Thomas Jefferson looks to challenge defending champion West Allegheny in WPIAL Class 5A softball final

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 | 4:27 PM

The West Allegheny softball team's credentials are outstanding.

It is the defending WPIAL Class 5A champion with a 19-1 record.

The Indians have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, have won four straight section titles, and finished 23-2 and 20-3 the past two years.

No. 1-seed West Allegheny will meet No. 11 Thomas Jefferson (13-5) in the WPIAL 5A title game at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Seton Hill University.

It is the third consecutive WPIAL finals appearance for the Indians, who sit atop the TribLive High School Sports Network weekly power rankings.

“I am really proud of our team,” WA coach Mindi McFate said. “We knew coming into the season that the girls would be somewhat concerned with the expectation of making it back to the WPIAL championship. Our main goal was to emphasize the importance of focusing on the present day and the game we were in, the inning being played, the pitch being thrown. Our motto was to focus on ‘Today,' and concentrate on the things we could control (our effort, attitude and performance).

“The girls really embraced this philosophy, and we are really proud of them for getting back to the championship game.”

West Allegheny, which opened the season 5-1 at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is riding a 14-game winning streak. After a first-round bye, West Allegheny defeated No. 8 Trinity, 4-3, and No. 5 Connellsville, 7-2, in its two playoff tests.

The Indians are led by senior pitcher Ashley Seamon, a right-handed hurler who is 19-1 with a 2.27 ERA, seven shutouts, and 51 strikeouts in 115 innings.

On the season, West A is hitting .443 and is averaging 10.1 runs per game. The Indians outscored their opponents 129-24 en route to a 12-0 section record.

The team's leading offensive threats include sophomore catcher Britney Wilson (.600), senior third baseman Mackenzie Partyke (.516), senior outfielder Taylor Goldstrohm (.512), sophomore outfielder Savannah Lewis (.478) and senior shortstop Taylor Cummings (.434).

Wilson and Cummings lead in RBIs with 38 and 25.

“The top of our order is very effective,” McFate said. “However, the bottom of our order has come up big for us many times through the season. In fact, against Connellsville, our six-to-nine hitters had eight of our 13 hits. Our message to everyone is that they all contribute every day.”

Seniors Jillian Weber (1B), Amy Nolte (2B) and Seamon, and freshmen Angela Costa (OF) and Megan Pollinger (DP), round out the starting lineup.

The Indians' entire infield, with the exception of the power-hitting Wilson, consists of senior athletes.

“We stress to our players all the time that we have to ‘play the game,' ” McFate said. “What we have done in the past does not matter; yesterday's successes or yesterday's mistakes have no bearing on today's game. We emphasize that it does not matter what the paper says or what our record is, once the game starts; all that matters is how we play.

“We also stress that any team can win at any time, so we have to be the team that wants it more.”

Thomas Jefferson has picked up steam late in the season. The Jaguars, who started 5-0, won their final three regular-season games, to go along with three playoff games.

Thomas Jefferson defeated No. 6 Moon, 3-2; No. 3 Penn-Trafford, 7-4; and No. 2 Albert Gallatin, 2-0, in advancing to Thursday's contest.

TJ coach Heidi Karcher said this season has compared similarly to her team's WPIAL championship run in 2014.

“It has eerily mimicked our run in 2014, but with a younger team,” Karcher said. “I will have to admit I was a bit upset about getting the 11 seed. I knew we had some ‘oops' in the regular season, but I thought we would be higher than 11. Then a couple of my friends reminded me that it doesn't matter the number, to just go and play.”

Bella Bucy, a left-handed sophomore pitcher, put a stop to the Albert Gallatin Express in the semifinal round in an eight-inning thriller May 23 at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair.

The TJ hurler allowed six hits and two walks while striking out three in tossing the shutout, her best performance and fifth shutout of the season. She worked out of a tense bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“The AG game the other day was truly the best game I have ever played in or coached,” Karcher said. “The WPIAL game from 2014 is about even, but bases loaded, no outs and our defense was spot on (against AG). That is something I will never forget; I still watch the videos with a smile on my face.”

The Jaguars, indeed, are young with only one senior — first baseman Liz Brock — in the starting lineup.

Brock is joined by two juniors — catcher Haleigh Karcher and third baseman Lauren Liberi; four sophomores — Bucy, shortstop Abby Chalovich, and outfielders Mackenzie Zang and Alana Cleary; and three freshmen — second baseman Paige Truax, outfielder Claire Whalen and designated player Lily Rockwell.

Bucy is 10-5 with five shutouts, a 1.72 ERA, and 94 strikeouts in 101 ²⁄₃ innings for the Jaguars, who are hitting a collective .359.

“TJ has upset some very good softball teams,” McFate said. “We know they have a solid pitcher and offensively they are diverse; they have good hitters, but are also capable of playing small ball.”

Karcher, TJ's coach, believes the Indians' experience will be a factor in championship game.

“I expect the game to be very competitive,” she said. “They are the WPIAL winners from last year.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny