Westmoreland athletes of the week: Yough’s Jarett Bach, Latrobe’s Sarah Blair

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 | 3:24 PM

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Jarett Bach

School: Yough

Sport: Baseball

Year: Junior

Claim to fame: Bach allowed one hit and struck out 13 batters in 5 ²⁄₃ innings to lead Yough (1-1, 1-1) to a 2-0 victory over Deer Lakes in Section 1-4A on April 6.

“It was a team performance. They made some plays behind me, and I couldn't have done without my teammates. It was a good way to start with it being the first section game,” Bach said.

What was working for you on the mound against Deer Lakes?

All my pitches were working pretty well. I could rely on my curveball if I got behind batters. It was a pitch I could throw with command.

What were you working on during the offseason?

Being more efficient to get batters out and going right at them. I want to keep my pitch count down. I was working on becoming a better player and throwing my pitches better.

What does the team need to do to make the playoffs?

Play every game as hard as we can and make the plays in the field. We have to play every game with the same intensity and pick each other up when were down.

What's your earliest memory on the baseball diamond?

T-ball. I used to be a left-handed shortstop, and I turned a triple play all by myself. I didn't throw it to anybody else.

Who's your favorite MLB player and why?

Clayton Kershaw. He's a left-handed pitcher like me, and I like to watch him pitch. He has some nasty stuff.

Sarah Blair

School: Latrobe

Sport: Softball

Year: Senior

Claim to fame: Blair went 3 for 4 with a double and five RBIs to guide No. 2 Latrobe (4-0, 4-0) to a 16-1 win over Penn Hills in four innings in Section 2-6A on April 5. A day later, Blair went 3 for 4 with a three-run double to lead Latrobe to a 7-0 win over Norwin.

“I was just glad to come out strong, and we had a really good start to the season. We have really big goals for the season,” Blair said.

What are your college plans?

I'm going to Penn State to study biochemistry, and I hope to attend med school after.

How big was it to get off to a fast start with the bat?

It was pretty big. It was confidence booster. I'm hoping to continue my start throughout the season.

What did the team learn from the loss to Hempfield in the WPIAL Class 6A championship last season?

It wasn't the outcome we wanted. We hope to play better this time around. We've been working really hard.

What is your favorite thing about softball?

Experiencing everything with all my teammates. We have a lot fun, and I've created a lot of friendships through softball.

If you could meet someone famous, who would it be and why?

Jordy Mercer from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's my favorite baseball player. I picked No. 10 because that is his number, and I love watching him play.

—Andrew John

Tags: Latrobe, Yough