Big Kiski hits doom Planets
HAMPTON TWP — Mars found itself on the wrong end of the biggest hits in Wednesday's WPIAL Class 5A softball playoff game.
While the Planets managed no more than one run in any inning, Kiski Area scored all of its runs in a pair of 4-run frames to grab an 8-3 first-round win at Hampton Community Park.
Mars scored a run in the top of the fifth inning when Emilee Waldrop led off the frame with a triple and scored on Izzy Berkopec's groundout. The tally cut Kiski's lead to 4-3, but the Cavaliers took all of the wind from Mars' sails in the bottom of the frame.
After two outs, a pair of errors and a walk loaded the bases with Mars reliever Kali Harris in the circle. Kasandra Cessna followed with a two-run single and Alayna Mintz tripled home two more to put the Planets down by five runs.
“We tell the girls that if an error happens, just shake it off,” said Planet coach Michele Goodworth, “but things can be contagious, good and bad. I had a feeling this was going to be a tight game.”
And it was for much of the afternoon. Mars built a 2-0 lead over the first three innings, aided by a pair of errors by Kiski left fielder, Cessna. A dropped fly ball in the first led to Jordyn Douglas scoring an unearned run. In the third inning, another drop allowed Berkopec to score.
“I hate to make excuses, but I think with Kasandra, it was just a bad case of the jitters,” said Kiski coach Maggie Jones. “Those plays were so uncharacteristic of her.”
Cessna redeemed herself in a big way, however. Her leadoff double in the bottom of the third ignited Kiski's first 4-run inning. After an RBI-double from Kelsey Sofaly and a run-scoring triple off the bat of Courtney Moyer, Mars pitcher Lindy Lee was replaced in the circle by freshman Kali Harris with two outs.
“We've done that all year,” Goodworth said of changing pitchers. “We have three good pitchers (Lee, Harris and Waldrop, another freshman). We've never had a team with three good arms like that and it's a big reason why we got to the playoffs.”
The Cavaliers didn't mind the pitching change. Alexa Nagy and Megan Andree both drove in a run with a base hit for a 4-2 lead.
Though four innings remained in the game, Kiski (11-6) had scored all the runs it would need. Mars' offense never was able to post a big inning, though it had the opportunities to do so.
The Planets loaded the bases in the top of the first frame against Andree thanks to a walk, a hit-batsman and Cessna's first error. But Andree, a junior, got out of the jam with just the one run scored against her.
“It's important to do well in the first inning and I was happy we scored,” Goodworth said. “I had confidence in what the girls could do the rest of the game.”
“We've been able to get out of jams like that, especially lately,” said Jones. “It's easy to get down (emotionally) in the playoffs because there's a lot of pressure. I think it shows a lot of growth not only in Megan, but the whole team for having her back.”
Mars (10-9) loaded the bases again with one out in the top of the sixth with two walks sandwiched around a base hit from Julia Maple. But Andree struck out Douglas and induced Waldrop to fly out to end the inning.
Andree allowed three runs (just one earned) on five hits in the win while striking out seven and walking three.
The Planets returned to postseason play this season after a 2-15 record in 2017.
“Our girls left it all on the field today, especially our four seniors (Lee, Berkopec, Douglas and Maggie Olshenske,” Goodworth said. “They wanted to get back to a place they'd been before, the playoffs. They took charge this year.”
Mars 101 010 0 — 3 5 2
Kiski Area 004 040 x — 8 10 2
W: Megan Andree 7 IP (7K, 3BB). L: Lindy Lee 2.2 IP (2K, 0BB).
Mars (10-9): Jordyn Douglas R, Emilee Waldrop 3B R, Izzy Berkopec 2B R RBI, Lindy Lee RBI, Kali Harris 1B 3B, Julia Maple 1B
Kiski Area (11-6): Kelsey Sofaly 2B R RBI, Courtney Moyer 1B 3B R RBI, Alexa Nagy 1B R RBI, Erin Weaver 1B R, Megan Andree 1B R RBI, Brooke Bires R, Kasandra Cessna 1B 2B 2R 2RBI, Alayna Mintz 1B 3B 2RBI
