Chartiers-Houston wins 9th WPIAL softball championship

By: Michael Love

Friday May 31, 2024 | 1:51 p.m.

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The Chartiers-Houston softball team saw its goal of a WPIAL Class A championship dashed last year with a loss to eventual champion Union in the semifinals.

This time, nothing could stop the Bucs against the Scotties.

Chartiers-Houston, behind 11 hits from its powerful offense and pitching from standout junior Meadow Ferri, won its first WPIAL title since 2012 and ninth in program history 9-5 over Union on Friday at California’s Lilley Field ( Pa.). .

“It’s awesome,” Chartiers-Houston coach Tricia Alderson said. “I’m really happy for the kids because they worked so hard and were very focused all season. Union is a really tough team. We’re just super excited.

“We faced some very good pitchers throughout the season. In our first two rounds of the playoffs, we saw some good pitching, so we felt pretty good about being able to hit.

The teams had to wait two additional days to play the championship game. Bad weather in the area Wednesday afternoon forced WPIAL officials to postpone the game.

Chartiers-Houston (18-2) has lost just one game to a Class A team this year, a sectional setback to rival Carmichaels.

The Bucs beat Carmichaels, 3-2, in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the title game.

Their only other loss came to Class 5A runner-up Thomas Jefferson.

Now, Chartiers-Houston turns its attention to the PIAA tournament and a first-round matchup Monday with District 5 runner-up Berlin at a site in WPIAL territory.

“We already talked about it this week when we had several days of practice,” Alderson said.

“With the match being postponed, we knew the turnaround would be quick, whether you win or lose. We’re going to come back tomorrow and get ready for (Berlin) Monday.

Union, whose only loss before Friday came against WPIAL Class 2A champion Neshannock, fell to 20-2 and will now prepare to face District 9 champion DuBois Central Catholic on Monday.

“(Chartiers-Houston) was the better team today,” said Union coach Doug Fisher, whose Scotties were denied a third straight WPIAL title.

“We made a few mistakes here and there and we didn’t hit the ball as well as we usually do. They were the better team and deserved to win. They were hungrier.

Fisher said his team was humiliated against Chartiers-Houston, but he’s confident they will use that feeling as motivation as they shift gears for the PIAA tournament. Union reached the state finals last year before falling to District 11 champion Tri-Valley at Penn State.

Chartiers-Houston hitters came out on top of the first.

Shortstop Lauren Rush, who reached safely four times with two hits and two errors from the Union defense, singled with one out and then stole second.

She easily scored the first of her three runs when Ferri helped herself with a triple to right.

The Bucs followed with a run in the second, two in the third and two in the fourth to lead 6-0.

Union, however, didn’t fold its tent and got on the board in the bottom of the fourth and cut the deficit to one with four more runs in the fifth.

Scotties shortstop Mallory Gorgacz drove in two runs with a single, catcher Irelyn Fisher added a hit and designated player Olivia Benedict doubled in the fourth run.

Fisher’s RBI was his team’s 43rd of the season.

The Bucs responded in the top of the sixth with three runs on three hits to regain a comfortable lead.

Ferri retired seven of the last eight batters she faced with four strikeouts to help seal the victory.

” It’s incredible. It’s so surreal,” Ferri said. “I couldn’t have done it without (my teammates). We are very supportive of each other and work hard together.

Ferri, who reached the 200 strikeout mark for the season in that game, allowed a total of six hits and walked three while striking out 11.

Due to two errors, the Union’s five points against Ferri were unearned.

“We fell apart a little bit defensively in that (fifth) inning, but Meadow pitched really well,” Alderson said.

“We always expect a good performance from her. She has been fantastic this season.

Union pitcher Mia Preuhs also reached a strikeout milestone. His second of two strikeouts in the fifth inning was the 500th of his college career. She finished with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Of the nine Chartiers-Houston races, six were earned.

Catcher Ella Richey and outfielder Zaylee Fonner also collected two hits for the Bucs.

Benedict and second baseman Olivia Williams each finished with two hits for Union.

“(Union) is tough and (Preuhs) is such a good pitcher,” Alderson said. “But we felt pretty prepared. I was a little surprised we scored that many, but we’ll take it.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs. A Clearfield native and Westminster (Pa.) graduate, he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at Clearfield Progress. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Tags: Chartiers-Houston, Union