Meyersdale seeking ultimate prize in last hurrah with talented senior class

MEYERSDALE — The Meyersdale softball team has captured five straight WestPAC crowns and three consecutive District 5 Class 1A titles. The only thing missing from its resume is a PIAA championship.

With a roster loaded with talent and veteran experience, Meyersdale showed its might in a 13-6 Inter-County Conference win over Berlin Brothersvalley on Thursday.

Meyersdale collected 13 hits. Senior Laurel Daniels provided three hits, including a 3-run home run. Fellow seniors Zoe Hetz and Izabella Donaldson each tallied a pair of hits and an RBI. Donaldson also recorded 13 strikeouts in the circle.

Ones to watch Who are the Somerset County softball players and teams to watch in 2024?

"We've had a tough stretch of some really good games," said Meyersdale coach Tim Miller. "We made some mistakes defensively that forced out pitcher to throw more pitches than she needed to today. We have to clean that up."

It was the second time the Red Raiders upended the Mountaineers this season, but in vastly different fashion than the 4-2, 8-inning affair on March 25.

The victory capped off a busy week for the Red Raiders, who fell to Maryland powerhouse Allegany, then knocked off defending PIAA Class 2A champion Everett, ahead of the victory over the Mountaineers.

"It's definitely been a long week," Daniels said. "Pulling off this win meant a lot to wrap up the week we had. I can't describe to you what it's meant to us playing these teams in the Inter-County Conference. We face tough pitching almost every game."

Meyersdale (13-1) plated a pair of runs in the first without recording a hit. Costly errors allowed the Red Raiders to take a 2-0 lead. They added on in the second with an RBI double by Hetz and an RBI single from Donaldson. Amber Long hit an RBI double to give Meyersdale a 6-0 advantage.

Daniels delivered the big blow in the fourth with a bomb to straightaway center, after Hetz and Donaldson hit back-to-back singles.

Berlin (6-5) got on the board in the fifth. No. 9 hitter Haylee Speicher singled and Coral Prosser, who reached safely three times in the game, doubled to left. Cayley Poorbaugh hit a sacrifice fly. Elise Barna ripped an RBI singled, then Elena Ritchey followed with a single, setting up a 2-run single by Sydney Walker.

Meyersdale answered.

Long belted a 2-run double. Kendell Donaldson delivered an RBI double. Donaldson used her speed to eventually score on a wild pitch.

Ritchey stroked an RBI double in the seventh. An error allowed a second run to score in the frame, but Donaldson racked up her 13th punchout to close the door on a comeback.

Berlin is very young and inexperienced. The Mountaineers had three freshmen and two sophomores. After playing in a D5 title game a year ago and making the state playoffs, the Mountaineers are hoping for more of the same with a bevy of new starters.

"These girls never give up," Berlin coach Brian Slope said. "They are out there giving it their best and doing what they are taught to do. We are learning every game. We try to cut down on our mistakes and do what we do well. We want to keep doing what we do well and play hard every time we come out."

On the opposite side, Meyersdale has suffered back-to-back first-round exits in the PIAA playoffs. Miller believes his club can reverse its fortunes this season.

"It all starts with our leadership. We have great leadership this year," Miller said. "We've been working on the little things. With our pitching and hitting, we'll be in pretty good shape if we can clean up the defense.

"I asked for tough games to prepare us for the playoffs. I wanted that competition that we're going to see in the state playoffs. We cruised through our schedule the past couple of years and weren't tested. We needed to see championship-caliber teams this year, so we know where we need to be."

Daniels is confident her squad has what it takes to win it all.

"We need to stay focused and have fun," Daniels said. "With the group of girls that we have, and the seniors we have, we can do it if we want to."

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Meyersdale hoping loaded schedule pays dividends in postseason