Bad time for power outage
CALIFORNIA, Pa. — The Seneca Valley softball team's players and fans kept waiting for the offensive outburst that became a trademark of the Raiders' season.
But it never came.
Latrobe junior pitcher Alexa Bryson limited SV to one run on five hits as the Wildcats claimed a 5-1 victory in the WPIAL Quad A championship game, Thursday at California (Pa.) University's Lilly Field.
Bryson entered the title game after pitching a no-hitter in her team's 5-0 win over Peters Township in the district semifinals last week.
"She's a good pitcher," said SV coach George Trew. "She kept us off-balance and made us hit her pitches."
The Raiders (19-2) managed only one hit in the first five innings and found themselves trailing 5-0 when they came to the plate in the top of the sixth.
With two outs, Megan McCormick's single to center field scored Liz Dorogy, who had led off the frame with a base hit.
But Bryson got Nicole Lollo to fly out to end the inning. She then pitched a scoreless seventh, with Dorogy grounding out to end the game.
It was Latrobe's first trip to the WPIAL softball title game.
"This is a huge win for Latrobe softball," said Wildcats coach Bob Kovalcin. "We're trying to build this program to compete with the North Alleghenys and Seneca Valleys."
Bryson struck out nine and walked one to improve her record to 16-2.
Her counterpart, SV starter Lauren Pennell, appeared to match Bryson pitch for pitch in the early going.
Pennell set the Wildcats (18-3) down in order in the first two innings, but the senior ran into trouble in the bottom of the third.
Two of the first three batters reached base and Mollie Kovalcin lifted a double down the left-field line that scored Rachel Eaglehouse and courtesy runner Jillian Kniffen.
Kristin Schmucker reached base on a fielding error and Natalie Ferrari singled in Kovalcin and Schmucker to give Latrobe a 4-0 edge.
At that point, Trew elected to pull Pennell in favor of Courtney Grootegoed.
Pennell had twisted her ankle in SV's semifinal win over Hempfield, causing her to leave that game.
"She said it wasn't bothering her tonight," Trew said. "But she was slowing down a bit, and (Latrobe's) hitters were getting to her, so I made the switch."
Grootegoed pitched the rest of the game, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one and not walking a batter.
But other than the third and sixth innings, the Raiders never were able to put more than one runner on base against Bryson."I think once we got the lead, that pumped her up," Coach Kovalcin said of his pitcher."You have to bring your best game against a team like Latrobe," Trew said. "If you don't, you're going to get beat."But it's been a great season," Trew added of his team, which was 13-0 entering May. "Not many people would have picked us to be here at the beginning of the year. Plus, we still have the state playoffs."Seneca Valley will face District 8 champion Brashear (12-2) in a PIAA first-round playoff on Monday at a site and time to be determined.<B>Seneca Valley 000 001 0—1 5 3Latrobe 004 010 x—5 5 3</B>Lauren Pennell, Courtney Grootegoed (3, 1 K, 0 BB) and Megan McCormick; Alexa Bryson and Lauren Taylor.<B>W:</B> Bryson (9 K, 1 BB). <B>L:</B> Pennell (1 K, 1 BB).<B>Seneca Valley (19-2):</B> Liz Dorogy 2-1B R, Megan McCormick 1B RBI, Nicole Lollo 1B, Ashley Watkins 1B<B>Latrobe (18-3):</B> Mollie Kovalcin 2B 2R 2 RBI, Kristin Schmucker R SB, Natalie Ferrari 2-1B 3 RBI, Kristin Paul 2-1B, Rachel Eaglehouse R, Jillian Kniffen R
