YATESVILLE — The current senior class has been involved in some special times for the Pittston Area softball program, including the first district championship in school history a year ago.
The defending District 2-11 Class 5A Subregional champions are positioned to add to their success story with five .300 hitters, the team’s home run leader and one of its two pitchers returning.
Seniors Alexa McHugh, Lexi Felinski, Bailey Loyack, Shayla Williams and Morgan Mesaris all figure prominently into those plans on what figures to be a deep team.
“Those five kids have been involved, in the last three years, we’ve played in 11 postseason games,” fifth-year coach Vito Quaglia said. “We’re 8-3 in the postseason with one gold medal and two silver medals.
“That core group of kids has really helped take us through the corner. The younger kids are following suit.”
It is a group that Quaglia is quick to praise.
“Things are going in the right direction and it’s kids like that who have made it happen,” he said. “They come; they put the work in. There’s not a lot of ego and they really love to compete and work together as a group.”
Pittston Area graduated just two seniors from a team that finished second in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1, splitting with division champion and state Class 6A semifinalist Hazleton Area.
McHugh led that team in both batting average and earned run average. She hit .514 with team-highs of 26 RBI and 12 doubles while going 5-3 with three saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 70-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 62 innings.
Felinski, a four-year starter at second base, led the team with 26 runs and six triples while batting .465.
Loyack, the catcher, is another four-year starter. She batted .310.
When Loyack wasn’t containing opposing base runners, she was going 11-for-11 as Pittston Area’s top base stealer.
Mesaris, a .354 hitter while serving primarily as the designated player, could move in at first base. McHugh and Nina Cencetti, who has graduated, each pitched and played first base last season, often splitting time within a game.
Williams returns in left field and junior Kaehler Kivler is back in right field.
Junior Gabby Para is back in center field after batting .420 and finishing second the team in runs with 21 and stolen bases with 10.
“She’s definitely one of the best outfielders around,” Quaglia said. “She covers so much gap-to-gap with her speed.”
Madisyn Antal, another junior, is back at third base after leading the team with three homers.
Tiara George started at shortstop last season as a freshman, but generally did not bat.
Bernadette Lieback got in eight games as a freshman and is a candidate to play first base or many other spots, as needed.
“She’s our Swiss army knife,” Quaglia said. “She can play any position on the field – pitcher, catcher, infield or outfield.”
McHugh is expected to handle the bulk of the pitching, but Lieback and freshman Tori Para, Gabby’s younger system, give the Lady Patriots options.
“The majority of the kids who are on varsity could basically start for any program around,” Quaglia said. “We’re very deep with talent.
“There are some freshmen who are coming on board with us who are going to push some returning kids for positions. They’ll get some playing time or maybe we’ll platoon some.
“If you can play and you can hit, we’re going to find a spot for you.”