Top-to-bottom attack working for West Greene
When the high school softball season began earlier this year, the West Greene Pioneers had a list of goals, much like many other teams.
Win their section. Check.
Win a WPIAL championship. Check.
Win a PIAA title.
The Pioneers haven’t checked that last one off quite yet, but they took the first step Monday when they defeated Clarion, 12-2, in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs at California University.
Up next for the Pioneers (24-1) is District 10 champion Saegertown (16-8) today at Slippery Rock University in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
“That’s our big goal,” said sophomore pitcher Madison Renner. “We’re not satisfied just winning WPIALs. We want to win the state.”
Everyone in the area knew the West Greene was primed for big things this season despite having just one senior on the roster. The team had an influx of good, talented freshmen in second baseman Kaitlyn Rizor, third baseman Madison Lampe and sister McKenna Lampe, among others, to a roster that also included pitchers Renner and Bailey Bennington, the team’s only senior and a California University recruit.
Those five players, who make up the top part of West Greene’s potent lineup, have been excellent all season, with each sporting a .425 or better batting average. All five have hit home runs this season and are game-changing players.
But, as is often the case in playoff games, it has been the bottom of the West Greene batting order that has been equally as dangerous.
In the win against Clarion, sophomore first baseman Lexie Mooney had a pair of hits, while No. 8 and 9 batters, Mackenzie Carpenter and Savannah Pettit – two more freshmen – drove in two runs each.
That came on the heels of a win in the WPIAL championship game over Chartiers-Houston in which Mooney had a three-run double and Carpenter had two hits in a 12-3 victory.
The Pioneers are more than just their first five batters or Renner or Bennington pitching.
“They’re solid, one through nine,” said Jefferson-Morgan coach Tony Barbetta, whose team faced the Pioneers twice in section play, earlier this season. “There aren’t many teams that can say that.”
Carpenter, in particular, brings something a little different to the table than the average No. 8 batter.
The right fielder is batting nearly .430 entering today’s game and would be a top-of-the-order hitter on most teams.
“We put her in the eight hole at the start of the season and have really just kept her there,” said West Greene head coach Bill Simms. “She’s had some big RBI out of that spot. And she has rolled over the lineup all year from there, either getting a hit to get us to the No. 9 spot or a hit to get us back to the top of the order.”
West Greene will put that lineup to the test today against a Saegertown team that has found its groove after some early-season struggles.
After losing, 6-4, to West Middlesex March 9, to fall to 8-6, the Panthers have rattled off eight wins in their past 10 games, dropping games only to Union City, which it rebounded to beat in the District 10 title game, and 3-0 to Erie McDowell, which remains alive in the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs after beating Baldwin, 3-2, Monday.
“From what I hear, they like to play a lot of small ball, moving runners and that kind of thing,” said Simms. “Using North Catholic as an indicator, they put up five (runs) against them, so we should put the ball in play. And they didn’t 10-run North Catholic, so we’ll see.”
If the Pioneers are going to continue on their run to a possible state title, they’ll need to continue to get contributions from the entire lineup.
“Sometimes, the bottom of the order is more key than the top,” said Simms. “You expect the top of the order to hit. The bottom, teams pitch differently, maybe they’re not as careful. When you get hits out of the bottom, it can really change things.”