High school softball notebook: Hempfield continues to silence doubters

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 | 7:27 PM

Unpopular opinion at Hempfield: the softball team is down this year.

Many thought the Spartans were drained of their power pitching and hitting after last year's talented group that went 27-0 walked out the door one last time.

But this year's team, on the verge of its fourth consecutive appearance in the PIAA quarterfinals, decided to use the outside sense of uncertainty to its advantage.

Now the Spartans, fresh off their fourth consecutive WPIAL title — second in a row in Class 6A — are strengthening belief in themselves. And that could be trouble for opponents.

Hempfield plays Baldwin (13-5) at 3 p.m. Thursday at Latrobe. Two-time defending state champion Hempfield has 21 consecutive playoff wins.

“There were some people who doubted us, figured we didn't have much coming back,” longtime coach Bob Kalp said. “But I wouldn't be surprised to see us make another (state) run. You can tell these girls want to keep going. We've beaten Baldwin, we've beaten Latrobe … if we go out and execute, anything can happen at this point.”

Some believed Latrobe was the team to beat in 6A but Hempfield edged past the Wildcats, 2-1, in 10 innings in the WPIAL final. Latrobe (13-4), still capable of winning a state title, would have to get by their nemesis to get to the PIAA final four.

Hempfield and Latrobe could meet for a fourth time if they both win Thursday. The semifinals are Monday.

Family playoff tree

The Brunson family is experiencing the PIAA softball playoffs from two unique perspectives — on two teams, in two classifications.

Haylie Brunson is a freshman for Mt. Pleasant (18-1), which takes on Belle Vernon (22-3) at 1 p.m. Thursday in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at Latrobe. Her father, Chris, is an assistant coach at Southmoreland (11-7), which takes on Hickory (15-6) at 2 p.m. Thursday at Dubois City Park in the 3A quarterfinals.

Daughter and father crossed paths when Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland played a nonsection game May 8 (Mt. Pleasant won, 7-2).

Now they're trying to stay updated on each other's whereabouts in the state tournament, and equal one another's success. Haylie played travel ball with some of the Southmoreland players.

“It has honestly been such a great experience. We are very competitive with each other,” Haylie Brunson said. “I know the girls on my team always ask how Southmoreland is doing and wish them the best of luck in the future. My mom and sisters actually go to my games and text the parents at Southmoreland to see how the games are going. The support is definitely universal. I really just want to win state with my team. My dad really wants to win state with his, too. We would like nothing more than to hang the medals together in the house.”

Far from home

Latrobe will have traveled more than 330 miles in two PIAA playoff games after the Wildcats (13-4) make the trip to Carlisle High School on Thursday to play Nazareth (20-4) in the 6A softball quarters.

The Wildcats played Central Dauphin at Millersville in the first round. All the while, teams are playing state playoff games on Latrobe's home field.

Graham-Sobota Field hosted a first-round doubleheader Monday and will do so again Thursday with Mt. Pleasant-Belle Vernon at 1 p.m. and Hempfield-Baldwin at 3 p.m.

Hempfield is Latrobe's biggest rival. It must be tough to know the Spartans are using their field again while the Wildcats are hours from home.

“It is what it is,” Latrobe coach Rick Kozusko said. “It's great to be moving forward and playing ball in the postseason.”

Fair enough. Senior shortstop Karley Kovatch shares that sentiment.

“It's actually not one bit frustrating,” she said. “It gives us more time to bond as a team and have fun together.”

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

Tags: Hempfield Area, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland