Deer Lakes softball belts 3 home runs to defeat Valley

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, April 30, 2018 | 11:24 PM

Previous Next

The long ball served the Deer Lakes softball team well in Monday's Section 1-3A contest at Valley.

Three home runs accounted for all four Lancers runs in a 4-1 victory.

“We don't swing for the fences. We just want to get on base,” said senior Casey Buechel, who hit one of those home runs and added a double as part of Deer Lakes' eight-hit attack. “We know how important base runners are in order to win a game.” Deer Lakes (3-5, 2-5) snapped a four-game section losing streak and moved into the fourth and final WPIAL playoff spot in the section standings.

“This was a hard-fought game by both teams, and it kind of reminded me of the Deer Lakes-Valley games from the old days that were battles for meaningful positions in the section,” Deer Lakes coach Craig Taliani said. “I am proud of the way our girls responded and played against a good Valley team.”

Buechel got Deer Lakes on the board against Vikings starter Andie Jo Conwell with a solo home run to lead off the second inning.

Senior Danielle Huffman then led of the fourth with a home run to extend the Lancers' advantage to 2-0.

Deer Lakes produced some two-out lightning in the top of the sixth to provide starting pitcher Marleen Meyer some insurance.

After a grounder back to the pitcher and a strikeout, Huffman singled. Senior Katelynn Blair followed with a home run to push the lead to 4-0.

“The seniors really stepped up when we needed them,” Taliani said. “I expect that leadership from them. The power comes with good technique and fundamentals.”

Huffman, Buechel and Maura Cerra each finished with two hits.

Valley (1-5, 1-4) attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Danielle Yaworski got things started with a one-out single.

After a strikeout, leadoff hitter Lauren Schrock reached on a throwing error. Casey Gatto then hit a double off the fence in right field to drive in Yaworski.

Rylee Gatto came up representing the tying run for Valley, and Taliani made a pitching change.

Katelynn Blair spelled Meyer in the circle, and she got Gatto to ground out to short to end the game.

Meyer gave up four hits and walked four while striking out nine.

“Marleen did a fantastic job,” Taliani said. “She threw all of her pitches for strikes at different times. I thought she did a good job of keeping the ball down in the zone. She mixed up her pitch selection and changed speeds. It's probably the best overall game she's pitched this year.”

The Vikings left four runners in scoring position through six innings. They had runners on first and third with one out in the fifth, but Meyer induced a pop up to second and a strikeout to snuff out the threat.

“Hats off to Deer Lakes,” Valley coach Carol Perroz said. “They were able to get that last out a couple of times when we had scoring threats. We just weren't able to get that clutch hit. But I really liked the way our girls kept battling and never gave up.”

In addition to the eight hits surrendered, Conwell struck out four and walked none.

“Andie Jo really battled in the circle,” Perroz said. “She was quick to field the balls coming right back at her. The defense played really well behind her. There were three pitches I know she would like to have back.”

Deer Lakes hopes to continue to climb the ladder Tuesday as it travels to East Allegheny (0-7) before hosting Freeport (7-0) on Thursday.

“We need to continue to play well (Tuesday),” Taliani said. “We don't want to take anything for granted. We're taking it one game at a time and not looking ahead to anything.”

Valley is scheduled to play a section game every day this week, starting Tuesday at home against South Allegheny (4-4). The Vikings and Lancers will rematch May 8.

“We obviously would like to have at least one practice between games, but the schedule with the weather made it not an ideal situation,” Perroz said. “We've already played four section games in four days before so the girls understand kind of what that feels like. We just have to come out ready to play every day.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Valley