Seton-La Salle knocks off Avonworth in WPIAL softball
Seton-La Salle used the 1-2 punch of Lauren Zola and Lexi Wagner to knock off Avonworth, 4-0, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA softball playoffs.
On the mound, Zola struck out 18, scattered two hits and walked a pair.
“[Avonworth] made a little more contact [than other teams] in other games,” said SLS manager Jay Krull. “The big thing that helps Lauren though is she is a four-year starter and a senior. We’ll ride Lauren as long as she is willing.”
The Rebels will also ride their winning recipe into next Tuesday’s (May 19) quarterfinal match-up against Neshannock, a 5-0 winner against Burgettstown.
“Our formula all year has been pitching, play good defense and hit for power when we need it,” Krull said. “Lauren makes it difficult for teams to score runs. She has a good defense behind her and a lot of our scores have come from home runs. That’s been our M.O. all season.”
Wagner certainly kept to the script when she socked her 10th homer of the season in the decisive fifth frame. Alyssa Miller singled then yielded to courtesy runner Amanda Jerziorski. Dani Dadig singled, too, and with two-out, Wagner launched a pitch over the center-field fence, providing a 3-run cushion for the Rebels.
Tomasina Arrigo led of the sixth stanza with a home run to increase SLS’s margin.
“Again, when you are not giving up too many runs,” Krull said, “it let’s you be patient in generating your own scores.
“It’s who we are,” continued Krull. “We don’t give up a lot of hits but we do get a lot of runs.”
Krull takes little credit for SLS’s power. “All of our players put the extra work in,” he said. “They all have personal trainers, he added, “They work on their strength and conditioning.”
While the Lopes finished the season at 8-6 overall, the Rebels improved to 14-0 overall with the victory. They were undefeated Section 4 champions with a 12-0 slate.
Meanwhile, their opponent in the quarterfinals is 18-3 overall. Burgettstown tied South Side Beaver for first place in Section 1 with a 9-1 mark.
The Rebels respect the Blue Devils. “All playoff teams are good but anybody that advances in this tournament is going to be a challenge,” Krull said.
Quaker Valley provided a stiff challenge for SLS’s male counterparts as the Rebels succumbed to the Quakers, 6-0, in the Class AA baseball playoffs.
In other softball action, Blackhawk dispatched Chartiers Valley, 3-1, while South Fayette defeated Mars, 3-1, in the Class AAA playoffs.
In other baseball action, Bethel Park blanked Hempfield, 3-0, while Shaler upended Canon-McMillan, 4-1, in the Quad-A tournament.