Positives taken from the WPIAL playoffs
This past week I was lucky enough to broadcast three of the five first-round match-ups involving our local baseball and softball programs that qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. Even though Greene County managed just one win over the three-day span, there were still definite positives to be taken from the proceedings.
It was a bittersweet day in Canonsburg, as the Jefferson-Morgan softball team was unable to defend its WPIAL Class A title. The Lady Rockets fell to Monessen by a slim 1-0 margin, but this year’s team put together an effort that should make its fans just as proud as they were of last year’s champions.
Facing one of the top pitchers in Class A, Lady Greyhound sophomore Dana Vatakis, Jefferson-Morgan stayed right with the eventual victors over seven tense innings. Senior Camryn Dugan certainly couldn’t match Vatakis in strikeout production (13-2), but held Monessen to just one unearned run in her final appearance in Orange and Black. The Rockets were finally able to get its offense moving as the afternoon moved into the early evening hours, but they were simply unable to push the tying run across.
Though they were unable to bring a second WPIAL trophy back to Jefferson, this year’s Rocket seniors were some of the most successful athletes in school history. Along with spearheading last year’s “Team Dugan” campaign, these young women found success on the volleyball court, basketball court and even the golf course. Hopefully, their contributions to the school’s athletic history won’t fade away from the memories of Rocket fans everywhere.
Shortly after J-M packed up its bus and headed south on I-79, the hottest team in the WPIAL, West Greene, took the field as the top seed in the bracket to begin its own run at district gold. While most expected the young, but highly talented Lady Pioneers to take care of business against 16th-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic, few could have imagined the level of absolute dominance displayed by the squad.
After shutting out the Lady Centurions in the top half of the first inning, freshman McKenna Lampe turned a swinging bunt into an error-assisted triple that set the stage for a four-inning, 15-0 victory. Lampe’s speedy display of skill was just the opening act in an offensive performance that included 19 hits, seven doubles and three home runs. Oh, and by the way, sophomore Madison Renner struck out five batters over four shutout innings.
Obviously, it is unlikely that West Greene will post another win like this one during the remainder of the 2016 postseason. However, the team’s quarterfinal opponent, Union, better be ready to face an offensive barrage the likes of which they have likely not seen in 2016.
After Monday’s softball doubleheader, Tuesday brought a road trip to Robinson Township to watch the county’s only representative in the baseball playoffs, Carmichaels. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the Mikes to have much of a chance after getting a bit of a scouting report on their opponents, the Union Scotties.
Union not only won Section 3, but boasted senior Joe Gunn in its lineup. Gunn is considered one of, if not the best outfield prospect in all classes of the WPIAL. The standout headlined a Scottie roster that appeared deep and athletic.
Though the Mikes ultimately fell 12-7, the senior-laden squad showed no fear of the Blue and White and battled hard over seven innings. After two scoreless frames to open the contest, Carmichaels struck first and jumped ahead 2-0 after scratching, clawing and doing everything possible to break up the shutout.
Carmichaels stayed right with Union all the way into the fourth, when the plucky squad found itself tied at 4-4 going into the bottom of the frame. Unfortunately, the Scotties’ talent finally broke through to score eight of the game’s final 11 runs.
If you weren’t at the Burkett Complex, you not only missed out on fine efforts from both teams, but some rather unique plays as well. The Scotties managed to pull off the rare two-run sacrifice fly when Carmichaels’ Reed Long made a fantastic diving catch in the outfield. The Mikes’ biggest highlight of the day was an inside-the-park home run off the bat of Joel Spishock that plated his team’s final three runs of the day.
I was not in attendance for the losses suffered by the Waynesburg Central and Carmichaels softball teams. Hopefully, I will be on site for long runs in both the WPIAL and PIAA postseasons for the mighty Pioneers.