Deer Lakes softball gets 10-run victory over Valley

By: Michael Love
Monday, April 8, 2019 | 8:14 PM

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Auveonna Perkins connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to put the Vikings ahead of Deer Lakes in Monday’s Section 1-3A softball matchup at Valley.

But the visiting Lancers responded in a big way when they returned to the plate.

Deer Lakes scored eight runs in the fifth inning to take control, and it went on to claim a 16-6 victory in six innings.

“I was pretty pleased with the way we squared up some of the balls (Monday),” Deer Lakes coach Craig Taliani said.

“We swung the bat well, and that was nice to see.”

The Lancers have won three straight, all in section play, since an 0-5 start on their South Carolina trip.

Deer Lakes’ 16 runs were four more than it had over its first seven games combined.

“We are a work in progress,” Taliani said. “That’s probably more true this year than in years past. We’re very young and starting most games with four freshmen. They’re learning to play together as a team. They are very receptive to the coaching staff and are putting a lot of effort into it.”

The Vikings fell to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in section.

“I know these girls are going to come back and battle the next game,” Valley coach Carrol Perroz said.

The Vikings are slated to face section foe East Allegheny (0-4, 0-3) on the road Wednesday afternoon.

“We just have to keep fighting,” Perroz said. “The season’s not even half over, and four teams (from the section) make the playoffs. We don’t have a win yet, but we have the playoffs in our hands. We want to get that first win and build some confidence.”

Deer Lakes sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth. Three hits, four walks and three Valley errors combined to fuel the rally.

“We wanted to continue to hit the ball hard, be selective and just put the ball in play,” Taliani said. “We filled the bases with runners and took our chances.”

Said Perroz: “We just couldn’t recover when something happened that didn’t go our way. Then another thing didn’t go our way, and it just snowballed. We have to be able to overcome a mistake and not let it affect the next play.”

The Lancers added four runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 10, and Valley was shut out in their half of the frame.

Deer Lakes collected 13 hits, five of which went for extra bases.

Makayla Blair hit two home runs and finished with three RBIs. Maura Cerra started the game with a home run. Katrina Taliani collected three hits, and Cerra, Blair, Hannah Mass and Lydia Guthrie had two hits apiece.

Lancers starter Jenna Bisegna pitched the first four innings and picked up the win.

Perkins finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Vikings. In addition to her home run, she doubled twice and singled.

“Auveonna had a fantastic day for us,” Perroz said. “She works hard all the time and plays hard. I know she would trade in those personal stats for a team win, and everyone on the team is like that.”

Casey Gatto added a run-scoring double, and Madison Gatto and Domenica Wolfe also produced RBIs for a Valley squad that finished with seven hits.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Valley