Yough aiming high again
Depth can be a great problem to have.
Just ask third-year Yough softball coach Dutch Harvey.
His Yough Cougars were the WPIAL runner-up to neighboring Belle Vernon Area a year ago, and he has a slew of players who will remember.
“We have 12 returning letter-winners, including eight starters,” Harvey said. “Overall, we have 14 players back.”
Three of them were All-Section in senior pitcher Macy Mularski, senior catcher Allie Harvey and senior left fielder Cassidy Pearce.
Harvey has signed with Seton Hill while Mularski will walk on at IUP.
As if having three players of that caliber back isn’t enough, Yough has plenty around them.
“We have our top five hitters returning, including four that hit over .430,” Harvey said.
Sophomore third baseman/shortstop Hannah Bach, Harvey, sophomore second baseman Aubrie Mance and junior shortstop/third baseman Alona Sleith all return to their first-through-fourth spots in the batting order.
Bach, Harvey, and Mance all hit over .434 last year with Harvey leading the team in hitting each of the last two seasons.
Junior Olivia Miller is also a returning starter in right field.
Miller and Sleith led the team in home runs a year ago.
The tentative starting lineup also includes sophomore Kayley Westerman at first base while sophomore Nina Maroney and freshman Kierra Waywood will handle center field.
Harvey made note of a few teams in Section 4-AAA.
“Southmoreland and Mount Pleasant should be tough but we expect to contend for the section title,” he said of his team, which went 12-0 in section play a year ago.
“We expect to contend for the section, WPIAL and state title this year.
“The ultimate goal is the state championship just like it is for every other team.”
What will be key for a successful run?
“We have to play fundamental softball and, hopefully, we are able to repeat our team chemistry from last year,” he said. “This is a great group of girls that work hard, play fundamental softball and give 100 percent every time they are on the field.
“As a coach, you could not ask for a better group.”