Lady Vikings looking to go on another run; Lady Raiders seek improvement
Defending WPIAL Class AAA softball champion Mount Pleasant returns its starting pitcher from last year’s run to the title, while Uniontown looks to get into the playoffs with both teams moving up to Section 1-AAAA this season with Derry Area, Highlands, Indiana and Knoch.
The Lady Vikings are coached by former Hempfield Area player Lauren Shaheen, who is in her fourth season leading Mount Pleasant. Shaheen started her college career at Siena College in New York, before transferring to California University of Pennsylvania.
She led her team to the WPIAL title on June 3 in a 10-0 rout of West Allegheny at Lilley Field, where the Vulcans play their home games.
“It was like being back home coaching a team in the WPIAL finals on the same field I used to play on when I was in college,” Shaheen said. “It was a great experience and we want to get back there this year.”
Mount Pleasant finished last season 13-6 with its season ending in the first round of the PIAA playoffs to Bellefonte, 3-2.
The Lady Vikings lost three seniors in Kayla Queer (SS), Madie Kromer (2B) and Jenna Schultz (UTL), but return starting pitching and one of their top offensive threats in junior Meadow Uncapher.
Sophomore Carolyn Alincic will also see time in the circle, as she started several games last year.
“We are planning on utilizing Meadow and Carolyn this season,” Shaheen said. “Carolyn has a lot of ability and we will make our decision on who to pitch depending on the opponent.”
Both pitchers had a strong catcher to work with in sophomore Mya Klejka.
“She started for us last year and I see a lot of progress,” Shaheen said. “The camaraderie and pitch calling is just as important in softball as it is in baseball, and Mya is a commanding catcher and has a good stick.”
Rounding out Mount Pleasant’s infield is Christiana Czegan (SS), Alyssa Kesslar (2B), Chloe Poulich (3B) and senior Nikki Klejka at first base. Czegan, Kesslar and Poulich are all juniors. Poulich has one of the most potent bats in the Lady Vikings’ lineup.
“They will fit in those roles nicely,” Shaheen said. “We have a lot of potential in our lineup. We lost three seniors but we have a strong group back.”
Shaheen has plenty to choose from in the outfield, but junior Ava Gnibus is a three-year starter in center field.
Senior Markel Rogers, junior Addy Kubasky and freshman Sydney Kanuch will be in the mix for the remaining two spots in the outfield.
“They are a good group of girls on and off the field and very coachable kids,” Shaheen said. “We want to go on another run like we did last year, but now we have something to prove. I think we can play against any team but we have to take it one game at a time.”
The Lady Vikings are familiar with Uniontown and Derry Area in the past. They defeated Indiana, 3-2, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs last season. Knoch was a playoff team last season, and Highlands is the sixth team in the section. The top four qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
“We know that Derry, Indiana and Uniontown are three tough teams,” Shaheen said. “I was so proud of the girls last year and we want to start over this season and try to do it again. We scrimmage a good team in Latrobe, but had a few games rained out, so we are ready to start playing.”
The Lady Raiders had a tough season last year in going 0-12 in section play and 1-15 overall.
Uniontown coach Steve Forsythe’s team played Mount Pleasant tough with a 7-4 loss in the first meeting between the two and suffered a 7-6 setback to the Lady Trojans.
The Lady Raiders have many question marks heading into the season, and the big one being the loss of four-year starting pitcher Leighlyn Guthrie.
Uniontown lost to Southmoreland, 12-2, on Wednesday. Lyndsi Urani was the starting pitcher, and also singled and scored one of the two runs for the Lady Raiders.
Lindsey Merschat had an RBI single against the Lady Scotties. Catcher Bailey Hoover is back, and had the other RBI for Uniontown against Southmoreland.