Lady Pioneers advance to Class A semifinals with 13-5 win
VENETIA — West Greene pulled away with six runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 13-5 victory over Frazier Monday in the WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinals at Peterswood Park.
The Lady Pioneers (13-7) advance to play top-seeded Union Wednesday at Montour High School at 3 p.m.
“We’re very familiar with them. They got the best of us the last time we played (in the WPIAL Class A final in 2022),” said West Greene coach Billy Simms.
Frazier (13-1) sliced its deficit to two runs, 7-5, in the bottom of the sixth inning, but West Greene responded in a big way in the top of the seventh inning.
Back-to-back errors to start the inning gave the Lady Pioneers runners at second and third. Ali Goodwin drove in the first run with a single and took second on the throw. Marissa Tharp followed with a run-scoring single.
Payton Gilbert’s grounder was thrown away to bring home one run. Gilbert then scored after Emmaline Beazell singled and the throw home sailed over the catcher’s head.
Frazier had only allowed seven runs in the regular season.
West Greene scored four runs in the top of the first inning with just one hit, Madelyn Roberts’ two-run single.
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- West Greene’s Madelyn Roberts drives in two runs with a single in the top of the first inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game against Frazier at Peterswood Park. The Lady Pioneers advanced to the semifinals with a 13-5 win.
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- Frazier’s Grace Vaughn slides across the plate before West Greene catcher Kylee Davis can apply the tag in the bottom of the fourth inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game at Peterswood Park.
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- West Greene’s Payton Gilbert fires a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game against Frazier at Peterswood Park. Gilbert and the Lady Pioneers advanced with a 13-5 victory.
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- Frazier’s Addison Hiles throws a pitch in the top of the first inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game against West Greene at Peterswood Park.
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- West Greene’s Emmaline Beazell makes contact in the top of the first inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game against Frazier at Peterswood Park. Beazell was safe on a fielder’s choice.
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- Frazier catcher Emi Bednar applies the tag on West Greene’s Kylee Davis for the out in the top of the fifth inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game at Peterswood Park. Goodwin attempted to score on Ali Goodwin’s bunt.
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- West Greene’s Ali Goodwin lays down a squeeze bunt in the top of the first inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal game against Frazier at Peterswood Park.
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- West Greene’s Sammi Zimmerman throws a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game against Frazier at Peterswood Park.
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- West Greene’s Payton Gilbert slides into second before Frazier shortstop Gracen Hartman can apply the tag as Gilbert advanced a base on the throw after she singled in the top of the sixth inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal softball playoff game at Peterswood Park.
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- Frazier’s Delani Anderson beats the throw to West Greene shortstop Kendra Tharp for a stolen base in the bottom of the second inning in Monday’s WPIAL Class A softball quarterfinal playoff game at Peterswood Park. Anderson later scored Frazier’s first run.
“Roberts had the big hit in the first with some runners on to open things up and give us some breathing room,” said Simms.
Frazier scored its first run when Emi Bednar singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. She scored on Claire Domonkos’ ground out.
Grace Vaughn’s second double of the game led off the fourth inning. She alertly stole third and scored on an errant throw.
“Their first two runs were so uncharacteristic for us,” said Simms.
West Greene extended its lead to 7-2 with three runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Frazier committed two errors in the inning and Marissa Tharp, Kendra Tharp and Ali Goodwin drove in runs as the Lady Pioneers sent nine batters to the plate.
The Lady Commodores gamely fought back in the bottom of the inning with three runs and the tying run at the plate.
Grace Vaughn was safe with one out when her fly ball was dropped. Grace Polkabla drove in Vaughn with a single and escaped a rundown. Jayanya Ciferno walked and Emi Bednar followed with a two-run double on a ball that scooted to the fence.
Sammi Zimmerman came on in relief of starter Payton Gilbert and ended the rally with a strikeout and infield pop fly.
“We employed two pitchers down the stretch to avoid that third time through the lineup,” said Simms. “We were planning to bring in Sammi. At that point in time, it was time to bring her in and give someone a different look.”
“We have not hit in May,” said Don Hartman. “I was worried if we got down one or two today we wouldn’t be able to come back.
“West Greene, I give them a lot of credit. The pitcher did a nice job. They had some timely hits and they put the ball in play. They pressured our defense.”
Frazier had one last push in the bottom of the seventh inning when Gracen Hartman walked with two outs and Vaughn singled for her third hit of the game. But, Zimmerman and West Greene secured the win with a fly ball to center fielder Marissa Tharp.
Frazier’s season comes to a close. A season, according to coach Don Hartman, that almost didn’t happen.
“We had a lot of fun this season. We weren’t even sure we were going to have enough for a team. I had to grab a couple volleyball players out of the stands,” said Hartman. “Today is nowhere near indicative of our team.
“We hit a wall today.”