Avonworth softball blanks Burrell to reach semifinals

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 | 10:57 PM

Burrell treated four as something of a magic number throughout the softball season — if it held the opponent under that total, the Bucs felt their offense could carry the rest of the load for the victory.

The Bucs' pitching and defense carried its half of the bargain Monday, but Avonworth pitcher Maya Kozup made it meaningless.

Kozup tossed a shutout, working out of several jams, to lead No. 4 Avonworth to a 3-0 victory over No. 5 Burrell in a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal game at West Mifflin.

“We kept them under the four, but of course we had zero,” Burrell coach Brian Eshbaugh said. “We had a lot of runners on base, but we just didn't capitalize when we had the opportunity.”

The biggest reason for that was Kozup, who scattered seven hits and a walk. She struck out just two but found a way to keep Burrell off balance and off the scoreboard despite scoring opportunities in nearly every inning. The Bucs (12-5) brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but Kozup induced Cara Fiore to pop out to end the game.

“We all just had to stay calm and know that we were the better ones out of this and we were more prepared,” Kozup said. “We just practiced more and (it was) all good.

“You just have to think of positive outcomes.”

Avonworth (13-6), which lost in the quarterfinals each of the past two seasons, advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2009. The Antelopes will play No. 1 South Park on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

“These kids deserve it,” Avonworth coach Jenna Muncie said. “I have kids that were part of those last two losses in the second round. It's good.”

Avonworth had just three hits against Burrell starter Brittany Dunn but took advantage of seven walks and two Bucs errors.

After two leadoff walks in the second, Abby Stanley singled to right, and Sarah Helffrich scored when the throw to the plate skipped off Burrell catcher Lea Coffman. Domi Raught drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, and Nat Marshall made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

That was enough for Kozup. Burrell stranded eight baserunners, including six in scoring position. The Bucs' best chance to score came in the fourth, but Helffrich threw out Coffman trying to score on a ground ball to third base.

“We were way too anxious,” Eshbaugh said. “We didn't have the discipline at the plate today that we normally have.”

Coffman was 3 for 3 with a double for Burrell, and Kayla Santucci and Maia Ferra also doubled. Dunn struck out eight.

“(Making it to the semifinals) is a really big thing for us,” Kozup said. “We've been doubted a lot since my freshman year. We've worked real hard for it, and I think we deserve it.”

Tags: Avonworth, Burrell