Belle Vernon wins ‘game of inches’ over West Greene
Belle Vernon’s Bailey Parshall struck out 12 West Greene hitters Monday in her complete-game victory.
Madison Lampe slides into second base Monday on a steal attempt.
BELLE VERNON – Lexie Mooney stepped to the plate in the seventh inning with a chance to give West Greene the lead over Belle Vernon.
Mooney, who singled home West Greene’s only run in her previous at-bat, had the bases loaded with only one out and the Pioneers down 2-1.
The senior first baseman then hit the hardest ball of the game against Penn State commit and Belle Vernon pitcher Bailey Parshall, who had already struck out 12 batters. The frozen rope would have scored two runs if it hadn’t struck Parshall square in the rib cage and fall into her glove for the out. Parshall then retired the final batter to finish the 2-1 non-section victory.
“They’re probably one of the better teams we’ve faced,” Parshall said. “They’re probably better than any team in our section, honestly. They’re a better hitting team than we’ve seen all year.”
For most of the seventh inning, Parshall pitched with extra intensity. After a leadoff walk and a strikeout, Belle Vernon head coach Tom Rodriguez intentionally walked Jade Renner, who was 2-for-2, much to Parshall’s chagrin.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
West Greene’s Kaitlyn Rizor lays down a sacrifice bunt Monday in the fifth inning against Belle Vernon.
“I don’t know what I was more mad at,” Parshall said. “Throwing it down the middle and getting hit (by the line drive) or walking the girl before intentionally.”
While West Greene (14-4) head coach Bill Simms said he’s never satisfied with a loss, he realizes a game against a Class AAAA school in Belle Vernon (16-2) and a pitcher like Parshall prepares his squad for another deep playoff run.
“We come down here to play a game like that,” he said. “We would have loved to have seen it be 3-2 or something our way, but that was a hell of a softball game right there.”
Parshall didn’t take any time to show her top stuff to the reigning Class A state champions, as the senior struck out the side in the first inning. She walked two and allowed three hits in her complete-game victory. She allowed one run and struck out 12 batters, including striking out the side in two innings.
Despite her success in the circle, Parshall said the approach from West Greene’s hitters was unique.
“They just focus on pitches to hit. You don’t see that too often,” Parshall said. “Some teams see the game as an at-bat. They see it as each pitch. That’s different. It’s a good approach that they have.”
Belle Vernon jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring a run off in each of the second and third innings. Mekenzie Sokol singled home Jordan French in the second inning, and Sophie Godzak’s single in the third brought home Natalie French.
Godzak’s single was a hard hit ball up the middle that narrowly tipped off Jade Renner’s glove, which Simms said proves softball is a “game of inches.”
“This game plays tricks on you,” Simms said. “Jade has the ball tick off her glove, and they end up scoring a run that inning. We absolutely tear the cover off it (in the seventh) and line out and don’t score.”
Renner also threw a complete game, allowing two runs and eight hits. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out one.
The Pioneers cut their deficit in half in the fifth when Mooney singled home Brianna Amos, who was courtesy running for Renner.
“With the bases loaded, Mooney just comes up and tattoos the ball,” Simms said. “She’s a high-level player. She doesn’t get a lot of love for her efforts sometimes in the press or for all-state or all-section.”
Rodriguez said the close, hard-fought win will prepare the Leopards for the playoffs.
“I know they’re only Class A, but they’ve got a great team and a lot of great kids,” Rodriguez said.