Mt. Pleasant eager to defend school’s 1st PIAA softball title

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 7:36 PM

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Post-concussion syndrome still has Carolyn Alincic not feeling right. The Mt. Pleasant junior pitcher had to take three months off after a car accident in November.

Alincic was a passenger and suffered a few pulled muscles following a crash in Youngwood. Being able to pitch again helps ease some frustration from the recovery.

Before the last four months, Alincic estimated her longest time off from pitching was around two weeks.

“It was the greatest feeling ever,” Alincic said. “You don't realize what something means to you until you can't physically do it.”

She's even more eager to help the Vikings defend their PIAA Class 4A championship. Mt. Pleasant finished 17-3 last season, capturing its first crown by beating Tunkhannock, 5-3.

The Vikings return their top pitchers — senior Meadow Uncapher and Alincic — in addition to eight other starters from last year.

Outfielder Ava Gnibus, who led the team with a .525 batting average last season, also returns. Chloe Poulich (.372), Addy Kubasky (.351) and Autumn Shogun (.346) also will bring pop to the Vikings lineup.

“We have high expectations,” coach Lauren (Shaheen) Armanious said. “Not necessarily higher than previous years. We hope to achieve the success we had last year. Every year we go into it expecting good things to happen but never rest on our laurels.”

Uncapher, a Seton Hill recruit, and Alincic are cut from the same pitching fabric. Like many local pitchers, they worked with pitching coach Jana Hudson. Having each other takes some of the stress out of their lives.

“I think it definitely helps,” Uncapher said. “Carolyn's an excellent athlete and an even better pitcher. She helps me work more. There's comfortability if I have a bad game, Carolyn's there to back me up.”

Uncapher had Alincic's back, as well. In the PIAA play-in game last season, Uncapher came on in relief to help topple Ambridge after the Vikings started slowly.

“She's made me a lot better than I thought I would have been before,” Alincic said. “Having the freshmen coming up this year, they are going to push each other to be better players so we can play to the best of our ability.”

Each pitcher is out to prove something.

Alincic wants to show herself she can recover from her injury.

Uncapher doesn't want Mt. Pleasant to get caught up in the legacy of last year.

“I'm trying not to make last year the peak of my high school career,” Uncapher said. “Obviously, there's always the thought of a repeat season, but it's about getting better every day and proving to us and everyone else last year was a different season.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant