Late rally nets laurels for Laurel
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Frazier pitcher Logan Hartman was pitching a nohitter going into the final inning of the WPIAL Class 2A softball title game Weddnesday at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. She had allowed one runner in the first six innings, and that came on an error.
But it all came crashing down for Hartman and her Frazier teammates in the final inning, as Laurel came up with two clutch hits to score the only run and upset the defending champions, 10.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” said Laurel coach Frank Duddy, after the sixth-seeded Spartans claimed their first WPIAL title. “We are in uncharted waters here. This is our first WPIAL softball championship and, hopefully, not our last. We’re still a young team as we graduate only two seniors. Don’t be surprised to see us here next year.”
The Spartans (13-3) broke up Hartman’s no-hitter with their only two hits in the top of the seventh. Mackenzie Latess tripled to right-center with one out. The ball fell just short of the fence and probably would have left the park if not for a strong wind that was blowing in from the outfield toward home plate. Kaylee Withrow followed with a double to left-center to score Latess.
“Mackenzie has been on fire for us all year long,” Duddy said. “She is batting in the .600s for us with a bunch of home runs. Kaylee does a great job of putting the ball in play. I was very close to bunting with her, but I let her rip, and, thank God, she did.”
Frazier (16-6) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Laurel pitcher Madyson Boyd worked out of the jam.
The inning began with Boyd hitting Kara Mastowski with a pitch. Rylee Evans and Lauren Mastowski singled to load the bases. Boyd struck out the next batter. Megan Celaschi followed with a ground ball to second baseman Allison Andre, who threw to the plate. It looked as if Kara Mastowski stepped on the plate before the ball reached the glove of catcher Taylor Wacikowski, but the umpire called her out.
“I absolutely thought she was safe,” Frazier coach Don Hartman said. “I didn’t even think it was close.”
“Nothing went our way,” Hartman said. “Logan threw an amazing game. She missed on one spot and gave up the triple. I tell my girls all the time that it takes a miracle to win a WPIAL championship.”