Deer Lakes wins 1st WPIAL softball championship
When Deer Lakes lost to Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL softball semifinals last year, a lightning delay disrupted the Lancers' momentum.
Lightning played a role again in Thursday's rematch in the Class AA title game, only it was of the two-out variety.
Deer Lakes, making its finals debut, rallied to load the bases and tie it with two outs in the seventh, then used sophomore first baseman Sierra Sarver's game-winning RBI-single in the eighth to edge Greensburg Central Catholic, 3-2, and win its first WPIAL championship before an estimated 1,098 fans at California (Pa.) University's Lilley Field.
Fourth-seeded Deer Lakes (19-1) took most of the game to get to Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore pitcher Anna Marie Gatti, a Syracuse recruit who struck out 10 and appeared to be in cruise control with a 2-0 lead. But when the Lancers finally got the bats around on the right-hander, it was their title to lose.
The late-inning drama punctuated a thrilling seventh for the Lancers. Two of the Centurions' four errors put runners at the corners with two outs, and Gatti walked freshman third baseman Tiffany Edwards to load the bases. That set the stage for junior right fielder Courtney Lubick, who ripped a two-run single to score pinch-runner Haley Ketchell and Sarver to make it 2-2.
“I had a chance to get the tying (RBI) against Mohawk (in the quarterfinals) but I didn't get the hit,” Lubick said. “It was nice to get another chance and come through.”
Sarver's towering single to deep center with one out scored junior shortstop Becca Babincak, who led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second and moved to third on an error.
“All year, our girls battled like this,” Deer Lakes coach Craig Taliani said. “We have had a lot of two-out rallies. That shows you they never quit.”
Sarver, who went 2 for 4, broke up Gatti's no-hit bid with a single in the fifth. Deer Lakes finished with four hits.
“I faced (Gatti) a lot in summer ball, so I knew what to expect,” Sarver said. “She was pitching well, but we kept our spirits up and never gave up. We knew we could hit her.”
Winning pitcher Haliey Moretti, one of only two seniors for Deer Lakes, retired 21 straight batters at one point, allowed three hits and struck out three on 74 pitches.
“I think when (Sarver) broke up the no-hitter, that kind of started it for us,” Taliani said. “We came out jittery, but as the game went longer, we knew we'd get our chance.”
Last year, the hard-throwing Gatti broke a Deer Lakes bat in the playoffs. This year, Deer Lakes broke the Centurions' hearts.
“Deer Lakes is a great team with a great coach,” GCC coach Gary Ciarimboli said. “We were stuck with that hockey score, 2-0. We didn't score that extra run and we let them come back. We didn't make the plays; we let them back in it.”
Seventh-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic (14-7) scored its runs in the first — one on an error the other via an RBI-single by senior first baseman Allie Perz.
Both teams will open the PIAA playoffs Monday at times and sites to be determined. Deer Lakes will play Wilmington, while GCC faces Fairview. Last year, GCC beat Fairview, 1-0, in the first round.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at bbeckner@tribweb.com or 724-226-2689.
