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By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
MORRISDALE -- After coming back from down three runs on Monday against Juniata Valley, it was an even bigger uphill battle to climb for the Glendale softball team on Thursday afternoon.
It turned out that the Makena Moore challenge was too big for the Lady Vikings as the Lady Warrior pitcher fired a five-inning no-hitter to beat Glendale, 14-1, in five innings in the District 6 1A semifinals.
The Lady Vikings (11-11) will now play in the third-place game against Conemaugh Valley on Wednesday for a spot in the PIAA Tournament, which begins on June 3. Conemaugh Valley fell to Claysburg-Kimmel, 13-4, on Thursday.
"The ICC is freaking tough," Glendale coach Bruce Vereshack said. "I honestly think the ICC is the best conference in the state. Conemaugh Valley hasn't played Claysburg or West Branch, and DuBois Central Catholic, even though they aren't in the ICC. Our schedule has prepared us to play (Conemaugh Valley)."
West Branch will be looking for a performance from Moore against Claysburg similar to Thursday. She fired 10 strikeouts in her no-hit performance, despite giving up an unearned run.
"She definitely turned it up a notch tonight," West Branch coach Tim Wesesky said.
"(A district championship appearance) was the goal from day one. These girls are hungry. They know what it takes to get there. They just went out and did it."
Moore, who battled lingering injuries throughout the season despite not missing any time, allowed just four baserunners on the day. She walked Glendale 5-hitter Ava Weld in the fourth. Weld stole third base and scored as the throw sailed into left field to bring home Glendale's lone run.
Moore was also the cleanup hitter in the Lady Warrior lineup, batting behind slugging catcher Greysyn Gable, who is hitting over .600 on the season. Glendale elected to intentionally walk Gable in all four of her plate appearances, but Moore responded with a three-RBI day, including getting the game's first run on an RBI double in the bottom of the first.
"It makes me want it more," Moore said of hitting behind Gable. "Obviously they know she's a big bat, but I want them to know that about me too. It's definitely a game changer."
Carsyn Wesesky also hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning to give West Branch a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Warriors added four more runs in the bottom of the second despite not getting a hit off Glendale sophomore pitcher Hannah Simmers. Glendale went to Jaylee Beck in the pitcher's circle in the third. She only gave up two hits, but the free passes were an issue throughout the game.
West Branch added one more run without getting a hit in the third, and six in the fourth on just two hits.
"She's young. That's a tough spot to put her in, but I'm proud of her," Vereshack said of Simmers. "We're not here without her. Without Hannah Simmers, we don't get to this point. She can learn and grow from this, and we still have a chance to go to the state tournament because of Hannah Simmers."
Glendale's consolation game against Conemaugh Valley will be on Wednesday with a site and time to be determined.
GLENDALE (1): Fry ss 200, Rydbom c 100, Peterson 2b 200, Buterbaugh 3b 200, Weld rf 110, McNitt lf 200, Beck cf-p 200, Cavalet 1b 100, Snyder dp 200, Simmers (flex) p 000, Kaufman (flex) cf 000. Totals -- 15-1-0.
WEST BRANCH (14): Bainey 3b 231, Graham cf 200, Gable c 000, Bush cr 030, Moore p 201, Ch. Wesesky cr-ph 030, Koleno cr 000, Thompson 2b 302, Ca. Wesesky 1b 311, Butler rf 210, Woodling ss 120, MacTavish lf 110. Totals -- 16-14-5.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Glendale……………000 10X X -- 1 0 0
West Branch……..341 6XX X -- 14 5 1
E--Gable. 2B--Moore, Ca. Wesesky. SAC--Graham. SB--Weld. HBP--Bainey, Moore, Thompson. RBI--Moore 3, Thompson 3, Ca. Wesesky 2, Bainey, Ch. Wesesky.
PITCHING
Glendale: Simmers (L)--2 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 0 K; Beck--2 IP, 2 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 2 K.
West Branch: Moore (W) -- 5 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 10 K.
Umpires: Scott Viehdorfer (HP); Randy Lose (1B); Craig Burris (3B).
Records: Glendale (11-11); West Branch (20-2).