West Allegheny Rolls Past Moon for 5-A Softball Gold

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, June 1, 2017 | 10:52 PM

For the first time in school history, the West Allegheny softball team has captured a WPIAL Championship. The top-seeded Indians won the 5-A crown by defeating the #3 seed Moon, 12-2 Thursday night via mercy rule after 6 innings. It was the third time the Indians defeated the Tigers this season, as they won the first two meetings by scores of 5-4 and 10-7 back in mid-April. The third meeting wasn’t as tight as the bats and the gloves were working for West Allegheny.

The Indians were paced by big innings in this game, with five runs crossing in the 1st inning. After the first three batters reached base, a Jilian Weber walk brought in a run, a Savannah Lewis double crossed two Indians, an Ashley Seamon sac fly brought in run number four and an Amy Nolte single brought in the final run of West A’s five-run 1st.

West Allegheny crossed another run in the 2nd inning thanks the top three in the order again. With Brooke Wilson and Taylor Cummings on base, Mackenzie Partyka roped a single into right field knocking in the sixth run of the game for West A, making the score 6-0.

Moon would show some life in the bottom half of inning number two as back-to-back doubles by Steph Hytla and Marissa McGinness made the score 6-1 after two. After both teams went down quietly in the 3rd inning, the 4th inning would provide more offense.

Eight West Allegheny Indians would come to the plate in the top of inning number four and four runs would cross the plate as a result. Wilson and Cummings started the inning with a double and an RBI single. Weber, Lewis and Seamon would all collect RBI hits in three consecutive at bats to put the score at 10-1.

The top seed tried putting the game away in the 5th inning after knocking out Moon starting pitcher, Lauren Protch in the 4th, but Alyssa Sisko pitched a scoreless frame in relief and her team would respond with some offense in the bottom half. After two quick outs, Sisko came to the plate and single off West Allegheny starter, Ashley Seamon. Protch would knock Sisko in with a two-out RBI double, cutting the West A lead to eight. However, the game would only go one more inning.

For the third time on Thursday evening, at least eight Indians came to the plate during the top of the 6th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Seamon helped out her own cause yet again at the dish by connecting with a two-run double to right field. With the score at 12-2, Moon had to score a run to keep the game going.

After Seamon walked McGinness and Emily Vith to start the bottom half of inning number six, the Tigers posed a threat to send the game the 7th inning. But like Seamon did all day, she worked out of danger with the first WPIAL softball championship in school history in her sights. Seamon would then get Clara and Lauren Niglio to both fly out to right fielder, Savannah Lewis, so Moon had one more shot with two runners on. Seamon forced a ground ball off the bat of Shannon Camardese and the final out was recorded – the West Allegheny Indians had won their first WPIAL softball championship in school history.

Both teams have qualified for the PIAA playoffs, which start on Monday. 

Tags: West Allegheny