Fox Chapel notebook: With weather wrecking schedule, baseball, softball teams ready for anything

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, April 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Rain is a fact of life for baseball and softball teams in the area. Nearly every year, the early part of the season is plagued by bad weather and difficulty finding facilities to play at. Even with more turf fields around, Fox Chapel senior Troy Susnack said the Foxes are always at the ready.

“It’s about consistency and knowing you have to be ready whenever,” Susnack said. “Coach has been texting saying this game has been moved up to beat the rain. You have to be ready all the time. You can never get too comfortable.”

The Foxes opened their season with a strong matchup against defending PIAA Class 5A Shaler. Then, the Foxes opened section play with a split of back-to-back games against Penn-Trafford. After that, Fox Chapel was sidelined for around 10 days before it was scheduled to resume play with Penn Hills on April 6.

The Foxes (2-2, 1-1) hope that the back-to-back games with Penn Hills will jump-start their season.

“Coach has done a great job of getting us in the gym and weight room,” Susnack said.

Fox Chapel played two tight games during its first two section games with the Warriors. Mitchell Epstein drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to give Fox Chapel a 4-3 win over the Warriors at home.

The Foxes took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning of the rematch two days later, but ended up losing 3-2 when the Warriors rallied.

Fox Chapel’s softball team has also felt the pain of dealing with Mother Nature. The Foxes had four games postponed through April 3, which was twice as many as they played. Fox Chapel’s softball team was 0-2 to start the year.

Hot start

Fox Chapel girls lacrosse looks like a team that is eager to make waves in the WPIAL this season. Fox Chapel extended its record to 3-0 by beating North Hills, 19-7. Tess Petrucill led the Foxes with 12 saves.

Caroline Grimsley scored a team-high six goals and added two assists. Sydney Schutzman picked up four goals and two assists for the Foxes as well.

Slow start

Fox Chapel boys volleyball team doesn’t have an easy task in qualifying for the WPIAL Class 3A volleyball playoffs. The Foxes are stuck in Section 2 with perennial powerhouse North Allegheny and defending PIAA runner-up and WPIAL champion Shaler.

Fox Chapel has opened section play 0-2, but it has plenty of time to make a run at the playoffs.

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