Claysburg-Kimmel falls one game short of title tilt
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
IRWIN -- Every celebration in sports has a heartbreak on the other side.
That pain is likely still lingering in the Claysburg and its surrounding areas this morning after the Lady Bulldogs fell, 10-8, to WPIAL champion Union Area in the PIAA Class 1A softball semifinals Monday afternoon at Norwin High School.
Claysburg-Kimmel was an out away from its second-ever trip to the state championship game and led by two when Union's Bella Cameron stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base.
Cameron hit a fly ball high into the cloud-covered sky. The Claysburg outfielder got under it, but the final out was not to be. Both runners scored to tie the game, and the Scotties added two more runs before the inning ended to set the final score.
"We're catching a pop fly that she was under from going to the state finals," said Claysburg-Kimmel coach Mike Barbarini, who is in his 23rd year of coaching. "So, yeah, I would say this is our hardest loss ever."
The Union rally erased the feel-good story the Lady Bulldogs had built when they scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-5 lead.
Freshman Jaylee Swindell tied the game with a solo home run. Jenna Helsel followed by drawing a walk, and after a fielder's choice, Launa Musselman walked and Emalee Cavender put C-K ahead with an RBI single.
Bella Francona rocketed a triple off the fence to score Musselman and Cavender to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead by three with just three out left to get.
"We started going with (Union pitcher Mia Preuhs) pitches," Barbarini said. "They hit both of those to right. She pitched a heck of a game, but we stayed off her high pitches and made her come down into the zone."
Cavender struck out the first batter she faced in the seventh inning before back-to-back singles by Pruehs and Olivia Benedict. McKenna Black made a nice play on a line drive to right for the second out before Cameron's fly ball.
"It's a good learning experience for them," Barbarini said. "It's just part of the game. We made some other errors along the way too that cost us, but everyone focuses on that one, because it's the one that would have ended the game in our favor."
Barbarini's team is made up mostly of underclassmen other than starting senior catcher Nevaeh Walter and third baseman McKenzi Black, who were the last two players to leave the dugout.
"They were the glue that held us together at times," Barbarini said. "All the younger girls looked up to them, and they performed throughout the season and got us to this point."
Walter singled and walked, and McKenzi Black singled and drove in two runs.
Claysburg-Kimmel wasn't expected to return to the PIAA semifinals after making it in 2A last year, but several younger players adjusted to the varsity level quicker than expected, including Swindell, who tied the game with a home run and played solid defense at shortstop.
"We have a lot of young players," Barbarini said. "They are oblivious to what they have accomplished and how hard it is to get to this spot. I knew we had talent to get here, but I did think we were two or three years away from this. Now, I'll expect it from them next year."
Union will play the winner of today's Glendale against Tri-Valley game (which was postponed due to weather on Monday) on Friday in the PIAA championship game at Penn State's Beard Field at 11 a.m.
"Usually I don't get nervous, but I got nervous on that one," Union coach Doug Fisher said. "Man, they pulled through. Kids that normally don't, did, and we have been seeing that a lot. We hit the ball great top to bottom today."
Union won a PIAA Class 1A state championship in basketball this season and now has a chance to take home a state title in two girls sports for the first time.
"This is incredible," said Fisher as he teared up. "It's great. We have won the WPIAL before, but we have never gotten this far before."
Claysburg-Kimmel led 3-0 early when Pruehs struggled with her control, but Mallory Gorgacz got Union on the board with an RBI double, Benedict tied the game in the fifth inning and the Scotties went ahead on an error with two outs that allowed two more runs to score.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the season with a 22-4 record, two state playoff wins and a District 6 Class 1A championship. Not bad for a "rebuilding" year.
"The environment of this team has always been good," Walter said. "We have the best memories together. This is what my whole life revolves around, so it feels good to end it with a good back-and-forth game. I was surprised we made it this far. I'm so proud of the young girls that stepped up and helped us get here."
UNION (10): Williams 2b 401, Ross cf 512, Nogay lf 310, Preuhs p 423, Settle cr 010, Benedict dp 412, Jendrysik rf-pr 010, May 1b 401, Gorgacz ss 412, Cameron c 411, Casalandra 3b 311. Totals - 35-10-13. CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (8): Cavender p 221, Francona 2b 231, Walter c 301, McKenzi Black 3b 401, McKenna Black rf 400, Swindell ss 412, J. Helsel cf 300, Bush 1b 310, L. Musselman dp 210, C. Helsel lf 000, Leihman lf 000. Totals - 27-8-6.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Union 000 140 5 - 10 13 1
Claysburg-Kimmel 201 014 0 - 8 6 4
E--McKenzi Black, Francona, C. Helsel, Leihman. 2B--Gorgacz. 3B--Francona, Cameron. HR--Swindell. RBI--Francona 2, McKenzi Black 2, Swindell 2, Cavender, Benedict 2, Preuhs, Gorgacz, Casalandra.
PITCHING
Union: Preuhs (W)--7IP, 6H, 7K, 6BB, 1HBP, 8R, 7ER, 139 pitches.
Claysburg-Kimmel: Cavender (L)--7IP, 13H, 5K, 2BB, 1HBP, 10R, 4ER, 131 pitches.
Umpires: Al Godissart (HP), David Lowry (1B), Annette Godissart (2B), John Beachley (3B).
Records: Union (20-3); Claysburg-Kimmel (22-4)