Vikings headed back to WPIAL championship game
Mount Pleasant only had four hits in Wednesday’s game against Keystone Oaks in the semifinals of the Class 3A softball playoffs, but the Vikings made the most of them for a 3-2 victory in walk-off fashion to advance to their first WPIAL championship game since 2021.
Mount Pleasant held a 2-0 lead after the first inning before the Golden Eagles tied the game with two runs in the sixth before Chloe Borelli’s line-drive double to center field scored Carly Surma for the game winner in the eighth inning at Norwin High School.
The third-seeded Vikings (15-4) were the home team on the scoreboard and took advantage of their opportunity to bat last. Keystone Oaks (17-5) came into the contest as the No. 7 seed.
Mount Pleasant will play No. 1 seed South Park (19-1) on May 27 or 28 at PennWest California’s Lilley Field.
The Eagles, who drew a bye into the quarterfinals as the top seed, defeated Avonworth and Ellwood City by scores of 2-0 in each game to advance to the championship game. South Park defeated the Golden Eagles twice this season in Section 3-3A play by scores of 4-0 and 8-0.
The path to the winning run in the eighth inning began with Surma doubling to right field to lead off the frame. Keystone Oaks starting pitcher Kennadi Smith buckled down and recorded a strikeout and forced a popup to second base before Borelli’s hit came on a 1-2 count.
Smith suffered the loss, but she had a quality outing in yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits over 7 ⅔ innings. She had five strikeouts and walked one.
The Vikings took advantage of two errors for their 2-0 advantage in the first frame. Sadie Poole advanced to second base when her fly ball to right field was misplayed, and she came around to score on Borelli’s triple to center field for a 1-0 lead.
Jenna Whipkey was hit by pitch and starting and winning pitcher Danica Trainer walked to load the bases with nobody out, but Keystone Oaks recorded its first out of the inning when catcher Evie Kyper fired a strike to Sophie Garretson at third base to pick off Borelli.
Smith recorded a strikeout, but a second run came in for Mount Pleasant when a ball hit by Kendall Waters was misplayed and Whipkey hustled home.
The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the fourth when Kylie Stahl, Smith and Garretson had three-straight singles, but Trainer struck out the next batter looking and took a groundout herself and fired to Whipkey at first base to preserve the 2-0 cushion.
Trainer allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits over eight innings. The junior struck out six and didn’t issue a walk.
Keystone Oaks’ two runs in the six came via an error and a double by Kyper for a 2-2 game. Kailyn Brannon and Stahl led off the inning with back-to-back base hits before Stahl was forced out at second when Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Brannon advanced to third on the play and scored when Garretson was safe at first following an error to cut the deficit to 2-1. Courtesy runner Gianna Moore scored on Kyper’s double to right field.
Surma tripled to center field to lead off the second, but a double play and strikeout allowed the Golden Eagles to escape without giving up a third run.
The Eagles, who are seeking their second WPIAL title after winning in 2003, have allowed 20 runs this season, with seven coming in their only loss, a 7-6 setback to Hempfield in eight innings. The Spartans (20-1) will play for the championship in Class 6A next week at Lilley Field.
The Vikings earned some redemption after losing to Keystone Oaks, 2-0, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs last year. Mount Pleasant was the fifth seed, but were upset by the Golden Eagles, who were the 12th seed.
Mount Pleasant didn’t have to worry about a first-round game this year, as it drew a bye into the quarterfinals and defeated Burrell, 9-4. Keystone Oaks beat Deer Lakes, 6-0, in the first round before stunning defending champion Mohawk, 2-0, in the round of eight. The Warriors defeated South Park, 6-1, in last year’s Class 3A final.
Mount Pleasant defeated Ellwood City, 15-0, in five innings to capture the program’s second district title in 2021. The Vikings also won their second state championship that year in a 5-3 triumph over Mid Penn in the finals. Mount Pleasant won its first WPIAL title in 2016, and earned its first PIAA gold a year later.