PIAA Softball Semifinals Recaps for Monday

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, June 11, 2012 | 11:48 PM

It was a rough day for WPIAL softball champions on Monday, fortunately for Neshannock fans, the Lancers did not win a district title this spring. Canon-McMillan, Montour and Chartiers-Houston all lost, however Neshannock will carry the WPIAL banner to Penn State as the Lancers play for a Class AA state softball title on Friday. Here are recaps from all four Western Finals in the PIAA Softball Playoffs on Monday afternoon.

A special thanks to Mark Uriah, Josh Rowntree, Mike Azadian and Bob Gregg for their help on these recaps.

PIAA CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS:

Bishop Shanahan Eagles 5 – Canon-McMillan Big Macs 4
Canon McMillan had the tying run at 2nd and the winning run at first in the bottom of the 7th inning, but Bishop Shanahan’s Kate Poppe struck out Olivia Lorusso on a 3-2 pitch, as the Eagles held on to defeat the Big Macs 5-4 in the Quad-A PIAA softball semi-finals Monday at Carlisle High School. Bishop Shanahan used the long ball to score all 5 runs. Alyssa Lewis hit a 3-run homer in the first inning, and Bridget Mcgee and Erica Keen led off the 5th and 6th innings respectively with solo shots. Canon McMillan pulled to within one run with three in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Maddie Engel’s two run-single drove in Riley Piechnick and Veronica Rothka. Giorgiana Zeremenko followed with a single to drive in Engel. Rothka’s one-out triple in the 7th, followed by Engel’s single again pulled Canon McMillan within one, but the Eagles held on for the victory and head to the PIAA title game Friday at Penn State against Central Bucks South. Canon McMillan’s season ends at 18-6, including the team’s first-ever WPIAL title, and first-ever appearance in the state playoffs.

PIAA CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS:

Big Spring Bulldogs 5 – Montour Spartans 0
For the Montour Spartans, it was a disappointing end to a season full of accomplishment. Big Spring (23-4) got remarkable pitching and just enough offense to knock off the WPIAL AAA Champions, 5-0, in a PIAA semifinal matchup at St. Francis University. Calli Pastor struck out six Spartans and allowed only three base runners, pushing her team into the PIAA Championship game for the first time in school history. In addition to her terrific day in the circle, Pastor also tripled, doubled and scored two runs, including the first of the game, which saw her come across on an error. The Bulldogs would add two more in the 3rd, as Pastor would double and score, along with Ashley Baker on an RBI base hit by Kayla Smith. They would tack on two more runs in the 5th, as Brooke Sullivan and Kelsey Minich (a courtesy runner for Baker) would cross the plate on an RBI fielders choice and error off the bat of Smith, giving them the lead of 5-0. The game marked the end to the career of Kaitlyn Kutchman, one of the top pitchers in recent WPIAL history. The loss in the PIAA semifinals is the second in three years for Montour, who won the WPIAL AAA Championship in 2010 and were also shut out in the semis, that year by Bellefonte, 3-0. Montour was noticeably missing one of their top players, first baseman Tori Roman, as well as key reserve Bre Peckich. Roman and Peckich, who are two of the four Montour seniors (Kutchman, Allison Hyradil), left the team after their Quarterfinal win over Punxsutawney and graduation from Montour High School. Montour's season ends at 19-6. The story though was the top five hitters in the order for Big Spring who, combined, reached base 11 out of 18 attempts at the plate. The bottom half of the lineup reached base just twice in 12 attempts for Big Spring, who will take on District 2 Champion Valley View at Penn State on Friday at 12:30 PM.

PIAA CLASS AA SEMIFINALS:

Neshannock Lancers 15 – Martinsburg Central Scarlet Dragons 5
In the PIAA AA state softball semi finals at St Francis of PA, the Neshannock Lancers easily defeated the Martinsburg Central Scarlet Dragons by a score of 15-5 in 5 innings. The Dragons scored first in the top of the 1st on a lead off walk, a single, an error and a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. With two out a walk brought in the second run and it was 2-0 Central. The Lancers shrugged off the tough first and plated 6in the bottom of the frame on 5 hits, 2 errors, and a walk. Katy Burrelli had the big 1 out 2 RBI triple as the sent 10 batters to the plate and it was 6-2 Neshannock. The Lancers would plate 1 more in the second on 2 hits to take a 5 run lead. Central racked 4 hits and 3 runs in the 3rd to get within 2 to make it 7-5. But at the end of the inning just when Central was rallying the Lancers turned a 1-3-5 double play. Paige Mock who had a 2 RBI double rounded third on a routine ground out, and Neshannock 1b Allie Fischer gunned her down. Central threatened in the 4th with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out but Lancer Pitcher Amanda Furst pitched out of trouble, she got a ground out and a pop up to end the inning. The Lancers scored another run in the 4th on 3 singles to go up 8-5. Furst retired Central in order in the top of the order in the 5th to set up the bottom of the 5th.The Lancers sent 9 batters to the plate. No one was put out. All 9 batters reached, 7 scored to end it at 15-5 by the 10 run rule. Furst gets the win going 5 innings, giving up 5 runs, 5 hits, 4 walks,  and struck out three as the Lancers improve to 23-1 and will move to the PIAA state finals at Penn St University on Friday June 15th. Central's season ends at 19-7. The Lancers had 6 bunt singles, and reached base on 5 Dragon errors. They also pounded out 16 hits. Three players, Rsyanna Furst, Madison Shaffer, and Amanda Furst all had 3 hits. 8 Lancers reached base 2 times. Marissa Dematteo scored three runs, and Ananda Furst had 4 RBI. Burrelli had 3 RBI. Lancer head coach Tracey Kimmel after the game said " this is the way we played all year, we hit and put pressure on the defense". They certainly do as the winning run came when Jamie Graziani who had a tough day at bat and in the field hit a grounder to first base. Central 1b Kassidy Snyder took the grounder, and at first looked to tag Graziani but realized the winning run was headed home. She threw to the plate late and drove in the winning run. Graziani did not get a hit but drive in 2 runs, and for Neshannock it was a total team effort as the move on to the state final for the first time in school history.

PIAA CLASS A SEMIFINALS:

Fannett-Metal Tigers 7 – Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers 2
District 5 champion Fannett-Metal scored four times in the fifth and two more in the sixth on the way to a 7-2 win over Chartiers-Houston and a berth in Friday's Class A state championship game  The Eagles lost both previous meetings against the Bucs in the state playoffs.  For Chartiers-Houston, it's the second straight loss in the semifinals after winning the 2010 state title.  Fannett-Metal (23-4) opened the scoring in the third.  Melinda Hammond was hit by the first pitch of the inning.  Amada Laye walked on a 3-2 pitch, and Megan Dougherty drew a four-pitch free pass loading the bases.  After a foul out, winning pitcher Blaire Lauthers walked, forcing in a run.  Chartiers-Houston (25-2) tied the game in the fifth.  Megan Kraushaar put down a bunt single and ended up at third when Lauthers' throw sailed down the right-field line.  Kayla Briggs doubled to score Kraushaar, but was stranded at third.  The Bucs left seven runners on base in the game, all in scoring position.  The Eagles earned the trip to Penn State's Nittany Lion Softball Park with clutch hitting in the bottom of the fifth.  Dougherty's foul popup was not caught between home and first, and she followed that with a bloop double to right.  Candice Cornell walked and Lauthers singled to load the bases.  Jenna Rhodes' sacrifice fly to center broke the tie.  Then, with two out, Naomi Fields doubled home two runs, and Melissa Zeger followed with an rbi double, pushing F-M's lead to 5-1.  Chartiers-Houston used three hits and a groundout to get Rachel Tucker home with a run in the sixth.  Cornell walked with two out in the bottom of the sixth, right before Lauthers stroked a two-run homerun to rightcenter, closing the scoring.  Lauthers allowed six hits and a couple walks but kept the Bucs from getting a clutch hit.  CHHS batters went 0-7 with two outs in the game.  Briggs took the loss, allowing seven hits and walking six in the game.

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston