Lady Greyhounds edge Frazier, 4-3
MONESSEN — In a season opening battle between two top teams in their respective classes, Monessen downed Frazier in softball action Monday, 4-3.
“It is good to be out here for the first time and to be 1-0, especially after facing the defending WPIAL AA champs,” said Monessen coach Bo Teets. “They are a quality team and they have everybody back.
“I thought it could have gone either way and it is a good win to start the season against a team that I expect to be there again at the end of the season.”
Frazier coach Don Hartman said opening against Monessen ace Dana Vatakis, a Robert Morris signee, will only make his team better.
“(Vatakis) is why we are here and playing, the best will only make us better,” he said of Vatakis, who struck out nine batters and did not walk any. “I am hoping that facing anyone else will look more hittable.
“Dana is nasty and threw awesome today and our girls learned a lot.”
Monessen, who was the WPIAL Class A runner-up a year ago, got on the board in the second inning on an RBI single by Destiny Habeck. Habeck drove in Carlee Evans, who entered the game as the courtesy runner for catcher Carly Rock.
The score held into the fourth inning when Rock and Cara Wheeler led off the inning with walks and Gabby Simpson singled in Evans.
The single drove Frazier pitcher Logan Hartman, who is still recovering from missing a week of school due to being sick, from the game.
Habeck drove in Wheeler on a groundout and Vatakis singled in Simpson to give Monessen a 4-0 lead.
Vatakis kept Frazier off-balance behind five different pitches and it wasn’t until the seventh inning that Frazier scored.
Lauren Mastowski led off the top of the seventh with a single and Kara Mastowski followed with a single of her own. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and two outs later, Kat Barch singled them in to make the score 4-2.
On the throw home, Barch advanced to second and was awarded third on an obstruction call.
Hartman grounded to third, but reached base on a throwing error. However, she was caught stealing second to end the game.
“We were able to make it a game,” Don Hartman said. “But we have to play better and our lack of leadership is a concern for me right now.”
Vatakis finished with three singles to go with her dominant performance on the mound.
“I was so excited (to play) and it went well,” she said. “It is the first time we have beaten Frazier with Coach Teets as the coach.
“Hopefully, this helps us continue to build up our confidence and this was a nice win.”
Barch led Frazier with a pair of singles.