May 22, 2007 By Dale Grdnic For The 4 min read

HARMONY – Apryl Patterson faced Katelyn Yoho before in Travel League softball and wasn’t intimidated by Ellwood City’s ace pitcher, but that didn’t mean Patterson wanted to build up her confidence, either. On the first pitch to her from the right-hander, Patterson dropped a two-out single into right field to score two runs in the first inning and Belle Vernon righty Ashley Nichols made them hold up with a three-hit, two-walk, 10-strikeout performance, as the Leopards upset top-seeded Ellwood City, 2-0, in a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal Monday afternoon at Seneca Valley High School.

“My dad always tells me to be ready for that first pitch and to hit it if it’s in there,’ Patterson said. “It was a little bit outside, so I just went that way. I think I got like only one hit off her before, but I made this one count.

“We knew what we had to do, and we just had to go out and do it. We knew she was pretty fast, so we wanted to stay back in the box. And she usually throws strikes, so we didn’t want to take too many pitches.’

That’s why it was so critical for Belle Vernon leadoff hitter Kayla Nuccetelli to work Yoho for a walk to open the game. Megan Chadwell followed with a slap single to left on an 0-2 pitch. She grounded the ball just past the third baseman, who was drawn in tightly at third. No. 3 hitter Alana Lacey laid down a perfect bunt to sacrifice the runners into scoring position and after the second out, Patterson smacked a two-run single to right.

“I always dream about that type of inning,’ Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t always work out that way, but it was a perfect inning for us. We got the leadoff batter on. Our No. 2 hitter usually can slap the ball somewhere, and she did that. Then, we had the perfect bunt.

“And Apryl got the clutch hit. So, it was the perfect inning against a real good pitcher. And they’re a good team, the No. 1 seed and undefeated. We thought we should’ve been better than a No. 8 seed, but if we wanted to keep advancing we knew we’d have to beat Ellwood at some point.’

After that rough first inning, Yoho was nearly untouchable. She was unbeaten this season for the Wolverines (17-1), who had had a first-round bye and had not played in a couple weeks after ending the season undefeated.

Yoho gave up just three harmless singles in the final six innings and finished with 12 strikeouts, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the opening inning.

And it wasn’t enough to beat Nichols, who was just as sharp for the Lady Leopards (17-5) after a tough first inning. The sophomore right-hander gave up a leadoff single and a one-out walk, but struck out the side to preserve the early two-run advantage.

A one-out error and sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position in the third, but Nichols pitched out of that jam as well. Ellwood City’s best hit was a two-out triple to right-center by Becca Blyth in the fourth, but Nichols forced a groundout to the mound to end that threat.

She retired seven straight going into the bottom of the seventh, but walked Yoho to lead off. After two strikeouts, Lindsey Scialdone, bounced a single to left. However, Nichols ended the game by forcing a shot to second that Ashley Fiorvanti easily handled. She stepped on second for the force, and the celebration began.

“It was a huge confidence boost for me when my teammates got two runs in the first inning,’ Nichols said. “And they usually play such good defense behind me that I was very confident at that point.

“When they got some girls on base, I just wanted to stay calm, especially in the last inning. I just tried to shake that walk off, and I really didn’t worry about it. I knew if I gave up a ground ball we’d make the play.’

Nichols lowered her earned run average to below one run per game with her third straight shutout. She blanked Elizabeth-Forward to end the regular season and opened the playoffs with a shutout against West Allegheny, as well. Nichols also singled in three at-bats. Nuccetelli added an infield single in the fifth, so she was on base twice. Lacey had Belle Vernon’s other hit.