Union dethrones 5-time WPIAL softball champion West Greene

By: George Guido
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 8:09 PM

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West Greene’s bid for an unprecedented sixth consecutive WPIAL Class A softball title was thwarted by Union on Wednesday at Lilley Field at Cal (Pa.).

A single in the sixth inning by sophomore catcher Bella Cameron and some clutch pitching from freshman Mia Pruehs dethroned the reigning champions, 3-2.

Cameron’s single with one out in the sixth brought home Mallory Gorgacz and Pruehs preserved the lead by leaving a runner on third in the sixth and one on second in the seventh to give the Scotties (20-3) their first WPIAL crown.

Union had lost to West Greene in each of the last two WPIAL titles games by scores of 17-2 and 11-0. The Pioneers also eliminated the Scotties in the 2016 quarterfinals.

“It feels absolutely amazing that we finally beat that team,” Cameron said. “We came in here thinking it’s just a normal game, don’t stress out about it, we got this. A positive mindset the whole time.”

Trough the years, West Greene has been known for putting constant pressure on defenses with a varied attack. Wednesday, it was Union that had at least one runner in scoring position five of the seven innings.

“We bat pretty heavy the whole way through, nine deep,” said Scotties coach Doug Fisher. “I’m standing in the third base coach’s box looking down at who’s up, I don’t have any worries, none.”

West Greene (14-4) wasted little time opening the scoring. The second batter in the first inning, London Whipkey, walked and courtesy runner Marissa Tharp came home on Kiley Meek’s triple. Then, in what turned out to be an early, crucial play, courtesy runner Ella Scott tried to score on a passed ball and Cameron’s throw to Pruehs covering the plate was in time to keep the score at 1-0.

“That was big,” Fisher said. “It was close. It was a big play, not to go down 2-0. I thought if we kept it close, under five runs, we had a chance.”

“That was probably a coaching mistake in the fact that you’re trying to coach for the longevity of the game,” said Pioneers coach Bill Simms. “I left Meek in with less than two down to run for herself. Then I figured I’d give her a chance to catch her breath and I’d put a courtesy runner in.

“Ella Scott broke on the ball. She never hesitated. She was just out by a half an inch at the plate.”

Union tied the game in the third on a double to deep left center by Tori May that scored Allie Ross with two outs.

The Scotties took their first lead in the fifth on Raquel Zarlingo’s single that scored Addison Nogay in the fifth.

West Greene tied it 2-2 in its half of the fifth when Anna Durbin bunted for a single, went to second on a wild pitch, took third on a groundout and came home on a passed ball.

Union took the lead for good in the sixth on Cameron’s two-out single. The Pioneers did retire Emily Siddall trying to score to keep the deficit to one run.

Olivia Kiger reached third in the sixth, but Pruehs struck out BreAnn Jackson and caught a liner by Payton Gilbert.

In the seventh, Taylor Karvan singled and stole second, but a strikeout and two infield grounders ended the game.

“Emphatically, she got a strikeout when she had to have them,” Simms said. “A couple times, two out, runner on third, get a good strikeout, kudos to her.”

“Mia was amazing,” Cameron said, “She came in as a freshman and did her job. She’d get a big strikeout, it was perfect.”

Pruehs had eight strikeouts.

Union will open the PIAA playoffs Monday against the loser of Friday’s District 5 title game between Meyersdale and Shade.

West Greene will be in action Monday against the winner of the District 6 title game between Glendale and Conemaugh Valley.

Watch an archived broadcast of this game on Trib HSSN.

Tags: Union, West Greene