Vogan too much for Mount Pleasant in state playoffs
Vikings’ season ends in loss to Sharon
Sharon entered Monday’s game in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A softball playoffs undefeated as the District 10 champion, and the Tigers showed why in a 4-0 victory over Mount Pleasant at Allegheny College in Meadville.
Sharon junior Madelyn Vogan, who will continue her academic and softball careers at Penn State University, pitched a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and no walks to lead her team to victory.
The Vikings’ Sadie Poole was hit-by-pitch to lead off the contest in the top of the first inning, but she recorded the next 21 outs, including the last seven via strikeout.
The Tigers (22-0) will face the winner of Bedford (19-2) and Susquenita (22-1) on Thursday in the quarterfinals. The sites and times have yet to be determined.
Mount Pleasant’s season ends at 15-6, but Vikings coach Paul Reho will have plenty of returning players next year, as his squad only had two seniors in Gracie Etling and Carly Surma.
Poole advanced to second on Chase Borelli’s sacrifice bunt in the top of the first inning, but Vogan recorded her first strikeout and forced a groundout to third base to end the frame.
Sharon scored the only run it would need in the bottom of the second inning when Aliyah Fleet singled to center field and crossed home plate on Mary Claire Brown’s double to left field for a 1-0 lead. The run came with two outs.
Vogan struck out the side in the third and fourth innings before inducing a ground and popup to second base, and a strikeout in the fifth frame.
The Tigers added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth on four singles for a 4-0 advantage.
Alauna Wilson singled to left field before Vogan reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop that forced Wilson out at second, but Vogan was safe at first. Vogan advanced to second when Addie McFann singled to right field and scored on the throw when Mya Bundranti recorded a base hit to center field for a two-run lead.
McFann scored on Izzy Renner’s single to center field, and Bundranti, who had stolen second base, scored on an error for the last run of the game.
Vogan struck out the side in the sixth and seventh innings.
Brown and Bundranti had two hits apiece, as both singled and doubled.
Mount Pleasant’s Danica Trainer took the loss in the circle, but she had eight strikeouts and issue a walk in six innings. She yielded four runs (three earned) on nine hits.