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Softball playoff capsules

The Tribune-Review
By The Tribune-Review
5 Min Read • May 27, 2001 | 25 years Ago
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Class AAA

Hempfield Area (20-2) vs. Shaler (15-3)

  • When: 3 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: California (Pa.) University

  • Road to the semifinals: Hempfield defeated Plum 9-0 and Trinity 6-0; Shaler defeated Greater Latrobe 2-0 and Elizabeth Forward 1-0.

  • The skinny: Hempfield is back in the semifinals after losing the championship game to North Hills a year ago. Hempfield features senior pitcher Tina Skelly, a Penn State recruit who won 20 games and struck out 204 betters in the regular season. ... Hempfield shortstop Jesse Gump will play college ball at James Madison and pairs with second baseman Syreeta Sanders to form an outstanding middle infield. ... Shaler had a losing record a year ago but beat out North Hills for a playoff spot this year. ... Sophomore pitcher Jesse Pranaitis is a big reason for the turnaround, throwing shutouts in both playoff victories. She also outdueled Sto-Rox star Megan Stone for a 1-0 victory earlier this season. Pranaitis is not a power pitcher like Skelly, but she mixes four different pitches well. ... Shortstop Becky Santo and outfielder Tarak Shasik are other top players for the Titans.

    Connellsville Area (16-3) vs. Baldwin (14-3)

  • When: 5 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: California (Pa.) University

  • Road to the semifinals: Connellsville defeated Penn Hills 3-0 and North Allegheny 3-0; Baldwin defeated Indiana Area 7-0 and Montour 1-0.

  • The skinny: Connellsville has ridden the power pitching of senior Bethany Swink, who is 16-3 with two shutouts in the playoffs. She racked up 139 strikeouts during the regular season. Swink also hit a two-run double off North Allegheny ace Liz Vrabel in the playoffs. ... Baldwin junior pitcher Becky Mezyk has also thrown shutouts in both playoff games so far. Mezyk is a solid pitcher who makes good use of an excellent defensive team behind her. The infield of first baseman Caitlin Gratton, second baseman Jen Hoetzlein, shortstop C.J. Gattens and third baseman Julie Becker has been particularly solid. The Highlanders have not made an error in the playoffs. ... Becker, Gattens and Mezyk have hit well in the heart of the Baldwin batting order. The Highlanders are aggressive baserunners and contact hitters.

    Class AA

    Riverside (16-1) vs. Burrell (14-2)

  • When: 1 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: Fairhaven Park

  • Road to the semifinals: Riverside defeated Freeport 5-1; Burrell defeated West Allegheny 5-4.

  • The skinny: This game is a rematch of last year's WPIAL championship game, which Burrell won 2-0 in 12 innings on a two-run triple by Bucs catcher Mary Beth Thomas, who returns this year. Riverside defeated Burrell in the WPIAL semifinals two years ago but lost in the title game that season as well. ... Riverside won WPIAL championships in 1994 and '96. Burrell's first title came last year. ... Riverside's one loss this season was to Hampton 3-2. ... Riverside relies on the pitching of junior Amy Aloi, who led the WPIAL with 228 strikeouts. She threw seven no-hitters during the regular season. Aloi struck out 23 Burrell batters a year ago. ... Burrell lost its pitcher from that championship team, Danielle Hooper but has surrounded junior Jackie Paulice with a strong defense anchored by Thomas. ... Senior centerfielder Kayla Hornack is the key to Burrell's offense from the leadoff spot.

    Thomas Jefferson (14-3) vs. North Catholic (16-4)

  • When: 3 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: Fairhaven Park

  • Road to the semifinals: Thomas Jefferson defeated South Fayette 9-0 and Canevin 4-3; North Catholic defeated Waynesburg Central 10-5 and Center 1-0.

  • The skinny: Both teams pulled upsets to reach the semifinals. Neither even won a section championship this year. This is the second trip to the semifinals in school history for Thomas Jefferson. North Catholic has never been this far. ... North Catholic features senior pitcher Debbie Tedesco, who has a 9-4 record with a 0.18 earned run average this season. ... Tedesco is also the Trojans' top hitter with a .538 average, three home runs and 25 runs batted in. ... Sophomore shortstop Kristen Domain has a .375 average and three home runs, and senior Brianne Hodanich is batting .412. ... North Catholic coach Bill Templin passed 100 career victories this season. ... Thomas Jefferson relies on senior pitcher Amy Hosmer, who drove in the game-winning run against Canevin in the semifinals. Hosmer's big improvement from a year ago has been cutting her walks from 80 to 32 this regular season.

    Class A

    Sto-Rox (15-4) vs. Leechburg (15-3)

  • When: 5 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: Fairhaven Park

  • Road to the semifinals: Sto-Rox defeated Fort Cherry 2-0 and Leechburg defeated Neshannock 3-0 and Vincentian 8-1.

  • The skinny: Both teams were also in the semifinals a year ago, when Sto-Rox went on to win the WPIAL championship. Leechburg lost in the semifinals and in the consolation game, missing the state playoffs. ... Both have been WPIAL powers for years. Leechburg won WPIAL Class AA titles in 1991, '92 and '96 and Sto-Rox won in '85, '86, '89 and '94, all before the WPIAL expanded to three classes for the '99 season. ... Sto-Rox junior pitcher Megan Stone has been dominant this season, allowing only one earned run. At one point, she had a streak of five no-hitters, four of them perfect games, setting a school record for consecutive innings pitched. ... Leechburg also has a dominant pitcher in sophomore Jen Kulick, who is also a standout hitter. ... Leechburg enters the game on a 14-game winning streak and has been impressive at times offensively. ... First baseman Melissa Klingensmith is a fourth-year fixture in the leadoff spot for the Blue Devils. Shortstop Amanda Skura is also a fourth-year starter.

    Chartiers-Houston (15-3) vs. Burgettstown (19-0)

  • When: 1 p.m. Tuesday

  • Where: California (Pa.) University

  • Road to the semifinals: Chartiers-Houston defeated Serra 16-0 and Beth-Center 1-0; Burgettstown defeated South Side Beaver 6-1 and Western Beaver 7-0.

  • The skinny: Both teams were also in the WPIAL semifinals last year. Burgettstown lost in the championship game to Sto-Rox. Chartiers-Houston lost to Sto-Rox in the semifinals but avenged the loss in the PIAA playoffs en route to a second-place finish. ... Both teams have dominant pitchers. Burgettstown's Romney Waters is 19-0 and struck out 153 batters during the regular season. Chartiers-Houston pitcher Erica Riggle is a playoff veteran who pitched the team to a WPIAL championship in 1999. ... Senior outfielder Alicia Midler is a key part of a solid Burgettstown lineup. ... Right fielder Alyssa Miller and shortstop Sarah Kapis are the other top players for Chartiers-Houston.

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