Waynesburg Central softball team looks back on unexpected successful season
The Waynesburg Central softball team exited to a round of applause on June 9 by every Waynesburg fan in attendance outside the fence along the first base line at California University of Pa.’s Lilly Field. The ovation lasted for a few minutes as the friends, family and fans all shared hugs with the players that took the town on a wild ride through the Class AA softball playoffs.
Tears were shed by most, but they soon turned to smiles as the girls began to realize what they had accomplished.
“If you look over there at that team and those fans, you would think that we won the game today,” Waynesburg coach Lou Giachetti said after suffering a 3-0 season-ending defeat to South Park.
“I’m just so proud of those girls,” he added.
Led by just five seniors, the Lady Raiders erased all thoughts of a rebuilding season that others had mentioned by losing just one game, a 1-0 defeat to Washington, of their first 12.
Back-to-back losses to Trinity and Washington, though, put a damper on their spirits late in the season, but as the playoffs rolled around Waynesburg propelled itself into playing its best softball of the season.
“I knew what kind of kids I had coming into the season,” Giachetti said. “They had a lot of inexperience, but believe me, all the talent was there.”
The Lady Raiders won each of their WPIAL playoff games by just one run, including a 3-2 championship victory over section rival Washington, who beat them twice in the regular season.
“We were known coming into this year as a rebuilding team,” Waynesburg junior shortstop Megan Summersgill said, “and I think that, honestly, we were a dream come true.”
That dream continued for the Lady Raiders through the PIAA playoffs as the team seemed destined to continue winning.
Another one-run victory – a 3-2 defeat of Brookville in the first round of the state playoffs – placed them in the quarterfinals and just two games away from playing for a state title, but that is where it all ended.
However, what they had done by then was set a school record for wins in a season and advance further than any other Waynesburg team before them.
“I’m so upset it’s over,” Summersgill said, “but then you have to think of everything we accomplished and I couldn’t ask for more.”
With all that happened in the past season for the Lady Raiders, it might be hard to look towards the future already, but it sure does look bright.
The 2006 edition of the Lady Raiders will feature a roster comprised of 13 players and a head coach that have experienced this ride, knowing what it takes to excel not only in the regular season but the playoffs as well.
“I think it gives them a lot of confidence for next year,” Giachetti said of the 13 underclassmen, but he was quick to not leave himself out either.
“Me too,” he said. “I know what it takes to get here now, too.”
Summersgill also noted that next year could be a lot of fun again, but a few things will be missing that will make it totally different.
“We have one more year, but the biggest disappointment is that I won’t have our seniors back next year, and that’s really upsetting,” Summersgill said. “But they have given me the best junior year I could ever ask for.”