Mustangs heading back to WPIAL softball playoffs
Ed Cope
Uniontown shortstop Jenn Nypaver (14) moves towards second base as Laurel Highlands’ Amanda Filicky stretches toward the base safely as field umpire George Franks moves in on the play during Thursday’s game at Bailey Park field.
Ed Cope
Laurel Highlands’ Jordan Saghy hits a three-run home run against Uniontown as home plate umpire George Bortz looks on during Thursday’s game at Bailey Park in Uniontown.
Ed Cope
Uniontown’s Jenna Nypaver (14) is congratulated by her teammates after hitting a home run against Laurel Highlands during Thursday’s game at Bailey Park in Uniontown.
For the first time since 2007, the Laurel Highlands softball team is headed to the WPIAL playoffs. The Mustangs clinched their postseason berth on Thursday with a dramatic 4-3 win at Uniontown.
Laurel Highlands (7-5, 7-7) won the game on freshman Jordan Saghy’s three-run home run in the top half of the sixth inning.
Seniors Libby Labuda and Morgan Miller are the seasoned veterans on a team of mostly underclassmen, and they relished the Mustangs’ accomplishment after Thursday’s win.
“This just feels amazing,” Labuda said. “Our team works together as one and picks each other up. I’m really proud of them.”
When asked about working with such a young group of teammates, Miller said, “We’re like family. Libby and I try to set a good example for them. Everyone is always positive.”
The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat when Kristina Hudock walked, stole second, and scored on Miller’s single up the middle.
But Uniontown pitcher Leighlynn Guthrie was unhittable against the next 10 batters before Saghy singled in the fourth. The Lady Raiders immediately turned a double play and Guthrie set down four of the next five batters.
In the meantime, Uniontown built a 3-1 lead by scoring single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings.
Jenna Nypaver’s leadoff home run to left field tied the game in the second. Tia Forsythe doubled and scored on a single by Trista Crise in the third, and Nypaver singled in the fourth and later scored on a ground out by Julia Keffer.
The momentum changed after Uniontown loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Nypaver hit a fly ball to deep right center field that was caught on the run by Alivia Rolaf.
Uniontown coach Steve Forsythe later said the coaches didn’t want to risk having Tia Forsythe tag up at third base because she’s been nursing an ankle injury. “We didn’t want to take a chance on sending her. If she re-injured the ankle we’d have been without a catcher for the rest of the game.”
LH pitcher Mackenzie LaClair escaped the threat when she got her second strikeout to end the inning.
With one out in the LH sixth, Miller and LaClair singled, and Saghy drove a two-strike pitch over the center field fence to give the Mustangs their first lead of the game.
Uniontown (4-8, 5-9) didn’t quit in the seventh. Crise hit a rocket that seemed to be headed towards right-center field, but Miller leaped at second base and caught the ball. After a two-out walk, another fly out to Miller ended the game.
Forsythe said afterwards, “It’s always like the ball has eyes. Our girls will shake this off in a few days, then come back and work in the off season.” He said that with the entire team returning, “We should be a force next year. But you can’t take anything for granted.”