Lady Pioneers prevail
West Greene battles from behind to avenge 2016 title game loss
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After climbing out of a seven-run deficit, West Greene finally got its revenge.
The Lady Pioneers lost to Williams Valley in the 2016 PIAA Class A championship by one run.
This year, West Greene recovered from surrendering seven hits and seven runs in the first two innings to defeat Williams Valley, 98, to win the same championship Friday at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
“When we knew it was them, we were all excited because we were gonna come in and do what we had to do,” West Greene right fielder Mackenzie Carpenter said. “Because we had to take them down like they took us down last year.”
The Lady Pioneers entered the PIAA championship at 25-1, having defeated Monessen, 10-0, to repeat as WPIAL Class 1A champions. A year ago, the Lady Pioneers lost to Williams Valley in the PIAA championship, 3-2, after beating Chartiers-Houston, 12-3, for a WPIAL title.
Down one run in the bottom of the seventh Friday, Williams Valley’s Autumn Calnon singled to put the potential tying run on base. She moved to second on a groundout and ended up on third after an illegal pitch by West Greene pitcher Jade Renner.
With two outs and a PIAA title on the line, Williams Valley’s No. 8 hitter, Madeline Bordner, grounded out to third base, and just like that, West Greene accomplished its mission.
“It’s pretty big pride,” Jade Renner said.
West Greene’s unlikely comeback began in the third. McKenna Lampe walked and later scored on a Madison Lampe groundout to make it 7-1. Madison Renner followed with a double and headed home on Kaitlyn Rizor’s double in the next at-bat, narrowing the The deficit Ladyto 7-2. Pioneers offense built on that spark with a four-run top of the fourth and three quick outs in the bottom of the fourth.
“We just were able to chip, chip, chip, and get back in it and find a way to win it,” West Greene coach Bill Simms said. Still chasing the tying run in the top of the sixth, Jade Renner doubled and was replaced by courtesy runner Brianna Goodwin, who later scored on Lexie Mooney’s single, making it 7-7.
Four walks and a fielding error allowed West Greene to take the final lead.