Hometown Softball Program Game Recap For Elizabeth Forward Warriors – 05/03/2015

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, May 3, 2013 | 2:54 PM

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It was oddly fitting that on Senior Day at Elizabeth Forward, it would be a freshman that would deliver the winning hit. The Warriors (13-3, 9-3) got a walkoff, pinch hit, RBI single in the bottom of the 7th from Ashley Hoak, scoring a meaningful 2-1 victory over rival Belle Vernon (8-12, 4-8) on Thursday at William Penn Field.

But the best news came after the game, as EF would learn that last-place Thomas Jefferson had upset 1st-place West Mifflin 4-2, resulting in a split of the Class AAA Section 3 championship for Elizabeth Forward.

Portia McBride, who will attend Mercyhurst Northeastern College next year, pitched all 7 innings for EF, giving up 6 hits and 1 run, while striking out 5 Leopard batters.

EF got things rolling in the 2nd inning, as Katie Shinavski would double and score on an RBI single by Virginia Roche, making it 1-0.

But in the top of the 3rd, Belle Vernon would answer. Angela Sullivan would single, Molly Gauden would double and Lacey Washowich would knock in Sullivan on an RBI groundout.

The score would remain knotted at 1-1 until the bottom of the 7th. EF’s Ashley Baker would double and be sacrificed to 3rd by Roche. Two batters later, Hoak would pinch hit for Senior Jazmin King. Hoak would hit a ball down the 3rd baseline and beat out a throw to first, allowing Baker’s pinch runner, Jessica Guffey, to score the winning run.

Roche finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and Shinavsky finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Washowich was solid for Belle Vernon in the circle, pitching 6.2 innings and giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 4. Elizabeth Forward now has 4 non-section games to finish out the season before they enter the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, where they should receive a higher seed due to the section championship.

Belle Vernon’s season is over, as they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward