Montour rallies late for 3-2 extra-inning win over Lady Leopards
Holly Tonini
Belle Vernon’s Molly Gauden bunts the ball to advance the runner during Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AAA semifinal against Montour at California University of Pennsylvania’s Lilley Field.
Belle Vernon's Samantha Peer catches a fly ball during the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals against Montour.
Holly Tonini
Belle Vernon’s Haley Bashada struck out seven batters in six innings of work during Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AAA semifinal against Montour.
CALIFORNIA — Belle Vernon led 2-0 for much of the game, but Montour scored three times in the last two innings in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinal round of the softball playoffs for a 3-2 victory in eight innings Wednesday at California University of Pa.’s Lilley Field.
The Lady Spartans (16-5) were down to their last out in the seventh inning, but Malory Gerst blasted a two-run homer just over the left field fence to knot things up at 2-2.
“I take the blame for this loss,” Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez said. “I knew that hitter (Gerst) had power and I called a bad pitch. It was down and low, but she was able to connect with it and drive it over the fence. I’m definitely second-guessing myself, and I just feel sorry for the girls. I take full responsibility and I should have known better.”
The home run for Gerst was only the second of her career for the sophomore catcher.
“I knew going into her (Gerst) final at-bat in the seventh, that she was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts,” Montour coach Bill Wills said. “But she is a big hitter and I knew in my gut that she might have a chance to hit a home run. When the bat hit the ball I thought it was going to be a double or triple, but it barely went over the fence and I will take it.”
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Montour took its first lead of the game after a RBI double by Tori Roman. Roman had three of the Lady Spartans’ eight hits.
The Lady Leopards (17-6) couldn’t muster a comeback in the bottom half of the eighth and went down in order for a heartbreaking, semifinal loss.
“These kids are a mature bunch,” Wills said. “We have been through a lot, and have battled the ups and downs in the last four years. They don’t get rattled too often and kept their composure late in the game.”
Belle Vernon is now 2-3 in the semifinal round over the last nine seasons, and will now play Greensburg Salem in the consolation game next Tuesday at a site and time to be determined for a chance to play in the PIAA tournament.
Montour faces ninth-seeded Elizabeth-Forward for the Class AAA title next Thursday at Lilley Field. The Lady Spartans won the Class AAA crown in 2010.
The Lady Leopards’ pitcher Haley Bashada was in an early jam with runners on second and third and no outs in the first inning. Bashada was able to induce a line drive to third basemen Alexis Ellin. Ellin then alertly stepped on third and threw over to second to complete the clutch, triple play.
Ellin was responsible for the first run of the game via a solo home run to lead off the second for Belle Vernon.
The next inning, Natalie Bashada led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Courtney Seman and then crossed home plate after an errant throw by the third basemen to first base to make it 2-0.
Montour’s Kaitlyn Kutchman picked up the win, going eight innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. Haley Bashada was the hard-luck loser for Belle Vernon, going eight innings, fanning eight batters and allowing one free pass.
“Haley pitched a super game for us,” Rodriguez said. “She got out of the first with the triple play. She mixed up her pitches and kept the ball low. She threw her change-up for a lot of strikes today.”