Softball - Latrobe vs Hempfield

Hempfield softball beats Latrobe 3-1, claims top spot in Class 6A Section 2 standings  

A larger than normal crowd lining the hillside overlooking Graham-Sobota Field at Greater Latrobe High School was a clue that this game was a big one. With Hempfield and Latrobe softball both undefeated in section play, the winner of today's battle would sit alone atop the Class 6A Section 2 standings. Latrobe had been foiled by Hempfield several times in the past two years, as the Lady Spartans rolled up an impressive 46-game winning streak going back to April of 2016. But the streak ended just yesterday as Hempfield lost to Penn-Trafford in a non-section game. Was this the year that the Lady Wildcats would get their piece of Hempfield too? 

Latrobe started out strong, holding Hempfield scoreless in the top of the first inning, then putting the first marker on the board in their own half of the first. An infield error, a batter hit by a pitch, and a base hit by Rebecca Tatone to score Carissa Scekeres put the Wildcats up 1-0 after one frame. Both teams went quietly in the second before Hempfield got their bats going in the third. An Allison Podkul base hit, a walk to Laura Fox, Megan Monzo was hit by a pitch, and suddenly the Spartans had the bases loaded with no outs. A fielders choice forced Podkul out at home, but it didn't keep the Spartans off the board for long. An infield error and a sacrifice fly scored Fox and Monzo and Hempfield took the lead 2-1. Latrobe put two runners on base with no outs in their half of the third, but stranded both as Maddie Uschock pitched out of the jam. Hempfield added another run in the seventh as Allison Podkul doubled for her second hit of the game, advanced to third on a sacrifice fly, then scored on an error to make the score 3-1.  Latrobe couldn't take advantage of Jordan Novak's opening double in the seventh, as Uschock retired the next three batters to pick up the win. 

Kiley Myers pitched the complete game for Latrobe, tossing 10 strikeouts on 4 hits in the loss. Maddie Ushock struck out 4 and gave up 5 hits in the complete game win for the Spartans. Hempfield's Allison Podkul and Latrobe's Jordan Novak both went 2-for-3 with a double. Gusts of wind delayed the game twice as sections of the movable outfield fence blew over and had to be reset. 

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.