May 18, 2016 3 min read

LATROBE – The softball team at Freeport High School didn’t let the bright lights intimidate them.

The Yellowjackets were playing their first night game of the season with a roster of underclassmen, including four sophomore starters.

They made the most of their opportunities, created runs, ignored the playoff pressure and erupted for six runs in the sixth inning to grab an 8-4 victory over McGuffey in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs Wednesday night at Latrobe High School.

Freeport, the third-place team in Section 3, advances to the quarterfinals to play either South Park or South Side Beaver.

McGuffey, the champions of Section 2, finished the season with a 14-3 record.

“You never know what’s going to happen in the game of softball,” said Freeport head coach Sam Ross.

Until the disastrous sixth, McGuffey starter Moriah McGuier was in the unusual position of having not given up a hit but trailing 2-1. The Yellowjackets got their first hit in the sixth and ended the inning with two more and the six runs that made it 8-1. Alyssa Obringer’s bases-loaded triple was the key hit.

“We walked the leadoff hitter (to start the game) and she scored,” said McGuffey head coach Jason Kern. “We gave up a run on a wild pitch and two more on (bases-loaded) walks. That type of stuff comes back to bite you.”

McGuffey had an opportunity to take control early in the game, loading the bases in the first and second innings but only managing to score one run. It was not until the bottom of the sixth inning before the offense kicked in and the Highlanders scored three runs. The key hit came from Meghan Shultz, who knocked in two runs with a single to center field.

“We talked about that. We wanted to jump out early on Freeport,” said Kern. “They are a young team with only two seniors in the starting lineup with four sophomores. So, five of the nine were underclassmen, sophomores or freshmen. We thought if we could jump on them early, we would have a good shot to win. Plus, they were coming off a loss to Deer Lakes for a chance to win the section championship.”

McGuffey loaded the bases for a third time, this one coming in the bottom of the seventh, but Freeport starter Kristie Radaun got Danielle White to ground out to second base to end the game. The Highlanders stranded nine runners on base.

The Highlanders lost their last three games of the season and struggled with injuries that kept players at less than 100 percent.

“I can’t say enough about this senior class. They had an impressive four years,” Kern said. “Three of the seniors are hurting and a couple might have surgery. (First baseman) C.C. Wagner has battled through a shoulder injury, and reaggravated it on Senior Recognition Day. Rachel Kleinhans dislocated her wrist and this was her first game back catching. Meghan Shultz has a toe injury that needs surgery, and speed is her game. They wouldn’t let me take them out of the lineup. They battled through and I can’t speak highly enough about them and the rest of this team.”