Neshannock Lances South Side To Repeat as Class A Softball Champs

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, May 29, 2014 | 8:40 PM

Much like the entire regular season and playoffs, the rains came to Lilley Field at California University on Thursday afternoon, but after an 85 minute delay, the Neshannock Lancers exploded for four runs and claimed their second consecutive WPIAL Class A softball championship with a 8-5 victory over the South Side Rams. It’s the third championship in the last three years for Neshannock, the Lancers also claimed a PIAA Class AA title in 2012. The victory was also the third this season for Neshannock over South Side, the Lancers claimed both Section 4 meetings.

Neshannock was led by junior pitcher Madison Shaffer, who struck out eight to pick up her second championship game victory. The Lancers got three hits and three runs batted in from junior Jenna DeLuca, including a key single in the fifth.  It was the defending champions who got on the board first, with two on, DeLuca delivered for the first time, singling home two runs. The Lancers turned a double play in the bottom of the inning as Antonia Yacoviello lined back to the circle to Shaffer, she threw to first for the twin killing. 

The Lancers added to the lead in the third, as Alex Fischer led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Madison Altmyer’s ground out. Neshannock had a chance to blow the game open in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out, but Shaffer hit into a double play, lining out to Connor McGaffic at first, who was able to double off Cassidy Burrelli to end the inning.

South Side answered to tie the game in the fourth, loading the bases with no one out. After a McKenna Smith infield fly, Yacoviello singled home both Cheyenne Seik and Sarah Androlia. The throw came to the plate and, as catcher Marissa Kirkwood returned the ball to Shaffer, Yacoviello took off for second, as Shaffer was not in the circle. The throw nailed the sophomore trying to move up but allowed McGaffic to score from third without a play, tying the game 3-3.

The first four innings were played in a steady drizzle which became heavier in the top of the fifth. Altmyer led off with a single and Gina Zingaro walked to put runners at first and second. Kirkwood singled to break the tie, scoring Altmyer. Kayla Zingaro reached first after Gina Zingaro was hit between second and third with a batted ball. DeLuca was at the plate with a 1-0 count when the rain came down hard, forcing the tarp to be brought on the field.

Both teams were in and out of the dugouts during the 85 minute stoppage. Neshannock coach Tracy Kimmel said he got on his girls a little bit for playing loud music during the break. Whatever was said, it worked as Neshnnock scored four runs after the delay. DeLuca lined the first pitch she saw up the middle to score Kirkwood. Marissa DeMatteo followed with a two run double to left center and Burrelli plated DeMatteo with a seeing eye single to shallow right field.

South Side rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, McKenna Smith grounded to short, but Altmyer fumbled the at plate and threw late to first. Hunter Hand scored from third and the bases remained loaded. Yacoviello singled out of the reach of Altmyer to plate Cheyenne Seik. But Shaffer came up big, striking out Lacey Weible to end the inning.

Shaffer was her strongest in the latter innings, fanning four batters over the final 2.2 innings. Seik led off the seventh with a single, but the Lancers defense took it one out at a time, getting two ground ball outs. After Smith brought the tying run to the plate, Yacoviello struck out to end the game

Kimmel said after the game that he really hasn’t played up the Lancers loss to Williams Valley in the PIAA championships last year. But he hasn’t had to. Kirkwood said that the Lancers have had that loss in the back of their minds all season. Neshannock entered the season as the number one ranked team and entered the playoffs as the top seed.

Neshannock got two hits from DeMatteo, Fischer and Kirkwood each. Shaffer was the winning pitcher, allowing five runs on six hits, walking five batters.

Seik went 3 for 4 for South Side and scored twice. Yacoviello had two hits. McGaffic was pitched around carefully, as she walked twice. The sophomore slugger has belted 29 career homers and is being recruited by Pitt. Smith took the loss, as the freshman allowed eight runs on twelve hits. She struck out two and walked four.

Neshannock Lancers   0 -2 – 1 – 0 – 5 – 0 – 0  = 8-12-1
South Side Rams  0 – 0 – 0 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 0 = 5-6-4