Softball returns with MVI Senior Swing

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Thanks to a collaboration between the Mon Valley Independent and local softball coaches, softball players will be able to hit the field beginning Tuesday.
Some of those senior players that missed their final home games and senior day, well, they’ll get their chance to celebrate during the Mon Valley Independent Senior Swing tournament.
The event is a community-based tournament, featuring eight teams playing a round-robin format. Teams are split into two divisions, the Red and Blue.
Red Division teams are Washington Township, Warriors Fast Pitch, Rams Fast Pitch and Thomas Jefferson. Teams in the Blue Division are Perryopolis, Cal Impulse, Falcons Fast Pitch and Rams Fast Pitch Jrs.
Cal Impulse head coach David Young missed his chance to coach his first varsity game as the high school coach, but will get the chance to in the tournament.
“I’m extremely excited to participate,” Young said. “When our season was officially cancelled, it really devastated me because I lost my first season of coaching and couldn’t put my team’s hard work on display. It’s extremely exciting because I get to open the tournament against my mentor, Don Hartman. Playing against great local talent excites the team and it will challenge us to play our best and push us past our comfort zone.”
The tourney kicks off Tuesday in Perryopolis with three games and continues Wednesday with five games at Washington Township.
Round-robin play concludes July 7 with two games at William Penn Field hosted by Warriors FP and two games at Washington Township. Bracket play begins July 8 with all four games in Perryopolis. The semifinals and consolations will be July 14 in Washington Township with Rostraver’s DiVirgilio Sports Complex hosting the championship game under the lights at 8 p.m. following the third-place game.
Teams will hold senior recognitions each of the first three days, honoring players who missed out on senior day activities with the cancellation of their season. Monessen Florist is making a donation to the cause to make it a little more special for those girls involved. Senior rec will be held at Perryopolis Tuesday, Washington Township Wednesday and the following week for the Warriors FP team members.
“Having the opportunity to have a senior rec means a lot,” Warriors FP’s Jordan Pinneri said. “Being able to be recognized and have the opportunity to play means a lot. I’m thankful to play with my teammates and coaches one last time.”
Perryopolis will be coached by Don Hartman, whose daughter Logan gets the chance to play for her dad one more time.
“Playing one last time is giving me closure to such a huge part of my life,” she said. “This is a dream come true in spite of all of this.
“To have a senior rec on our field just like it should have happened is so exciting. The seniors never imagined any of this getting to happen, so the fact that we … along with other seniors, get to celebrate is amazing. And having my parents coach me for the last time. They have coached me my entire life. I can’t believe it’s coming to an end but I’m so thankful to get these last few weeks in.”

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