Sports
Softball Team Has Lofty Goals
The Chartiers Valley softball team looks to win a second consecutive section title.
Last season’s Section 3-AAA title was a great accomplishment for the Chartiers Valley softball team, but coach Jeff Macek thinks this year’s squad could be ever better despite graduating seven starters.
“We have some ninth graders moving up this year to fill some key spots for us, and we have some juniors that didn’t play much last season step right in and fill roles,” he said. “Talking to the coaches, we don’t feel like we’ve lost anything.”
Part of the reason for the optimism is the return on stud pitcher Lindsay Reicoff. Last year, as a sophomore, Reicoff was steady all season long. However, in the Lady Colts’ first round loss in the WPIAL playoffs last season to Greensburg Salem, Macek thinks his young pitcher got a little nervous.
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“All through the season she was very focused and never rattled, but before that game, that’s the only time I saw her nervous all season long,” Macek said. “Our team was young, and she was young.”
With all the new position players, and a move to a challenging section 2-AAA, Chartiers Valley could have its hands full. But Macek says no matter the challenge, the goals for his team will remain the same.
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“Our goal again is to win the section and move on,” he said.
Macek acknowledged that his team’s goals could be influenced by the competition of a strong section. He suspects that West Allegheny and Montour are the two strongest teams, and should compete with the Lady Colts for a section title.
In terms of what it will take to accomplish that section crown, Macek was direct.
“Lindsay is good enough that if we can put three or four runs on the board, we’re good enough to win those games,” he said. “We don’t think teams are going to put up a lot of runs on us.”
That certainly has been the case in the first two games of the year. Chartiers Valley defeated Keystone Oaks 12-1 in the season opener Monday, and put up another dozen runs in a shutout win against South Fayette on Tuesday.
Chartiers Valley travels to Mt. Lebanon today for a 4:15 p.m. game against the Blue Devils. The Lady Colts will then play host to South Park on Thursday.
