Lady Commodores cruise to 16-0 victory
Edward K.Thompson
Frazier’s Kathryn Barch celebrates as she rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Brentwood in Monday’s WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff game played at Peterswood Park’s Field No. 1.
Frazier's Logan Hartman winds up before unloading a pitch in Monday's WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff game against Brentwood at Peterswood Park's Field No. 1.
Frazier's Mackenzie Kelly safely slides across the plate as Brentwood catcher Abby Wolf waits for the throw in Monday's WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff game at Peterswood Park's Field No. 1.
VENETIA — The top-seeded Frazier pounded out 15 hits and made quick work of Brentwood, 16-0 in four innings, Monday afternoon at Peterswood Park in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA softball playoffs.
The defending Class AA champions also finished six extra-base hits in the lopsided win, with lead-off hitter Kathryn Barch connecting on a pair of home runs for the Lady Commodores (14-5).
Frazier is 7-2 in the first round of the playoffs since 2010.
“My team was loose today,” Frazier coach Don Hartman said. “Last year at this point we had some of the jitters about the playoffs. Last year’s run obviously helped us and the girls played with a lot confidence. They had that look in their eye and they were ready. The bats really came out today and we were aggressive with a lot of first pitch swings.”
Logan Hartman picked up the win, throwing four scoreless innings and allowing two hits with four strikeouts and a walk. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate and her courtesy runner, Mackenzie Kelly, scored four times.
After the Lady Spartans (4-7) were held scoreless in the top of the first inning, Barch wasted no time giving Frazier a 1-0 lead with a home run to lead off the bottom of the inning.
“The pitcher really didn’t have a lot spin on her pitches and I think she was just focus on trying to hit her spots,” Barch said. “I just jumped on an early pitch that I liked and was hoping to drive the ball in the gap. Fortunately, it was a home run and that hyped up the whole team.”
The Lady Commodores then made it 5-0 at the end of one, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Kara Mastowski and RBI singles by Emi Curcio, Savannah Berklovich and Megan Celaschi.
Frazier extended its lead to 8-0 in the second with three runs, via a sacrifice fly by Evans, a RBI single by Lauren Mastowski and a RBI fielder’s choice by Berklovich.
The Lady Commodores sent nine to the plate in the third inning and scored five runs.
Barch slammed a two-run homer to start the scoring onslaught, followed by RBI doubles by Kara Mastowski and Evans that chased in three more runs.
Barch reached first base with one out in the fourth inning on an infield error and the sophomore third basemen eventually came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 14-0.
“I think as the lead-off hitter, I try to jump on the ball early and get the team up,” Barch said. “I feel like when I start to hit, the rest of the team feeds off of that. We have a really good lineup and I feel like we are ready for the playoffs. These are the games you want to play and there’s nothing like playoff softball.”
Frazier invoked the mercy rule two batters later when Kayla Matway crushed a two-run, walk-off home run.
The Lady Commodores will now play the winner of the Shady Side Academy-Neshannock game in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, weather permitting.
“You can’t take anything for granted in the playoffs,” Don Hartman said. “We are in the round of eight now and we know it gets tougher. Class AA is really deep this year and I think any number of teams have a chance to win it all. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day. We have to bring our ‘A’ game every time out now.”