Lady Leopards blank Lady Commodores, 5-0
Edward K.Thompson
Belle Vernon’s Natalie French is about to throw to first base to record a groundout during Saturday’s non-section game against Frazier in Perryopolis. French doubled, singled and scored in the Lady Leopards’ 5-0 victory.
Frazier head coach Don Hartman talks with his team during an inning break in Saturday's non-section game against Belle Vernon at Perryopolis. The Lady Commodores lost, 5-0, but still remain one of the favorites in Class AA once the playoffs begin.
Belle Vernon’s Bailey Parshall pitches during Saturday’s non-section game against Frazier in Perryopolis. Parshall pitched a two-hit shutout over seven innings with nine strikeouts and one walk in leading the Lady Leopards over the Lady Commodores, 5-0.
Edward K.Thompson
Frazier's Logan Hartman fires a pitch during Saturday's non-section game against Belle Vernon in Perryopolis.
PERRYOPOLIS — In a matchup of a pair of 2017 WPIAL softball champions, Belle Vernon Area downed Frazier, 5-0.
After the game, both coaches, Belle Vernon’s Tom Rodriguez and Frazier’s Don Hartman, were happy with what they saw.
“We did some better hitting today and have to keep that going,” said Rodriguez. “Facing a pitcher like Logan (Hartman), we knew it would be tough and we were able to capitalize on a few mistakes Frazier made.
“We played solid defense again and didn’t have any errors.”
Hartman, whose team celebrated Senior Day prior to the game, said his girls gave their all the entire game.
“Overall, I am thrilled, and even though I knew we were over matched, I didn’t want us to be a 15 to 18 strikeout victim,” said Hartman. “It was a great Senior Day against a really good team out there, and we can’t take anything but positives away from this.”
Hartman was happy to jump at the opportunity to play Belle Vernon so close to the playoffs and he explained why.
“I told the girls after the game that no matter how far we make it in the playoffs, they will not face another pitcher as talented and dominant as Bailey (Parshall),” he said. “Our girls found out why she is one of the top pitchers in the country and a major Division I talent.
“Chances are my girls will never face another pitcher that good again.”
Parshall struck out 10 batters and limited the Commodores (11-5) to a pair of opposite field singles.
The Leopards (15-2) would score the only run they needed in the first.
Natalie French led off the game with a double and advanced to third when Kourtney Gavatorta grounded out to the first baseman.
Parshall walked and two batters later, Sophia Godzak grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice to score French.
Belle Vernon added two unearned runs in the second, and the big hit of the inning was an RBI single by Jordan French.
Hartman pulled starting pitcher Logan Hartman after four innings, as she was near 100 pitches and put in Kara Mastowski.
Belle Vernon added a run in the fifth when Jordan French led off the inning with a single and scored on Mekenzie Sokol’s double.
In the sixth, Belle Vernon scored its last unearned run when Parshall drove in Natalie French.
Sokol (single, double), Gavatorta (two singles) and Jordan French (two singles) each had two hits for Belle Vernon.
Both teams have non-section games Monday, as Frazier hosts Brownsville and Belle Vernon heads to West Greene.
Hartman spoke about getting his team in playoff mode.
“This game has helped us tremendously,” he said. “We need to keep it going in the right direction.”
Belle Vernon’s brutal road stretch continues when it heads to Yough Tuesday, and then to 2017 WPIAL Class A runner-up Monessen Wednesday.
Rodriguez spoke about the stretch.
“This is a really big stretch for us against some talented teams,” he said. “This was a big game for us and each of them coming up will be as well.”