Lady Commodores win Class AA softball title
Evan Sanders
Member of the Frazier Lady Commodores softball team celebrate with the trophy after defeating South Side Area, 2-0, for the WPIAL Class AA softball championship held at Lilley Field at California University of Pa. on Wednesday.
The Lady Commodores' Logan Hartman delivers a pitch to a South Side Area batter during the WPIAL Class AA softball championship game Wednesday at Lilley Field at California University of Pa. Frazier defeated the Lady Rams, 2-0, for its first WPIAL softball title.
Frazier's Kathryn Barch fields and throws to first base for the out during the WPIAL Class AA softball championship game against South Side Area held at Lilley Field at California University of Pa. on Wednesday.
Evan Sanders
Frazier’s Kayla Matway touches home plate in the third inning to give the Lady Commodores a 2-0 lead during the WPIAL Class AA softball championship game against South Side Area Wednesday at Lilley Field at California University of Pa. Frazier defeated the Lady Rams, 2-0, for its first softball championship.
CALIFORNIA — Logan Hartman said she saw the medals dangling out of the corner of her eye when she took the mound in the top of the seventh inning.
The Frazier freshman made sure the medal that would be dangling around her and her teammates would be gold when she retired the side in order to preserve a 2-0 victory against South Side Area in the WPIAL Class AA softball title game Wednesday afternoon at California University of Pa.’s Lilley Field.
The WPIAL softball committee members began unwrapping the gold and silver medals as the title game moved into the top of the seventh. Hartman saw the activity out of the corner of her eye, leading her to retire the side with a strikeout and two ground outs.
“The last inning I saw them holding those medals,” Hartman said of her inspired moment.
Frazier (18-2) will play its first PIAA playoff game on Monday against Lakeview (12-7), who lost to Sharpsville, 8-3, in the District 10 championship. As District 7 champion, the Lady Commodores will have the privilege of playing their first game at a field within the confines of the district.
South Side (17-3) faces either Conemaugh Valley or Mount Union, the District 6 champion.
Hartman survived a couple trouble spots, but retired the side in order in the first, third, fourth and seventh innings. She set down nine in a row from the second through fifth innings and retired 10-of-11 through the same stretch.
The freshman struck out seven, didn’t walk a batter and scattered four hits.
As Hartman and her defense held the Lady Rams at bay, the Lady Commodore offense scratched out two runs in the first three innings.
Hartman started the first run-scoring rally in the bottom of the first when, after fouling off several pitches, she induced a walk from McKenna Smith.
Megan Celaschi laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Hartman to second. Hartman moved to third on Kayla Matway’s ground out to second and scored on Emi Curcio’s sharp single to right field.
“No one works harder than that girl,” Frazier coach Don Hartman said of Curcio.
Lauren Mastowski’s ground ball slipped under the first baseman’s glove, but Curcio was thrown out attempting to gain third base.
Matway walked with one out in the bottom of the third. Curcio was hit on the foot to put runners on first and second.
Lauren Mastowski hit a grounder to the right field side of second base and the second baseman attempted to shovel the ball to the base for the out. However, the ball rolled away from the shortstop covering and Matway scampered home with the second run.
South Side had a rally in the top of the second squelched by solid Frazier defense.
Hunter Hand singled to open the inning and moved to second on Smith’s single. Rachel Pieto flied out to center field. Hand attempted to steal third base, but Juliann Johnson’s throw to Celaschi was on target for the second out of the inning.
Hartman got Mackenzie Freeman looking to close out the threat, starting her string of nine straight retired batters.
The Lady Rams’ Regan Hozak belted a one-out double in the top of the sixth and advanced to third when Sydney Payne’s ground ball, shortstop Matway and Hozak all reached the same point at the same time.
No interference was ruled on the play. Payne stole second after the infield single, but third baseman Megan Celaschi scooped up Hunter Hand’s ground ball and threw a strike to first to end South Side’s best scoring threat.
Smith did her best to keep the score tight, stranding six Frazier runners, including two in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Smith struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Smith struck out 10, walked three, hit one batter and allowed five hits.
Don Hartman won a pair of WPIAL titles as baseball coach at California (2001, 2006) and assistant coach (and wife) Mandy Hartman coached the Lady Commodores volleyball team to the district crown in 2010, so the pair understood what it was like to play in a WPIAL championship.
“We got on the bus. I’ve gotten on this bus before and been nervous. I told the girls you go and have the time of your life, and good things will happen,” said Don Hartman. “We work at practice. They have no fear of being yelled at. Flush the mistake instantly. They have confidence in themselves.
“Every title has been special. Amazing things happened to get us here.”
Frazier doesn’t have any seniors on the 2017 squad and the Lady Commodores are just enjoying the ride.
“I feel like I’m living a dream right now. It’s crazy,” said Logan Hartman. “It’s been a joy ride. I love waking up and playing with this team every day.”