AG, LH, Ringgold Connellsville do battle in new section
Laurel Highlands infielders Mia Fuller (front) and Kaitlyn Bricker collide after Fuller makes the catch during a Section 4-AAA softball game with Southmoreland, April 8, 2016, at Laurel Highlands. Both Fuller and Bricker return for the Mustangs in 2017.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin’s Deanna DeLorenzo (5) slides into home ahead of the throw to Laurel Highlands catcher Danielle Jones to score a run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Colonials during their non-section game at Albert Gallatin High School, April 29, 2015. The Lady Colonials and Mustangs both compete in Section 2-AAAAA this year.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin’s Ally Bezjak is congratulated by head coach Gary Serock after hitting a two-run homer against Laurel Highlands on April 29, 2015. Bezjak, a junior who has twice been named all-conference, is one of the top players returning for Serock’s Lady Colonials.
Laurel Highlands shortstop Kaitlyn Bricker throws to first during Thursday's Section 4-AAA softball game against Uniontown at Bailey Park.
Section 2-AAAAA has plenty of local flavor with Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, Laurel Highlands and Ringgold competing for one of the top four spots to qualify for the WPIAL softball playoffs.
The four area teams are joined by McKeesport, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity.
Although the local teams weren’t able to qualify for the playoffs last season, the Lady Colonials and coach Gary Serock are eager about the upcoming season, as Albert Gallatin was playing in Quad A last year, which was the highest classification.
“Playing in this section is better than playing against teams like Hempfield in Quad A,” Serock said.
Sophomore Maddie Flowers returns to the pitching circle after gaining a year of experience as a freshman. Teammate Maddie Hershberger, a freshman, has the ability to come in for Flowers, and has a strong bat as well.
Fellow freshman Annalia Paoli (3B) had a home run in the Lady Colonials’ first game.
“Annalia is a breath of fresh air to the program and has a lot of power,” Serock said. “She had two home runs in scrimmages and one in our section opener. I couldn’t be prouder as a coach of what she brings. She is going to be a special player.
“Both Maddies are dynamic players. Maddie Flowers stepped it up last year, and she held her own last year against tough competition in Quad A. She is getting bigger, strong and faster, and getting better with her control. We have high hopes for her. Maddie Hershberger will be our other pitcher and we will rotate them, and we can use Hershberger if Flowers gets in trouble.”
Junior shortstop Allyn Bezjak is a two-time All-Conference performer and is the Lady Colonials’ captain. Serock expects Bezjak to lead a strong-hitting ball club.
“We are looking for Allyn (Bezjak) to have another All-Conference year,” Serock said. “She has a verbal commitment to Saint Francis and is a powerhouse, and a dynamic player. She is a leader on my team and my captain.”
Junior Katie Kelley will start at catcher and sophomore Romona Thompson could get playing time if needed.
“Katie has stepped up and is very vocal,” Serock said. “She has matured a lot and I have told her how proud I am of her. Romona is working very hard, too.”
Sophomore Hannah Turtzer returns for Albert Gallatin in left field, has experience from last season and has the potential for a clutch hit.
Junior Hannah Umble will rotate with Paoli at third base and is another strong bat Serock can use.
Sophomore Grace Robba will start at second base and is the lone slap hitter the Lady Colonials have. Robba had a .333 batting average last year and brings a great deal of speed to the lineup as a left-handed batter.
Junior Lindsey Robinson is strong defensively and will start at first base.
Albert Gallatin’s lone senior starter is center fielder Kassie Miller, who is one of the faster girls on the team.
Hershberger and Flowers will start in right field depending on who is pitching.
Albert Gallatin’s offense was on display Wednesday in an 11-7 setback to the Lady Falcons to open Section 2-AAAAA play. Despite the loss, Serock remains optimistic as his team moves forward.
“We battled back, but we had too many mental errors, but if we clean up that part of our game, I know we will be tough to beat,” Serock said. “We had five errors against Connellsville, and three in that first inning by people that don’t make them.”
Joe Pergar enters his seventh season as head coach of the Mustangs with a youthful but talented team that has a great deal of potential.
He is also familiar with Albert Gallatin, as his wife, Michelle, is the head volleyball coach, and led the Lady Colonials to their first playoff appearance in school history this past season.
“We played Albert Gallatin in a non-section game last season, and I see a lot of similarities between our teams,” Pergar said. “I know some of the Albert Gallatin girls with my wife being the volleyball coach, and they will be a much improved team.
“This will be a tough section. Thomas Jefferson is very tough and were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs before being upset in the semifinals and Trinity will be strong. I think TJ is the front-runner. After TJ, it is a close section. Connellsville almost made the playoffs last season playing in Quad A.”
MacKenzie LaClair was hampered by injuries during her career at Laurel Highlands, but was strong when she pitched, and led the Mustangs to the playoffs during her freshman season in 2013. LaClair graduated last season, but Pergar is excited about his incoming freshmen.
“MacKenzie’s class came in with a lot of talent and we made the playoffs,” Pergar said. “We see talent in this freshmen class and hope we can do the same thing with this group.”
Replacing LaClair in the pitching circle will be right-hander Lauren Sperry. Sperry is a strong hitter, and was 3-for-5 with a walk-off single to win a game, 11-10, at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The key for Sperry is to command her pitches.
Classmate Sydney Petrowski (RHP/2B) will get time in the circle when Sperry is not pitching.
Allison Lowery will bat No. 3 in Pergar’s lineup and start at shortstop. Lowery didn’t commit an error at the Ripken Experience and hit the ball well.
Junior captain Gigi Beatty was All-County the last two season in the outfield, but will see time at third base this season.
“Gigi has a little bit of a chip on her shoulder and plays with a swagger,” Pergar said. “The girls really feed off of that and she will one of our top hitters.”
Laurel Highlands is full of youthful talent but it does feature five seniors in Danielle Jones (OF), Mia Fuller (OF), captain Kaitlyn Bricker (2B), Amanda Glusica (3B/RHP) and Kaylee Franks (INF).
Fuller, who plays volleyball and basketball, was voted most athletic in her class, anwd played first base as a sophomore and second base as a junior. She has enough speed to track down balls deep in the outfield and great arm strength.
Glusica was hindered by injuries last year, but is another multi-sport athlete, and is working on her location and speed as a pitcher.
“Amanda really impressed me at Myrtle Beach,” Pergar said. “She is going to help us with pitching and give us some innings.”
Junior Jenna Bliss will bat in the middle of the lineup and play right field. She is the back-up catcher. Bliss batted .380 last season.
Fellow junior Hailee Rusko came back last year after taking some time off and batted over .300. Rusko has improved defensively and will see time at first base.
Becca Marinelli (OF) and Megan Riffle (OF) round out the junior class for the Mustangs.
Sophomore Mercedes Sickles started at catcher last year, and will be counted on to work with the young pitchers this season.
“She started for us last year and has worked on her defense,” Pergar said. “She swung a good bat and came through for us against Uniontown in extra innings. She will probably bat No. 4.
“Her caught stealing has to be above 50 percent. She is getting better at keeping the ball in front of her and framing pitches. Our pitching will be better this year because of that.”
Allison Deemer (RHP) will get some time in the pitching circle and was consistent at Myrtle Beach.
Taylor Maggert (RHP/2B/SS) has picked up her velocity and improved her bat. She had a strong showing at Myrtle Beach and earned a letter last season as a courtesy runner.
Bliss’s younger sister, Emma (1B), Nicole Pedro (C) and Kaia Zungri (OF) make up the rest of Laurel Highlands’ roster. All three are freshmen.
The Mustangs lost to Avonworth and Pickerington North in Ohio at the Ripken Experience, but defeated East Lake High School from Cleveland, Ohio, on Sperry’s game-winning single.
Laurel Highlands lost a slugfest, 15-11, to the Tigers in its opener.
Connellsville was two games out of a playoff spot last season with an 8-6 section record in Class AAAA, and the Lady Falcons have starting pitcher Mia Burd back.
Connellsville lost its opener, 9-1, to Class AAAAAA Hempfield, who has a Division I athlete in Notre Dame recruit Morgan Ryan, but rebounded to defeat Albert Gallatin.
Burd was 2-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored against the Lady Colonials. Teammate Brooke Miller was 3-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Connellsville’s Fran Stefano was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.
Ringgold has a roster of 17 players. The Lady Rams dropped their opener, 7-6, in a non-section game at West Mifflin despite two hits and three RBIs from Johnna Mocniak. Ringgold bounced back with a 15-9 victory over McKeesport in its section opener as junior Taylor Mendicino had four hits, including a pair of doubles.
Holly Arbes and Jillian Scherer, both freshwmen, have each started a game in the circle for Ringgold.
Last year the Lady Rams, coached by Erik Hilligsberg, went 4-8, including a forfeit win over Belle Vernon, in rugged Section 3-AAA which included first-place TJ. Ringgold was 6-10 overall.