Carmichaels, Mapletown fall in one-run playoff games
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Carmichaels second baseman Shelbee McCann makes a diving catch against Bishop Canevin in a WPIAL playoff game at Peterswood Park.
Carmichaels’ Ashlynn Gillogly (3) and Megan Walker are both safe at home against Bishop Canevin’s Bree Bazeck in the 6th
Carmichaels’ Shelbee McCann gets the out at second against Bishop Canevin’s Brenna Nolf
Carmichaels' Kylie Sinn pitches against Bishop Canevin.
Mapletown
Mapletown’s Kailey Stover gets the out at first base and avoids Sewickley Academy’s Alexis Barlock (23).
Mapletown’s Madison Blacker pitched against Sewickley Academy.
Bentworth’s Leah Lindley pitches against Laurel.
Bentworth’s Jessica Rothka scores the only run for Bentworth against Laurel.
Bentworth’s Savannah Adams gets Laurel’s Mackenzie Latess out at second base.
McMURRAY – It was a rollercoaster day at Peterswood Park Monday for Greene County softball, with both Carmichaels and Mapletown losing in opposite fashions.
After Bentworth lost 8-1 in its WPIAL Class AA first-round game to Laurel earlier in the afternoon, the Mikes couldn’t quite finish their comeback from down seven runs in the sixth inning, while the Maples couldn’t hold several late-innings leads.
Carmichaels, the No. 5 seed in Class A, was playing No. 12-seeded Bishop Canevin, while Mapletown, the No. 11 seed in Class A, took on No. 6-seeded Sewickley Academy.
The Mikes’ seven-run deficit in the sixth inning was too much to overcome, as the Crusaders pulled off the 7-6 upset. The Maples lost a five-run sixth-inning lead and a two-run seventh-inning lead while falling 13-12 to the Panthers.
“We would’ve liked to have won, but it’s nothing to hold our heads about,” Mapletown head coach Gina Perry said. “Mapletown hadn’t made the playoffs since 2008, and we gave Sewickley a run for its money.”
Carmichaels head coach Dave Briggs said his team wasn’t able to regain the momentum after the Mikes were down by three runs in the first inning.
“We had a couple of misplays in the first inning that gave them the momentum, and it just didn’t seem like we could get it back,” Briggs said.
In that first inning, Bishop Canevin’s leadoff hitter, Clare McMahon, reached on a two-base error, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on another error. The next two Canevin (9-5) runs in the inning reached base on an error and walk and scored on singles by Kasey Kaczorowski and Tamara Blue.
Four straight two-out Canevin hits in the fourth gave the Crusaders a 6-0 lead.
Canevin’s patient approach at the plate ran up Carmichaels (12-7) pitcher Kylie Sinn’s pitch count. The sophomore, who allowed nine hits and seven runs (four earned), threw 158 pitches, including 41 in the fourth inning.
“She was laboring a little bit,” Briggs said. “She got hit in the calf during practice Saturday, and then she got drilled right in the same spot (by a hit by pitch) today … so that didn’t help things. It affected her. She gutted it out, but she was hurting.”
Losego, who threw a complete game and was the winning pitcher, kept Carmichaels off-balance for five innings before Carmichaels exploded for six unearned runs in the sixth to close to within 7-6.
After Shelbee McCann’s one-out single put two runners on base for the bottom of Carmichaels’ order, the next two Mikes reached on errors. Ashlynn Gillogly and Megan Walker both walked to force in runs, and Sinn hit a three-run double to draw the Mikes to within one entering the seventh inning.
“(Carmichaels) wasn’t going to go down without a fight,” said Canevin coach Karen Seitz-LaFianza. “They’re a No. 5 seed for a reason. They’re just not going to lie down for us. I’m proud of my girls for hanging on there, keeping their composure and sticking with it.”
Losego threw a scoreless seventh inning to secure the win.
“I don’t want to boast, but Carmichaels shouldn’t be playing a team as good as we are,” Seitz-LaFianza said. “We’re in the toughest section in (Class A). I’m not saying we should have a bye, but we’re not the worst out of the playoff teams. We’re just not.”
Sewickley (11-4) began the game with poor defense that led to three runs. Macee Chesney reached base and scored on an error, and Madoleen Grim singled home Katherine Fox and Makenzie Cree later in the inning.
After freshman pitcher Madison Blaker threw a scoreless first inning, the Maples scored four more runs in the second to take an early 7-0 lead. Chesney, Fox and Cree each drove home runs.
Olivia Ryder hit a two-run single to reduce the Panthers’ deficit to five runs in the second inning. Mapletown (8-8) answered in the third with two runs as Sara Chory and Taylor Vanata, who went 3-for-5 with three stolen bases and three runs, each hit run-scoring singles. Sewickley scored two more in the third, and both teams added a run in the fourth to make the score 10-5.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Panthers rallied for five runs on four hits in the sixth. Ryder led off with a triple and Maggie Goebel singled her home. After Sewickley scored on a double steal, Alexis Barlock drove in two runs and scored on a passed ball to tie the game.
“It was a combo of both hits and errors,” Perry said. “Sewickley did start hitting the ball much better in the sixth and seventh innings. There were other plays along the way that could’ve gone a little bit better for us defensively.”
Vanata and Chory each scored in the top of the seventh to put the Maples back on top, but Sewickley rallied from another deficit, with Patterson hitting the walk-off single.
Laurel, 8-1
It didn’t take long for No. 6-seeded Laurel to show its dominance over No. 11 Bentworth.
Laurel starting pitcher Maddie Boyd struck out the side in the first inning, and the Spartans scored six runs in the bottom of the frame. Boyd allowed one run and three hits in her complete-game win. She walked four and struck out 10.
“(Boyd) pitched a nice game,” said Bentworth head coach Jack Cramer. “We helped her out by swinging at the high pitches. If we would have laid off the high pitches, we would have more pitches to hit.”
After Boyd singled home two runs in the first, Bentworth pitcher Leah Lindley was one out away from escaping the first-inning jam. Laurel’s Alyssa Miller and Breagan Fedrizzi roped base hits to bring home two runs apiece.
Laurel (10-3) scored in each of its next two innings, while Bentworth’s only run came on a single by Emilie Snyder that scored Jessica Rothka.
“We knew they were a good hitting team,” Cramer said. “They hit the ball, and we didn’t really hit when we needed to. We’ve been hitting the ball fairly well. One day we hit, one day we don’t.”