Hometown Softball Program Game Recap – South Allegheny – 04/21/2012

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, April 21, 2012 | 11:06 AM

A year ago, South Allegheny hit a good stride going into the WPIAL playoffs and, despite earning only a 13-seed, went on to qualify for the PIAA playoffs by winning the Class AA Consolation game. This year, it appears that the Gladiators are again hitting that stride.

Behind a terrific comeback, South Allegheny (5-4, 4-2) knocked off Greensburg Central Catholic (7-3, 5-2) 5-4 in 8 innings on Thursday evening in Glassport.

The Gladiators, who fell to GCC 14-2 earlier in the season, came out much more determined in this contest, as star hitter Taylor Geary would go 4-4, pushing her batting overage for the year to over .650, as well as scoring 3 runs, including the game winner.

Sarah Jacobs, despite giving up the 4 runs, pitched magnificently towards the end of the game and kept GCC in check, leaving base runners stranded several times.

Down 4-1 entering the 6th, South Allegheny plated two runs in the bottom half of the inning and then one more in the bottom of the 7th to send the game to extra innings.

In the bottom of the 8th, Ashley Spells would collect her first hit of the game, as she would ground a ball to second base. Leah Daigle’s throw to the plate would not be in time and Geary would slide under the tag to score the winning run.

South Allegheny is still going to have to fight for a playoff spot the rest of the way, as they have strong section competition from four other teams. Right now, it’s a three-team race for the final playoff spot between the Gladiators, Southmoreland and Steel Valley.