Shot at fifth title in row taken away
One in a series looking at notable individuals and teams that had their spring seasons wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With only 197 students in grades 9-12, West Greene ranks as one of the smallest high schools in Western Pennsylvania in terms of enrollment.
In terms of recent athletic success, though, the Pioneers loom large over most of the WPIAL.
West Greene’s football team went 10-2 and reached the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals last fall, and star running back Ben Jackson shattered several all-time WPIAL rushing records in the process. The girls basketball team went undefeated in the regular season this year and has reached the WPIAL championship game three years in a row.
But above all else, it’s the Pioneers’ softball program that has put West Greene on the map.
“It’s a truly homegrown thing that we’re pretty proud of,” said longtime coach Bill Simms. “We’ve done it with our kids, which just makes it that much more special.”
If it weren’t for Hempfield and its historic run to five consecutive WPIAL championships and three PIAA titles in Class 6A, the Pioneers would be recognized as the premier active dynasty in WPIAL softball. Still, Simms and his program aren’t far behind what Bob Kalp and the Spartans have been able to accomplish.
“They’re the king of [Class] 6A, and we’ve been OK down where we’re at,” Simms said with a laugh.
With four consecutive WPIAL Class 1A championships to their credit along with state titles in 2017 and 2018, the Pioneers have certainly been more than just “OK.” In fact, they’re in rarefied air. Only three other programs other than Hempfield and West Greene have won four consecutive WPIAL softball titles.
“When I was in eighth grade at least, I don’t think any person in the community thought our school could get that far,” said Pioneers star pitcher Jade Renner, who will play at Edinboro in the fall. “And then when we finally did, I feel like our softball team definitely felt more confident. We started realizing even though we’re a small school, we can still strive to get that far.”
Even though West Greene lost plenty of starpower from its 2019 unit, including standout shortstop Kaitlyn Rizor and star twins Makenna and Madison Lampe, many felt the Pioneers had enough firepower to make a run at a fifth consecutive WPIAL title before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the spring sports seasons — Simms included.
“We just felt we were going to have another real solid, tough-tobeat lineup,” Simms said. “We thought we were the team to beat. We just didn’t get the chance to show it.”
Along with its loaded lineup, one of the main reasons for Simms’ confidence in this year’s group was simple — the presence of Renner inside the circle.
After stepping in as West Greene’s starting pitcher at the beginning of her freshman year, Renner helped lead the team to WPIAL and PIAA titles in each of her first two seasons. She posted a 57-10 overall record — including a remarkable 19-1 mark in the postseason — with 315 career strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA, and she graduates as the school’s alltime wins leader.
“It was nice to get a personal record to look back on,” Renner said. “I like to be able to change that name, instead of West Greene being that small school where there isn’t anyone there.
“I’m pretty happy with how I’m leaving it. It’s hard to close that chapter without proper closure, but I’m happy with how my class left it.”
Not only did Renner dominate inside the circle, she provided plenty of pop at the plate as well, batting .481 with 99 RBIs and only six strikeouts in 243 career at-bats in the middle of the Pioneers’ order.
“She had the big hit when we had to have it, too. All the time,” Simms said. “We could speak until midnight about Jade. She’s going to be a tough, tough girl to lose, but I try to think about the positive that we had her, so I try to think about the positive more than missing her.”
Renner is one of four senior starters West Greene will have to replace in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the Pioneers’ dynasty is coming to an end. Led by all-state junior Jersey Wise, along with several other key returners and an influx of highly touted freshmen, Simms’ squad should be just as formidable next spring.
Although he was prepared to insert Wise into the leadoff spot and center field position this spring, Simms said it’s too early to tell how things will shake out next year. After all, with the amount of talent making its way up the ranks through West Greene’s pipeline, he can afford to experiment and move players around to different positions until he finds the right fit.
“We’re blessed with the talent we have,” Simms said. “I’m no better than the coach I was 20 years ago, but parents are doing a better job with getting the kids ready 17 years earlier.”