W. Greene slips past Monessen
Freshman’s HR leads Pioneers to third final in row
For much of the 2017-18 season, West Greene freshman Jersey Wise’s calling card was her speed.
But following a recent conversation with her coach, Wise has been attempting to add more power to her game — with positive results. Five days ago, she hit her first triple of the season to help the Pioneers advance to the PIAA Class 1A semifinal.
Tuesday, she one-upped herself by hitting her first home run of the season, helping West Greene beat Monessen, 7-4, at Peters wood Park to advance to its third consecutive PIAA final.
In the fifth, Wise crushed the ball over the left-field gate, scoring herself and right fielder Mackenzie Carpenter with the Pioneers’ third and fourth runs of the inning. That clinched a trip to State College Thursday.
“I got so tense and I was hoping it would go over [the fence],” Wise said. “I felt it on the barrel, there was no sting or anything. There was that solid flow, and I was like ‘OK, there’s a chance.’ And when I see it that high, just that high pitch came, it was a great feeling.”
West Greene will face Williams Valley in the PIAA final for the third year in a row. The Pioneers lost to Williams Valley in 2016, but won the rematch last year.
Monessen outfielder Cara Wheeler hit a three-run homer in the fourth to give the Greyhounds a 3-2 advantage. West Greene responded with four runs in the fifth, including the two-run homer by designated-hitter Wise, to take the lead for good.
Five Pioneers recorded RBIs, and third baseman Madison Lampe stole five bases — including home in the sixth.
West Greene coach Bill Simms and his players knew entering the game that Monessen starting pitcher Dana Vatakis, a Robert Morris-commit and one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL, would be tough to bat against.
The Pioneers recorded 17 hits, and Vatakis struck out only three batters. West Greene starting pitcher Jade Renner gave up 12 hits and struck out three.
“Every time that we go into a game against her, we try to minimize the strike-out-lookings,” Simms said. “Our philosophy is if we don’t strike out looking, we win, just because it not only gives themselves a chance, it gives the team a chance. I think we had one in the first or second inning, after that I don’t know we had one.”
Wise’s power gave West Greene the element of surprise Thursday. Now, the Pioneers will try to maintain that element against Williams Valley — a familiar opponent.
“It’s starting to feel normal now,” second baseman Kaitlyn Rizor said. “That’s all we’ve done since our junior class. It’s a great feeling.”
Omari Sankofa II: osankofa@post-gazette.com and Twitter @omarisankofa.