Ligonier Valley softball edged in PIAA 1st round by Forest Hills

By: Dave Mackall
Monday, June 3, 2024 | 8:27 PM

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SIDMAN — Ligonier Valley’s players and coaches retreated to their dugout after quietly being retired in order in the seventh inning Monday by Forest Hills right-hander Avery Smiach.

There was little to say. The Rams’ season was finished following a 3-2 loss to the District 6 champion Rangers in a first-round game of the PIAA Class 3A softball playoffs.

“When you get to this level, that’s the way it’s works,” Ligonier Valley coach Mark Zimmerman said. “We’d have liked to have gone a little bit farther … Tomorrow we’ll start working towards next year.”

With a majority of his players returning — right-hander Cheyenne Piper, the Westminster commit who tossed three no-hitters in May, is among three starters needing to be replaced — Zimmerman sees no reason why the Rams won’t continue among the WPIAL’s top contenders in Class 3A.

“We have a nice eighth-grade class coming in, and we’re happy with what we have coming back.” Zimmerman said.

Payton Pcola’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly brought home Ana Spangler with the go-ahead run, and Smiach outdueled Piper to lead Forest Hills (19-2).

Ligonier Valley (16-7) tied the score in the top half of the inning on Neve Dowden’s two-out RBI single before Smiach got the final out to strand a pair of Rams runners.

“We really needed the last hit there,” Zimmerman said. “We had a girl (Marlee Miller) on third base, and I think if we could’ve gotten up on them, it would’ve been a lot easier to hold down the seventh.”

Unfortunately for the Rams, Forest Hills jumped on Piper to produce the winning run.

Spangler singled and was sacrificed to second by Aivah Maul before moving to third on Trista Cruley’s single. Pcola then flied out to Ligonier Valley center fielder Adelynn Witcoski, whose throw to the plate was late, allowing Spangler to score. Catcher Sydney Foust managed to complete a double play by throwing out Cruley, who was attempting to reach third on the throw home.

But not before Forest Hills had taken the lead.

The Rangers advance to the quarterfinals Thursday at a site to be determined against District 10 runner-up Harbor Creek, a 7-1 winner over WPIAL champion Mohawk.

Forest Hills will attempting to reach the state semifinals for the first time in school history after bowing out of the quarterfinals in 2023.

“We’re trying to pass that spot this season,” Forest Hills coach Krista Hershberger said. “I believe we have the pieces to do it this year.”

Forest Hills rattled Piper and Ligonier Valley at the start, scoring when the Rams made two errors on a bizarre play.

Morgan Gdula singled past Ligonier Valley shortstop Gabrielle Springer and came around to score when Zoe Plummer’s throw from left field sailed high. Piper backed up the play and threw wildly past second into right field as Gdula was racing around the bases.

“You hate to give up a run on the first swing of the game, especially on a ball that’s almost caught,” Zimmerman said.

Forest Hills went ahead 2-0 in the third. With one out, Gdula again singled, and Smiach reached on an infield hit. One out later, Spangler singled home Gdula.

Ligonier Valley cut the Rangers’ lead to 2-1 in the fourth.

Foust led off with a walk but was erased when Natalie Bizup reached on a forceout. Miller sacrificed Bizup to second before Bizup scored on the first of Dowden’s two RBI singles.

Ligonier Valley, which reached the WPIAL semifinals and beat Avonworth in the third-place game, has enjoyed an extended stretch of success under Zimmerman that includes a trip to the 2021 PIAA championship game, where the Rams lost to Line Mountain.

This season was no different.

“My girls have done well. I’ve had a lot of good players,” Zimmerman said. “That’s what it takes. You’ve got to have players.”

Tags: Ligonier Valley