Abbi Call’s game-winning hit Monday for Valley View in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals against Northwestern Lehigh almost never happened.

During the regular season, the junior tweaked her knee. It was the same one she had surgery on to repair a torn meniscus as a freshman.

“I was pitching at North Pocono (April 24) and my knee just completely gave out and something popped,” Call said. “I thought my season was over.”

After having it checked out, tested and scanned both locally and at Rothman Orthopedics in Philadelphia, she was diagnosed with a sprained ACL. Six-to-eight weeks of physical therapy was recommended. So was limiting the amount of pitching she did. But she could play first base and bat while wearing a knee brace.Her season was not over.

“It was kind of scary when it did happen,” Call said. “When I had surgery two years ago and couldn’t play, it was like the worst feeling ever. I’m just happy I can help the team out.”

Instead of the worst feeling, Call experienced the best feeling. The Clemson commit delivered a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to score teammate Kalli Karwowski from second base to give the Cougars a 5-4 win that sent them to Thursday’s Class 4A final against District 3 champion Kennard-Dale at 1:30 p.m. at Penn State University Nittany Lion Softball Park’s Beard Field.

“I just tried to zone everything out,” Call said. “I knew I had to put the ball in play to score Kalli. I just tried to take a deep breath and put the ball in play.”

With Call not pitching as much, senior Taylor Cawley has handled the duties in the circle. The Binghamton University commit has thrown all but three innings in the District 2 and state playoffs and has allowed only nine runs (six earned) and six walks in six games with 37 strikeouts in 36 innings.

“You have two pitchers who are superb; two Division I commits who have different abilities,” Cougars coach Mia Wascura said. “We know we’re going to get consistency from Taylor. We’re going to get spins, we’re going to get offspeeds, whereas Abbi is going to be that speed where people can’t catch up. Ideally, you could interchange them in a game and here and there we did that. We tried to split them.

“Now, we’re riding that one pitcher who is just getting the job done. These kids want to play behind both of them.”

Valley View has 12 straight wins since suffering its second loss, 6-5, to Abington Heights on April 28, outscoring their opponents in that span, 126-16.

A 2007 Valley View graduate, Wascura is in her second season at her alma mater and said the team is firing on all cylinders.

“This team is special, it’s a magical season for these kids,” she said. “I cannot tell you how good it feels to watch these kids have the success that they’re having. I really haven’t been happier. I’ve had a lot of great moments in my life, personally and professionally. But, boy, this is way up there.”

Kennard-Dale is on its own magical ride. The Rams are making their first appearance in the state final. On several occasions during the District 3 tournament, they were on the brink of elimination. They rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in the quarterfinals to defeat Fleetwood, 4-3. In the semifinals, they overcame a four-run deficit to beat Big Spring, 5-4. In the final, they scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to break a tie and down Northern Lebanon, 4-1.

Sophomore Taryn Ashenfelter is their ace with a 0.81 earned-run average and and 305 strikeouts in 172.1 innings.

Wascura said the Cougars will try to treat Thursday as a regular game and not change anything.

“Their pitcher is going to be tough,” Wascura said. “But we’re going to play our game. We’re going to hit the ball. We’ve got to make the plays. Solid defense will win the state championship. We’re ready. We’re locked in.”