Lady Pioneers hand Monessen 8-1 loss
Edward K.Thompson
West Greene’s Madison Lampe slides under the tag applied by Monessen pitcher Dana Vatakis as catcher Carly Rock looks on during Friday’s Section 2-A game at Monessen.
Edward K.Thompson
West Greene’s Jade Renner winds up for a pitch in the first inning of Friday’s Section 2-A game at Monessen.
Edward K.Thompson
The Lady Greyhounds’ Dana Vatakis prepares to uncork a pitch during Friday’s Section 2-A game against West Greene at Monessen.
MONESSEN — McKenna and Madison Lampe have hit first and second in the batting order since they began playing softball in second grade.
In last Friday’s Section 2-A softball game that served as a rematch of the 2017 WPIAL Class A championship game, the Lampes set the tone by combining for seven hits and six runs in leading West Greene to a 8-1 win at Monessen.
“It is always huge to start fast against (Monessen ace Dana Vatakis) and our hitters at the top of the lineup did that,” said West Greene coach Billy Simms of the Lampes, who signed with the Army Reserves last week. “We wanted to get them away from the momentum and I have said for years that any time she is in the circle, they have a chance to win.
“The score does not indicate how close this game was, but on the flipside, I have some good kids in my lineup and we did well against (Vatakis).”
West Greene (5-1, 2-0) finished with 14 hits off of Vatakis, although the Robert Morris recruit struck out 11 batters.
Monessen coach Bo Teets knows there is a reason that West Greene has two straight WPIAL softball crowns and the 2017 PIAA championship.
“They are a heck of a team and I think they may have only graduated one player from last year,” he said. “But, when you talk about the majority and the meat of their lineup, they are all back.
“(The Lampes) are the catalyst for that team and really make them go because they are tough outs.”
The Lampe sisters singled to start the game and Madison Renner singled in McKenna Lampe.
One out later, Jade Renner grounded out and Madison Lampe scored to make it 2-0 in the first inning.
“When we can put pressure on them and take away the hope for momentum, it is huge,” said Simms.
West Greene’s lead doubled to 4-0 in the third thanks to three errors by Monessen.
After the Pioneers added another unearned run in the fourth inning, the Greyhounds scored their lone run in the bottom of the inning.
“Against a team this good, you can’t give them unearned runs,” Teets said. “Hopefully, we can get on the field soon to practice, if the weather cooperates.”
Maddie Guzzie singled to lead off the inning and Vatakis followed with a single of her own. Two batters later, Hannah Yorty singled home Guzzie make the score 4-1.
West Greene scored two more runs in the sixth as Madison Lampe and Jade Renner both had RBI singles.
The Lampes closed out the scoring in the seventh inning. With two outs, McKenna doubled and Madison drove her in with a double of her own.
Jade Renner held Monessen (1-1, 0-1) to five hits and struck out three.
“Jade pitched well and although they put the ball in play, we played solid defense behind her,” Simms said. “We will see them again and it will be tough.”
“We put the ball in play,” Teets said. “That is something positive that we will take out of this, but we have a lot of work to do.”
McKenna Lampe had three singles and a double, Madison Lampe had two singles and a double, and both Madison and Jade Renner had two singles for West Greene, while Vatakis led Monessen two singles.