Raiders on a roll

By DEREK PYDA Eagle Staff Writer

May 23, 2005 Last Updated: May 23, 2005 03:08 PM High School

WEXFORD - If timely hitting and dominant pitching are what you're looking for, Seneca Valley put on a perfect display of both.

Though the Raiders managed just five hits against Peters Township pitcher Shaylee Ianno, two of them were home runs - courtesy of Tina Mangola and Courtney Grootegoed.

That was more than enough offense for Raiders' hurler Megan Wise, who surrendered just one hit and walked none in six innings of work to spark a 3-0 victory over the Indians in a WPIAL Class AAAA first-round softball playoff Saturday evening at North Allegheny High School.

"I don't know how I could come up with a better combination of timely hitting and pitching," said Seneca Valley coach George Trew.

"Two swings of the bat, that's what made the difference," said Indians' coach Bea Rhodes. "If it wasn't for that, we could've played here all night."

The win sets up a quarterfinal clash between the Raiders and Canon McMillan, with the date, site and time to be determined.

The game was scoreless in the top of the fourth when Mangola stepped to the plate with the bases empty.

The junior catcher had struck out looking in her first plate appearance two innings before, but spotted a pitch she liked and sent it over the left field fence for a 1-0 Raiders' lead.

"I noticed that a lot of girls were getting out on the rise ball (Ianno) was throwing," said Mangola. "So I was just looking for anything from chest-level down."

Meanwhile, Wise was moving through the Indians' lineup with relative ease.

Except for Ianno's double down the right field line that led off the bottom of the fifth inning, Wise had no blemishes on the day.

"Megan was on today," said Trew. "When she's pitching like that, she gets a lot of ground balls. And our defense played great behind her."

Of the 18 outs recorded while Wise was in the circle, 15 came on the ground.

After her two-run shot in the top of the seventh frame made it 3-0, Grootegoed came on to pitch a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the save.

"The (Peters Township) batters were catching up to Megan a bit," said Trew. "We decided to bring Courtney in because she throws a bit faster. That's her role."

Peters Township threatened to score in just the fifth inning following Ianno's two-base hit.

Dana Johnson laid down what appeared to be a sacrifice bunt, but SV third baseman Nicole Lollo was able to pounce on the ball and throw to shortstop Aly Intihar, forcing out courtesy runner Sara Walker at third base.

After another fielder's choice erased Johnson at second base, Natalie Wilson flied out to center to end the inning.

Raiders' second baseman Jackie Mangola collected three singles in the game.

Ianno pitched well in defeat, striking out nine and walking just one.

"I have to take my hat off to her," said Trew of Ianno. "We average about 10 hits per game and she held us to just five."

Seneca Valley 000 100 2 - 3 5 0

Peters Twp. 000 000 0 - 0 1 0

WP:

Megan Wise (6 IP) 1 strikeout, 0 walks.

LP:

Shaylee Ianno (7 IP) 9 strikeouts, 1 walk

Peters Township (11-6):

Shaylee Ianno 2B, Lisa Momeyer SB