Monessen downs Brownsville in extra innings
Brownsville's Cheyenne Wasko (27) steals third base as Monessen's Kelsey Bachinski (00) awaits the throw during their non-section game Tuesday at Monessen High School.
Darnell Graham
Brownsville’s Abigail Vaughn (13) takes a swing during their non-section game against Monessen at Monessen High School on Tuesday.
Darnell Graham
Monessen pitcher Dana Vatakis releases a pitch during the Greyhounds’ non-section game against Brownsville at Monessen High School last season.
MONESSEN — With the way that Monessen’s Dana Vatakis and Brownsville’s Tiffany Markovitch pitched Tuesday, it is easy to see why both teams are expected to have nice seasons.
Vatakis (16) and Markovitch (15) combined for 31 strikeouts in Monessen’s 3-2, hard-fought 10-inning win.
“We knew this was going to be a dual because Tiffany actually went (to Monessen) in middle school,” said Monessen coach Bo Teets. “We were able to squeak out some runs and were able to make plays defensively that we weren’t able to make in the first game.
“We were able to benefit because of it.”
Brownsville coach Jane Bock shared similar thoughts.
“I knew it was going to be a low-scoring battle because both are good pitchers,” she said. “This game will help us and the more experience we get, the better.
“This will help us the rest of the way.”
Brownsville took the lead in the first inning.
With one out, Allie Lint singled and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls.
Markovitch followed and hit into a fielder’s choice to give the guests the early lead.
The score held until the bottom of the fifth inning when Monessen tied the game.
With one out, Vatakis doubled and scored on a Shelby Minardi RBI single.
Neither team scored again until the 10th inning.
Lint hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Alexis Zosky to give Brownsville a 2-1 lead, but Monessen fought back.
With one out, Mattie Telegraphis singled in Vatakis to tie the score and then she scored on a game-winning single up the middle by Carly Rock.
“I am really proud of Carly,” said Teets. “She was down on herself early in the game because of her at-bats but I am happy for her to get the game-winning hit.
“I am happy for our team as this shows we can play with good teams and games like this prepares us for section play and hopefully the playoffs.”
Monessen finished with 11 hits with Minardi getting four singles, Vatakis recording a pair of doubles and Tori Cooper tallying two singles.
Brownsville finished with six hits as Cheyenne Wasko had a single and a double and Markovitch had a pair of singles.
Both teams hit the road today as Brownsville opens Section 2-AA play at Charleroi and Monessen is at Jefferson-Morgan in an exhibition game.