Leechburg too much for Frazier
CALIFORNIA – The rains held off Thursday afternoon, so the Frazier Lady Commodores could face perennial Class A power Leechburg in the first round of the WPIAL softball playoffs at California University of Pennsylvania. The sixth-seeded Lady Blue Devils took advantage of three Frazier errors, and collected 10 hits on the day to eliminate the 11th-seeded Commodores 10-0 in six innings.
Winning pitcher Emily Batiz helped her cause with two hits, and scored a run, while holding Frazier to just two hits on the day.
“I’m happy with the win, but more impressed with the fact we committed no errors today,” Leechburg head coach Jim Oberdorf said.
“I’m happy to finally get a win at this field. We lost the last three WPIAL championship games at this field. Hopefully this win will break our jinx.”
Leechburg (14-4-1) took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Allison Shepler drew a walk to open the game. She stole second, and scored when Karlee Fisher grounded to short, and the throwing error on the play allowed Shepler to come home.
Frazier (9-6) had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
Kristen Miller got a walk to lead off for the Commodores. Larissa Kulikoski, protecting the plate with two strikes, singled to right putting runners at first and third with nobody out.
Batiz came back to retire the next three batters to get out of the jam.
“If we get that run, we could have got a little a confidence and picked up some momentum,” Frazier’s Bill Henderson said.
“Give Leechburg credit. They hit the ball when they had to and took advantage of our mistakes and won the game. Leechburg is a good solid team. I’m happy we made the playoffs this year, hopefully next year we can do a little bit better.”
Leechburg picked up another run in the second, when Lindsey Ulizio doubled and scored on a single by Maggie Jones.
The game started to unravel for the Commodores in the fourth inning. Leechburg scored six runs, but had only two hits and took advantage of two errors to open up an 8-0 lead.
Haley Bradbury singled to lead off the inning for the Blue Devils. Jones followed with a walk, and Katelyn Pochiba laid down a sacrifice bunt. The throw to third for the force out was late, loading the bases.
Shepler doubled to drive in two runs. Marissa Tira ground to third and was safe at first on an error, with Pochiba scoring on the play. Fisher followed with a ground ball to third. She was safe on an error, and Shepler scored, making the score 6-0.
Keli Barnes’ ground ball forced Tira at third for the first out of the inning. Batiz drew a walk to load the bases again. Ulizio followed with a ground ball. Fisher beat the throw to the plate increasing the score to 7-0.
Barnes scored the final run of the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Leechburg scored two more in the top of the sixth.
Batiz doubled and scored on a single by Ulizio. Bradbury singled and then Jones singled Ulizio to the plate. Batiz gave up a two out double to Frazier’s Jackie Higbee but retired the next batter to get the win, ending the Commodores season.