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Frazier ends West Greene’s 13-game winning streak

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PERRYOPOLIS – Though the WPIAL softball playoffs start next Monday, it was a playoff-like atmosphere at the Perryopolis Ball Fields.

Frazier and West Greene have been two of the most successful small-school programs over the last four seasons. The two have combined to win four WPIAL titles and have racked up 29 playoffs victories over the last three seasons.

Iron sharpens iron.

Frazier got a brilliant pitching effort from Logan Hartman and scored a pair of runs to secure a 2-0 non-section victory over the Pioneers in a postseason tune-up.

“I really liked the response of this team after a tough loss (4-2 vs. Carmichaels on April 23) a couple of weeks ago,” Frazier coach Don Hartman said. “You can’t take anything for granted. They realized the magnitude of that loss and now we have some ladies that have a chip on their shoulders. West Greene is a great matchup because they are a complete team. This will help us out a lot.”

West Greene coach Billy Simms echoed those same thoughts about the matchup, as the Pioneers’ 13-game winning streak is over.

“We thought we needed to see some stiffer competition and luckily both teams had an open date today,” Simms said. “I’m good friends with Donnie and we always try to play each other every season. Frazier is always well-coached and they have a lights-out pitcher. I feel like both teams got better today from playing each other.”

Logan Hartman pitched seven innings and allowed four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 80 pitches.

“This was a good matchup for us,” the junior right-hander said. “We played with a lot of energy and it is always helpful to play in a close game against a good opponent. I thought our defense really held their own and it was just a beneficial experience for our team.”

The Seton Hill recruit only allowed one baserunner, a one-out single by Madison Lampe in the first inning, over the first four innings.

“I was watching their swings early on in the game, and I saw that they were on my outside pitches,” Logan Hartman said. “So I decided to throw inside and I got some weak contact. I threw toward their hands and really threw my backdoor curve for a strike.”

With two outs in the top of the fifth, the Pioneers (14-4) threatened with two straight singles by Mackenzie Carpenter and Kylie Simms, but on the latter West Greene’s pinch-runner was called out at third base to end the inning.

West Greene’s next scoring chance was in the top of the seventh when Jersey Wise belted a two-out triple. However, Hartman rebounded and ended the contest with a strikeout.

“Logan is tough to face because of her speed and experience,” Simms said. “In the future, we have to learn how to adjust to that style of pitching and what pitches to swing at. We haven’t seen a pitcher like her for a while. She’s an ace and hard to string hits against.”

After stranding two runners in the bottom of the first, Frazier (14-2) capitalized on a scoring chance in the second. With one out, Haley Somers smashed a single and then stole second base. Victoria Washinski followed with a single and Somers scored after an outfield error.

The Commodores doubled their lead in the fifth when a double by Emi Curcio scored Megan Celaschi.

“We got a couple of key hits and it was very important to grab that early lead,” Don Hartman said. “Logan pitched a good game and we were outstanding in the field. We didn’t have any letdowns in any inning. I liked the focus and the mentality of this team.”

West Greene pitcher Jade Renner went six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks. She threw 96 pitches.

The WPIAL playoff pairings are to be released Thursday.

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