Fabin’s walkoff leads Leps over Yough

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Abby Fabin delivered with a two-out single in the eighth inning to drive in the game-winning run for Belle Vernon Area in a 3-2 Section 2-4A victory over visiting Yough Monday at Tom Rodriguez Field in Washington Township. 

With the bases loaded, the Leopards’ No. 7 hitter lined a pitch from Yough’s Emma Augustine up the middle to score Lexi Daniels from third and give BVA (7-3, 4-1) its third walkoff win of the season. 

“I just had that feeling that Abby would come up big for us there,” BVA head coach Tom Rodriguez said of Fabin, who was 0 for 2 heading into her final at bat. “That was a big lift for her and that’s a big win for us.” 

While the Leopards finished with six hits, the Cougars (6-2, 3-2) collected 13 hits and had multi-hit efforts from McKenzie Pritts, Kaylyn Odelli and Maria Lindich. All three finished with two knocks. 

Yough struggled to capitalize on opportunities, however, leaving 14 runners on base. The Cougars stranded the bases loaded in the second inning and left multiple runners on base in four other frames. 

“I take the blame for that,” Yough head coach Dutch Harvey said. “We hit well, but when we had runners on, we just couldn’t get that big hit. It seemed like we were out of sync and I know I was out of sync, too.”

BVA struck first in the bottom of the third inning thanks in part to a pair of Yough errors. 

Vanessa Porter got things started with a two-out single to right field before Maren Metikosh reach on an infield single to put runners on first and second for Lexi Daniels. 

Daniels, who had two of BVA’s hits, connected on a pitch from Augustine and hit a ground ball to the shortstop Pritts, who misplayed it, allowing Porter to score. On the same play, the ball was juggled around by left fielder Madi Horvat, giving Metikosh enough time to cross home plate and give the Leps a 2-0 edge. 

“Kenzie makes that play nine out of 10 times,” Harvey said. “Unfortunately, that was a killer. 

“They came out kind of tight today and I don’t know what it was, but that type of stuff happens. I give Belle Vernon credit, though. They came out and hit the ball when they needed to. That’s what we didn’t do.” 

Yough scored its lone runs in the top of the fourth inning. 

After Kaylin Ritenour was caught at third base trying to stretch a double into a triple for the second out of the frame, Pritts came up with a single before Odelli belted a two-run home run over the fence in right-center field to tie the game. 

The homer was the fourth of the season for Odelli, who added a triple in the sixth inning. 

“When she gets in the box, I feel really comfortable with just letting her do her thing,” Harvey said. “Once she got that shot, we knew it was a new ballgame and it gave us some life.” 

Talia Ross was credited with the win after throwing a scoreless top of eighth for the Leopards. Sophie Godzak got the start and threw nearly 140 pitches in seven innings. She allowed two earned runs on 12 hits while walking five and striking out four. 

“She threw a lot of pitches and I probably should have taken her out sooner,” Rodriguez said. “She threw really well, though.” 

Augustine allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits in 7 2/3 innings for the Cougars. She walked six and struck out four. 

“I thought Em pitched well and was hitting her spots,” Harvey said. 

Following the loss, Harvey’s message to his team was simple: Move on to the next one. 

“We’re a young team, so we’re going to lose games, but we have to take care of business in section play,” said Harvey, whose Cougars visit Penn-Trafford for a non-section matchup Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, the Leopards have a quick turnaround as they travel to West Mifflin today. BVA currently holds sole possession of second place in the section, leading the Titans by 1/2 a game. 

“I’m surprised we got through this,” Rodriguez said. “We have to work on our baserunning a little better, but the girls should feel good about the way they’ve been putting the ball in play.

“Today, I just want to see them do the same thing they did against Yough. Anything can happen.”