Lady Vikes dethroned
District 6 Class 1A softball championship
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LORETTO -- Glendale has been a regular recent participant in the District 6 Class 1A softball championship game, making its fifth appearance in the contest since 2017 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Vikings won the district title a year ago, but Conemaugh Valley junior right-handed pitcher Delanie Davison prevented top-seeded Glendale from defending its championship this season.
Davison tossed a complete-game shutout, spacing six Glendale singles, and second-seeded Conemaugh Valley captured the district gold medal with a 2-0 victory on the Saint Francis University softball field.
Both teams will advance to the PIAA state playoffs and first-round games on Monday at sites and times that have yet to be determined. Glendale will play the winner of today's District 5 championship between Meyersdale and Shade.
"We just couldn't string hits together, and we weren't squaring the ball up,'' Glendale coach Bruce Vereshack said. "Congratulations to them. They're a well-coached team, and their pitcher pitched very well.''
Sophomore catcher Caitlyn Rydbom was 3-for-3 at the plate with three singles for Glendale (16-2), while sophomore third baseman Ally Buterbaugh collected two singles in three plate appearances.
Glendale failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, stranding nine base runners -- including two apiece in both the sixth and seventh innings.
"I was throwing my screwball a lot, and it was working well,'' said Davison, who struck out six batters and walked just two. "My defense backed me up and really came through.''
Conemaugh Valley (18-3) gave veteran coach Paula McCleester a milestone victory. The win was McCleester's 300th coaching win in her 25 seasons, and the district championship was icing on the cake for the Lady Blue Jays.
"It feels fantastic,'' McCleester said. "These girls have really worked hard in the offseason, both in travel ball and in the gym, and that has paid off for them.''
Glendale freshman right-handed pitcher Madison Peterson tossed a gem of a game in defeat and truly deserved a better fate.
Peterson worked a complete seven innings, allowing just three hits, striking out nine and walking just two.
An unfortunate set of circumstances for Glendale led the way to Conemaugh Valley scoring two fourth-inning runs that held up.
Senior second baseman Anna Gunby led off the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second base on a throwing error. After Davison walked, both runners moved up a base on catcher Katie Ledwich's groundout.
Peterson struck out center fielder Bella Grecek for the second out of the inning and worked a two-strike count on the next batter, third baseman Isabella Winkelman. Winkelman then swung and missed on Peterson's low pitch, but with the ball on the ground, Gunby alertly raced toward the plate.
Catcher Rydbom threw to first base in an effort to complete the strikeout, but Winkelman collided with first baseman Abby Williams, who was unable to catch Rydbom's throw as Gunby and Davison both scored.
"I was just thinking that this was my chance,'' Gunby -- who had two of Conemaugh Valley's three hits -- said of her scoring opportunity. "As soon as I saw it out of the catcher's glove, I just ran.''
Two runs were enough to decide what was a hard-fought pitcher's duel.
"(It's) absolutely (tough),'' Vereshack said of Wednesday's loss. "But I told the girls that we've had a great season, and we're not done yet by any means.
"We knew it would come down to whichever team blinked first today,'' Vereshack added. "Now we have to bounce back and do what we've done all year. We had opportunities today. We just needed to hit.''
CONEMAUGH VALLEY (2): H. Stiffler ss 300, Gunby 2b 312, Davison p 110, Ledwich c 300, Grecek cf 300, Winkelman 3b 201, Hudec 1b 300, J. Stiffler rf 200, Rogenbaum lf 200. Totals - 22-2-3.
GLENDALE (0): Best ss 400, Kaprice Cavalet 2b 400, Peterson p 400, Buterbaugh 3b 302, McNitt cr 000, Taylor rf 301, Kasaback cf 200, Koltyn Cavalet dh 300, Williams 1b 200, Rydbom c 303, A. Richards cr 000, C. Richards lf (flex) 000. Totals - 28-0-6.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Conemaugh Valley 000 200 0--2-3-2
Glendale 000 000 0-0-6-2
2B--Gunby. LOB--Glendale 9, Conemaugh Valley 2. DP--Glendale turned one (Peterson to Buterbaugh to Williams).
PITCHING
Conemaugh Valley: Davison (W) 7IP, 6H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 6SO.
Glendale: Peterson (L) 7IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 9SO.
Records: Conemaugh Valley (18-3), Glendale (16-2).
Umpires: Rick Walker (plate); Randy Lose (first base); Tracy Cornelius (second base); Craig Burris (third base).
Time of game: 1:44.