Laurel softball made program history Friday at Penn State University’s Beard Field.
The Spartans won their first PIAA championships with a 7-1 victory over Chartiers-Houston in the Class 2A title game.
“This sounds good and feels good,” Laurel coach Bill Garroway said. “This speaks volumes to their talent and character. What was cool about today was that the brighter the lights, the bigger the stage, and these girls, this was the most relaxed I’ve seen them play all year.
“From the time we got to the school and made the trip, everyone was relaxed. They enjoyed it. They came out (ready to play) from the jump. They enjoyed the journey, and the journey took care of the destination.”
Friday’s game also was significant as it was the first PIAA softball championship game played where both teams were from the WPIAL.
“That’s the way it should be, because I know how we feel in Western Pennsylvania,” Garroway said. “(Chartiers-Houston coach) Trisha (Alderson) will tell you the same thing. We don’t feel we take a back seat to anyone with how we prepare, how we work and how we teach fundamentals. We work with these kids from when they are 6 years old and bring them on up.”
Laurel (20-6), the No. 3 seed from the WPIAL, swept its two postseason games from the Bucs. The Spartans also won the WPIAL consolation game between the teams, 6-5.
It was Laurel’s fifth win in a row since its loss to Neshannock in WPIAL semifinals
Chartiers-Houston (21-5) was seeking its second PIAA title (2010).
“Obviously, we’re disappointed with the result, but there are probably a 100 or more other teams that would like to be in our position,” Alderson said. “So, we are really still proud of the team and their efforts and making it this far. But it does hurt to not come through.”
Chartiers-Houston didn’t waste any time getting on the board as Kiera Drilak led off the game with a double to center. Lauren Rush then doubled off the center-field wall to bring Drilak home for a 1-0 Bucs lead.
Drilak moved to third on a passed ball and was 60 feet away with still no outs.
But Laurel pitcher Riley Balcom came back and induced two pop-outs to first and recorded a strikeout to prevent any further damage.
Laurel threatened in the bottom of the second as Madison Evans singled with one out, and Haley Balcom singled with two outs. But Drilak got No. 9 Alexis Bair to ground into a field choice to short to quell the threat.
While the Spartans were kept off the board, Chartiers-Houston appeared to be in good shape to add to its lead in the top of the third.
Mackenzie Shumar led off with a walk, and Rush collected her second double with a shot down the left field line to put runners on second and third.
But Aubree Randolph, in trying to bunt herself on and possibly bring home Shumar from third, was out when she made contact with the ball while stepping out of the box and into fair territory.
Seanna Riggle then popped out to second to end the inning.
“The first couple of innings, we needed to put the ball in play better, even a ground ball to the right side, get a bunt down, something to get those runs home,” Alderson said. “We could’ve easily been up 3-0 or 4-0. We just couldn’t cash in. And we were in a good part of our order (in the third). That’s the way it goes sometimes. I knew we were going to need to score more than one run.
“Hats off to Laurel. They played a great game.”
Laurel surged into the lead in the bottom of the third.
Mayce Lang and Hayden Seifert both were hit by a Drilak pitch to get the rally going.
Alexis Krol delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1, Elizabeth Pascoe gave the Spartans the lead with a sacrifice fly to left, and Evans put down a successful squeeze bunt to extend the Laurel advantage to 3-1.
The Spartans added on in the bottom of the fourth. Haley Balcom singled for the second time to lead off the inning, moved to second on a passed ball and tagged up to third on a flyout to center.
What seemed to be a harmless short pop-up in front of the plate off the bat of Seifert turned into trouble when the ball could not be played. Balcom scored on what was ruled a single to make it 4-1.
Laurel, which finished the game with eight hits, added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alexis Bair doubled with one out and came home on a pair of Drilak wild pitches. Lang walked and later scored on a bloop single to right from Haley Fell.
Seifert also walked, and courtesy runner Payton Kobialka scored the third run of the inning on a groundout to first from Krol to make it 7-1.
“You’ve got to (take advantage with runners in scoring position),” Garroway said. “Once we were able to make it 3-1, we were able to get the bunts going and the steals going because you want to try to add on. We got one here and three there, and the next thing you know it’s 7-1, and here I am talking to you guys (the media). It’s a great day.”
Riley Balcom picked up the win to finish the season 13-3. She went the distance and allowed just four hits while striking out five and walking one. She retired the final 11 batters she faced.
“The first two hits were back-to-back doubles, so she only had two hits against her the last six innings,” Garroway said. “She’s been a bulldog all year. She won’t be denied, just like the other three seniors (Ivy Pancher, Seifert and Lang). She had our backs, and we took care of her.”
Taryne Drilak took the loss. She struck out two and walked three.
“We’re going to obviously miss our two seniors (Rush and Riggle) a lot,” Alderson said. “I am glad they were able to end their careers here. I wish it would’ve been a win, but we have a lot of kids returning. It is so hard to get here. You have to take advantage of it when you get here. We just have to go back to work. That’s all we can do.”