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Class 6A softball heavyweights Hempfield, Latrobe set for WPIAL title rematch

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, May 27, 2018 | 6:54 PM

Hempfield softball was so good last year, so precisely talented, the WPIAL and PIAA could have engraved their name in cursive on the trophies.

The Spartans went 27-0, captured a third consecutive WPIAL championship and a second PIAA title in a row.

Dominant pitcher Morgan Ryan, now at Notre Dame, orchestrated the red-letter run.

While that team has a special place in WPIAL softball history, this year's group is out to forge its own identity — and win a championship.

Even perennial powers have unique personalities that change from year to year.

“Last year's group is part of our storied past,” longtime coach Bob Kalp said. “Truthfully, I don't bring them into conversations about this team and this year's tournament.”

A team that has its own dominant pitcher — junior Kiley Myers — and, like Ryan, quite a supporting cast, stands in the way of a fourth consecutive district crown.

Latrobe (12-3) was considered the preseason favorite by a decent portion of the WPIAL softball congregation. Even Kalp said the Wildcats might be the best team in state.

No. 1 seed Hempfield (19-3) meets the No. 3 Wildcats in the Class 6A finals for the second year in a row at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Seton Hill. Latrobe badly wants to avenge last year's 13-2, six-inning loss to their rivals at Cal (Pa.).

Despite a 90-minute weather delay, Hempfield erupted for six runs in the fourth inning and seven in the sixth to rout the Wildcats .

Fans could be in for a dandy in a matchup that once again underscores the talent-rich sport in Westmoreland County.

What's the better storyline? Hempfield getting a four-peat or Latrobe knocking it off to win its fourth title?

“Hempfield has experience and a nice lineup, top to bottom,” Latrobe coach Rick Kozusko said. “We need to play solid defense and keep working to get runners on base each inning.”

Latrobe and Myers, a hard-throwing junior who is headed to Marist, blanked Hempfield, 1-0, on May 3 to snap the host Spartans' 41-game section winning streak. She struck out 15 in a two-hitter, and freshman Jordan Tallman hit a solo home run.

The win drove up the Wildcats' confidence: Hempfield was human after all. They ended a nine-game losing streak against the Spartans and turned up the volume on their chances in a potential finals rematch.

Myers has allowed just two hits in the playoffs and has 115 strikeouts this season. She no-hit Peters Township and homered in a 10-0, six-inning victory.

She tossed a two-hitter against No. 2 Baldwin in a 2-0 semifinal win.

Junior catcher Makayla Munchinski (Cal, Pa.) is a firey leader, and senior shortstop Karley Kovatch (IUP) and senior second baseman Sarah Blair also bring big-game experience.

“Contending to Myers will definitely be a priority,” Kalp said, “but she is just a part of a very good team. We must deal with their entire team if we want to be successful.”

Hempfield, peppered by streak-ending talk all season — Penn-Trafford ended its overall 46-game winning streak in a nonsection game at Seton Hill — has had to scratch out runs more this year, more heavy lifting to get the job done.

The Spartans held off No. 8 Canon-McMillan, 3-2, in the quarterfinals, then topped No. 5 and upstart Norwin, 5-3, in the semis.

“Our margin of error is much less this year,” Kalp said. “We don't have the home run power we had last year. We don't have the instant-offense factor.”

Latrobe has surrendered just 10 runs all year, posting 11 shutouts.

“They won't beat themselves,” Kalp said. “We must play our very best if we want to have a chance to beat them.”

Hempfield beat the Wildcats, 3-1, in their first meeting this season.

“We were up 2-0 on them last year,” Kozusko said of the title game. “A costly error led to a momentum change. Our team is confident they can get runs to back (Myers).”

Latrobe has three WPIAL softball titles: 2007, '08 and '11.

Hempfield, led by pitcher Maddie Uschock (Dominican) and fellow seniors Margaret Monzo (Dickinson) and Kelsey Tobin, among others, could join an elite group with another title.

Sto-Rox was the last WPIAL team to win four consecutive WPIAL championships, winning five in a row in Class A from 2000-04.

Baldwin won four Class AAA titles in a row from 1993-96 and nine total in a 12-year span. And Swissvale took home four consecutive Class AA titles from 1979-82.

Hempfield has five WPIAL titles overall.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

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