top of the fourth inning. Paige Hude fueled the rally leading off with a solid single, which brought up heavy-hitting Lauren Hoffman, who uncorked a booming triple over center fielder Avery Nagle.Pine Grove quickly relayed the ball to shortstop Kate Rittenbaugh, who fired home. Catcher Trish Kopinetz came up the line and put a swoop tag on a sliding Hoffman."We don't execute that play, it could have been a different game," said Pine Grove head coach Ryan Leffler.The play was a game-changer since Oliva Toth singled with two outs, followed by two more hits from Briana Schuck and Megan Handwerk to load the bases before winning pitcher Liv Lehman retire the final out on a strikeout.Lehman settled into a groove and retired the final 10 batters to seal the championship."I can't say enough about our kids," said Hicks. "They really made our staff proud. They battled all season long, and we have nothing to hang our heads. It was a great season."PITCHING WHIZ ... Losing pitcher Kaitlin Hoffman allowed just seven hits, and only two left the infield. The junior fireballer struck out 10 and issued only one walk. Lehman struck out five, walked one and was touched for six hits.HITTING AWAY ... The Bulldogs lower-half of the lineup stroked it very well. Handwerk had two singles out of the seven hole. Toth and Briana Schuck each had one single from the five and six spot, respectively. Lauren Hoffman had the game's only extra-base hit with the triple. Pine Grove also intentionally walked Kaitlin Hoffman with one out and Handwerk on first.PUT BACK THE PINKY... Pine Grove's Kopinetz had her pinky finger dislocated on the play at the plate where she tagged out Lauren Hoffman. She put her finger up running to her bench before medical help put it back in place. She had it taped and finished the game.No. Lehigh 000 100 0 - 1 6 2Pine Grove 301 010 x - 5 6 0K. Hoffman and D. Hoffman; Lehman and Kopinetz. W - Kopinetz. L - K. Hoffman.