Belle Vernon hitters struggle in loss to Thomas Jefferson
BELLE VERNON – Belle Vernon’s offensive struggles continued Tuesday as the Leopards were shut out by Section 3-AAA softball leader Thomas Jefferson.
It was the fifth time Belle Vernon has been shut out this season, and the second time by TJ ace pitcher Lacie Lautner.
“We made contact and it could have changed the complexion of the game,” Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez said. “But the hits were right at people. That happens sometimes.”
Lautner limited the Leopards to five hits.
Lindsey Kalup led off the game with a walk off Belle Vernon pitcher Bailey Parshall, and four batters later Kalup scored on a two-out RBI single by Emily Scheidter that barely made it past second base.
Thomas Jefferson (8-0, 11-1) could have had a bigger inning if it were not for stellar play by Megan Christner in center field that stranded Jaguars runners on second and third.
Belle Vernon (5-3, 11-5) left six runners on base, and its best chance to score was in the fourth inning when it left the bases loaded.
Lexie Church led off the inning with a single, and one out later Kourtney Gavatorta walked.
After Lautner got Erica Amoroso to fly out to center field, Katelin Legazza singled to load the bases.
However, Lautner was able to get Alyssa Larson to ground out to second base to end the inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the seventh inning, when TJ added a pair of insurance runs that they ultimately would not need.
After two outs to start the inning, Sydney Flinn recorded her third single of the game.
After stealing second base, Flinn scored on a Rachel Bowers single.
Bowers advanced to second on an error, and she scored an unearned run when Alysa Fairman singled her in to end the scoring.
The win clinches a playoff spot for Thomas Jefferson and it will win Section 3-AAA barring any major upsets.
Rodriguez said that his team will keep working.
“We have work to do before the playoffs start,” he said.
Parshall, the WPIAL leader in strikeouts, had nine. Belle Vernon was paced offensively by Gavatorta, who had two singles.
Belle Vernon will play Thursday at Trinity. The Hillers are currently in fourth place in the section, one game behind Belle Vernon, which holds the league’s final playoff berth.