Hempfield softball coach Bob Kalp bragged that WPIAL Section 1-AAAA boasts an unparalleled collection of talented pitchers.
"I don't think any section in the state has the pitchers that we do," Kalp said. "And I think we have the best one at Hempfield."
The performance of Spartans pitcher Lauren Shaheen backs Kalp's contention. The junior right-hander with the five-pitch repertoire dazzled opponents this spring, going 16-5 with an 0.89 earned run average. She had 256 strikeouts in 157 2/3 innings and pitched nine shutouts for Hempfield (18-6), which reached the WPIAL championship game and qualified for the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2001. She pitched her first no-hitter, and struck out 22 in a 13-inning victory over Penn-Trafford.
"I was happy with the way I pitched this season, even though I wanted the season to last a little longer," said Shaheen, referring to the Spartans' second-round loss to Shaler in the state playoffs. "I started a little slow, but I seemed to get better as the season went on."
She needed to. Hempfield and Connellsville waged a spirited battle for the Section 1-AAAA title, ending as co-champions. Six of the seven teams in the section had overall records of .500 or better.
"I think we realized how valuable Lauren was to us, especially when you have to face so many other good pitchers," Kalp said. "Lauren had an outstanding year. She was much improved from her sophomore year, and she kept us in so many games until we could find a way to pull them out."
Shaheen added a curveball and rise pitch this season to complement her fastball, changeup and drop.
"Having five pitches has definitely helped me," Shaheen said. "I'm still tinkering with the curve and rise, but it gives the batters a little different look."
As for her batting, Shaheen said she suffered through a mild, midseason slump. An early season back injury limited her flexibility and hampered her swing.
"I batted .380 as a sophomore, but I couldn't get it going this season," she said. "I did have a few hits, and I had a double in the final game against Shaler, so at least I ended the season on a good note."
Despite her offensive woes, Shaheen's importance was magnified after she suffered a knee injury in the first inning of the PIAA game against Shaler. She was removed from the game when the knee stiffened after she faced only a few batters. Shaler scored six runs in the first inning off the Shaheen-less Spartans and raced to an 11-2 victory.
"That was my low point," she said. "It was a helpless feeling."
Shaheen's helplessness was countered by her finest moment, when she no-hit Latrobe.
"I play against the girls from Latrobe and I play with them in summer softball, and they always say they have my number. Well, that day, I had their number," Shaheen said.
That's a feeling more than one team has shared.
"I'm just glad Lauren is coming back next season," Kalp said. "Whatever worries I have, pitching will not be one of him."
