Norwin not backing down against Lexie Hames, Seneca Valley in WPIAL 6A softball finals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | 6:13 PM

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Norwin did not fear Hempfield in the WPIAL Class 6A softball semifinals, and the Knights claim they will not back down from star pitcher Lexie Hames in the championship, either.

Why? The answer is familiarity.

Fifth-seeded Norwin (10-10) hasn’t seen anything, or anybody, in the postseason it hasn’t seen before.

The team faced each of its playoff opponents twice during the section season, and No. 2 Seneca Valley (20-1) will be the latest rematch in what has been an unexpected run at a title.

The teams will play at 1 p.m. Friday for the district championship at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field.

Norwin has never been this far in a season. The title game will be its first.

Like Pine-Richland and Hempfield, Seneca Valley swept underdog Norwin in the nine-team section, but the first two teams could not make it three in a row in the playoffs.

Hempfield coach Tina Madison echoed the longstanding adage about how hard it is to beat a team three times in a season. Norwin hopes Seneca Valley also buys that assessment come early Friday afternoon.

“I think we can win it if we keep the same mindset we’ve had,” Norwin senior pitcher Brookelyn Kotch said.

Norwin stunned top-seeded Hempfield (18-2), the defending champion and No. 1-ranked team in the state, 5-2, in the semifinals, proving even a stacked team such as the Spartans are not infallible in the playoffs.

With their playoff nemesis and local rival bested, the Knights turned their attention to Seneca Valley and Hames, a Clemson commit who is regarded as one of the top prep pitchers in the nation.

Hames is 14-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 92²⁄₃ innings. She shut out Norwin, 3-0, early in the season, striking out 20 in a one-hitter.

Kendall Dudley broke up the no-hitter with a seventh-inning single.

Hames then worked only two innings in the rematch before exiting because of stiffness in her shoulder, neck and back.

Her mother and head coach, Marlesse Hames, said her daughter had a knotted muscle.

The discomfort bothered the ace for a few games after that, but she appears to be back in top form. She twirled a one-hitter with 18 strikeouts in a 7-1 win over No. 6 Canon-McMillan in the semifinals.

Norwin is expecting a big helping of Hames in the final.

“Another giant awaits,” Norwin coach Brian Mesich said of the Raiders. “We know how big (the Hempfield upset) is, but we can’t let that be our biggest win.

“With (Hames), we have to shorten the barrel, as I like to say — choke and poke. We have to put the ball in play.”

Kotch was effective against Hempfield, forcing Spartans hitters to pop up while letting her defense make plays.

Seneca Valley knows it can’t take the Knights lightly.

“Norwin is a great team,” Marlesse Hames said. “They can hit well, and they have a strong defense. In our section, I felt either Norwin or Pine-Richland could have a chance to beat Hempfield because of their strong offense.

“Actually, I respect all teams in our section. However, Pine-Richland and Norwin are two teams that I always worried about other than Hempfield because of their strong hitting.”

Coach Hames said her team can’t can tangled in fly-ball outs like Hempfield did. And the Raiders also need to play sound defense in the dirt infield at Cal.

“We need to be good offensively and create line drives and ground balls in the gaps,” she said. “We need to be sound defensively. Lexie needs to keep spinning the ball and work to create ground balls and flyballs.”

Kotch probably won’t overpower Seneca Valley, but she hopes to keep the Raiders’ runs to a minimum while getting some early action going offensively against Hames.

“We need to see the ball the whole way to the bat,” Kotch said.

Norwin senior third baseman Josey Michalski said the Knights can’t stand around and watch Hames blow fastballs and riseballs by them.

“We need to hop on her early,” Michalski said. “We have to have a different approach at the plate … and put the ball in play.”

Hames also carries a heavy bat. She homered and doubled against the Knights this season. She has eight home runs and 25 RBIs.

“Trusting each other is key, and bringing insane energy to the game,” Lexie Hames said. “We are going to be working super hard these next couple of days and go at it full speed on (Friday). I also think jumping on Norwin early is going to be crucial. They have extremely competitive hitters in their lineup, and it is going to be a tough game.”

Hempfield made a habit out of intentionally walking Hames in section games and in the WPIAL championship last year.

Norwin isn’t revealing how it will attack the senior standout, but don’t be surprised if they challenge her.

“We’re so happy to be here,” Michalski said. “It means so much to do this for coach Mes.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin, Seneca Valley