West Allegheny tops Franklin Regional, will play for 3rd straight WPIAL title

By: George Guido
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 8:40 PM

Despite winning the last two WPIAL Class 5A softball titles, West Allegheny was seeded just 10th in this year’s tournament.

But after overcoming graduation losses, injuries and position changes, the Indians are headed back to the WPIAL championship game.

West Allegheny scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the fifth before holding off a Franklin Regional rally in the seventh to post a 4-2 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Gateway High School.

West Allegheny (11-7) will face No. 4 Connellsville (16-6) in the title game next Wednesday or Thursday at Peterswood Park.

The title-game run even surprised veteran Indians coach Mindi McFate.

“I absolutely did not expect this,” McFate said. “I told them I’ve tried to be honest with them all year, what our strengths are, what we need to work on. Minus the kids we graduated, we battled some significant injuries, we’ve had kids have to change positions in the middle of the season. I think all that adversity kind of paid off.”

The Panthers (13-8) will now play No. 1 Penn-Trafford (18-2) in a consolation game for the final PIAA playoff berth Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Singles by Alyssa Goldstrohm and Kayley Joseph in the first inning brought home two early runs. Joseph’s third single of the day scored Megan Pollinger in the fifth, and Maci Priddy came home on Angela Costa’s double.

All four runs were scored after two were out.

“We talk to the kids a lot about the stuff we do in practice, we do these drills and how we have to transition that to the game,” McFate said. “We try to simulate game situations.”

Franklin Regional coach Jim Armstrong threw everything but the kitchen sink at West Allegheny in the seventh.

Armstrong used a pinch hitter, two courtesy runners and pinch runner in the attempt to erase the Indians lead.

Pinch hitter Tamzan Schmidt led off and drag bunted, but was thrown out. Abby Kane singled and was replaced by pinch runner Nicole Currens. With two outs, Angalee Beall slammed her third hit of the day to bring home Currens and was replaced by Kaitlyn Carr.

Mallory Halleck singled to left as shortstop Maddie Reiker dove desperately to try and end the game.

Carr scored, but winning pitcher Costa got Mariah DeRiggi to pop to Reiker to end the game.

“We were getting there,” Armstrong said of the last-ditch rally. “There were some at-bats where I think we could have done a little better earlier for whatever reason. She threw high (pitches), and we couldn’t lay off them.”

The Panthers left nine on base, at least one in every inning.

Armstrong praised the play of catcher Kane, whose stops in the dirt prevented further damage.

“Abby’s a junior and does a pretty good job back there,” Armstrong said. “Ang (Beall) is a senior pitcher, and I feel bad for her.”

West Allegheny will be trying to win a third straight title at a third different venue. The Indians won it at Cal (Pa.) in 2017 and at Seton Hill last year.

Tags: Franklin Regional, West Allegheny