Richey’s home runs get calm C-H to 2A title game
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
McKEES ROCKS – They’re baaaack.
Chartiers-Houston’s softball team will make another visit to the WPIAL finals, a feat secured with a 7-1 victory over Riverside on Friday in the Class 2A semifinals at Montour High School.
Last year, the Bucs made it to the Class 1A finals. This year will see Chartiers-Houston play for the Class 2A title.
“I think 2A is always a grind,” said Chartiers-Houston head coach Tricia Alderson. “We’ve been in 2A before. We’ve been in the semifinal game. It took us a while to get over the hump but we did so today.”
None of this would have been possible without the hitting of catcher Ella Richey and shortstop Lauren Rush and the pitching of right-hander Meadow Ferri.
Richey was the hitting star, smashing two home runs. The home runs were the 41st and 42nd of her career and 10th and 11th of the season. Rush also homered and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle.
Ferri got the first nine Riverside batters out. She struck out eight and allowed only two hits. And when the Bucs needed her to be extra special, she was. Ferri threw 12 straight balls in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs and sending assistant coach Dan Alderson to the mound to calm her down. Whatever he said, worked. Ferri got Cameron Frello to bounce out to second base to end the threat.
“It’s always a 10 when you win,” said Ferri. “But I definitely think we didn’t show everything we have. I definitely think we have more in the tank.”
Ferri said Richey’s home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning was special.
“It definitely helped us relax a little bit,” she said. “It helps to settle your nerves because you’re on the board. You know your team is hitting and hitting is contagious. Once Elle gets us started, I know it’s going to be a special day for us.”
Alderson said Ferri “did a great job, just like she always does.”
The C-H coach said she wasn’t close to taking her out after walking the bases loaded.
“She got focused and did her job.” Alderson said.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at North Allegheny but was switched Friday morning to Montour because of the inclement weather.