Payton’s place
Senge throws no-hitter in Mustangs’ playoff triumph
IRWIN — Payton Senge is a solid high school softball pitcher.
And just in case anyone wasn’t aware of her abilities, the Laurel Highlands sophomore provided a reminder in throwing a no-hitter on Monday in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs against Freeport on Monday at Norwin High School.
The Mustangs scored nine runs in the first inning, which was more than enough for Senge, as Laurel Highlands earned a 12-0 victory in five innings for the program’s first playoff win since 1999. LH was in the postseason for the first time in 2013.
“The girls were calm coming into the game,” Laurel Highlands coach Pat Livingston said. “They were calm on the bus ride down and before warmups. They wanted it and took it there in the first inning. Any time you score nine runs in an inning that will settle a team down.”
The Mustangs (11-5) will play Blackhawk (10-4) in the quarterfinals on Thursday with the site and time to be determined.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best, and we are going to keep rolling forward with Blackhawk, who is the No. 3 seed, so hopefully we come out and play like we did tonight,” Livingston said.
Senge was making her postseason debut, but didn’t display any apprehension in recording 12 strikeouts and walking two. Senge’s perfect game was broken up in the fifth frame when she walked Lauren Clark to lead off the inning. After striking out the next two batters, Senge walked Leah Clark, but buckled down to end the contest with a strikeout to help her team advance to the round of eight.
“I felt amazing,” Senge said. “I was determined to go out there and shut it down from the start, and my team had my back with all the hits we had. The win was what I had on my mind. The perfect game would have been awesome, but a no-hitter is still great. The walks didn’t really mess with me much. I knew I just had to lock back in and get the outs.”
Senge doesn’t require much run support, but it certainly doesn’t hurt, and after she struck out the side in the top of the first inning, her teammates assisted in providing her with a most-comfortable lead in scoring nine runs on six hits for a 9-0 lead.
“I knew I still had to come in and shut it down because they were also very fired up, and could have easily got as many as we did,” Senge said. “The bats were definitely on today.”
The Yellowjackets’ Ali Smith induced a groundout and pop up to second base for two quick outs to open the bottom of the frame, but Senge got her team going with a single to left field.
Senge advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Emme Cavaliere’s base hit to left field for a 1-0 advantage. Cavaliere advanced to third on the play.
Payton Rambo walked and Chloe Komacko reached on an error to load the bases before Cavaliere scored on Liv McClelland’s infield single for a 2-0 lead.
Rambo and Komacko scored on Aubrey Speelman’s base hit to right field for a four-run cushion. Courtesy runner Kyleigh Carney touched home plate on Gianna Miller’s single to left field for a 5-0 advantage.
Kayla Howell reached first base on a wild pitch following a dropped third strike before Speelman raced home when Harlie Dirda was safe at first following an error.
Senge cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field that plated Miller, Howell and Dirda for a 9-0 lead.
Even with a nine-run advantage, Livingston knew Senge would go back to work as if the game was scoreless, which she did in striking out the first two batters of the second frame before ending the half-inning by forcing a flyout to left field.
“I knew she would get right back to work,” Livingston said. “She didn’t get the perfect game, but still the no-hitter, and really all she is worried about is winning as a team.”
Laurel Highlands scored its 10th run in the second inning when McClelland advanced to second on an error and Carney raced home when Speelman reached second base on a second error in the frame.
Dirda helped the Mustangs push their advantage to 11-0 in the third when she singled to left field, stole second and scored on Cavaliere’s double to center field.
Laurel Highlands’ final run came in the fourth following a walk to Komacko, who raced to second on a passed ball and third on a dropped third strike, before scoring on Miller’s double to left field.
The Mustangs scored all of their runs with two outs.