BY MARTY MYERS, Times-Shamrock Writer

In all her high school and travel softball experiences, senior Bri Hollenbeck had never been in this situation.

Bases loaded, bottom of the 10th, two outs, tie game.

Elk Lake’s second baseman acted like she’d seen it a hundred times before.

Ripping the first pitch from Deleila Schriner into the right-center field gap, Hollenbeck punched Elk Lake’s ticket for the state Class AA quarterfinals.

Her RBI single scored Kyla Marcy and gave the Lady Warriors a 2-1 win over District 11 champion Pen Argyl on Monday at Marywood University. Elk Lake advances to play Brandywine Heights, the District 3 champ, on Thursday at Bloomsburg University at 4 p.m.

Just before she stepped in the box, Hollenbeck caught the eye of teammate Gabby Baltzley and had a thought the moment might be something special.

“I’ve never had the opportunity like that,” said Hollenbeck, whose game-ending single would have cleared the bases. “I’ve never had a moment like that before.

“I knew as soon as I stepped in the box. (Coach Tony) Blaisure looked at me and told me to stay calm and hit that ball. I said, ‘This is my chance right here.’ ”

For Hollenbeck, it was clearly a case of her defining the moment. From the time she sent the ball screaming toward the alley, it was no contest for right fielder Taylor Presby, whose valiant effort got her within a few feet of the ball.

“It’s beautiful,” Hollenbeck said. “I just watched it. I didn’t feel it, that’s how good it hit the bat.”

Two innings earlier, Hollenbeck had what she and Blaisure considered a bad at bat, flying out softly to left.

“He told me to stay normal,” Hollenbeck said. “Sometimes I get standing up too much and the last couple times I’d popped out.

Added Blaisure: “She squared around to fake bunt and then pulled it back to swing away, but the previous time she hit the ball right on the screws. I told her just to be herself and hit the first good pitch.”

It wasn’t just with the bat that Hollenbeck starred. She ranged behind second base to spear a grounder off the bat of Madelyn Koch, then darted to second for a force out to end the seventh.

In the top of the ninth, she laid out to snag a pop-up behind first base.

Her efforts spearheaded another solid defensive effort by Elk Lake.

“Defensively, we’ve come a long way since last week in the district semifinal,” Blaisure said. “Bri made some outstanding defensive plays today. She just had an all-around game for us as a senior.”

And Brooke Darling was money when it counted. She retired the last 12 hitters and 19 of the final 20, allowing just four singles.

“We had the big upset two years ago in the 16-inning game,” she said of a loss to Pine Grove. “That was hard, but we’re really glad to be here.”

Elk Lake caught a break in the top of the 10th when the international tiebreaker rule kicked into effect. (The last hitter from the previous inning starts the next inning at second base).

Pen Argyl elected not to sacrifice the runner to third base. Two fly outs and a ground ball later, Elk Lake had its shot to win.

“Most teams would bunt in that situation,” said Darling, who fanned 11. “Obviously, they are confident in their hitters, but when they didn’t score, we had a good feeling we would.”

An error and an intentional walk loaded the bases and with two outs. Then, Hollenbeck came through.

“When we do this, I hope it gives our kids more and more confidence for each day that we have another game,” Blaisure said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten this far. I’m very happy for these kids. They’ve put in a lot of time. We’ve been going through double practices the last few weeks. I’m just hoping we can keep this thing going.”