Kalp, Hempfield look to stay the course after tough loss

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 5:48 PM

Hempfield softball doesn’t lose very often but when it does, especially by 10 runs, it comes as a surprise.

The Spartans have been so good, so dominant, that they often get as much attention for a loss as they do a win.

The Spartans’ 12-2, five-inning loss to Penn-Trafford on Friday at Seton Hill will go down as one of the worst losses under longtime coach Bob Kalp.

Kalp himself classified the mercy-ruled loss that way. He lists it with these others: 16-0 loss to State College in 2004; 10-0 loss to North Allegheny in 2003; and 13-3 loss to North Allegheny in 2014.

Three of the four losses happened in April. Kalp rarely loses in May and June.

Hempfield is out of the top-5 rankings and sits at 3-3. The team had three losses all of last season.

“That’s how it goes,” Kalp said. “You do this long enough, eventually you’re going to get your tail handed to you. … I guess that is solid evidence that I’m no rookie at that.

“We’re human.”

One might think Kalp could snuff out a bad loss. The man has 404 career wins and Hempfield has won the last four WPIAL titles and three straight PIAA titles in the state’s largest classification.

But those who know him would not be surprised if the coach loses sleep over the latest run-ruled defeat.

“Speaking for myself, our losses always get more attention than our wins,” Kalp said. “What is causing the wins doesn’t need corrected. What is causing the losses does.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield