ADAMS TWP — Mars varsity softball coach Michele Goodworth is quite honest when assessing her team’s chances of winning the WPIAL Class AAA softball title Thursday.

“Who knows what’s going to happen next?,” she pondered. “We’ll be giving it our best. That’s all I know.”

The way the Class AAA tournament has been going, no one would dare offer a prediction.

Mars (12-4, the No. 11 seed) takes on Thomas Jefferson (14-6, No. 13 seed) for the WPIAL title at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at California (Pa.) University.

Neither of these teams won its section title. The Planets have won all three of their playoff games by a single run: 5-4 over Blackhawk, 1-0 over West Mifflin and 7-6 over Elizabeth Forward.

“The girls just came together at the right time,” Goodworth said. “Winning so many close games shows we’re keeping our composure.”

The Jaguars have won three close playoff games as well, defeating Knoch 3-2, Trinity 3-1 and top-seeded Greensburg Salem, 4-3, scoring three times in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Kyla Prickett homered to tie the game in the final frame.

Heidi Karcher is in her second year as coach at Thomas Jefferson. Her team was just 3-12 last season before an infusion of young talent helped elevate the program,

Thomas Jefferson has never won a WPIAL softball title. Mars last won the crown in 2006.

“This team is definitely much different from that one,” Goodworth said. “I’d say we’re more balanced. We rely on our defense more.

“Monica (Glomb) was more of a power pitcher in 2006 and there weren’t a lot of balls put in play. Niki (Schlegel) is going to get hit and she counts on her fielders. And we’ve been good that way.”

While Karcher has 17 wins in her two seasons at TJ — she guided Peters Township to the WPIAL semifinals previously — Goodworth is 141-152 in 16 seasons at Mars. Her section record is 94-80.

Schlegel is 11-3 on the season with 53 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched. She is also hitting .370 with 20 hits in 54 at bats.

The Planets are carrying a stellar .398 team batting average.

“This is the best hitting team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Goodworth declared.

Suzanne Papik, a junior, leads the Planets with a .556 average (35 for 63). Also hitting over ,.500 are seniors Kasey Jones (.517, 30 for 58) and Erin Hershman (.510, 26 for 51, nine homers).

“Erin hit nine homers last year, too,” Goodworth said. “I keep teasing her about needing to hit that 10th one.

“She’s due for a breakout game and hopefully it comes on Thursday.”

Joining Schlegel among Mars’ .300 hitters this season are sophomore Mallory Eperesi (.389, 21 for 54), sophomore Blake Kitt (.367, 22 for 60) and freshman Marina Manuppelli (.375, 21 for 56).

Goodworth admits she knows little about Thomas Jefferson.

“We’ve approached these playoffs never knowing much about the other team,” she said. “We play our game and that’s been working out so far.

“Our girls know some of theirs through travel ball and we’ve picked up a couple of tidbits of information here and there. We’ll be ready to go.”

Regardless of what happens this week, it will be hard to top last week: Three one-run playoff wins and a team banquet in the span of four days.

“That was the best week of my coaching career, no doubt about that,” Goodworth said.

Karcher could not be reached for comment.