May 21, 2015 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – A game removed from scoring 20 runs, Trinity High School’s softball team struggled to get any offense going in their WPIAL Class AAA semifinal loss to Yough at California University’s Lilley Field.

With the game tied, 1-1, in the fifth, the sixth-seeded Hillers (16-5) gave up five runs against the second-seeded Cougars (16-4) that led to a 10-1 loss at California University’s Lilley Field.

Trinity will play Southmoreland for the third and final berth in the PIAA playoffs Tuesday at site and time to be determined.

”Hands down, they are a good team,” Trinity coach Shawn Gray said. “They executed when they needed to. The pitcher kept us off balance. She has a nice screwball. She did well with it. She is a very nice pitcher.”

The Hillers had chances, but couldn’t come up with the timely hit, leaving six runners on base in the first three innings.

”To leave anybody on base when the game is still tight is just not executing,” Gray said. “We needed to execute better. We were ready to play. We can’t win games that way.”

Trinity junior pitcher Paige Galentine struggled with her command, walking five and hitting three others.

”They were waiting for their pitch because she was getting behind in the count,” Gray said. “You can be patient as a batter when that happens. When you are ahead, you can keep them off balance. It is hard to play defense or pitch against a team when you fall behind the batters. It is difficult, especially against a good hitting team.”

The Cougars opened the scoring in the bottom of the second without recording a hit. Yough pitcher Macy Mularski led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and came around to score after two walks and a wild pitch.

The Hillers tied it up in the top of the fifth. Senior Madison Hornak reached for the third straight time leading off an inning, ending up at second on a error. Hornak advanced to third on a flyout by Olivia Gray and came around to score on another flyout by Delaney Elling.

”I thought the game was going our direction,” Gray said. “Again, we left too many runners on base and you can’t do that. We didn’t put down a single bunt.”

The Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the sixth to put the game away.

Aubrie Mance delivered a clutch two-run single to break the tie in the fifth. Alona Sleith had a two-run home run during the offensive outburst for Yough.

Hornak had two of the three hits for the Hillers and reached base three times.