Westmoreland County softball playoff preview capsules for Thursday’s games

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 | 8:00 PM

Class 6A

Quarterfinals

Hempfield (21-3) vs. Baldwin (13-5)

3 p.m. Thursday at Latrobe

Winner plays: Winner of Latrobe (13-4)/Nazareth (20-4)

Coaches: Bob Kalp, Hempfield; Vince Sortino, Baldwin

Players to watch: Megan Monzo, Hempfield (Sr., 1B); Taylor Dadig, Baldwin (Sr., SS)

Extra bases: Hempfield opened defense of its back-to-back state titles with a 7-0 win over District 3 Warwick on Monday. Along with a stellar defensive effort from freshman catcher Emma Hoffner and Co., Laura Fox and Dickinson recruit Megan Monzo each had two hits, and Kelsey Tobin, Olivia Persin and Jessica Persin each had two RBIs in the win. Senior pitcher and Dominican College recruit Maddie Uschock struck out seven and allowed two hits. Hempfield just won its fourth straight WPIAL title (2 in Class AAAA, 2 in 6A) and is chasing its third consecutive PIAA championship in the state's largest classification. A win could mean a fourth meeting with Section 2 rival Latrobe in the semifinals Monday. … Baldwin did not make the PIAA tournament last year and lost in the first round two seasons ago. A 9-6 win over Mifflin County at Penn State vaulted the Highlanders into the state quarters. It was their first state playoff win since 2004. Pitt-Johnstown recruit and catcher Carly Santillo went 3 for 4 with two doubles and five RBIs in the victory, while Cassie Carlson and Allison Murray also had RBIs. Baldwin lost to Hempfield, 5-1, in its final game of the regular season. Baldwin lost to Latrobe in the WPIAL semifinals and beat Norwin in the WPIAL third-place game.

Latrobe (13-4) vs. Nazareth (21-4)

3 p.m. Thursday at Carlisle High School

Winner plays: Winner of Hempfield (21-3)/Baldwin (13-5)

Coaches: Rick Kozusko, Latrobe; Tony Cocca, Nazareth

Players to watch: Karley Kovatch, Latrobe (Sr., SS); Samantha Gorkos, Nazareth (Jr., P)

Extra bases: WPIAL runner-up Latrobe posted its first PIAA playoff win since 2014 with a 4-2 victory over District 3 champion Central Dauphin in the first round. It was a 2-2 game heading to the seventh at Millersville, but the Wildcats scored twice in the top of the frame. Freshman Jordan Tallman drove in two runs and Kovatch had an RBI, and Julia DiOrio scored on a wild pitch. Fast-throwing Kiley Myers retired the first 11 batters in the victory. She has more than 120 strikeouts for the season. Leadoff hitter Sarah Blair, a senior second baseman, and junior catcher Makayla Munchinski each are hitting over .400. … Nazareth, the District 1 runner-up, won its first state playoff game in 12 years, 4-3, in nine innings, in the first round against Council Rock North. Gorkos struck out 13 and allowed five hits, and junior outfielder Maddy McClary knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. Catcher Daphney Adams and center fielder Krista Colussi each had three hits, and shortstop Serena Smith drove in a run for the Blue Eagles.

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

Mt. Pleasant (18-1) vs. Belle Vernon(22-3)

1 p.m. Thursday at Latrobe

Winner plays: Winner of West Perry (17-3)/Punxsutawney (15-3).

Coaches: Lauren Armanious, Mt. Pleasant; Tom Rodriguez, Belle Vernon

Players to watch: Meadow Uncapher, Mt. Pleasant (Sr., P/1B); Bailey Parshall, Belle Vernon, (Sr., P)

Extra bases: After defeating Yough, 3-0, in the third-place game to qualify for the PIAA playoffs, Mt. Pleasant needed 11 innings to knock off District 10 champion Slippery Rock, 4-2. The Vikings will seek revenge against Belle Vernon. The Vikings fell to the Leopards, 1-0, in the WPIAL semifinals. Now the Vikings hope history repeats itself. They topped the Leopards, 5-4, in the state quarterfinals last year. The Vikings won the WPIAL title in 2016. Uncapher, a Seton Hill recruit, smacked a two-run homer in the win over Knoch. Carolyn Alincic, a Dominican College recruit, pitched against BVA in the semifinals. … Parshall, a Penn State recruit, has dominated. She has been almost unhittable in five playoff games. She's posted four shutouts and struck out 10, giving her 300 for the season, in a 4-0 victory against Bellefonte. BVA, which has won three of the past four WPIAL crowns, edged Elizabeth Forward, 5-4, in the title game. The Leopards are 11-1 over their last 12 games, with their lone loss coming against Yough, 2-0, on April 8.

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

Southmoreland (11-7) vs. Hickory (15-6)

2 p.m. Thursday at DuBois City Park's Heindl Field

Winner plays: Winner of Philipsburg-Osceola (22-1)/South Park (17-2)

Coaches: Todd Bunner, Southmoreland; Will Zachrich, Hickory

Players to watch: Charity Henderson, Southmoreland (So., C); Autumn Black, Hickory (Jr., P)

Extra bases: Southmoreland advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals after a 10-7 victory over Central Martinsburg. It was the Scotties' first state tournament win in program history. Henderson had three hits, including two doubles. Abby Fullem also had three hits. Lexi Klatt earned the win in relief of freshman Jess Matheny. The Scotties lost their final four games of the regular season but have won four in a row since. … Black threw a two-hitter and went 4 for 4 with three RBIs to lead Hickory to a 19-3 win over Avonworth in the PIAA first round. She leads the team in batting average (.521), RBIs (26), doubles (12) and home runs (3). She is 15-3 this season with a 1.57 ERA and 149 strikeouts. Morgan Huey (.442) added two hits and two RBIs in the first-round win. Zachrich is in his first season as coach and guided the Hornets to the District 10 title.

Class A

Quarterfinals

Monessen (16-4) vs. Union (18-3)

2 p.m. Thursday at Peters Township

Winner plays: Winner of West Greene (20-4)/McConnellsburg (12-11)

Coaches: Bo Teets, Monessen; Anthony Conforti, Union

Players to watch: Dana Vatakis, Monessen (Sr., P); Sarah Seamans, Union (Sr., P)

Extra bases: Vatakis threw a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts to help WPIAL runner-up Monessen to a 3-2 win over District 10 champion Cambridge Springs in a first-round game Monday. Vatakis and Mattie Telegraphis each had two hits, and Cara Wheeler had two RBIs. Carly Rock also knocked in a run. Vatakis leads the Greyhounds with a .543 average. Telegraphis (.451), Sydney Caterino (.438), Destiny Habeck (.438), Hannah Yorty (.406) and Wheeler (.404) also are hitting above .400. …. Union is coming off a 10-0 win over District 9 champion Elk County Catholic. Seamans, a St. Francis (Pa.) commit, is batting .701 with 48 RBIs and eight home runs. She threw a four-hitter with 14 strikeouts and also tripled and homered in the first-round win. Freshmen Skylar Fisher (.509) and Gionna Trott (.500) also have stood out at the plate.

— Bill Beckner Jr., Bill Hartlep, Paul Schofield

Tags: Baldwin, Belle Vernon, Hempfield Area, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland