Lady Mikes look to regain momentum
CARMICHAELS – After opening with three wins in four games against quality opposition, Carmichaels ran into that buzz saw very few teams in Western Pennsylvania have been able to beat over the years. “I wish the weather would hold off,” said coach Albert McMinn. “We had some nice momentum going. We were hitting the ball and playing nice defense. We only made four errors in four games, and three of those came in our win against Laurel Highlands, so that’s some nice defense.”
Until, that is, the weather put an end to the run early this week. But Carmichaels has become used to near-unbeatable opposition. It’s finished second (twice) and third behind Chartiers-Houston in the Section 1-A race each of the last three years.
“We’ll be in the running again but Chartiers-Houston is definitely the favorite,” McMinn said. “They have an excellent pitcher. We’ll have to play a really good game to beat them, but we’re senior-oriented and have a nice pitcher ourselves. She throws well and she’ll keep us in most ball games, without a doubt. If we score some runs for her, we’ll be alright.”
Melissa Metcalf, a junior, is the Carmichaels pitcher. Last year’s all-section shortstop pitched through the fall and put in plenty of time at camps.
“It wasn’t a hard move,” McMinn said. “She’s a legitimate pitcher. In our first four games she had 26 strikeouts and seven walks.”
Replacing Metcalf at shortstop is Jessie McMinn. The interesting note on McMinn isn’t that she’s the coach’s daughter, but that she’s a left-hander. It’s a rarity at a position where right-handers are used because of the double play and the quick tag needed to catch base-stealers.
“We thought about moving two other infielders around, and looked at that a little bit, but we just weren’t jelling,” coach McMinn said. “We figured to go ahead and use Jessie instead of turning everything inside out. She’s getting more comfortable. And our motto is if you don’t let them get on first base, you don’t have to worry about having a left-handed shortstop.”
McMinn, a senior, was an all-section outfielder last year. Another senior leader is Autumn Willis, a four-year starter at catcher.
Another returning infield starter is junior Sarah Pavel. At third base is Megan Wood, who loves to play the bunt from 30 feet away. First baseman Amber Willis, another senior, is an outstanding defensive player.
McMinn believes Carmichaels has the best defensive outfield in the WPIAL, led by center fielder Dotti Virgilli. Angie Lasko plays right field and the speedster opened the season 9-for-13 without hitting the ball out of the infield. Jamie Menhart is the left fielder.
Jessie McMinn and Lasko give Carmichaels a pair of quick left-handed batters at the top of the order. Pavel bats third, followed by Willis and Metcalf.
Base runners off the bench are Annie Carter and Andrea Swestyn. Freshman Victoria Nolan gives the team additional speed.
“It’s a nice senior class,” McMinn said. “Five of them played for the section championship basketball team and they’ve been together five or six years, so it’s a nice group.”