Gilbert pitches one-hitter in West Greene victory
McMURRAY — Despite trailing by one in the first inning, Payton Gilbert pitched a one-hitter in West Greene’s 11-1 victory over Leechburg in the first round of the WPIAL Class A softball playoffs on Tuesday at Peterswood Park.
The Blue Devils (8-10) opened the scoring in the top of the frame when junior catcher Danica Sopcak singled home fellow junior Madison Weitzel for a 1-0 lead.
Gilbert didn’t let the early deficit get to her, as the junior struck out 10 and didn’t allow another hit in the five-inning game that was called due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Gilbert didn’t have to use many pitches to throw the Leechburg hitters off.
“Mostly my screwball was my pitch,” Gilbert said. “I was trying to get them to chase in the upper level of the zone, and that is what helped.”
The Pioneers (12-6) scored their 11 runs on seven hits. Sophomore Kendra Tharp singled home a run to knot things at 1-1 in West Greene’s half of the first. Her hit was followed by a Leechburg error that plated two more.
The Pioneers added three runs in the third and fourth innings to extend their lead to 6-1. Six-straight Pioneers reached base without an out being recorded in the fifth to put the mercy rule into effect.
Freshman Kylee Davis and Sophomore Emmaline Beazell led the way for the Pioneers’ offense, with two RBI apiece. Davis had multiple hits.
Gilbert noted how the first-round win gives West Greene momentum heading into its quarterfinal matchup against fourth-seeded Frazier on Thursday. The site and time have yet to be determined.
“I think it gives us a little bit of confidence,” Gilbert said. “We have to be prepared because Frazier is a good team. I think it also gives the underclassmen a little taste of their first playoff game, and gets them prepared for the next one.”
Frazier received a first-round bye in this year’s tournament, and has had much success in recent years, especially this year, as the Commodores are unbeaten in 13 games.
Despite the tough matchup, West Greene coach Bill Simms feels prepared. He believes that West Greene’s traditionally tough regular-season schedule helps condition players for playoff competition.
“We lost two tough section games to Carmichaels and two tough section games to Chartiers-Houston,” Simms said. “Everyone else we have played is either ranked or in Class 3A and 6A, so we feel we are prepared.”
Simms also gave credit to Frazier’s coaching staff ahead of the matchup.
“We know they are going to be extremely well-coached,” Simms said. “We just can’t get put into situations where they can get a little bit of momentum running on us. Don (Hartman) and Mandy (Hartman) do a good job over there and we know them very well, they know us pretty good, so we will see how it pans out.”