Lady Pioneers advance to Class A finals, again
Edward K.Thompson
West Greene蘑菇视频 Madison Lampe cracks a home run in the first inning of Wednesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A semifinal against Union at Peterswood Park.
West Greene蘑菇视频 Madison Lampe safely slides into third base after getting caught in a rundown between third and home during a WPIAL Class A semifinal game against Union at Peterswood Park on May 23. Lampe was named to the All-Greene County Messenger Softball Diamond Cutters team. (Photo by Edward K. Thompson)
West Greene's Jade Renner reaches down and makes contact for a hit during Wednesday's WPIAL Class A semifinal against Union at Peterswood Park.
VENETIA 鈥� West Greene mashed three long home runs and Jade Renner was stellar in the circle with eight strikeouts, as the Lady Pioneers advanced to their third straight Class A final after an 8-2 triumph over Union in the semifinals Wednesday at Peterswood Park.
The Lady Pioneers (18-4) extended their WPIAL playoff winning streak to eight games. Their last loss in the WPIAL postseason was to Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round in 2015.
The top-seeded West Greene squad now faces Section 2-A rival and second-seeded Monessen at Seton Hill University next week. Time and date are still to be determined.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 going to be a fun match-up,鈥� West Greene coach Billy Simms said. 鈥淚t蘑菇视频 such an honor to have two teams from our section in the final. I think that tells you a lot about our section and the top two teams in the section. It should be a great game with two great teams.鈥�
The teams were co-champions of Section 2 and split their regular season meeting. West Greene defeated Monessen in last year蘑菇视频 title game, 10-0 in five innings.
The Lady Scotties (16-3) still have a chance to enter the PIAA playoffs with a consolation contest against Leechburg on Tuesday with a time and site to be determined.
After Union was held scoreless in the top of the first inning, West Greene took a 1-0 after Madison Lampe blasted a solo home run to left field.
鈥淚 have been in a little bit of a slump the last couple of weeks,鈥� Lampe said. 鈥淚 wanted to make sure my hands were inside on the pitch and I wanted to extend my swing. I was deep in the count, and I got the right pitch to hit for the home run.鈥�
Both teams were held scoreless in the second inning and the Lady Scotties deadlock the score at 1-1 in the top of the third when losing pitcher Sarah Seamans launched a two-out homer to center field.
The Lady Pioneers responded in the bottom half of the inning when Lampe collected a RBI double and scored on a two-run blast to dead center field by Madison Renner. The homer was her sixth of the season.
鈥淚 was just looking to hit it really hard because I struck out my first at-bat,鈥� Madison Renner said. 鈥淚 just wanted to make good contact and drive the ball. We have a lot of power in our lineup and on any given day someone can get hot at the plate.鈥�
Union trimmed the deficit to 4-2 with a lead-off home run by Shae Lynn Quinn in the fourth inning, before West Greene tallied four runs in final two innings.
McKenna Lampe walked and scored on an infield error in the bottom of the fifth. Later in the inning, Kaitlyn Rizor ripped a RBI single to increased West Greene蘑菇视频 lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Madison Lampe pounded another long home run ball to left field that plated two runs. The home run was her seventh of the season.
鈥淲e were a little bit down on our team home runs total this year,鈥� Simms said. 鈥淲e faced a lot of tough pitchers this season and I think these last two playoff games the home run balls are adding up for us. We are just driving the ball into the gaps.鈥�
The long balls were more than enough for Jade Renner in the circle. The sophomore lefty threw seven innings and allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks on 91 pitches (64 strikes).
鈥淲e knew Union has a good lineup and can hit home runs,鈥� Simms said. 鈥淛ade limited them to just two solo home runs. She was very effective low in the zone. She threw her two-seamer and her changeup really well on the outside of the plate.鈥�
Union蘑菇视频 Seamans was tagged with the loss, going six innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
鈥淭heir pitcher put a lot of spin on the ball and has a really good rise ball,鈥� Madison Renner said. 鈥淲e played really good defense behind Jade today and it蘑菇视频 nice to have so many good gloves on the infield. We are excited to face Monessen again and it should be another close game.鈥�