Apr 27, 2016 By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read

WASHINGTON TWP. — Prior to the start of the softball season, Belle Vernon Area coach Tom Rodriguez said that Thomas Jefferson pitcher Lacie Lautner was one of the top players in Section 3-AAA if not the entire WPIAL.

Tuesday afternoon, Lauter shut out the Lady Leopards (11-5, 5-3) for the second time this season, 3-0, and clinched a playoff spot for TJ (11-1, 8-0).

“She pitched well but we had some good shots and they were right at someone,” Rodriguez said. “This pretty much wraps up the section for them so now we will shoot for second place.”

Lautner, a senior, held BVA to five hits and struck out six batters.

The Lady Jaguars would score the only run they needed in the top of the first off of Belle Vernon sophomore ace Bailey Parshall.

“Bailey is pitching well and not walking many so I can’t complain,” Rodriguez said.

Parshall, the WPIAL leader in strikeouts, struck out nine batters while walking three and giving up eight hits.

Lindsey Kalup led off the game with a walk, and after two Parshall strikeouts, Alysa Fairman walked.

Emily Scheidter blooped a single behind second base that failed to reach the grass, but it was deep enough to score Kalup.

TJ had a chance to do more damage as it had runners on second and third with two outs, but BVA center fielder Megan Christner made a challenging catch to end the threat.

After Lautner retired Belle Vernon in order in the first, the Lady Leopards had their first chance to score in the second.

Kourtney Gavatorta singled to lead off the inning and eventually advanced to third base, but she was stranded there.

In the fourth, BVA had its best chance to score in the contest as it left the bases loaded.

With two outs, the Lady Leopards had Lexie Church at second and Gavatorta on first.

Katelin Legazza singled to left field but Rodriguez held Church at third base.

“It was a hard hit ball and their girl wasn’t playing deep,” he said. “When I looked, my girl was one step from third when she got the ball so I didn’t want to take the chance.”

Thomas Jefferson tacked on two runs, one unearned, in the seventh to put the game away.

Belle Vernon had the lead-off runner on base in the fifth and again in the seventh, but the Lady Leps went scoreless for the fifth time this season.

“We have to keep working,” Rodriguez said. “And we have to start hitting before the playoffs start.”

Belle Vernon returns to action Thursday at Trinity in a Section 3-AAA game.