Lampe twins ‘set the tone’ in West Greene’s quarterfinal win
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
McKenna Lampe bunts for a single. Lampe went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
West Greene’s Lexie Mooney slides in safely at third base.
Lexie Mooney hitting a single in the fifth inning.
Second baseman Kaitlyn Rizor ranging up the middle and throwing to first for the out.
SOMERSET – McConnellsburg High School softball coach Dana Winters called for a timeout only three pitches into her team’s time on defense Thursday.
In the bottom of the first inning of the Spartans’ PIAA Class A quarterfinal against West Greene, something happened in a three-pitch span that flustered the Spartans to the point that a conference in the pitching circle was necessary.
That something was the Lampe twins.
Juniors McKenna and Madison Lampe caused havoc on the basepaths early to pave the way for West Greene to make its third straight PIAA semifinal, defeating McConnellsburg 10-0 in six innings. The Pioneers will play against Monessen Monday in the semifinals for a rematch of the WPIAL championship game.
“The girls did a great job out of the gate,” said West Greene head coach Bill Simms. “The Lampes make it go for us at the top.”
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
McKenna Lampe bunting for a single to lead off the first inning for West Greene.
McKenna Lampe led off the game at Somerset High School with a perfect bunt single – one that the McConnellsburg third baseman didn’t even throw to first. Lampe stole second base easily on the first pitch of the next at-bat, and saw no one was covering third after the throw and took off safely for two stolen bases on one pitch.
Madison Lampe then laid down a safety squeeze bunt on the next pitch to score her sister and was safe at first base. Without hesitation, she ran to second uncontested for an unconventional bunt double.
“It sets the tone,” McKenna Lampe said of her and Madison Lampe’s aggressive baserunning to start the game. “It shows that we’re here to play and that we’re not going to take them lightly.”
The Pioneers (21-4) scored two more runs in the first, with Madison Renner singling home Madison Lampe and then scoring on an error.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
Jade Renner didn’t walk or hit a batter in the win. Twelve of her 15 outs were made in the infield.
As West Greene went on to score seven more runs in the next five innings, Jade Renner was polished in the circle. The sophomore southpaw knew her defense and offense would carry the load, so she attacked the Spartans (12-12) in her five innings without walking or striking out a batter.
“She threw a great game and hit all her spots,” Simms said. “I don’t know if she missed a spot we were trying to throw to today.”
Twelve of Jade Renner’s 15 outs were in the infield, and only one runner reached third base. West Greene did not commit an error.
“Our defense was great today,” Jade Renner said. “It was really nice to be able to fall back on them.”
“It’s easier for her to pitch when she can trust us in the infield,” said third baseman Madison Lampe. “It’s a relief for her, because she doesn’t really have to worry about us.”
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
McKenna Lampe swinging at a pitch in the fifth inning.
The Lampe twins ignited another rally in the second inning as McKenna Lampe hit a one-out single and Madison Lampe was hit by a pitch. Jade Renner then doubled both Lampes home, and Kaitlyn Rizor followed suit with an RBI double to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead after two innings. In Jade Renner’s last three games, the Pioneers’ cleanup hitter is 8-for-10 with two walks, three doubles and seven RBI.
McKenna Lampe, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, tallied an RBI in the third when she singled home freshman Jersey Wise, who hit a scorching two-out triple. The Pioneers took an 8-0 lead in the fifth when Lexie Mooney, who reached base on a single, scored on a single by Wise.
“(Wise) is a very talented freshman,” Simms said. “We’ve gone to Jersey because of her speed and her ability to bunt the ball, but she showed her power today. She’s got some pop, and in future years, we’re looking for some big things out of Jersey Wise.”
Jacob Calvin Meyer/Observer-Reporter
Courtesy runner Brianna Goodwin sliding into second base to break up the double play.
Madison Renner, who relieved Jade Renner in the sixth inning and struck out two batters to stay sharp, then ended the game with a two-run home run in the sixth to initiate the mercy rule.
Simms said he is excited for the fourth matchup with Section 2 foe Monessen, which shared the section crown with the Pioneers. A site and time for the game is yet to be determined.
“It’s just nice that we have a great rivalry,” Simms said. “But it’s a shame that somebody’s not going to be able to advance on.”