May 27, 2014 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

By virtue of a come-from-behind victory against Latrobe, 7-6, Canon-McMillan (18-3) will attempt to win its third straight WPIAL softball title when the Lady Macs take on Shaler (17-3) at 7 p.m. May 29 at Lilley Field on the California University of Pennsylvania campus.

“It’s hard not to feel nervous,” said Michele Moeller. “We’re the No. 1 seed.”

And, for good reason, the Lady Macs are. They are the defending PIAA champions and winners of 14 of their last 15 playoff games. Plus, they boast an offense that averages roughly 11 runs per game. They have also smacked 50 home runs this season alone.

Brittney Crawford launched the 50th round tripper in the first frame against the Wildcats. The left fielder’s solo shot, however, did not ease Moeller’s mind.

“I was talking to the umpire when Brittney hit the home run,” Moeller said. “He said, ‘Are you feeling okay now?’ And I said, ‘No.'”

Even though Olivia Lorusso doubled home Abby McCartney, who had singled, with a second run in the stanza, affording Canon-Mac a 2-0 advantage, tense times lay ahead because the Wildcats exploded for two tallies to knot the game, 2-2, at the top of the second. Latrobe tacked on three more runs in the third and another in the fifth.

Behind, 6-3, the Lady Macs exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Tara Fowler ignited the rally, leading off the inning with a single. Taylor Bruno replaced Fowler on the base paths after hitting into a fielder’s choice. Bruno moved to second on Jade Kemp’s sacrifice. Canon-Mac then strung together four straight hits.

Linda Rush doubled, scoring Bruno. After singles by Crawford and McCartney and a wild pitch, Lorusso stroked a two-run single.

“We know we can hit the ball,” said Lorusso. “We’re always like the comeback team. After we get down, we’re like ‘okay, it’s time to pick it up.’ I wasn’t too nervous to be honest. It’s so satisfying and exciting.”

The game did not end without a little more excitement as the Wildcats refused to go down easily. They loaded the bases with one hit in the sixth and put a runner on in the seventh. But, CM pulled off a double play to end the threat and the game.

Fowler, who snagged the liner back to the mound and doubled off the runner at first base, picked up the win. She struck out two and walked three in recording her 14th win of the season.

Meanwhile, in facing Shaler in the WPIAL finals, the Big Macs face a similar club to themselves. The Titans pounded Bethel Park, 10-0, in five innings in their quarterfinal match. They defeated Penn-Trafford, 4-1, in the semifinals.

Amanda Sartori, who smacked a homer against BP, collected two hits and an RBI against the Warriors. Lauren Miller is another key batter as is A.J. Nichols. Both drove in runs against P-T.

Brianna Dobson helps herself at the plate–she had two hits in the semifinals–and leads the Titans on the mound. During the regular season, she struck out 84 batters.

But, the Lady Macs’ line-up is a virtual “Murderers’ Row” with Robert Morris recruits, Lorusso and McCartney leading the hit parade. Lorusso leads with 15 homers and McCartney has tagged 11 round tripppers. Lorusso has driven in 43 and McCartney follows with 40 RBI. The pair are batting .549 and .597 respectively.

Rush is tops with a .605 average and 12 two-baggers. She has launched nine homers and driven in 38.

Though hobbled by a bad ankle, Giorgiana Zeremenko is batting .455 with 10 doubles, five homers and 23 RBI. The senior catcher is flawless behind the plate, committing no errors.

Additionally, Kemp and senior Ally Bellaire are batting over .400 with .444 and .412 averages respectively. Bellaire has four homers. Even Crawford, a freshman, has her share of long balls with five to go along with a .382 batting average.

Shaler is a traditional softball power. The Titans have been to the WPIAL finals eight times. Shaler, like Canon-Mac, has two championships but the last occurred in 2005.