May 26, 2006 By Bobby Fox For The 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – “We were totally taken by surprise.” Those were the words that Waynesburg Central coach Lou Giachetti used to describe the nearly flawless all-around effort by the Neshannock Lancers during their WPIAL Class AA semifinal softball game on Thursday night at California University of Pa.’s Lilly Field.

“I told the kids that sometimes in softball or baseball it’s a great game because a team can come out and do what they did, and they were just a better team than we were tonight,” Giachetti said. “The bad rap on them was you put it in play and they’re going to make mistakes. Well I got news for you, I didn’t see any mistakes out there.”

That almost perfect defense, combined with a hitting display that Giachetti said was the best that he had seen since he was coaching was too much for the defending WPIAL champions to handle as the Raiders fell, 11-4.

Things started well for Waynesburg as it jumped on the board in the top half of the first inning. Senior shortstop Megan Summersgill led off with an infield single and was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt courtesy of pitcher Courtney Orndoff.

Catcher Alyson Johnson doubled Summersgill in to put the Raiders up 1-0. That would be the last Waynesburg lead of the game.

After Johnson’s hit, the Lancers’ Taylor Kimmel retired 11 straight batters. However, what Kimmel did on the mound paled in comparison to her work at the plate.

In the bottom of the first, with lead-off batter Jess Egbert at third following a triple, Kimmel came to the plate with one out and blasted a run-scoring double to tie the game at 1-1.

The following inning, Kimmel put her team in the lead with a two-run double, which was part of a five-run outburst. Designated player Tori Cicconi also had a two-run double in the inning.

Kimmel drove in another run with a single in the fourth to make it 7-1.

The Raiders weren’t ready to concede their crown just yet, though.

In the top of the sixth, Summersgill led off with a single into right field and Orndoff walked.

After Johnson grounded out to move the runners up, first baseman Nikki Coleman slapped a two-run double to trim the lead to 7-3. Waynesburg could not add to the rally and went to bottom of the sixth trailing by four.

Once again, Kimmel got the big hit.

After the Raiders got third baseman Maria Sansone to ground out to third, the next three hitters reached on singles to load the bases for the powerful pitcher.

With the infield drawn in to try and induce a double play, Kimmel drove a towering shot into dead center field and trotted around the bases for a grand slam.

“We got a bad rap on that pitcher; that she wasn’t that good,” Giachetti said. “She was pretty darn awesome and her batting, my gosh, that was just incredible. I’m just glad we didn’t face her on our field or she would’ve had four home runs.”

The Lady Raiders went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game and their bid for a second straight WPIAL crown. With the win, Neshannock advances to take on undefeated powerhouse Sto-Rox in the WPIAL finals, which will be held at Lilly Field.

Waynesburg’s season isn’t over yet. By beating Steel Valley in the quarterfinals, Waynesburg qualified for the PIAA tournament. Giachetti is hoping that his team can compose themselves and make a strong run for an even bigger crown.

“They had high expectations and we still do,” Giachetti said. “We’re still in the state playoffs and hopefully we can regroup. We’re wounded right now.”

For the Lady Raiders and their fans, they hope those wounds heal quickly and fully before starting another playoff run.