Trinity makes sacrifices to win section opener
Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Emma Morgan slides in safely to score a run last season against Connellsville.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Cameron Meier tags Connellsville’s Brooke Miller for the final out of Thursday’s game.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Bailey Bell slides safe into second base in front of Connellsville’s Abbi Frifuflietti Thursday afternoon.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trinity’s Reagan Perry and the Hillers face Gateway in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 6A girls softball tournament.
With Trinity High School’s softball team leading 4-2 over Section 2-5A foe Connellsville, the Hillers’ Sloan Altman roped a double to lead off the sixth inning.
Kaylin Venick then sacrifice bunted Altman to third base, and leadoff hitter Bailey Bell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Hillers an insurance run.
At the time, it didn’t seem like the extra run would matter. But in a game that ended with the Hillers winning 5-4 Thursday, the simple sac bunt and sac fly made the difference.
Entering the seventh inning, Trinity (1-0, 3-1) starting pitcher Reagan Perry hadn’t allowed a run since the second, and Trinity’s defense was errorless.
But as the rain started to pour on the Hillers’ brand new synthetic turf field, the Falcons scored two runs with two outs before committing the final out on the bases.
“It helps when you can put up a cushion and put those soft runs up on the board,” said Trinity head coach Shawn Gray. “What we did was execute a typical play. We got a leadoff double, and you want a bunt to third base. They’re executing what we’re teaching them.”
Gray said he was impressed with how Perry pitched in her first career section game. The freshman righty allowed 10 hits and four earned runs in her complete-game effort.
“Reagan is an effective pitcher,” Gray said. “She kept down the walks, but she’s an effective pitcher. We want her to make sure she’s keeping the ball low, and she does that. She keeps batters off balance. She’s not going to throw hard all the time, but she changes speeds with her changeup and her fastball, and that’s the key.”
After a scoreless first inning, the Falcons scored first with a two-run second inning. Kylie Yothers hit a one-out RBI triple to score Kylee Hoover, who reached base on a single. After an Abbi Friguglietti walk, Connellsville executed a first-and-third double steal with Friguglietti stealing second and Yothers beating the throw home.
Sadie Miller then hit a ground-ball single up the middle, which kicked off Trinity shortstop Marlaina Bozek’s leg to right fielder Bayleigh McCullough, who threw out Friguglietti at home to prevent another Falcons run.
“I was happy with how we were throwing the ball around and making sure we were getting outs and lead runners,” Gray said.
After two Falcon errors gave the Hillers a run in the third, Trinity broke out for three runs in the fifth inning. Emma Morgan, Kylie Poland and Marlaina Bozek hit three consecutive one-out singles, with Bozek’s scoring Morgan to tie the game at 2-2. Payton Barr then knocked in pinch-runner Emily Finny and Bozek to give the Hillers a 4-2 lead.
“We’re going to rely on her to come through because she’s the senior,” Gray said. “We’re looking to put people on for her, to have her knock them around. She should have a ton of RBIs for us this year.”
With the Hillers leading 5-2 in the top of the seventh, Brooke Miller hit a two-out, two-run single that scored Sadie Miller and Mia Burd. Cleanup hitter Kara Hoover didn’t get a chance to tie the game, though, as Brooke Miller was out trying to advance to second after her single.
“(Our first base) coach says she doesn’t know if she sent her or not,” said Connellsville head coach Rob Orndorff. “She’s got to understand that if the throw goes home she can go to second, but if it’s cut she has to hold. We need baserunners at that point. The girl running is a senior, and she should know better too.”
Burd, who started in the circle for the Falcons, allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits in six innings. Burd struck out three and walked two.
After finishing tied for fifth place out of seven Section 2-5A teams last season, the win over Connellsville (0-1, 0-2), last season’s section champion, might signify the rejuvenation of a Trinity softball program that was in the state championship game only three years ago.
Entering the season, Gray said the Hillers will be a “powerhouse” and compared them to the 2015 Trinity team.
The Hillers are only two wins away from their wins total of last season, as the team went 2-1 in its trip to the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., last weekend.