May 22, 2002 By Mike Ciarochi 3 min read

GREENSBURG – The California girls softball team gave a good accounting of itself in the school’s first-ever WPIAL playoff game Tuesday. The Lady Trojans didn’t win, but they played a good solid game against Greensburg Central Catholic in a Class A first-round game. That’s pretty much all manager George Zarlino could have hoped for.

“I knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Zarlino said after his team absorbed a 2-0 loss to the third-seeded Lady Centurions. “Both pitchers did an outstanding job, but we just couldn’t hit today. We had to hit, but we couldn’t.”

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Lori Lantey was in control most of the way, even though she wasn’t able to approach the dominance she had shown in leading GCC to a 14-1 record.

“Lori averages about 12 strikeouts per game,” GCC manager Sam Gentile said. “I was a little surprised, California hit the ball better than I thought they would. The difference was our defense was there for us.”

Meanwhile, California’s Alison Edwards was more than willing to hook up in a pitcher’s duel. She didn’t allow a baserunner until Jill Cernuto opened the third inning with an infield hit. Cernuto was erased trying to steal on a perfect throw from Lady Trojan catcher Olivia Vargo.

Edwards faced only 13 batters through four innings, but GCC scored all the runs it would need in the top of the fifth. Lantey opened with a double down the left field line. Pinch-runner Chelsie Detore advanced to third on Kim Urban’s single and scored on Kathleen Atterle’s perfectly placed sacrifice bunt. Urban scored on Lauren Dominec’s single.

Atterle’s bunt was one of three sacrifices for GCC, which impressed Zarlino.

“They got their runs on basic baseball,” Zarlino said. “Get someone on base, move them up and get them home. (Gentile) did what he had to do to win. They are a well coached team. They knew exactly what to do when he wanted them to do it.”

“We’ve lived on defense and pitching all year,” Gentile said. “We’ve only allowed four earned runs the whole season. To score, we have to be basic. We’ve worked on it over and over. We have to move runners up and make the most of every baserunner we get. We try to keep it simple because we don’t have home run power. We have to manufacture runs.”

California had chances to manufacture a few of its own, but ended up stranding two runners in the third inning and one each in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh.

Seniors Staci Scrip and Chelsea Gillen got two of the three California hits, while Joanna Encapera got the other in the seventh and made it to third base.

Edwards allowed only six hits, struck out four and walked two, one intentionally. California did not commit an error.

“I’m really proud of the girls,” Zarlino said. “They came a long way this season. We’ll be back. We lose only three seniors, three girls that we’ll miss, but our pitcher and catcher are only sophomores. Olivia called a great game for us today. I didn’t make one call for her. We’re counting on our returning players to do some damage.”

The Lady Trojans finished the season 11-7 and can build off the playoff experience they earned Tuesday.

Greensburg Central Catholic is 15-1 and will play Beth-Center Thursday at a site and time to be determined.