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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
JOHNSTOWN -- Claysburg-Kimmel was cruising in its District 6 Class 1A semifinal game at Conemaugh Valley on Thursday until Julia Stiffler's two-run home run cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead in half.
But with the game in the balance in the top of the fifth inning, Claysburg-Kimmel coach Mike Barbarini unleashed his secret weapon.
Payton Hinish came off the bench to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs and launched a grand slam to blow the game open in an eventual 13-4 win.
"I was saving her," Barbarini said. "I didn't start her today. She's been starting, but I thought I'd make a change today. We worked all week with her hitting, and I told her I was saving her for a certain situation. She came in and did what we needed her to do."
Hinish worked a 3-1 count before her home run as she adjusted to entering the game off the bench in such a high-pressure situation.
"I was really unprepared," Hinish said. "But when I got in there, I was thinking I just needed to execute and do what I needed to do for the team, and I did. It's amazing to be going back to the district championship game. I have so much adrenaline in me."
Hinish is only a sophomore, but this grand slam isn't even the biggest one of her career. As a freshman, she launched one in the District 6 championship win over West Branch, but that turned out to be her last game as she needed to get knee surgery and missed the state playoffs.
"I am doing very well now," Hinish said. "I'm still working on it, but I feel great. It's amazing that I'll be able to play with the team this year at states. I felt very bad last year missing it."
Barbarini said Hinish's return has been a boost.
"She's a big part of our puzzle," Barbarini said. "Any time you have a hitter like that who comes back healthy, it's a big plus for your team."
Claysburg-Kimmel will play West Branch in a rematch of last year's District 6 Class 1A championship game on Wednesday. The Lady Warriors beat Glendale, 14-1, in the other semifinal on Thursday.
Savannah Crissman gave the Lady Bulldogs an early lead with a three-run home run in the top of the second inning, and McKenna Black brought home Bella Francona with a sacrifice fly in the third inning to make it 4-0.
Stiffler's home run cut that lead in half, but Hinish off Conemaugh Valley pitcher Maddie Beiter put C-K firmly back in control.
"Today we came out and had our hitting shoes on," Barbarini said. "We hit the ball hard. We made (Beiter) pitch and throw strikes, and when she came into the zone, we hit it."
Emalee Cavender, who hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, struck out 10 batters and allowed just four runs on two-run blasts by Stiffler and Lady Jays catcher Katie Ledwich.
"She's been pitching like that all year," Barbarini said. "She's the rock that holds us together. She's a senior who has been through a lot. She pitches her butt off all the time for us. She's a leader, and she shows it every time she's out there."
Jaylee Swindell added a two-run single in the sixth inning, and Francona finished with a double and a triple as part of Claysburg-Kimmel's 16-hit barrage.
"It was deflating," Conemaugh Valley coach Paula McCleester said. "You second guess what pitch you called. I expected us to go back and answer, but that's a good team. We're all quality teams at this point, and you can't complain. You just have to get back after it."
Conemaugh Valley will play Glendale in the District 6 consolation game for the right to play in the state tournament. C-K, which made a run to the PIAA semifinals a year ago, clinched a return trip with Thursday's win.
"It feels good," Barbarini said. "We know the teams we'll face in the playoffs. We saw most of them last year. Carmichaels, Union, Chartiers-Houston, they are all back in their finals this year with West Greene. We're looking forward to trying to make another run in the state playoffs."
CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (13): Cavender p 512, Helsel cf 412, B. Francona 2b 522, Black c 412, L. Musselman dp 411, Swindell ss 433, Zak. Bush 1b 312, Crissman 3b 321, Zai. Bush rf 200, Hinish ph 211, A. Musselman rf 000, A. Francona flex-lf 000. Totals -- 36-13-16.
CONEMAUGH VALLEY (4): McCleester ss 400, Ferguson cf 412, Ledwich c 412, Bilak 3b 300, Beiter p-1b 311, J. Stiffler rf 311, Winkleman 2b 300, Schellhammer 1b-p 200, M. Stiffler lf 100, Miller lf 200. Totals -- 29-4-6.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Claysburg-Kimmel 031 043 2--13 16 2
Conemaugh Valley 000 220 0--4 6 1
E--Zak. Bush, B. Francona, Bilak. 3B--B. Francona. HR--Crissman, Hinish, Cavender, J. Stiffler, Ledwich. RBI--Hinish 4, Crissman 3, Swindell 2, Black 2, Cavender, Zak. Bush, Ledwich 2, J. Stiffler 2.
PITCHING
Claysburg-Kimmel: Cavender (W)–7IP, 6H, 2BB, 10K, 4 R, 4ER, 116 pitches.
Conemaugh Valley: Beiter (L)–6 1/3IP, 13H, 3BB, 6K, 12R, 12ER, 132 pitches. Schellhammer--2/3IP, 3H, 0BB, 0K, 1R, 1ER, 9 pitches.
Umpires: Wes Meyers (HP); Ron Goisovich (1B); Don Neisner (3B).
Records: Claysburg-Kimmel (21-1); Conemaugh Valley (18-4).