DALLAS – Five seniors who guided Pittston Area through the most successful stretch in the softball program’s history had one last game together with their three coaches Wednesday night.
Lexi Felinski, Alexa McHugh, Shayla Williams, Morgan Mesaris and Bailey Loyack were all in the lineup for the East in its 10-4 loss to the West in the 40th annual Robert L. Dolbear Wyoming Valley Conference Senior All-Star Game.
Vito Quaglia, who recently resigned as Pittston Area coach, led the East team. He was assisted by Frank Parente, who was appointed as the new Lady Patriots coach Wednesday, and Kim Roman.
“It’s definitely a big loss to lose five accomplished seniors,” Parente said. “They were five starters and were a huge part of the team’s success for the last two years for some, for others the last four years.”
Pittston Area won District 2 titles and first-round state tournament games in Class 5A for each of the past two seasons. It was the first two times for the school for each of those accomplishments.
Williams scored the first East run, Mesaris had one of the team’s four hits and McHugh drew a pair of walks in the all-star game.
McHugh also served as the East starting pitcher, working three innings. After giving up two runs (one earned) in the first, she worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by getting one of her four strikeouts.
The West broke loose for five runs in the bottom of the third.
Felinski started at shortstop and batted second. She went 0-for-2.
Williams, who started in left field and batted fifth, led off the top of the second with a walk and came around to score. She finished 0-for-1.
Mesaris followed Williams in the order and started in right field. She was 1-for-2 with a single that advanced Williams.
Loyack started at catcher and batted ninth. She was 0-for-2.
The East also had players from Hanover Area, Holy Redeemer, Coughlin, GAR, Meyers and Crestwood.
Sarah Youkoski from GAR was East Most Valuable Player. She went 2-for-2 with a two-run double in the seventh.
Hope Jones from Tunkhannock was the West MVP. She had a three-run triple to highlight the five-run inning and also struck out four while pitching the first three innings.
Players from Dallas, Berwick, Wyoming Seminary and Northwest were also part of the winning team, which was coached by Tunkhannock’s Bob Hegedty.
