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Hames dominant as SV softball returns to WPIAL final

Seneca Valley pitcher Lexie Hames delivers a pitch during her one-hit, 18-strikeout performance against Canon-McMillan in their WPIAL 6A softball semifinal win at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Raider pitcher strikes out 18 in 7-1 WPIAL 6A semifinal win

WEXFORD — Seneca Valley’s bats were rusty. Lexie Hames was razor sharp.

Seneca Valley’s senior right-hander struck out 18, walked no one and tossed a one-hitter Wednesday evening at North Allegheny, leading the Raiders to a 7-1 WPIAL 6A softball semifinal win over Canon-McMillan.

The win sends the Raiders (20-1) to the WPIAL championship game for the third successive year.

Seneca Valley’s Rylee Kratochvil (3) is tagged out at second base by Canon-McMillan’s Skylah Steban (22) during the WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday.. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

“We hadn’t played a game in two weeks,” SV coach Marlesse Hames said. “We had a couple of scrimmages and that helped a little bit. We faced a slower pitcher today, too, and that threw our timing off.”

The way Lexie was pitching, it didn’t matter much.

Neve Miller drew a bases-loaded walk and Kara Pasquale crossed the plate on an infield out as the Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Seneca Valley’s Bella Gross (8) celebrates an out against Canon-McMillan during their WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday, . Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Lexie Hames struck out the first 10 hitters she faced. But the 10th strikeout victim — Olivia Ford — reached first base when the catcher mishandled the final strike to begin the fourth inning. Morgan Doyle reached on an infield hit — the Big Macs’ only hit of the night — the runners moving up on an errant throw. Ford scored on an infield out, moving Doyle to third.

With the tying run on third and one out, Lexie struck out Kiersten Williams and Skylah Steben to end the threat.

“I bear down a little more in those situations,” Hames admitted. “I concentrate more on not throwing a wild pitch and not doing anything to allow that runner to cross the plate.”

Canon-McMillan (7-12) coach Michele Moeller lauded the pitching ability of Hames.

Seneca Valley’s Kara Pasquale delivers one of her three hits against Canon-McMillan during their WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

“You have to take your hat off to Lexie Hames,” Moeller said. “She’s just a great pitcher. You can try to prepare for her in different ways, but there’s no way you can be ready for how hard she throws and the movement on her pitches.

“We missed a chance in that (fourth) inning. No doubt about that. But that was all about their pitcher in that situation.”

Pasquale singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the Raiders in the fifth. They broke the game open by scoring four runs in the sixth frame. A two-run double to right-center by Abby Kalkowski and a run-scoring single up the middle by Pasquale highlighted the uprising.

Seneca Valley’s Neve Miller (20) hits the ball against Canon-McMillan during their WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday, . Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

“I wish this final score wasn’t what it is,” Moeller said of the 7-1 final. “This game was much closer. My freshman pitcher (Lyla Mowery) held them down pretty good. She limited North Allegheny to one run in our previous game.”

Mowery was replaced in the circle three batters into the sixth.

Seneca Valley batters struck out only twice all day.

“We were getting the bat on the ball,” Coach Hames said. “We hit some balls right at people. We finally broke through in the sixth. I’m thrilled for these girls, getting back to the WPIAL championship game.

“Most of them have been playing ball together since they were 8 or 9 years old. They want to win this thing really bad.”

The second-seeded Raiders will play No. 5 seed Norwin (10-10) — a 5-2 upset winner over top-seed Hempfield on Wednesday — in the title game next week. Seneca Valley shut Norwin out twice during the regular season, 3-0 and 2-0.

Seneca Valley’s Addie Winkle, right. tags out Canon-McMillan’s Olivia Ford (24) on a pick-off play during their WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Lexie said. “Just get ready for the next game.”

Canon-McMillan 000 100 0 — 1 1 1

Seneca Valley 200 014 x — 7 7 2

WP: Lexie Hames 7IP (18so, 0bb). LP: Lyla Mowery 5.1IP (1so, 5bb)

Seneca Valley’s Kara Pasquale (21) shows her excitement after scoring a run against Canon-McMillan during their WPIAL 6A semifinal softball game at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Canon-McMillan (7-12): Morgan Doyle 1B, Hailey Swope RBI.

Seneca Valley (20-1): Abby Kalkowski 2B 2-RBI 2-R, Kara Pasquale 3-1B RBI 3-R, Lexie Hames 1B, Neve Miller RBI, Kylie Staudt RBI, Anna Kalkowski 2-1B

WPIAL 6A Final: Seneca Valley vs. Norwin, California (Pa.) University, date and time TBA

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