May 7, 2002 By Justin Zackal For The 3 min read

HILLER – The Waynesburg Central softball team won its first section title since 1993 Monday. The Lady Raiders stretched the point by fending off a resurgent Brownsville team, 5-4, after the teams finished Waynesburg’s 17-0 blowout, which was continued from last Tuesday.

“It is fantastic,” said Waynesburg coach Lou Giachetti. “They set that as their goal and we believed in them.”

Brownsville threatened Waynesburg’s perfect Section 3-AA record when the Lady Falcons scored three runs in the final two innings, only to fall one run short with two runners on base.

“We had our chances,” said Brownsville coach Jane Bock. “We had a good chance to beat the undefeated team in the section.”

After recording one hit in the first five innings, leadoff hitter Gina Pelehac sparked the Lady Falcons’ attack. Pelehac slapped singles to left field in the sixth and seventh inning to lead Brownsville by going 2-for-4.

“She really got us started,” Bock said. “Her hitting got us off to a good start in the (sixth) inning.”

Julia Martini knocked in Pelehac with a double in the sixth, before Erin Guerrieri cut the lead to 5-3 when her line drive whizzed past the Lady Raiders’ drawn-in third baseman.

Tara Sassano’s infield hit in the seventh scored Adrienne Golembiewski. However, the Lady Raiders would not allow further damage as relieve pitcher Nikki Shriver ended the game by striking out Brownsville’s Amanda Mitchell with runners on first and second.

“Brownsville took the momentum,” said Giachetti. “I am not sure if we would have won it if we would played another inning. Brownsville swung the bats well and we lost our focus.”

Waynesburg (9-0, 15-1) scored its first four runs without a hit, as the Lady Raiders capitalized on Brownsville’s three errors and seven walks.

“We seem to play good defense and then in one inning it all falls apart,” Bock said.

Angie Kayla belted the Lady Raiders’ first hit when her triple to the left field scored Jessica Schifko in the third inning.

Kayla’s hit was one of four for Waynesburg, something that plagued the section champs all afternoon.

“I expected a letdown,” Giachetti said. “We just hit too many pop-ups and line drives.”

The root of that frustration came from the defensive play of Sassano, Brownsville’s center fielder.

Sassano’s stellar fielding was highlighted by nine putouts.

“Tara is an outstanding center fielder,” Bock said. “She covers a lot of space out there and she also has a tremendous arm.”

The Lady Falcons’ Lindsey Zidek suffered the loss after pitching a complete game, while surrendering eight walks and four hits.

Erin Cross hurled the win for Waynesburg pitching three innings and striking out three.

In a day when Waynesburg tied and clinched the section title, Bock admits that Brownsville (4-5, 5-7) gained a lot, as well.

“We earned some respect after being humiliated in the first game,” Bock said. “We are a better than that, and I think they got a better idea of what kind a team we are.”