W. Allegheny eyeing first crown
After celebrating West Allegheny’s 7-5 softball win against Thomas Jefferson in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals Tuesday with her team, coach Mindi McFate went home, grabbed a slice of pizza from the fridge and headed out the door to her son’s 8U baseball game.
So it hadn’t really sunk in that the Indians would be playing in their first PIAA championship game 4 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa.
“That’s kind of always been that Holy Grail that’s been out there, that you just kind of always seem to come up short,” McFate, in her 15th year as coach, said. “We’re getting there. So I don’t think it’s actually fully registered yet.”
It’s a big step for the Indians, who have taken strides as a program the past few years.
In 2016, West Allegheny played in its first WPIAL championship, falling to Mount Pleasant, 10-0. In 2017, the Indians beat Moon, 12-2, for their first WPIAL championship win, advancing to the PIAA semifinals before falling to Cedar Cliff, 6-5.
The state semifinal win against Thomas Jefferson, a rematch of the Indians’ 4-2 win in the WPIAL championship less than two weeks earlier, marks the furthest West Allegheny has gotten in the playoffs.
That history isn’t lost on the team, McFate said.
“I think they kind of recognize
Softball
that they’re almost pioneers, if you want to call them that,” McFate said.
“They’ve really kind of set the pace for making history at West A and for our girls’ high school softball.”
West Allegheny will play Lampeter Strasburg, a strong offensive team which has posted wins of 9-0, 8-2 and 6-4 in the playoffs, at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
The Indians are led by senior pitcher Ashley Seamon, who has a 2.69 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 143 innings.
Offensively, the Indians are consistent through the lineup instead of relying on one star hitter, McFate said.
The Indians have seven players batting at .380 or above (minimum 50 at-bats).
“It’s surreal,” Weest Allegheny outfielder Taylor Goldstrohm said of the opportunity to play for a championship.
“We’ve really been working hard for this for the past three years and it’s finally happening, so it’s just really amazing. … Every year we just try to top our performances.”
Hempfield goes for 3
The Spartans, winners of four consecutive WPIAL championships, will aim to win their third PIAA championship in a row.
After a 2-0 win against Nazareth in the PIAA Class 6A semifinals, Hempfield will face District 11 champion Parkland at 4 p.m. Friday.
This season, senior pitcher Maddie Uschock replaced four-year starter Morgan Ryan on the mound and freshman Emma Hoffner, a Saint Francis (Pa.) recruit, took over at catcher.
The Spartans (23-3), undefeated state champions a year ago, haven’t missed a beat. After the graduation of Autumn Beasley, Hempfield lost most of its power hitting from last year and has manufactured runs in a variety of ways.
Mohawk’s first try
A 3-1 semifinal win against Mount Union put the Warriors in the PIAA Class 2A championship game for the first time.
Rebounding from an 8-4 loss to Frazier in a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal, Mohawk won PIAA playoff games against Cranberry, Cochranton and Mount Union and will play District 3 champion Upper Dauphin at 11 a.m. Friday.
West Greene familiarity
West Greene’s PIAA Class 1A championship opponent is no stranger to the Pioneers. Not in the slightest.
For the third year in a row, West Greene will face Williams Valley in the final.
Last year, West Greene beat Williams Valley, 9-8. The year before, Williams Valley beat West Greene, 3-2.
The Pioneers will try to become back-to-back champions at 11 a.m. Thursday.