Vikings advance to Class 3A semifinals
The old adage that it’s hard to beat a team three times didn’t come through for Burell, as Mount Pleasant defeated its Section 1-3A rival, 9-4, on Monday in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 3A softball playoffs at Gateway High School.
The Vikings (14-4) will play Keystone Oaks (17-4) this afternoon at Norwin High School with the winner to play for the WPIAL championship on May 27 or 28 at PennWest California’s Lilley Field. The losing team will play in the consolation final on May 26 for a spot in the state tournament, as the PIAA will take the top three from District 7 in Class 3A.
Mount Pleasant defeated the Buccaneers (11-9) by scores of 12-2 and 8-2 in the regular season this year, but Burrell came out strong with three runs in the top of the first inning for a 3-0 lead.
The Vikings were hindered by an error, and all three of the Bucs’ runs were unearned.
Mount Pleasant responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first frame, as starting and winning pitcher Danica Trainer singled to left field to lead off the inning, and after a popup for the first out, Kendall Waters reached first base safely on an error.
Courtesy runner Talia Reho and Waters advanced to second and third on Emma Miller’s sacrifice bunt to third base before scoring on Carly Surma’s double to center field cut the deficit to 3-2.
Autumn Jurkovic-Kuzma kept the rally going with a bunt single before Surma raced home when Sadie Poole reached first base on an error for a tie game.
The Vikings took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth inning when Miller singled, Surma walked, and after a strikeout, courtesy runner Bently Mizikar scored when Poole reached second base on an error. Surma crossed home plate for what turned out to be the winning run on Chloe Borelli’s sacrifice flyout to right field for a 5-3 advantage.
The Bucs pulled within one in the fifth frame when Shelby Novak was safe at first base on a fielder’s choice, and after Soph Gregg’s single to left field, courtesy runner Harlow Nealer scored on Addy Wojtczak’s fielder’s choice.
Mount Pleasant scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull away.
Trainer yielded four runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings. She struck out five and walked two.
LAUREL 4, FRAZIER 2 — Emme Travalena hit a two-run home run and the Commodores had the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh inning with one out, but the Spartans were able to record the last two outs to advance to the the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 2A softball playoffs at North Allegheny High School.
Laurel, the top seed, improved to 15-5 this season, and will play Neshannock (16-5) on Thursday at a site and time that has yet to be determined. The Spartans also clinched a berth into the PIAA Class 2A playoffs, as the state takes fourth teams from District 7 in Class 2A.
Laurel scored four runs on three hits and a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning, which looked like it would be more than enough offense for Riley Balcom, who had only allowed two hits through six innings, as Jayanna Ciferno and Zoey Zurenski hit back-to-back singles in the third, but Frazier (12-10) found itself in the seventh.
Grace Polkabla singled to shortstop with one out before Travalena homered to center field to pull the Commodores within two.
Morgan Fisher singled to shortstop, but Balcom dug in and recorded a popup and groundout to stymie Frazier’s opportunity to tie the game.
Balcom had three strikeouts and no walks over seven innings.
Frazier’s Addison Hiles yielded four earned runs on five hits over six innings. She had three strikeouts and walked two.
Ivy Pancher and Hayden Seifert had one double apiece for the Spartans. Teammate Haley Balcom drove in two runs.
NESHANNOCK 10, BROWNSVILLE 0 — The Lancers have won four straight WPIAL championships and three out of the last four state titles, but are having a “down year.”
Neshannock’s definition of a “down year” when it comes to its softball program is a record of 16-5, a spot in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals, and a berth in the PIAA playoffs after it scored three runs in the fourth and seven in the fifth to pull away from the Falcons in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs at Montour.
Neshannock plays Laurel on Thursday with the right to play for the championship on the line. The teams split their season series.
The Lancers’ Gianna Paglia pitched a three-hit shutout over five innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Paglia drove in three runs with a triple and single. Teammates Gianna DeSalvo and Jaidon Nogay each had a double. Nogay had two hits and two RBIs.
Ciara Horabik, Blair Long and Lena Rechichar had singles for Brownsville.
The Falcons’ season ends with a record of 13-8 after coach Jane Bock’s team won a playoff game for the first time in program history with a 7-1 victory over South Allegheny in the first round.
Brownsville senior and starting pitcher Ava Clark allowed two earned runs on two hits over 3 â…“ innings in her final high school start. She had six strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter. Clark will continue her academic and pitching careers at PennWest California.