Leechburg softball team taking aim at WPIAL championship

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 12:06 AM

Leechburg softball practice was forced indoors for most of last week because of poor weather conditions, and though the team would have preferred to be outside, being in the gym did allow a moment to check out softball banners hanging on the wall.

The banners show the rich history of a program that has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs a record 31 consecutive years. A banner that caught Morgan Pierce's eye was the one that documented the Blue Devils' WPIAL titles.

“1995,” said Pierce, referring to the last time the Blue Devils won a WPIAL championship.

It wasn't long after that Hannah Berry stated Leechburg's goal for the upcoming season.

“We want to put something up on that banner that's fresh,” Berry said. “We want to make our last year a big one. Go out with a bang.”

After recording a playoff win for the first time in seven years and making the WPIAL semifinals last season, the hope is to go further and win a district title for the first time in 23 years.

“That's definitely our goal, and I don't see why we can't get there,” Leechburg coach Debbie Young said. “We have some younger girls coming up that are pushing the older girls, which is awesome. There's a lot of competition for the open spots. They all want to play, so they're all working hard.”

Leechburg returns five starters in Pierce, Gracie Reinke, Kristen Knapp, Daesha Knight and Kiera Jones and has 17 girls on the roster. The Blue Devils graduated three girls who are playing in college: Lexie Young (Carlow), Kasey Klapheke (Penn State New Kensington) and Brooke Blumer (La Roche).

Pierce has been a three-year starting pitcher and is known for her velocity and strikeout capabilities. Knapp is her catcher. Berry plays third base. Reinke is a middle infielder, and Knight and Jones are outfielders. Knight is making a switch to center field from right.

Each returning starter played a role in a lineup that produced double-digit run totals a dozen times last year.

“We're pretty versatile, and we hit from top to bottom in the lineup, so I think we'll be pretty solid,” Knight said.

Pierce has balanced her time between getting ready for the softball season and rehearsing for the school play, “Tarzan,” which was performed over the weekend. Pierce played the role of Kala, Tarzan's mother.

Young said she has two capable backups at pitcher in Reinke and freshman Emma Ritchie if needed.

It's depth she's never had before.

“We normally don't have anyone to back up (at pitcher),” Young said. “Gracie did last year, but I think she's more confident if she's needed this year. Emma is coming in very strong as a freshman, and she's not afraid.”

Leechburg went undefeated in Section 3-A play last year. St. Joseph, Bishop Canevin and Riverview were the other playoff teams. Jeannette, Geibel Catholic and Ellis School also are in the section.

The Blue Devils are favorites to win the section again, but are wary that they'll get other teams' best games all season.

“I'd say St. Joe's is probably our biggest competition, because it's one of our nearest rivals,” Young said. “They want to beat us as much as we want to beat them. They're working hard. I know every year they've been getting better. Bishop Canevin has eight returning starters, so they could give us a run for our money, and Riverview always comes back with a pretty good team, too.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Leechburg