No. 11 Thomas Jefferson softball riding high after semifinal win
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Friday, May 25, 2018 | 10:51 PM
Albert Gallatin drew the No. 2 seed in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
The Colonials won the Section 2-5A title and entered the playoffs with an 11-3 record.
Most impressively, Albert Gallatin averaged 10 runs per game during the regular season, and wasn't held to less than 3 runs in any contest.
And the power-hitting Colonials had defeated their WPIAL semifinal opponent, No. 11-seed Thomas Jefferson, twice in section play.
But TJ's talented sophomore hurler Bella Bucy put a stop to the AG Express, blanking the Colonials, 2-0, in an eight-inning thriller May 23 at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair.
Thomas Jefferson (13-5) advanced to the WPIAL finals against No. 1-seed West Allegheny (19-1) at 4:30 p.m. May 31, at Seton Hill University.
The left-handed Bucy allowed six hits and two walks while striking out three in tossing the impressive shutout against Albert Gallatin.
“Bella hit her spots like a champ,” TJ coach Heidi Karcher said. “A key to her performance was adjusting her pitch sequence.”
Considering the opponent and the circumstance, Karcher said it was Bucy's best overall pitching performance of the season.
“My defense had an amazing game, catching all the pop foul balls, and the outfield getting everything that was hit to them,” Bucy said. “Also, Haleigh, my catcher, calling my pitches was a key. She was spot-on with what we needed to throw and when. I'm so proud of my team. We hit when we needed to hit and got it done when we needed to.
“Going into the game and already playing against (AG) two times in the regular season, I knew they were going to be a good hitting team. I got my ‘movement' pitches working and tried to give them nothing they could smash. My best pitch was definitely my curveball. It was breaking into their hands and they were hitting popups.”
Bucy, who posted four regular-season shutouts, and junior catcher Haleigh Karcher were two of the stars of the game for the Jaguars.
Bucy worked out of a tense bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks in large part to a clutch defensive play by Karcher at home plate on a forceout throw from the infield.
“It was an awesome job by my battery,” Heidi Karcher said. “Haleigh made some huge defensive plays behind the plate.
“It was a team effort, from cheering to defense to offense to fans coming to support us. I feel awesome.”
Thomas Jefferson broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the eighth.
With one out, freshman second baseman Paige Truax belted a triple to deep right field. Haleigh Karcher followed with an RBI safety-squeeze bunt that drove in Truax.
Following a single by Bucy, TJ's freshman designated player Lily Rockwell — the catalyst behind the Jaguars' 7-4 quarterfinal win over Penn-Trafford — added an insurance run with an RBI groundout.
“The girls continue to work hard every day and don't complain,” said coach Karcher. “I am hard on them, but they know I love them with all my heart and would do anything for them.”
West Allegheny defeated Connellsville, 7-2, to advance to the WPIAL championship round. The Indians, who edged Trinity, 4-3, in the quarterfinals, have won 14 games in a row.
Thomas Jefferson was victorious in its final three regular-season games, to go along with three WPIAL playoff tests.
Rockwell went 3 for 3 with a solo home run against Penn-Trafford, reached base four times, drove in three runs and scored twice.
Freshman center fielder Claire Whalen clouted two doubles and reached base three times, while sophomore right fielder Alana Cleary added two hits and scored twice.
TJ's starting lineup against AG consisted of one senior — first baseman Liz Brock; two juniors — Karcher and third baseman Lauren Liberi; four sophomores — Bucy, shortstop Abby Chalovich, and outfielders Mackenzie Zang and Cleary; plus three freshmen — Truax, Rockwell and Whalen.
“I'm honestly so happy and proud of my team,” Bucy said. “We went into the playoffs being an underdog as the 11 seed, and we've played with everything we have every single game.
“This team has so much heart and passion for the game. Even though we are a young team, I think we have what it takes to win a WPIAL (title).”
West Allegheny opened the season 7-0; TJ started out 5-0.
Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.
Tags: Thomas Jefferson
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