Even Shaler Area softball coach Skip Palmer is surprised at the heights his team has reached.

"If you would have told me at the start of the season that we would be playing in the PIAA championship game with a team that had no seniors in the starting lineup, I would have laughed," he said.

The Titans continued their unexpected run in the postseason with a 2-1 victory Monday against Central Bucks South in the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals at Shippensburg University's Robb Field.

"With such a young squad, our goal coming into the season was to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs," Palmer said. "I just wanted the girls to get a taste of playoff ball and build for next season. I never thought we would make it to both the WPIAL and PIAA title games."

The victory earns Shaler (16-5) a berth in the PIAA title game for the fourth time in six years. The Titans, who finished second in the WPIAL, will face District 11 runner-up Parkland (24-4) in the PIAA title game at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Shippensburg University's Robb Field.

"The PIAA is allowing us to play first since we have graduation services [tomorrow] night," Palmer said. "We don't have a senior in the starting lineup, but do have two seniors on our team and we don't want them to miss their graduation."

Palmer would like to see his seniors attend graduation services in style with a gold medal around their neck, but would be happy with a silver medal.

"If the season were to end today, I would still be very proud of what this team has accomplished," Palmer said. "To finish first or second in the state is a great accomplishment. I would take either, especially since all of our starters will be back next year."

Parkland earned its fourth title berth, and first since 1998, with a 2-0 win against District 3 runner-up Waynesboro.

"I don't know much about Parkland, but I plan to find out as much as I can before we play," Palmer said. "One thing that should be to our advantage is that we already played at Robb Field. My three freshmen starters were in awe of the beautiful field when they first stepped on it. That shouldn't be a problem in the title game."

Palmer claims he isn't superstitious, but doesn't want to change anything from his last appearance in the title game.

"I want to do the same things we did when we won the title in 2006," Palmer said. "We're leaving Thursday and staying in the same hotel. We are even in the same dugout, since we are the visiting team."

Shaler opened the PIAA playoffs with a 10-5 win against City League champion Brashear. That set up a rematch of the WPIAL title game where Shaler avenged its loss to Hempfield with a 1-0 victory.

"Our playoff run is very similar to the 2006 championship season," Palmer said. "We lost in the WPIAL title game to North Allegheny, then came back and beat them in the PIAA quarterfinals, and ironically that score was 1-0. I hope the results in the title game are the same."

Shaler's 2-1 win against Central Bucks South, the District 1 runner-up, wasn't pretty.

"It was the ugliest game I've ever been involved with," Palmer said. "We had one hit and committed three errors and still won the game. It was a bad game, but we're in the state title game. That's all that matters."

Shaler scored both runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Lauren Hackett started the rally with a one-out single, but was forced out at second on a ground out by Holly Pefferman. Pinch-runner Candice Tabroski moved to second when Brittney DeFazio was hit by a pitch, then scored when Abby Nichter's popup to second base was misplayed. DeFazio moved to third on the play and scored on a wild pitch.

"Lauren's single was our only hit and she didn't even score," Palmer said. "We had a hit by pitch, an error, and a wild pitch and score twice. You don't see that very often. I must be the luckiest coach in the state."

Nichter pitched a no-hitter until the seventh inning. She gave up a leadoff single to Molly Hare and Haileigh Stucks followed with a run-scoring double. Stucks moved to third on an error by Chelsea Siar, and both runners moved up on a ground out. That gave Central Bucks West second and third with one out.

Fortunately, Nichter retired the next two batters to end the rally and secure the victory. She pitched a two-hitter, struck out eight batters, and walked none.

n What: PIAA Class AAAA softball final.

n When: 10 a.m., tomorrow.

n Where: Robb Field, Shippensburg University.

n Who: Shaler (16-5) vs. Parkland (24-4).

n The skinny: Shaler returns to the championship game for the first time since 2006 when it defeated Hatboro-Horsham for the title.