Jun 9, 2017 5 min read

SOMERSET – Most people realize West Greene is one of the most powerful hitting softball teams in PIAA Class A. The Pioneers have scored in double figures for 16 of their 25 games this season.

But Thursday in the state quarterfinals at Somerset High School, the Pioneers won a game with their gloves.

Three outstanding defensive plays, including sensational grabs by center fielder McKenna Lampe and shortstop Madison Renner late, put the finishing touches on a 3-1 victory over Claysburg-Kimmel.

The win sets up a rematch for the Pioneers (24-1) with Dubois Central Catholic Monday in the state semifinals at a site and time to be determined. West Greene defeated Dubois Central Catholic, 5-2, in the state semifinals last year in a game played at North Allegheny High School.

Claysburg-Kimmel, the District 6 runner-up, finished the season with a 16-8 record.

The Pioneers took control of the game in the top of the sixth inning when Renner and Kaitlyn Rizor hit back-to-back home runs to make it 3-0. But defense was the game-clincher.

Lampe tracked down a ball hit into the gap in right centerfield, seeming to appear at the last possible moment and making a running, back-handed catch for the final out of the sixth inning.

Madison Renner stole a single on the first Claysburg-Kimmel batter in the seventh, Emily Claar, by making a diving catch on the second base side of the bag. Corynne Weyandt followed with a single but winning pitcher Jade Renner got the final two outs.

“Any time you win a ballgame 3-1, you are playing some good defense and getting some good pitching,” said West Greene head coach Bill Simms. “Two plays that stand out in my mind was McKenna Lampe running down that ball in center – as good a catch as you’re going to see – and to start the seventh Madison Renner lays out and catches that ball. I was proud of our defense in this game.”

“I saw the bloop was between me and Kaitlyn (Rizor) and I knew someone had to make a dive for it,” said Madison Renner. “I dove and I was fortunate enough to get it into my glove. I’ll be feeling it (Friday).”

McKenna Lampe’s catch came against first baseman Madison Knisley and just after Courtney Garber hit a solo home run to cut West Greene’s lead to 3-1 in the sixth.

“I didn’t even think I caught it until I looked in the glove,” said McKenna Lampe. “I saw it was going deep so I took an angle on it and caught it. I was relieved. I think it was a pretty big play. I think it brought them down a little bit.”

The first web gem came in the fourth inning with a runner on first and no outs. West Greene was clinging to a 1-0 lead when Knisley sent a long fly to left that appeared ticketed for a double. But Linzee Stover made a great over-the-shoulder catch for the out. Starter Jade Renner got the next two outs to end the threat.

The back-to-back home runs turned a 1-0 lead into 3-0 for West Greene. Despite hitting in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots and accounting for 17 of the team’s 32 home runs, Madison Renner and Rizor had never hit back-to-back home runs.

“I didn’t think it was going to go,” said Rizor of her fifth home run of the season. “It was a low fastball. I didn’t hit a line drive. I got under it again. I think it was a huge momentum change, made us a lot more comfortable in the field and gave Jade some breathing room on the mound.”

It was Renner’s 12th home run of the season.

“I was just trying to pick up Madison and McKenna,” she said. “They got two outs there and I just wanted to keep the inning going. I wasn’t looking for a home run but I put a good swing on the ball and it went out.”

Until that time, Jade Renner and Garver were in a good pitching duel. Garver retired the Pioneers, who came in with a .430 batting average, on popouts in the infield on 10 occasions.

“When you play a good team like West Greene, you try to keep them off balance, which we did,” said Claysburg-Kimmel head coach Mike Barbarini. “They put two good swings on the ball on two pitches we made mistakes on and made us pay for it.”

Renner seemed flustered with the strike zone after allowing the home run to Garver but settled down after a visit to the circle by Simms.

“I told her, ‘Hey, you’ve got to grow up on me a little. If he’s not giving it to you where you’re throwing it, you’ve got to move it in the width of the ball.'” said Simms. “She came back and composed herself really well.”

McKenna Lampe gave West Greene a 1-0 lead in the first with a bunt double – no C-K player was covering second base – a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by Madison Renner.