May 1, 2008 By Mike Ciarochi 3 min read

Laurel Highlands’ youth came in to play early and often in a 22-0 loss to Section 2-AAA co-leader Franklin Regional in a softball game called after five innings via the 10-run rule. Franklin Regional has a nice team,” Fillies coach George Kaiser said. “They have a couple of good pitchers and their catcher was All-Section two years ago as a sophomore. They hit the ball well today. They hit it into holes.

“We’re struggling with pitching, but we’re struggling everywhere, really. We had some errors, but we’re going to keep working with these girls and helping them get better. With only one senior in the line-up, we’re going to take our lumps.”

On the field, the Fillies sent out seven sophomores and two freshmen and finished the game with six sophomores and three freshmen.

“These girls will be here the next two years, so we have to look to the future,” Kaiser said. “We’re not giving up now, though. We’d like to play competitively and get some more wins. We’ll be a lot better next year and the year after that. I’d like to think we’ll be back to challenging for the playoffs.”

On this day, though, the Fillies faced a team headed to the playoffs this season. Franklin Regional improved to 10-1 in section games and 13-3 overall with a 22-hit attack that supported the pitching of senior Janel Smith and sophomore Allie Versick.

“Our girls pitch pretty well,” Franklin Regional coach Jim Armstrong said. “Janel improved to 11-2 on the season and she increased her strikeout total to 79.”

Smith struck out eight Fillies in three innings of work before giving way to Versick, who fanned five in her two innings.

The Lady Panthers got the only run they really needed with the first two batters of the game and it didn’t even involve a hit. Kasey Segiel drew a leadoff walk and scored when Courtney Manovich’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away for a three-base error. Manovich scored on a passed ball just before Kate Dodsworth drilled a pitch over the centerfield fence for a home run and a 3-0 Franklin Regional lead.

Franklin Regional batted around in the top of the first and scored six runs. They added single runs in the second and third innings and plated a pair in the fourth for a 10-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, the Lady Panthers scored a dozen runs on a dozen hits, highlighted by a grand slam homer from Amy Wehgrzyn.

Ashley Dolan also had four RBI for the game with two singles and a double, while Courtney Cepko drove in three with three singles. Dodsworth had five hits, with a homer and two doubles to go with two singles.

The Fillies got a one-out single from Chelsea Kaylor in the first, a leadoff single from Amber Baker in the third and a one-out triple from Bethany Mehall in the fifth.

Laurel Highlands (1-8, 1-11) visits Yough, also tied for first, today, while Franklin Regional hosts third-place Greensburg Salem.