Downingtown West’s season ends in extra-inning loss to Hazleton

Allentown >> Thursday was packed with emotion for the six Downingtown West softball seniors. Just a few hours before they were to graduate from D-West, the District 1 6A champion Whippets saw their season end with a 1-0 loss to District 2 champ Hazleton in the PIAA 6A state quarterfinals at Allentown’s Patriots Park.
The hard-hitting Whippets (22-3), who scored less than five runs in a game only twice this season (before Thursday), reached base nine times against Hazleton, but couldn’t get a run home.
Meanwhile, D-West junior pitcher Natalie Beebe shut out Hazleton for seven innings, allowing only three hits and striking out nine batters.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Hazleton sophomore second baseman Julia Mrochko ended the game, slamming a home run to center field that barely cleared the fence.
Following the game, the Whippets traded emotional hugs, saying good-bye to each other – for now.
“Our motto this season was, ‘We go together, or not at all.’” said Whippet senior catcher Caitlin Coker, who will be playing softball for Boston University in the fall. “We embodied that togetherness, that spirit all season. This is a great group of girls – I’ll be coming back to visit [the team].”
“It’s been a great season,” said D-West senior left fielder Carly Grandizio, who will be playing softball for Immaculata University.
“We hit the ball hard, but right at them today – and sometimes, that happens,” said D-West head coach Joe Germani.”After the game, I told the team how proud I was of every player on the team, and how much they’ve impacted the Downingtown West softball program. They always gave 100 percent, were supportive of one another, and had fun every chance they could.”
Along with Coker and Grandizio, the other D-West seniors were second baseman Nina Gallagher, outfielder Hannah Greider (who will play softball for Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall), shortstop Brooke Dailey and outfielder Katie Zibello.
The Whippets threatened to score several times Thursday, putting the leadoff runner on base in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings.
In the top of the first inning, Gallagher drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch (the prior batter, Coker, had also worked a 3-2 count). With two out and Gallagher at first base, D-West freshman first baseman Morgan DeFreitas lined a single off the shortstop’s glove to keep the rally alive, but the following batter flied to center to end the scoring threat.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Whippets pulled off a nifty double play on a bunt. Following a leadoff walk to Mrochko, Hazleton junior pitcher Aleah Kost laid a bunt down the third-base line. D-West sophomore third baseman Taylor Posner fired to first base for the out, then when Mrochko tried to take third base, Gallagher pegged a strong throw to Coker at third for the tag-out.
The Whippets threatened to score again in the top of the second inning when Dailey led off with a hard-hit double to left field. But she remained on second base while the next three Whippets were retired.
In the bottom of the second inning, Beebe faced Hazleton’s 4-5-6 hitters, and struck out the side.
“I was able to put the ball on the plate [for strikeouts], because I knew my infielders and outfielders would back me up and make the plays if [Hazleton] hit the ball,” said Beebe.
“Natalie was putting good spin on the ball today,” said Germani.
D-West nearly scored in the top of the third inning. Coker led off with a single to left field and took second on a throwing error, then Gallagher laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move Coker to third. Posner grounded to Hazleton junior shortstop Marissa Trivelpiece, who elected to throw home, and Coker was tagged out, with Posner taking second. An intentional walk was given to DeFreitas (who reached base all three times up Thursday), but the next batter was retired to end the inning.
Coker and DeFreitas drew leadoff walks to start the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. D-West collected five walks Thursday.
“Our batters have been working a lot of counts,” noted Germani.
Hazleton threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth when Kost hit a one-out double, but Beebe retired the next two batters.
D-West choked off another potential Hazleton rally in the bottom of the seventh. After Grandizio made a nice running catch down the left field line on a fly ball by the Cougars’ Tiana Treon. Hazleon catcher Julia Mooney was hit by a pitch. Following a sacrifice bunt, Beebe struck out first baseman Kaitlynn Peters to end the threat.