Jun 14, 2018 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE – She is the match to the powder keg that is West Greene’s offense.

McKenna Lampe had one of her finest games in one of the most pressurized situations, using all her skills and all her might to set off the Pioneers.

Lampe hit for the cycle – single, double, triple, home run – knocked in four runs and scored three times to help ignite West Greene’s attack and spark an 11-7 victory over Williams Valley in the PIAA Class A softball finals at Penn State on a brilliant Thursday afternoon.

It was the second straight state championship and third trip to the finals for Lampe and her teammates, helping to sear the brand of “Champion” into the fabric of West Greene’s program.

“It was one of my better games because I’ve been struggling hitting the ball,” said Lampe. “This game was so important for our team and especially our three seniors. And we were playing Williams Valley again.”

Only a terrific play by Williams Valley third baseman Alex Bogle stopped Lampe from having a 5-for-5 day. Lampe laid down what looked to be one of her patented bunt singles down the third-base line.

Normally, she easily beats it out, then tries to steal second and, possibly third, but Bogle scooped it up and fired to first to get Lampe out by a half step.

“That doesn’t usually happen,” said Lampe.

“You could tell that they had her scouted from the previous times we played them,” said West Greene head coach Bill Simms. “We weren’t afraid to put it down with her flick and speed.”

Lampe, a left-handed hitter and thrower, launched a rocket over the center field fence about 224 feet from home plate for a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.

“She sets the table for us,” said Simms. “When she gets on, we’re a different team. But everyone’s leadoff hitter does. I think it’s really amped in our favor when she does. It’s a momentum thing. The kids are up, the crowd’s up. She is definitely a tone-setter for us.”

In the fourth inning, she laced a shot the other way to left field for a double to drive in Jersey Wise, who started the inning with a single off the ankle of Bogel at third base that broke a 3-3 tie at the time.

One of her patented bunt single put two runners into scoring positions and Lampe’s sister, Madison, drove in one of the runners and another scored on a throwing error to key a three-run fourth inning.

Lampe finished the cycle when she lofted a long fly ball over the head of left fielder Kali Whitcomb to drive in two more runs, then she scored on a single by Madison Lampe.

“If she was up with a base open, we were putting her on,” said Williams Valley head coach Ryan Underkoffler. “She is very good. What can I say?”