PIAA softball: Pittston Area hit hard early in Class 5A quarterfinal loss

ALLENTOWN — Pittston Area hadn’t allowed a run in three postseason games.

West Chester East’s Kayla MacLaughlin changed that with one swing in the first inning on Thursday night.

MacLaughlin swatted a three-run triple to right, helping dump Pittston Area into a four-run hole in the first inning. The Patriots never recovered as West Chester East went on for a 9-0 victory in a PIAA Class 5A softball quarterfinal game at Patriots Park.

District 2 champion Pittston Area finished the year at 19-4. The game was also the last for coach Vito Quaglia, who is resigning because of accepting a principal position at Delaware Valley.

“They’re a very close group, the five seniors,” Quaglia said. “The juniors are tight with them. It’s going to be an emotional ride home, but that’s because they are so invested and love what they’re doing.

“I told them this is my last time coaching and I couldn’t have spent it with a better group of kids.”

D1 champion West Chester East (24-2) plays in the semifinals on Monday against D3 third seed Lampeter-Strasburg (27-1) at a site and time to be announced. Lampeter-Strasburg, the defending state champion, defeated D3 champion Twin Valley 9-3 in its quarterfinal game.

Pittston Area pitcher Alexa McHugh threw a no-hitter in an opening-round win against Upper Perkiomen, but gave up consecutive singles to start the game. West Chester East then loaded the bases with a walk, but a fielder’s choice cut down one runner at the plate.

MacLaughlin, though, tripled to right to clear the bases and later scored on a groundout. Just like that, the Vikings were up 4-0 in the first inning.

“We read a lot and did our research,” West Chester coach Bobby Swier said, “but that was our goal. Let’s get a jump early and put pressure on the other team.”

As West Chester East built its lead — adding single runs in the second and third and three in the fifth — Pittston Area couldn’t find a gap in the Vikings’ defense.

McHugh crushed a pitch to deep center in the third that was caught and a low liner to center in the sixth that was speared. Gabby Para led off the sixth with a drive to right that resulted in an over-the-shoulder catch.

Ironically, Pittston Area broke up a no-hit bid by Jess Gomez with two outs in the seventh on weak contact. Shayla Williams lifted a low bloop in front of home plate. Gomez and catcher Sam Gomez waited for the ball to trickle foul. Instead, it spun dead in fair territory.

“We hit the ball hard at times right at them,” Quaglia said. “They made a couple catches that seemed like they were surprising they caught them in the outfield. It was their night. They made every play they could of.”

PIAA Class 5A Quarterfinals

West Chester East 9, Pittston Area 0

Pittston Area`AB`R`H`BI

G.Para cf`3`0`0`0

Felinski 2b`1`0`0`0

McHugh p`3`0`0`0

Antal 3b`3`0`0`0

T.Para ss`2`0`0`0

Mesaris dp`2`0`0`0

Williams 1b`3`0`1`0

Lieback 1b`3`0`0`0

Loyack c`2`0`0`0

Kivler rf`0`0`0`0

Totals`22`0`1`0

West Chester East`AB`R`H`BI

Thompson lf`4`1`3`0

McLaughlin ss`4`1`2`1

Olson cf`4`2`1`1

A.Gomez 1b`3`2`0`0

MacLaughlin 3b`3`3`3`5

S.Gomez c`2`0`0`2

Ronayne dp`3`0`1`1

Wilson 2b`3`0`0`0

Douglass rf`3`0`0`0

J.Gomez p`0`0`0`0

Totals`29`9`10`9

Pittston Area`000`000`0 —0

West Chester East`411`030`x – 9

E – WCE 1, PA 1. DP – WCE 1. LOB – PA 5. WCE 3. 2B – Ronayne, Olson.3B – MacLaughlin 2.

SB – Thompson. SF – S.Gomez.

Pittston Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

McHugh (L)`6.0`10`9`8`1`4

West Chester East`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

J.Gomez (W)`7.0`1`0`0`4`3

Pittston Area assistant coach Frank Parente talks with Lexi Felinski during Thursday’s game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-4.jpgPittston Area assistant coach Frank Parente talks with Lexi Felinski during Thursday’s game. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Pittston Area head coach Vito Quaglia huddles up with the Patriots during his final game leading the team. He had previously announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-5.jpgPittston Area head coach Vito Quaglia huddles up with the Patriots during his final game leading the team. He had previously announced he was stepping down at the end of the season. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Lexi Felinski handles a hard-hit grounder at second base for the Patriots.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-3.jpgLexi Felinski handles a hard-hit grounder at second base for the Patriots. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Lexi Felinski makes the catch for Pittston Area on Thursday.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-6.jpgLexi Felinski makes the catch for Pittston Area on Thursday. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Pittston Area pitcher Alexa McHugh tossed a no-hitter in the first round of states on Monday but ran into a tough West Chester East lineup in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-1.jpgPittston Area pitcher Alexa McHugh tossed a no-hitter in the first round of states on Monday but ran into a tough West Chester East lineup in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Pittston Area’s Madisyn Antal fights off a pitch from West Chester East’s Jess Gomez, who threw a one-hitter.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-7.jpgPittston Area’s Madisyn Antal fights off a pitch from West Chester East’s Jess Gomez, who threw a one-hitter. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Patriots first baseman Bernadette Lieback hauls in a throw for an out just before West Chester East’s Sam Gomez arrives at the bag in Thursday’s PIAA Class 5A semifinals in Allentown.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_PA-WC-East-2.jpgPatriots first baseman Bernadette Lieback hauls in a throw for an out just before West Chester East’s Sam Gomez arrives at the bag in Thursday’s PIAA Class 5A semifinals in Allentown. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader