HIGH-SCHOOL

Meyersdale makes history with 4th straight WestPAC softball title

Adam Ripple
The Daily American

CRESSON — An emphatic "yeah" from Meyersdale sophomore pitcher Izabella Donaldson after her eighth and final strikeout of the game signaled the end of an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Conemaugh Valley in the WestPAC softball title game Monday at Mount Aloysius College.

"Defense was going to win it," said Meyersdale coach Tim Miller. "Zoe (Hetz) came up huge at first. That was an unbelievable play and that put out a rally, quick. We had to play a good defensive game against a team that hits like that and we did that. It was a rocky start. "Boog" (Donaldson) settled down and kept them off balance."

Meyersdale pitcher Izabella Donaldson reacts after getting the final Conemaugh Valley batter with a strikeout, ending a 8-7 victory in the WestPAC softball championship, Monday at Mount Aloysius College.

What it means

Meyersdale became the first WestPAC softball program to capture four straight conference titles. Conemaugh Valley won three in a row from 2015-17. It is quite an accomplishment for a team that lost its all-state pitcher and catcher to graduation, starting second baseman Laurel Daniels to an ACL injury during basketball, and does not have a senior on its roster.

Keys to the gameMeyersdale bids for 4th straight WestPAC softball championship

Key plays

The aforementioned play by the sophomore first baseman, Hetz, came in the top of the sixth inning. With no outs and a runner on first, Delanie Davison ripped a liner down the line. Hetz made the catch going to the ground. She quickly spun around and doubled up Anna Gunby.

"Thirty seconds before I did that I thought, 'I really hope something comes my way because I want to turn a double play.'" Hetz said. "I knew she (Gunby) was quick because we play basketball with her. She wasn't far from the bag so I knew I had to turn around and go."

Meyersdale trailed 3-0 after one. The Blue Jays (14-3) nearly batted around the order. However, the Red Raiders tallied a run in the bottom of the frame on a leadoff, opposite-field home run from sophomore shortstop Marcella Dupre. It helped the team relax in what turned into a slugfest between two of the top hitting clubs in the conference.

"For Marci to step up, I think that's the second time this season as a leadoff hitter, she started things with a home run," Miller said of Dupre. "That settled us down. If we would have been down 3-0, that could have been a different game."

Meyersdale's Marcella Dupre is greeted at the plate after a first inning solo home run against Conemaugh Valley in the WestPAC softball championship, Monday at Mount Aloysius College.

Dupre, who is a first-year starter, felt no pressure at the plate even though her team was down early.

"When I first hit the home run, I was really excited," she said. "When one person starts hitting, everybody starts hitting. We got in their heads and that helped a lot."

After Conemaugh Valley tacked on three runs in the top of the second, Meyersdale responded with five runs, including a three-run homer by Donaldson down the left-field line.

"This means a lot us," Donaldson said. "After losing a couple games, this boosts our spirits back up heading into the playoffs. We went up there (to the plate) relaxed and we kept out heads."

By the numbers

Meyersdale racked up 11 hits in the game. The Red Raiders chased Davison after just two innings pitched. They sent 15 hitters to the plate in the first two innings after the Blue Jays had 17 plate appearances through two.

Meyersdale sophomore Morgan Walters had two hits and made a great catcher on a liner by Katie Ledwich in the top of the third to end the inning as the Blue Jays had a runner on second. Freshman Jessica Daughton had two hits, including an RBI double. Amelia Kretchman and Shelby Hetz each reached base three times.

Meyersdale center fielder Morgan Walters goes deep to make a catch against Conemaugh Valley while being backed up by left fielder Regan Gindlesperger, left, in the WestPAC softball championship, Monday at Mount Aloysius College.

Gunby led the Blue Jays going 4-for-4. Davison added two hits and three RBIs. Bella Grecek hit an RBI double, tripled and scored a run.

What's next

Meyersdale (15-2) will be the No 1. seed in the District 5 Class 1A playoffs that open up next week. The Red Raiders are the defending champs and will look for their sixth district title in the last seven tournaments.

"I hope we hit like we did (Monday)," Miller said. "We played an all-around great game, and we need to continue to do that."

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook.