Apr 25, 2019 4 min read

Emma Morgan and Kylie Poland have told different points of view on how their freshman seasons went for the Trinity High School softball team.

There is no mistaking how good the two sophomores have played this year.

“We come into every game with the same mindset. Seek and destroy,” Poland said.

And on a Hillers’ team that feeds on hitting heat-seeking missiles and has reached double-digit run totals in 10 of its 12 games, Morgan and Poland have been the definition of destruction in the middle of the lineup that has bolstered Trinity to a sizable lead in the Class 5A Section 3 standings.

“What they have done is allowed for the top of our lineup to just get on base. Then they clean house,” said Trinity softball coach Shawn Gray. “They are coming through and knocking runs in. It sets us up for the bottom half of our lineup, which is great.”

How great?

Entering Wednesday’s make-up game against West Allegheny, which the Hillers won 10-9 on a three-run homer in the seventh inning, Morgan and Poland were either first or second on the team in triples, home runs, RBI, runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Morgan leads Trinity with a .633 batting average, three home runs, 17 RBI and has scored 17 runs.

“I had to get out of my own head,” Morgan said. “It was very nerve-racking. It was a little bumpy last season. I still did good, but I’ve been pushed to reach my highest potential. Now, I just play ball.”

Poland’s .586 average is bolstered by a team-leading four home runs. She has driven in 15 runs and has scored 17 times.

“This year, I was really prepared, going into a new section with new teams,” Poland said. “Last year, I was almost too excited to hit. I’ve tried to stay calm and keep my cool. But it is really exciting to have runners on as a clean-up hitter.”

Trinity has had plenty of runners on base for Poland and Morgan, the No. 6 hitter, to bring around to score. Through their first 11 games, all 11 of the Hillers who regularly play have a batting average above .370, including five who are hitting at least .500.

If Hillers aren’t getting a hit, they are making opponents work to get them out. Not a single player has more than four strikeouts through Tuesday.

“Hitting is infectious,” Gray said. “It sets the tone for our team. It’s contagious. It’s something we rely on. It is something that we have relied on all season and that will continue into the playoffs.”

A nonstop lineup has helped an even bigger transition for Morgan and Poland, who stepped out of their comfort zones and into the pitcher’s circle after the departure of last year’s starter Reagan Perry.

Perry moved to Florida in the offseason after pitching as a freshman for Trinity.

The pair has formed a 1-2 punch that has combined to throw five shutouts.

“We thought we were going to have (Reagan) for four years,” Gray said. “But we were happy what we saw in the fall and they both knew our situation. They did the work away from the field and it has paid off.

“It’s been huge having them both be effective. They compliment one another, throwing at different speeds and having different movements. Kylie creates a lot of ground balls. Emma has a lot more control (than before) and puts a lot of pressure on the batter.”

Both are hopeful the selflessness is a key component to a program seeking its first WPIAL title and determined to destroy everything in its path.

“We have came a long way from where we have started,” Poland said. “We are a stronger team. Everybody is contributing. We are talking more. We are becoming a family.”