May 16, 2024 3 min read

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsrooom@observer-reporter.com

WEST MIFFLIN – The uprising Chartiers-Houston softball fans were hoping for finally occurred Thursday at West Mifflin High School.

A 15-inning, 7-5 loss to Carmichaels two weeks ago in the regular season had to be on their minds as scoring opportunities came and went against the rival Mikes. One key hit would have sent the Bucs home as Section 2 champion rather than having to share the title with Carmichaels.

The Bucs took their frustrations out on Jeannette pitcher Grace Stein yesterday, flattening her for two touchdowns and two two extra points in a 16-0 victory that lasted just four innings in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

Chartiers-Houston (16-2) advances to the semifinals against Carmichaels at a time, date and site to be determined.

Jeannette, which began the season with only seven players, finished the season with a full lineup and 12-3 record.

“We knew that she was a good pitcher so it was nice to have several days to prepare,” said Chartiers-Houston coach Tricia Alderson. “I felt our preparation was good and we put the ball in play the way we wanted to.”

The Bucs took control from the very first pitch of the game, which catcher Ella Richey sent over the left-field fence for a home run. Richey ended the game an hour later with a three-run blast that made it 16-0 that finished things under the Mercy Rule. Richey went 4-for-4, scored four times and drove in five from her leadoff spot.

“We knew (Stein) was a good pitcher,” said Richey. “Everyone was super excited and to start the game off like that, it got us pumped up and calmed the nerves. This is definitely a confidence booster. I hope this game feels good for everyone to hit off a good pitcher.”

Following Richey’s leadoff home run, shortstop Lauren Rush sent a fly ball down the right-field line. Jaiden Born reached for it but it was just out of her reach and rolled back to the fence. Rush never broke stride, getting an inside-the-park homer. In her next at-bat, Rush sent a line drive over the left-field fence. In all Rush went 2-for-3, drove in three and scored twice. Her most impressive at-bat might have come in her third trip to the plate, when she sent a half dozen balls over the left-field fence but foul.

“This was definitely a confidence booster,” Rush said. “Their pitcher and the Carmichaels pitcher are pretty similar. So I think this should give us confidence.”

The Bucs sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third. Emily Swarrow nearly had the second inside-the-park home run but it was called a triple and an error by the official scorekeeper when center fielder Mackenzie Lewis collided with Alexas Clayton while Clayton was attempting to field the ball.

“I knew they were a good hitting team,” said Jeannette coach Tubby Stein. “We knew they could hit the ball.”

Stein started the season with seven players, got some people to recruit the halls at school and even got some cheerleaders to come out.

“They did an extraordinary job for us. … They were probably nervous getting this far in the season,” he said.