WPIAL Softball Playoff Recaps for Wednesday, May 23rd (and Thursday, May 24th)

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 | 9:18 PM

The Final Four nail-biting continued Thursday afternoon at Fairhaven Park in the final Round Three game in the WPIAL Softball Playoffs. On Wednesday, two extra inning contests, a couple of walk-off hits and tying and wining runs left on the bases or at the plate highlighted a busy and exciting day. More of the same happened Thursday with yet another walk off hit leading to the demise of the top team in Quad A. Here are recaps from all eight Semifinals games as Canon-McMillan, Hempfield, Elizabeth Forward, Montour, Greensburg Central Catholic, Deer Lakes, Chartiers-Houston and Carmichaels all had their ticket punched to Championships Thursday at Cal U on 5/31/12.

A special thanks to Bob Gregg, Mark Schaas, Brandon Showers, Steve Nagler and Jason Tennant for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS:

Canon-McMillan Big Macs 4 – Shaler Titans 3
Giorgianna Zeremenko singled home Tara Schram for the winning run with two out in the seventh as Canon-McMillan upset #1 Shaler, 4-3.  The Big Macs advance to the WPIAL Finals, Thursday, May 31, against #2 Hempfield.  The loss snapped the Titans' 15-game winning streak and left Class A Chartiers-Houston as the only top seed to make the WPIAL Finals.  Shaler knocked Canon-McMillan out of last year's quarterfinals. Morgan Russo stroked a solo homerun in the top of the first, giving Shaler (19-3) a 1-0 lead.  Canon-McMillan loaded the bases but came up empty in the first.  In the bottom of the third, Veronica Rothka doubled to the fence in right center and moved to third on a sharp single by Maddie Engel.  Zeremenko hit a tapper in front of the plate and reached first but Rothka was tagged out a home.  Abby McCartney hit a ball in the hole at short that was misplayed, scoring Engel with the Big Macs' first run, but courtesy runner Missy Staub was thrown out at second. Olivia Lorusso homered to left, giving Canon-McMillan (15-5) a 3-1 lead.  Russo opened the fourth with her second solo homer pulling the Titans within one run.  Lauren Hackett doubled and was sacrificed to third but was stranded as Alayna Astuto coaxed a foul out and a pop out to put down the rally.  Sydney Smyers silenced the Big Macs' bats over the next three innings, running up a streak of 11 straight outs.  In the Shaler sixth, Hackett homered to straightaway center, tying the game at 3, but the Titans had just one more baserunner the rest of the game.  With one out in the seventh, Schram bunted up the third-base line, Hackett trying to glove it in fair territory, but didn't get it in her mitt.  One out later, Engel battled through a lengthy at-bat, flaring a single over Jamie Roth at first, putting runners at the corners.  After a conference in the pitching circle, Smyers pitched carefully to Zeremenko, working away from the right handed batter.  Zeremenko fouled off a 3-1 pitch that was over the plate, then lashed a line drive to right on the payoff pitch that was down the outside edge, driving in the game-ending run.  Astuto got the win, allowing three runs on six hits, three of which left the yard.  She walked two, hit one batter and struck out four.  Astuto faced more than four batters in an inning only twice, the first and fourth, allowing just one run in each.  Smyers took the loss, giving up nine hits and two walks while fanning four.  Engel finished with three hits, Schram two for the Big Macs who got hits from six different batters.  Russo and Hackett each had two hit for the Titans but hits from only two other players.  This marks the fifth time in the last six years that the Titans' WPIAL season ended with a one-run loss.

Hempfield Spartans 4 – Peters Township Indians 0
The Hempfield Spartans will return to the championship game for the first time since 2009 with the win in the nightcap at Lilley Field. Karilynn Null allowed just five hits and singled home the first run to pick up the win. Null took over in the circle after Hope Pehrson was injured during the season. Null is now 10-2 on the season. With the win, the Spartans also head into the PIAA playoffs. After Null's single, Callie Madden scored Null on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0, Hempfield tacked two more runs in the fifth, Alaina Montgomery tripled to right field, the relay throw was way off the mark, ending in left center field, the error allowed Montgomery to finish her trip round the bases. Justyne Falbo then reached on an error, she was brought home on a Maddie Knizner single to end the scoring. Peters Township had opportunities in both the second and third innings, but Tori Wieda grounded into a double play turned by Madden at second and a base running error in the third by Kellyn Perich led to another double play. The Indians also had an opportunity to score in the sixth, when after two outs, Morgan Matetic reached on an error and Tara Konopka singled, but Abby Cunningham popped out to Null just outside the circle to end the threat. Hempfield(18-4) will meet the winner of Thursday's Shaler-Canon McMillan game in the title match next Thursday. Head coach Bob Kalp said after the game that they will look forward to whoever they play, the Spartans defeated Shaler 7-1 on April 5th, they lost at Canon-Mac 1-0 on April 2nd. Knizner was 2 for 2, Caitlin Tobin was 2 for 3 with a double. Null tossed a five hitter with three strikeouts. Perich was 2 for 3 for Peters Township, Kellie Lewis was on base three times with two hits. Konopka allowed seven hits, she fanned three. The Indians end the season at 16-5.

WPIAL CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS:

Elizabeth Forward Warriors 2 – Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions 1
One hit was all the Warriors needed to continue the dream season with the victory at Lilley Field at California University of Pennsylvania. Virginia Roche delivered a one out bases loaded single up the middle thru a drawn in infield to score both runs and bring home a walk-off win for Elizabeth-Forward. The Warriors had only one base runner entering into the seventh, Golden Lions pitcher Jayne Oberdorf had allowed only a third inning walk and fanned eleven. The junior set down the first seven hitters she faced with six strikeouts, after the walk, she retired eleven straight again until the final inning. Greensburg Salem took the lead in the second, Kellie Hutchinson led off the second with a single, Alexandra Gorsteck followed with a single, it looked like Elizabeth-Forward would get out of it unscathed, but a Sarah Stiffey grounder to second, ran up the arm of Jen Welsh and allowed Hutchinson to score. It looked like the Golden Lions would blow the game open in the third when Taylor Mehan and Alyssa Mellinger both drew walks with one out, but Portia McBride got Hutchinson to pop out to second and Gorsteck to foul out to catcher Roche to end the inning. Greensburg Salem missed on another chance in the sixth, Gorsteck with a lead off single, she moved to third on a error with two outs, but McBride struck out Claire Oberdorf to end the inning. Elizabeth Forward had only four batters put the ball in play during the first five innings, but the Warriors started making contact from the bottom of the order in the sixth to set up the do or die seventh. In the last frame, Warriors head coach Harry Rutherford went to the bench again, bringing up junior Katie Shinavski to lead off the inning. Shinavski delivered a pinch hit single to give E-F a 5-4 lead, leading to a 7-4 win in Monday's quarterfinals. This time Shinavski worked the count for a walk, becoming only the second player to reach base. She was replaced by Jen Keefer at first, Kelsey Havel laid down a bunt to move Keefer to second, McKenna Kern was hit by a pitch and Caitlyn Arico worked a walk to load the bases to set up Roche to win the game. Roche said she knew she would have a chance to win the game with a hit when she stepped into the box. It was also a case of right place right time as Rutherford had batted Roche in the cleanup spot all season, but moved her to the six spot for today's game. The Warriors pick up their fifth straight win, E-F is now 17-6 overall, the Warriors also advance into the PIAA tournament with the win. McBride gets her 17th win of the season, she allowed one unearned run on six hits and fanned six. The Golden Lions will play in the consolation game on Tuesday for the right to advance to the PIAA tournament, Greensburg-Salem falls to 15-3 and sees their 13 game winning streak come to an end. Gorsteck was 2 for 3 for the Golden Lions, Oberdorf tossed a gem allowing just the one hit, two walks and a hit batter.

Montour Spartans 3 – Belle Vernon Leopards 2 in 8 Innings
In the AAA semifinal game between the Montour Spartans and Belle Vernon Leopards it looked like Montour would start out quick in the top of the first inning.  Shortstop Stacey Capp led off with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error by Belle Vernon pitcher Haley Bashada on a bunt by Megan Vacco.  After Vacco took second on defensive indifference Montour seemed like they were going to get off to a big first inning.  That thought was squelched when Montour starting pitcher Kaitlyn Kutchman sharply hit a line drive to third base when Alexis Ellin had the heads up play of the game after catching the Kutchman line drive she stepped on third and got Capp then looking to second threw to second base to the outstretched glove of Courtney Seman to get Vacco off the base and round out the triple play. As it happens so often later in the game after another big defensive play in the second inning Ellin came up in the bottom half of the inning and took a Kutchman pitch for a deep blast over the left field fence to give Belle Vernon the early one to nothing lead.  Kutchman calmed down and got out of the third with one of her nine strike outs following the home run.  The Leopards picked up right where they left off in the third when Natalie Bashada hit a double and came across on Deana Hileman reaching on an error giving the Leopards the two to nothing lead. After the third the teams seemed content to play out the score as it was or at least that was the plan for Bashada and the Leopards.  It wasn’t until the top of the seventh inning that things got interesting.  Tori Roman led off with a single and it seemed as is Bashada calmed down retiring the next two batters in Stephanie Seibert and Olivia Dixon.  That brought up 0-2 Spartan catcher Malory Gerst with both at bats being strike outs.  Gerst went down quickly to Bashada looking a pitch Gerst sat on the next pitch and lifted it high to left field.  It must have felt like the ball was in the air for a lifetime for Spartan fans as Gerst took off toward first base looking as if she was trying to reach extra bases with the hit.  As Gerst rounded first she looked up to see the third base umpire signaling for home run and broke out into a celebratory trot around second.  As she rounded third with a huge smile on her face and shook hands with coach Bill Wills.  Wills later said he had no thought of pinch hitting for the previously struggling Gerst in that at bat.  Center fielder Alyssa McMurtrie followed the home run up with a triple but was stranded at third putting the game into extra innings. Belle Vernon went down in order in the eighth and that set the stage for some more two out lightning for the Spartans.  Allison Hryadil singled and sophomore running specialist Emily Diecks came in to run for Hryadil bringing up Roman who was 2 for 2 at that point and she laced a one and one pitch to left field to score Diecks from first.  Coach Wills later said there was no thought of the stop sign for Diecks as she came into third.  Roman was caught between second and third but the damage was done.  In the bottom of the 8th Kutchman completed the game getting two ground outs and a fly out.  Montour goes on to play Elizabeth Forward next week in the AAA championships while Belle Vernon ends their season.

WPIAL CLASS AA SEMIFINALS:

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 6 – Riverside Panthers 3
The Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions have punched their ticket to the WPIAL Class AA finals for the 2nd time in the last two years.  This time, they want to kick the door down and win the title!  The 7th seeded Centurions got timely hitting and, as usual, great pitching to down the 6th seeded Riverside Panthers, 6-3.  Greensburg Central Catholic never trailed in the game and staked themselves to an early 2-run lead in the second inning as they benefitted from hits by Katie Hickey, Leah Daigle and Liana Denino.  After the Panthers got to within one run in the top of the 5th when Raven Boots led off with a double and scored on a passed ball and wild pitch, the Centurions would stick the dagger in the heart of Riverside by scoring four runs on a pair of two-out hits.  After one out, consecutive hits off of the bats of Carolyn Appleby and Karen Mellinger and a walk to Nikki Adisey loaded the bases with Centurions.  After a fielder’s choice cut down Appleby at the plate, Allie Perz delivered with a two-run single to give the Centurions a 4-1 lead.  One hitter later, Leah Daigle came through again by lacing a single into centerfield scoring Julia Lang and courtesy runner Marina Kocur and extending the lead to 6-1.  The Panthers would not quit as they were able to push a single run across in each of the last two innings, but it wasn’t enough.  Anna Marie Gatti pitched well to get the win for Greensburg Central Catholic, striking out seven.  Panther standout Kirsten Wilson took the loss.  Riverside (17-3) still has a shot at the PIAA players but must defeat top-seeded Neshannock in the consolation game next Tuesday night.  With the win, the Centurions run their record to 14-6 and will take on the #4 seeded Deer Lakes Lancers next Thursday at California University.

Deer Lakes Lancers 2 – Neshannock Lancers 0
In the battle of the Lancers, Deer Lakes upset top-seeded Neshannock 2-0 in the Class AA softball semi-finals at North Allegheny HS. It didn't take Deer Lakes long to score their runs as they pushed two runs across against Neshannock starter Amanda Furst. With one out, Katie Gozzard doubled high off of the centerfield wall and scored on the two-out two-run single Sierra Sarver. Sarver then came all they way around to score on the double by Hannah Blinn. It's been a magical post-season for Blinn at the plate – after going 2-3 in the win vs. Neshannock, she has 11 hits in 12 plate appearances. Deer Lakes starter Haliey Moretti pitched all seven innings scattering three hits. Neshannock's Madison Shaffer had two hits in the loss.  It was Neshannock's first loss of the season. They are still alive for the PIAA playoffs and will take on Riverside on Tuesday for third place in Class AA and a berth in the state playoffs. With the win, Deer Lakes's record is 18-1 and will face Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Championship game next Thursday at California University.

WPIAL CLASS A SEMIFINALS:

Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers 3 – Vincentian Academy Royals 1
Colby Miller drove in all three runs, leading defending champion Chartiers-Houston to a 3-1 win over Vincentian Academy.  The Bucs seek their ninth WPIAL championship next Thursday, taking on Carmichaels, 6-5 winners over Sto-Rox in 9 innings.  Miller broke open the scoring with two-out single in the third, plating Kayla Briggs.  The Royals tied the game in the top of the fourth, getting a leadoff double from Katie Yauch who scored on an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt.  Yauch doubled again in the sixth, the only hits in the game for Vincentian (14-8).  With the game tied 1-1 in the fifth, Briggs singled with one out.  Piper McLaughlin's bunt started toward the foul line but stayed in.  By the time Royals' pitcher Bridget Melvin picked it up, Briggs had gone to third and McLaughlin ended up at second.  Miller then pinballed a grounder hard off the gloves of the thirdbaseman and shortstop, scoring both runners.  Briggs got the win for Chartiers-Houston (22-1), allowing just the two hits and two walks while fanning six.  Melvin suffered the loss, tiptoeing through a six-hit, four walk performance but hold the Bucs to a season low winning total of three runs.  The Royals face Sto-Rox Tuesday in the PIAA qualifier game.

Carmichaels Mighty Mikes 6 – Sto-Rox Vikings 5 in 9 Innings
The Carmichaels Mikes came back from a 5-0 deficit to advance the WPIAL Championship Game in "walk-off" fashion in extra innings, 6-5 over the Sto-Rox Vikings.   All but one run for each team came in offensive outbursts and the first was the top of the second inning when Sto-Rox loaded the bases with singles by Mary Cersosimo and Aimee Miller, sandwiched around a walk to Sam Schmidt.  Josie Buckley then drove a ball of the top of the center field fence that bounced over for a grand slam.  Sto-Rox would add a solo homerun in the fourth inning by Miller to go up, 5-0.  Carmichaels' outburst came in the bottom of the fifth inning after they mustered only one previous hit off of pitcher Talia Smarra, who started with three perfect innings.  In the fifth Smarra started to lose a little control and walked the first two batters.  After Megan Bayles was called out on a questionable call a second base for the first out and Regina Menhart struck out for out number-2, Caroline Cree drove the first Mikes' run in on an infield single.  An error at shortstop allowed the second run and Morgan Berardi singled in a third.  Cameron Grimes then walked to load the bases before Lindsey Osborne lifted a shallow fly to right field.  Miller dove, bobbled the ball and then tried to recover.  Depending on who you ask, it's up to debate on whether the ball ever touched the ground, but the umpire ruled that it did and Osborne's single tied the game.  The offense then dried up on both sides.  Grimes allowed only one base runner after Miller's homerun until an eighth inning error, and Sto-Rox stranded a runner at second in the top of the ninth.  Carmichaels stranded runners at first in the sixth and seventh innings.  In the bottom of the ninth, a 1-out walk to Caroline Cree was followed by an error at first base that gave the Mikes runner at the corners with one out.  Morgan Berardi then slammed a line drive off of the third baseman and Cree came home to score the winning run.  Grimes got the win with five strikeouts and a walk.  Smarra took the loss with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks.  The Mikes, who clinched a spot in the state playoffs, will play Chartiers-Houston in next Thursday's WPIAL Championship Game.