Apr 3, 2019 4 min read

There was an undertone to all of the chanting that echoed out of the Trinity High School softball team’s dugout.

There was a little anger stemming over from last season that mixed into the screams – the Hillers were one of the teams West Allegheny defeated en route to a second consecutive WPIAL championship. The Indians narrowly escaped an upset-minded Trinity last May, 4-3, in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

“We wanted revenge,” said Trinity leadoff hitter Bailey Bell.

For as much revenge as an early April game could offer, the Hillers got it Wednesday afternoon.

Stringing together 14 hits, including several that ricocheted off the makeshift outfield fence, Trinity made a statement by thumping West Allegheny, 9-4, in a Class 5A Section 3 game.

“To come out, take on the champs and put up a decisive win, it was sending a statement on what we thought we could do last year,” said Trinity coach Shawn Gray. “I was happy to see it.”

Trinity (2-0, 4-1) sent that statement and delivered the Indians their first loss to a WPIAL team since May 9, 2017 with continuous hitting, stellar defense and a solid pitching performance from Kylie Poland.

Poland limited powerful West Allegheny (2-1, 2-1) to four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three.

A pair of plays in foul territory by right fielder Emily Venick and first baseman Regan Miller quickened Poland’s day in the circle. Venick tracked a ball into foul territory and made a catch before crashing into the fence in the third inning. Miller slid in front of the West Allegheny dugout to make another grab, ending the top of the fifth.

“Revenge,” Poland said smiling. “I just tried to stay cool and collected. I threw a lot of junk pitches and my teammates really helped me shut it down.”

Poland got help from the entire Trinity lineup from the start. The Hillers had at least two hits in each of the first five innings, including a four-hit, four-run third inning that gave them a 6-2 lead.

Alyssa Rager broke the 2-2 tie when she walked with the bases loaded. Pinch-hitter Sloan Altman then blooped a single that landed two feet inside the right-field foul line and scored a pair of runs. Bell then hit a line-drive RBI single into center field to end the scoring in the third.

“We have to rely on our defense and our bats,” Gray said. “I’m happy with what we got on defense and we had solid hits today. We had runs in almost every single inning. It was an all-around good game.”

Seven of the nine starters for Trinity came around to score at least once as it extended its lead with one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. It was the first time West Allegheny lost by five or more runs in a regular-season game since May 4, 2015, snapping a 62-game streak.

“Trinity is a very good team,” said West Allegheny coach Mindi McFate. “We are very young and inexperienced. My kids were very nervous and back on their heels. (Poland) threw a really good game. Playing good competition is only going to make you better.”

Bell led Trinity by going 4-for-4, including a pair of doubles. She scored twice and drove in a pair of runs. Marlaina Bozek, Bayleigh McCullough and Emma Morgan each had a multi-hit games for the Hillers.

Maci Priddy and all-state catcher Britney Wilson each had a pair of hits for West Allegheny.

“This win definitely makes us feel big and bad,” Poland joked. “I think we are going to be strong. To be able to get a win, especially against that team, it’s a really good win.”