One more faceoff
CALIFORNIA – When the WPIAL released its softball playoff pairings two weeks ago, there was a lot of talk when Belle Vernon was seeded second behind Yough, whom the Leopards had beaten only three days prior as the teams shared the Section 2-AAAA title.
Because of Belle Vernon’s 1-0 win over Mt. Pleasant, and Yough’s 7-1 win over Ambridge, in semifinal action Tuesday, the heated rivals will play to see who will earn the right to be called WPIAL champion.
Belle Vernon and Yough will play next week at California University on a date and time to be determined
“It will be a good game. We are the two best teams and that is how it should be,” Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez said. “That is what I am saying.”
Belel Vernon junior ace Bailey Parshall and Mt. Pleasant sophomore pitcher Caroline Alcinic engaged in a classic pitchers’ duel int he semifinals at Lilley Field.
Parshall, a Penn State commit, struck out 10 batters, didn’t walk any, and only gave up two singles in throwing a shutout, while Alcinic limited BVA to a pair of singles.
When asked about her performance in the circle, Parshall, who has 215 strikeouts this year, spoke humbly before deflecting praise to her defense, which only had one error against the Vikings.
“I brought it today but the defense was great,” she said. “I was able to stay ahead in the count, but we made the defensive plays.”
Belle Vernon (18-1) scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning, and its only hit up to that point was an infield single by Meghan Christner in the third.
With one out int he fourth, Kourtney Gavatorta walked. After Alincic struck out Mekenzie Sokol for the second out, junior Alex Sokol drilled a double to right centerfield. Gavatorta scored on the hit, sliding head-first across home plate.
“I was able to a good swing on the ball,” the Alex Sokol said. “Kourtney hustled around the bases to score.”
Rodriguez mentioned how he told his team before the game that a play here or there would win the game.
“I told them that little things will go a long way,” he said. “One play can win or lose the game and we made enough plays to win.”
Mt. Pleasant (12-3) only had two more baserunners the rest of the game, the last being a leadoff single by Chloe Poulich in the seventh.
Parshall buckled down by striking out Meadow Uncpher, getting Christina Czegan to pop out to Legazza behind the plate, and striking out Autumn Shogan to end the game.
Following the last out, Belle Vernon did not celebrate. The leopards had a businesslike approach before starting to chant “Our house” while in the pitcher’s circle.
“There is still a lot of work to do,” Rodriguez said.
After disposing of Mt. Pleasant (12-3), the defending WPIAL Class AAA champion, the 2015 Class AAA champion Leopards turned their focus to Yough, which they beat for the 2015 title.
The heated rivals split their two regular-season contests this season with each winning on its home field.
Rodriguez will enter his fourth WPIAL championship game as the coach at Belle Vernon.
The Leopards beat Elizabeth Forward in the finals in 2007, lost to Elwood City in 2008 and beat Yough in 2015.
“We are looking forward to Yough,” Parshall said with a serious look and tone. “It is going to be a good game and I am just excited to be here.”