The WPIAL softball playoffs don’t start for another two weeks, yet Mt. Pleasant already has clinched its second straight section title and is fine-tuning for the postseason.
A 13-game winning streak allows for those kind of benefits.
The bat-barreling Vikings (13-1, 10-0) have not lost since opening day — to non-WPIAL Class A team Berlin Brothersvalley — and are surging toward a potential top-four seed.
Second-year coach Paul Reho can’t pinpoint one or two things that make his team churn, but he knows one thing:
“They just ball,” he said. “I love the compete in this team.”
Maybe it’s the new pitching machine or the next wave of talent, but Mt. Pleasant has outscored opponents 131-58, averaging 9.3 runs per game. It is hitting .389 as a group with 42 stolen bases, 30 doubles and 13 home runs, with a collective slugging percentage of .582 and an on-base percentage of 1.047 in flashing lights on the stat sheet.
But forget the stats for a second. Maybe there is more to this team, whose regular-season success is creating shades of some of the program’s powerhouse teams: 2016 and ‘21 WPIAL champions and ‘17 and ‘21 PIAA champs.
Mt. Pleasant hasn’t missed the playoffs in 21 years.
OK, pump the brakes for now.
This team has a long way to go to rival those headliners, but it has the make-up — and results — of a winner.
“It’s just their enthusiasm and want-to to win,” Reho said. “I thought we could be good, but I didn’t think it would be like this. Knowing how tough our section is, this is really nice.”
While the aforementioned title teams had power, pitching and next-level talent, this one has a different look. And it wins in different ways.
Sure, the third-ranked team in WPIAL 3A has four mercy-rule wins, but only two shutouts. They came back from 8-2 down to beat Ligonier Valley, 15-14, just got by Southmoreland, 9-7, and eked out back-to-back one-run wins over Yough (2-1) and Frazier (6-5).
“These girls have a love for the game and a love for each other, which overcomes not having D-I-level players,” Reho said. “They play for each other.”
And that means each class — seniors to freshmen — are communicating constantly and sharing information. Spare the Vikings cafeteria cliques and exclusive merit club. They are all in this together.
“We’re big on picking each other up,” junior designated player and first baseman Kendra Brunson said. “There is a lot of team chemistry.”
Reho knew he had a promising crop of young players, but he wasn’t sure how three freshmen would react in their first year as starters.
Relax, coach. They got this.
“They have been solid,” he said, shaking his head. “Just, really good.”
The ninth graders are outfielder/pitcher Sadie Poole, utility player Emma Miller and catcher Chloe Borelli.
“I knew I could bring some spirit and positivity and help pick the mental side up,” Poole said. “Our freshmen have blown everyone away. It’s been great being part of this team. Everyone is so genuine.”
Borelli said there is something to the camaraderie part of the equation.
Reho said past teams had quiet bus trips, and upper and lower classmen talked only when they had to.
“You don’t want it to be like church,” he said. “I want them to be loose and talking to each other.”
Said Borelli: “The seniors don’t think they are better than the freshmen. We can tell each other what we need to do better.”
Mt. Pleasant has only two seniors to go with six juniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen.
Junior Danica Trainer has been the engine in the pitching circle, with freshman Aubrie Keslar and Aubrie Poole ready in the bullpen.
Trainer is 11-1 with a 2.36 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 17 walks in 83 innings.
Poole and Borelli are the Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in the order, which has been dangerous, particularly the top six, who have 17 or more hits and 14 or more RBIs each. That includes Poole (.531, 21 runs), Borelli (.370, 18 RBI, 16 runs), Trainer (.420, 3 HR), sophomore Jenna Whipkey (.468, 15 RBI), Brunson (.553, 4 HR, 20 RBI) and Miller (.435, 14 RBI).
“It changes game to game,” Reho said. “We’ve been able to do some things with small ball lower in the lineup.
Brunson has homered in four of her last five games. The team had seven homers last year but is one away from doubling that total.
Brunson is hoping to help the team uphold the tradition that was elevated by her father, former coach Chris Brunson, and her sisters, Haylie and Krista.
“I know we are held to a high standard,” Kendra Brunson said. “Hopefully, we can get a good seed and have some success in the playoffs. I am looking forward to see what we can do.”