Hempfield Shuts Out North Allegheny For AAAA Softball Title

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, May 28, 2015 | 9:56 PM

Morgan Ryan is not going to let a scorekeeper’s decision keep her up at night. Though polishing her gold medal just might.

Ryan, a sophomore pitcher for No. 1 ranked Hempfield (18-2), allowed just one, controversial hit in a complete game, 3-0 shutout of No. 2 North Allegheny (21-2) for the WPIAL AAAA Softball Championship on Thursday night at California University of Pennsylvania’s Lilley Field.

With the win, the Spartans claim their third WPIAL Softball Championship and first since 2009. The impressive title run comes a year after Hempfield failed to qualify for the postseason.

North Allegheny’s first hit, which did not come until the sixth inning, came off of the bat of Liz Scherer. The line drive would tip off of the glove of Ryan and ricochet to second baseman Jenna Osikowicz, who would apparently fail to apply a tag on North Allegheny’s MacKenzie Gostomski. Osikowicz’s throw to first would not be in time. Official scorekeepers ruled the play an infield single instead of an error or fielder’s choice, breaking up Ryan’s no-hit bid.

“I thought maybe we would’ve gotten an error,” said Ryan. “But it really doesn’t matter, we ended up winning.”

Hempfield was able to get to North Allegheny pitcher Madi Beining early, plating two runs in the second inning. Taylor Blevins would drill a one-out triple and, two batters later would score on a double by Madison Stoner. Moments later, Stoner would come home on a double error by North Allegheny shortstop Lacey Hildebrand. The miscue resulted in two of the Tigers’ five errors on the night. 

In the fifth inning, the Spartans would get an insurance run on an RBI groundout by Ryan, plating Kelsie Hendrick and extending Hempfield’s lead to 3-0.

After the infield single, Ryan would set down the final four North Allegheny batters, getting Hildebrand to ground out to first to seal the Championship victory.

Despite committing two errors, Ryan’s defense was solid behind her. The righty would strike out six of the first nine batters she faced, but 12 of her final 13 outs were by a Hempfield fielder. In all, Ryan struck out seven batters and faced just 26 total hitters in the game, just five over the minimum.

Stoner finished 2-for-2 with a double, run scored and RBI, while Hendrick added a pair of singles and a run scored. Beining allowed just two earned runs for North Allegheny in the circle, while scattering six his in the loss.

The win is the tenth in a row for Hempfield and second over North Allegheny this season. Both of the Tigers’ losses in 2015 have come to Hempfield. The Spartans will add their third softball trophy to the trophy cases in Greensburg. Hempfield also claimed titles in 1998 and 2009.

Hempfield and North Allegheny will move into the PIAA Tournament as the top two seeds from District 7 and will be joined by Consolation Game winner Shaler in the State playoffs. Hempfield will play Shaler on Monday in the First Round, while North Allegheny will meet District 10 Champion Erie McDowell.