Softball seniors got the right farewell
Jeremy Sellew
When we decided to take on the task of putting together the Mon Valley Independent Senior Swing softball tournament, the goals appeared simple. Giving local teams the chance to play together after their seasons were canceled because of COVID-19 and giving the senior players the opportunity to play with their teammates one last time.
It seemed easy enough.
But once you start dealing with having an unsanctioned event, like calling Frazier players and Belle Vernon players Perryopolis and Washington Township, respectively, and turning to mascot names like Warriors, Rams, Falcons … it doesn’t sound like much, but it is a tricky situation.
Those in the travel ball circuit, and even those not in it, know it’s a lot of work putting together a tournament. I found out how much work it is and I still feel like I didn’t do enough.
So the first big thank you goes to Tom Rodriguez, Don Hartman and Harry Rutherford. Whether it was securing fields, arranging for umpires, opening a concession stand, etc. … those three guys deserve a ton of thanks for what they did.
Yes, it’s a lot of work. But watching the championship game and most of the other 21 games that were part of the tournament made it so worth it.
Just look at the pictures that accompany this column. Are they sad? Sure. But they’re also everlasting memories. They’re giant thank yous. They’re moments that never would have happened if this tournament never took place.
Turn the page and there are even more from championship night. They’re all moments that deserved to happen:
• Jordan Pinneri getting to have a memorable finish to her career.
• Jensyn Hartman getting to catch her sister Logan’s final game. Don Hartman watching his daughters form the battery in a no-hitter.
• Ringgold’s Nya Adams getting to play for her dad, Rams head coach Gregg Adams, wearing blue and gold. Due to a last-minute hiccup, Nya Adams finished the tournament homering in her final at-bat.
• All the seniors finally got their day to hold flowers and balloons, hearing their names called during senior recognition ceremonies.
Another quick thanks again to Monessen Florist for donating flowers from the sports staff here at the MVI.
That is what this tournament was all about.
Wednesday was an emotional night. All the hard work culminated with the championship game at the John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township. Another huge thanks to Tom Godzak and township Commissioner John Lorenzo for making it happen there under the lights.
The environment was electric. A big crowd (safely, of course) surrounded the field.
Yes, the Warriors came out with a 4-0 win. Perry obviously didn’t want to lose the game, but in the end, no one really lost.
As I carried the trophy out on the field, giving it to the Warriors wasn’t the most pressing thing on my mind. It was making sure the seniors got what they deserved.
Wiping away tears and sharing hugs, seniors from both teams took to the circle in the middle of the infield and gave one last wave to the crowd that came to watch them play.
First it was those wearing red and white with “Frazier” on the chest. Logan Hartman, Kathryn Barch, Emi Curcio and Mackenzie Kelly. Those four did get to play one more game with fellow senior Juliann Johnson to open the tournament. They’re the defending, and still, Class 2A state champions. That’s something that will be remembered for years to come and no one can take that one away.
Then it was the pair from Elizabeth Forward, Jordan Pinneri and AJ McCorkle. Thank you to BeeGraphix for donating the Senior Swing trophy they were awarded. Their moment alone out in that circle was much bigger than the award itself.
They both go out as WPIAL Class 4A champions, true Warriors. They had to overcome the cancellation of what could have been another special season, never having the chance for redemption at the state championship game. Whether they believe it or not, they went out as than champions Wednesday.
I’m going to miss the Class of 2020. I mentioned in previous columns how these young women were freshmen girls when I took over as sports editor here.
I’ve watched them all grow into class acts. Wednesday was emotional for me as well. Watching Frazier’s Kat Barch sign my daughter’s cast on her broken arm. The team posing for a photo with her and her friends that came to support them. That’s what this tournament was all about. Teams that didn’t reach the championship game, they were there watching as well.
When all was said and done, I received a thank you card after the tournament and it took me a while before I could bring myself to read it. As unnecessary as it was, it’s something special I will cherish.
Special recognition is something I wasn’t chasing in this venture. No one was. But our mission was accomplished. Another special thanks goes out to all the MVI staff for continuing to provide the best local coverage any sports fan could ask for. There’s just no comparison and I couldn’t be more proud of the job our team did.
Thank you to Brownsville head coach Jane Bock for filling a spot. Thank you to Adams for fielding a team made of junior-varsity players to fill another spot.
Thank you to everyone that played the biggest and the smallest of roles in putting the tournament together.
The players that will be making up the future of our local programs look like a talented bunch. We hope the experience gained through the five or six games you played serves you well as you move forward in your high school career.
But most of all, thank you to those players in the Class of 2020. You played hard, you left it all on the field and you will forever hold a place with all of us here at the Mon Valley Independent.
Jeremy Sellew is the sports editor of the Mon Valley Independent.
