Chartiers-Houston softball wins 9th WPIAL title
CALIFORNIA — For a little while during Friday’s WPIAL Class A championship game, it seemed Chartiers-Houston was going to let the title game slip through its fingers.
While the Bucs come from a small school and have a comparably small roster, one thing you have to admit: C-H girls are tough. And even tougher to beat on the softball field.
Chartiers-Houston roared out to a six-run lead in the fourth, saw its lead cut to just one run after five, then rallied over the next inning to clinch a 9-5 victory over top-seeded Union at PennWest California’s Lilley Field.
It was the ninth district title for Chartiers-Houston, which captured its first since 2012. Chartiers-Houston snapped a two-year hold by Union on the Class A championship.
“I’m really happy for the kids because they worked so hard,” said Chartiers-Houston head coach Tricia Alderson. “We’re super excited.”
The nine runs scored by the Bucs were the third highest allowed by Union this season. The Scotties defeated New Castle 18-12 and lost to Neshannock, 12-2. Both games were in non-section play.
The Bucs’ run total is even more impressive considering Union was a tough team to score on. At one point during the season, Union registered eight consecutive shutouts on the way to winning the Section 1 title.
Union (20-2) and Chartiers-Houston (18-2) will next compete in the PIAA Class A tournament. Chartiers-Houston will entertain District 5 runner-up Berlin Brothersvalley Monday at Peterswood Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
“We had some mistakes here and there,” said Union head coach Doug Fisher. “They were the better team today.”
Chartiers-Hoston made it to the WPIAL finals by beating Carmichaels, 3-2, in the semifinals. It defeated Jeannette 16-0 in four innings in the quarterfinals and had a bye in the first round.
The Scotties defeated Jefferson-Morgan, 11-2, in the quarterfinals and blew away West Greene 10-0 in six innings in the semifinals. Union also received a bye in the first round.
“We faced some really good pitching this season and in the first two rounds of the playoffs, so we felt pretty good that we were going to hit,” Alderson said. “We fell apart a little bit defensively that one inning but Meadow (Ferri) pitched great. I always expect a good performance out of her. She’s been fantastic this season.”
Ferri had six strikeouts through the first two innings and finished with 11 strikeouts and three walks. During that time, Ferri helped herself by hitting a triple that scored Lauren Rush in the first inning. The Bucs made it 2-0 in the second when Emily Swarrow’s single to right field scored Seanna Riggle, who got on after being hit by a pitch.
“The first four innings we were rolling and then we had a little hiccup,” said Ferri. “After that, we refocused.”
Rush and Ferri scored in the top of the third to make it 4-0, and Alana Palone and Ella Richey scored in the fourth to make it 6-0.
Union rallied for a run in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the fifth. The big hit was a two-run single by Olivia Benedict.
The Bucs came back with three runs in the top of the sixth. The big hit was a two-run single to right field by Zaylee Fonner.
“I never thought the game would slip through our fingers because we worked so hard,” said Rush. “We wouldn’t get rattled.”
The Bucs avenged a loss to Union in last year’s semifinals.
“This is a small school with a small roster,” said Richey. “But that just means everyone is important. We came to make a statement and let them know we came to play.”