Coach, West ‘A’ mesh
After 2-year hiatus McFate returns to lead Indians
When the West Allegheny softball job reopened this past offseason, it was an easy decision for former coach Mindi McFate to apply.
A mother of two toddlers, McFate decided to retire from coaching after the 2013 season, her 11th consecutive on the job.
She continued to teach at West Allegheny but when the job unexpectedly reopened again, McFate could not resist.
She was familiar with nearly the entire roster. Considering the talent returning for the Indians this season most coaches would not resist. What drove McFate back though was not just the player’s talent.
“They are really enjoyable to be around and work with, not only as players but as people,” McFate said. “I knew these kids had the potential to win, but it was more about working with them. They are just such an awesome group of kids to be around, just a selfless group.”
Last season her players would check in with her during school and give her updates on the team. McFate and her growing family even attended some games. She watched as the Indians finished 11-6 and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals. Only two starters graduated from that team.
That experience has shown this season. Through nine games West Allegheny is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Section 2-AAA, tied with Montour for first place.
Its first time on grass was its season opener and it fell, 15-11, at Chartiers Valley. But the Indians quickly bounced back to win, 14-9, at South Fayette. For the first time since 2010, the team went on a spring training trip. Attending the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the team played two scrimmages and three games, winning two of its three games.
Upon returning home it notched three consecutive section wins against Keystone Oaks, Quaker Valley and Montour to vault into first place.
Senior pitcher Marla Kirkpatrick returns. Through her first six starts she was 4-2 with a 4.02 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 47 innings.
“She is pitching very strong,” McFate said. “She is more of a movement pitcher, she hits her locations well and can keep batters off balance.”
Kirkpatrick was at her best against Montour, a 7-0 West Allegheny win on Saturday. She fired a complete-game shutout, scattering four hits, walking two and striking out seven.
“Montour is always a big rival for us, it is always a tough section game,” McFate said. “It was a big game for us. All the years I have coached, the kids get a little more pumped up for that game. But we know going into it, with the way our section was playing out, almost every game was going to be a must win. I don’t feel that there is a single dominant team in our section.”
Sophomore Brooke Wilson is a returning starter, catching for Kirkpatrick. Through six games, she was batting .387 with one home run, three doubles, 12 runs scored and six RBIs while batting leadoff.
Senior first baseman Brooke Bagnell, senior second baseman Rachel McLaughlin, junior shortstop Lexi Cogis and freshman third baseman Mackenzie Partyka make up the rest of the infield.
Starting in the outfield are a trio of seniors, left fielder Taylor Hottenfeller, center fielder McKenzie Johnsen and right fielder Danna Heh. Heh leads the team with 20 hits and a .667 batting average. She has also scored 10 runs. Johnsen has a team-high 10 RBIs while Hottenfeller, Cogis and McLaughlin have driven in 8 each. Hottenfeller, Johnsen and Bagnell have scored 9 runs each.