Leechburg edges Lady Rockets in consolation, 3-2
Jefferson-Morgan蘑菇视频 Cait Dugan singles during Tuesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A consolation game against Leechburg at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
Darnell Graham
Jefferson-Morgan蘑菇视频 Cait Dugan releases a pitch during Tuesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A third-place consolation game against Leechburg at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
Jefferson-Morgan蘑菇视频 Jasmine Demaske manages to slide into the base before being tagged out by Leechburg蘑菇视频 McKenna Pierce during Tuesday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class A third-place consolation game at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
McMURRAY 鈥� Jefferson-Morgan蘑菇视频 hope for a WPIAL Class A softball championship ended in only 3陆 innings last Wednesday when the Lady Rockets lost to Greene County rival and No. 1 seed West Greene in the semifinals.
Jefferson-Morgan still had a shot at the PIAA tournament Tuesday afternoon, but it would need to beat second-seeded Leechburg to get there.
Although Jefferson-Morgan hung with the Lady Blue Devils, the Lady Rockets鈥� season came to an end with a 3-2 loss in the WPIAL Class third-place consolation game at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
鈥�(When) we play against these other teams that aren鈥檛 West Greene, we can hang with them,鈥� Jefferson-Morgan head coach Rich Rush said. 鈥淭he biggest thing with my girls is just getting them to have the confidence in themselves that they can play with these teams, and I think this year went a long way for that.鈥�
It took the Lady Rockets (11-8) just three batters to score first inning. Pitcher Caitlyn Dugan helped herself when she drove in shortstop and lead-off hitter Jasmine Demaske for the game蘑菇视频 first run.
Jefferson-Morgan added on in the second inning. After Maddie Van Divner singled, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error, Savanah Clark drove her in with a groundout to make it 2-0.
After leaving runners on base in the first two innings, Leechburg蘑菇视频 offense broke through in the bottom of the third.
The Lady Blue Devils (17-2) cut the deficit in half when Kristen Knapp scored on a popout to shortstop by McKenna Pierce. Leecburg tied it one batter later on an RBI groundout by pitcher Emma Ritchie.
Jefferson-Morgan threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases on a single and two walks. However, with two outs, Ritchie retired Demaske, and Leechburg escaped with the game still tied.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth.
Dugan had retired nine in a row when Pierce lead off the sixth inning for Leechburg with a double down the left-field line. She would come around to score on a groundout by Ritchie, giving the Lady Blue Devils their first lead of the game, 3-2, and the only advantage they would need.
With their season on the line in the seventh, the Lady Rockets got a runner to second base, but a ground out ended the threat.
Ritchie went the distance for Leechburg, allowing two earned runs on five hits, walking three and striking out six. The Lady Blue Devils will face the District 9 champion in the PIAA playoffs next week.
Dugan gave up only five hits. She walked a batter and struck out five.
Despite ending the season with consecutive losses, things are looking up for Jefferson-Morgan.
The Lady Rockets return seven starters and four are freshman. With West Greene, who will play in the WPIAL championship this afternoon against Union, losing several key players, Jefferson-Morgan has an opportunity to close the gap in Section 2-A.
鈥淚 think we have a little bit more confidence this year, definitely,鈥� Dugan said.
Building on that confidence will be key for the Lady Rockets to make their way to states in 2020.
鈥淲e beat a four-seed (Sewickley Academy) and we played right with the two seed,鈥� Rush said. 鈥淭hey have to carry that off into next year, and know that they have the ability 鈥� we鈥檙e going to be a tough team next year.鈥�