May 9, 2007 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

Laurel Highlands made the WPIAL softball playoffs two years ago and the group of seniors on this year’s squad wanted to go out with another trip into the postseason. The Fillies fulfilled their wish on Tuesday. Needing either a victory over cross-town rival Uniontown or a loss by Yough, coach George Kaiser’s squad got both in those Section 2-AAA contests.

Stephanie Martin tossed a three-hit shutout and Ashley Haragos led an 11-hit attack with three singles and two RBIs as Laurel Highlands defeated the Lady Raiders 12-0 in five innings at Bailey Park.

Meanwhile, the Lady Cougars were beaten by visiting Greensburg Salem, 11-5, giving the Fillies sole possession of third place and the final playoff spot in the section.

“It was our goal to get back there again,” Kaiser said. “We have a good bunch of girls with eight seniors, most of whom got to play in the playoffs two years ago. We thought we should’ve made it last year, but we didn’t. They responded this year and made it back in.”

Martin was dominating, striking out 11 with no walks. The only Uniontown hitter she couldn’t solve was junior Caitlin Krulock, who lined a double off the third base bag in the first and smacked a single to left in the fourth.

“Caitlin’s been our best hitter all year,” Lady Raiders coach Bo Clay said. “She entered today’s game with a .375 batting average. I could see she was hitter when she was a freshman and I told her she was going to play. She’s been our left fielder ever since.”

The only other Lady Raider to reach base was Jordan Merschat, who also singled in the fourth as Uniontown (1-14, 0-12) mounted its only threat of the game by putting two on with one out. Martin retired Elyese Grogan on a grounder to second baseman Kirsty Buckley and then Brittany Joseph lined out to first baseman Megan Wyda to end the inning.

“Stephanie pitched a real good game,” Kaiser said. “She kept everything low and hit her spots. Her and Becca Williams are our top pitchers and we’ll probably use both in the playoffs.”

Both senior hurlers are upbeat about their chances in the postseason.

“Most of us were on that team two years ago and experience definitely helps,” Williams said.

“We played some close games against some of the better teams, so that gives us some confidence,” Martin added.

The Fillies (10-8, 8-4) got a solid all-around effort on offense and scored in every inning.

Buckley drilled a pair of hits, including a triple, and had two RBIs, and Chelsea Grimm singled and also knocked in two runs. Jackie Gaddis and Hannah Holchin each had two hits, one RBI, one run scored and one sacrifice bunt. Wyda contributed a single, an RBI and two runs scored, and junior Jen Thomas, the only LH starter who isn’t a senior, also scored two runs.

Uniontown was hurt by five errors, but did turn in a nice inning-ending double play in the second with two on and one out when third baseman Jordan Merschat fielded a hot smash by Holchin, tapped third and rifled a throw to her sister, first baseman Courtney Merschat.

Losing pitcher Katie Patek walked six, but gave up only five earned runs. Patek and Courtney Merschat have served as the Lady Raiders’ pitchers in place of Davidienne Jobes, who left the team late in the season, according to Clay.