The reality now for Parkland softball team is that it is either going to win the state championship and have an undefeated season or suffer just one loss on the year that will end its shot at a state title.

The 24-0 Lady Trojans added the District 11 championship to their trophy case with a 6-1 win over Pleasant Valley and then opened the PIAA tournament with a 5-0 win over Spring-Ford.

The win over Spring-Ford puts the Trojans into the quarterfinals of states where they will face District 1 champion Avon Grove.

Getting to states has almost seemed too easy for Parkland, including wrapping up districts with an impressive performance against Pleasant Valley.

The Trojans had seven hits against the Bears and they were scattered up and down the lineup, with leadoff hitter Jordy Augustus being the only player with more than one hit. The second hit by Augustus caused some controversy when it ricocheted off Kelly Gruber, who had come on to pinch-run for Morgan Rentzheimer, who had walked.

The umpires ruled that the ball had gone past first baseman Kelsey Miczak and that second baseman Katie Lenart had no play on the ball. Bears coach Steve Caffrey argued that Lenart did have a play on the ball until it bounced off of Gruber.

Caffrey's argument resulted in the umpires getting together to discuss the play, but ultimately, they didn't reverse their decision and the play stood. That play resulted in two runs scoring as Parkland pushed its lead to 6-0.

The play again put Gruber, who is a frequent pinch-runner for Parkland, in a controversial spot in a championship game. It was Gruber who was called safe on a controversial play at the plate against Emmaus in the Lehigh Valley Conference championship.

"That's one of those calls that you don't see a lot," said coach Barry Search. "I guess if you run the bases enough, you're going to see yourself in some plays like that. She didn't really have a chance to get out of the way of the ball, because it was hit pretty well."

Parkland started the scoring early with a first-inning run produced by a leadoff single from Augustus and a one-out RBI double from Courtney Miller. Parkland looked to increase the lead when Madi Marshall reached on a strikeout/passed ball and Taylor Knappenberger reached on a two-out walk. Sydney Stibitz hit a high fly ball to left to end the inning, but Parkland went right back to work in the second.

Sam Pickar singled to lead off the second and went to second when Rentzheimer walked. An error on Pleasant Valley third baseman Madison Shaneberger pushed one run across and one out later, Marshall walked to load the bases.

Emma Varrato then delivered a single to center field that plated two more runs as Parkland grabbed a commanding 4-0 lead.

Pleasant Valley pitcher Tracy Deubler kept Parkland off the scoreboard over the final three innings, but by then it was too late.

The Bears also mounted a seventh inning rally that resulted in their lone run, but Rentzheimer came back to record the final two outs, stranding runners on second and third.

Rentzheimer had a perfect game going until walking Lenart with two outs in the sixth inning. Kiersten Griesback's single to lead off the seventh ended the no-hit bid.

Ironically, Parkland faces Avon Grove pitcher Maggie Balint in the first round of states. Balint threw a perfect game and struck out 19 hitters from Philadelphia's Central High School in the first round of the PIAA Tournament.

"It's a district playoff game," said Rentzheimer. "You can't expect a perfect game, especially in the championship, obviously.

"Pleasant Valley's a great team and they made it this far and it was going to be a challenge to come out here. Despite our record, you still have to give them respect."

The district title was Parkland's first since 2005. The Trojans are now after their first state title since 2009. In that run, the Lady Trojans, who finished the 2009 season at 25-4, knocked off Spring-Ford in the quarter-final round to move on through the tournament.

Parkland plays Avon Grove Thursday at 2 p.m. at Souderton High School.