Shortest hits mean the most in Belle Vernon win
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Bailey Parshall has moved on to Penn State, leaving the Leopards to change philosophy this season.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Belle Vernon’s Natalie French bunts against Bellefonte during Monday’s PIAA playoff game at Peterswood Park.
Belle Vernon’s Sophia Godzak scores against Bellefonte’s Maddie Tice
McMURRAY - Southpaw pitcher Bailey Parshall gets the headlines for the back-to-back WPIAL Class 4A champion Belle Vernon Leopards, and understandably so.
The Penn State commit, who has a 0.30 ERA after giving up only seven earned runs in 160 innings this year, did her part Monday to help Belle Vernon down District 6 champion Bellefonte, 4-0, but her teammates came through with timely bunting that gave Parshall a cushion to play with that she ultimately did not need.
And because of it, the team now faces a familiar rival.
“I didn’t get as many strikeouts today, but the defense stepped up big and made plays,” said Parshall, who had 10 strikeouts to run her career total to 973. “The key today was bunting as we haven’t been able to do it all season but we were able to today and we scored because of it.”
Up 1-0 in the fifth, Vanessa Porter walked to lead off the inning and Casey Weightman singled.
Porter advanced third to and Weightman to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan French, and Kourtney Gavatorta placed a bunt perfectly in between the pitcher and second baseman to score Porter and the lightning-quick Weightman.
Bellefonte (15-4) had played the bunt with the first baseman charging and the second baseman heading towards first.
By the time the ball was picked up past second base, Weightman was crossing the plate.
Driving in a pair of runs on a bunt single is unusual but head coach Tom Rodriguez makes the team work on bunting daily.
“Every practice, Mr. Rod has us work on bunting and it came through as a key today,” Gavatorta said while smiling. “I had a lot of excitement having two players come in on one bunt.”
In the sixth, Natalie French bunted in Alex Sokol on a fielder’s choice after Sokol singled to right and advanced to third on a two-base error.
Rodriguez, who has led BV (22-3) to four WPIAL crowns, let his guard down while joking about bunting.
“We practice bunting every day and I take credit for it,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. “The girls work hard at it and I love it. These are the things you have to do to win games deep in the playoffs like this.”
Mekenzie Sokol, the hero from the WPIAL championship game who drove in the tying and winning runs against Elizabeth Forward, gave Belle Vernon the only run it would need in the fourth.
With one out, Parshall reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sokol then drilled a pitch of the left field fence to score Parshall.
“It feels great to have this opportunity to help the team,” said Sokol. “I always feel better when I contribute.”
Parshall scattered three hits, only one of which left the infield, and she stranded six runners.
Bellefonte loaded the bases in the sixth with no outs on an error, walk and bunt single, but Parshall got Maddie Tice to line out to Mekenzie Sokol at first and she stepped on first to double up Rianna Trexler.
Parshall then struck out Lexi Rogers after a 10-pitch at bat to end the inning.
The Leopards face rival Mt. Pleasant in the PIAA quarterfinals, and excuse the players if it feels like déjà vu. Last year, Belle Vernon defeated Mt. Pleasant in the WPIAL semifinals before winning the championship.
However, Mt. Pleasant knocked off Belle Vernon in the PIAA quarterfinals on its way to the PIAA Class 4A crown.
Prior to winning WPIAL gold last week, the Leopards defeated Mt. Pleasant, which had been undefeated, in the semifinals.
“We know them and what they can do and they know us and what we can do,” said Parshall. “Last year, we didn’t hit and had errors in the (PIAA) quarters. We will be more prepared than we were last year.”
The game takes place Thursday at a time and location to be announced.