Hometown Softball Recap for West Mifflin Titans – 04/07/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2015 | 11:44 PM

A 3-0 first inning deficit was too much for the West Mifflin Titans to overcome as the Titans fell at home to the Belle Vernon Leopards 8-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The loss puts West Mifflin two games back of a playoff spot in the Section 3-AAA race.

Belle Vernon scored an unearned run on a Nicole Ashcroft infield single, after an error on pitcher Amber Cook’s throw to second. After two outs, Lacey Washowich tripled over the head of right fielder Riley Carr for the three run advantage after a half inning. West Mifflin had a chance to score with two outs in the bottom of the inning but Tiana Sekowski struck out to end the inning.

The Leopards blew the game open in the top of the third, it came after two outs when Emily Frederick homered over the right field fence to put Belle Vernon up 6-0. Lauren Ackerman put West Mifflin on the board with a one out homer to right center. The Titans followed with another single by Alyssa Cairns and a walk drawn by Shannon Davis, the same combination as in the first inning. Sekowski flew out to center to end the inning and another scoring chance for the Titans went away.

Belle Vernon plated two more runs in the fourth on back to back rbi doubles from Bailey Parshall and Ashcroft. Parshall was stellar in the circle as well, the freshman has already committed to Penn State. Parshall fanned nine and scattered five hits in picking up the win.

The Leopards are now 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the section, good for second place behind 2-0 Elizabeth Forward. Ashcroft was 2 for 3 with two runs batted in to lead Belle Vernon.

For West Mifflin, Cairns was 2 for 2 with a walk, the senior is headed to Division II Davis and Elkins. Senior Shannon Davis was on base twice, she said that the Titans have to start playing together as a team. Coach Casey Phillips was not happy with the first inning and the miscues, he said the Titans are giving extra chances to teams, plus his team is not hitting well at the time. Phillips said the road to the playoffs starts on Thursday as the Titans travel to the home of the defending WPIAL champion Thomas Jefferson Jaguars.

West Mifflin is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in section play. Cook took the loss, allowing all eight runs in five innings. The junior gave up eight runs and two walks, she did not strike out a batter. Savannah Simm pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit.

Tags: Belle Vernon, West Mifflin