Celaschi no-hits GCC as Cougars roll

By LIAM BELAN

lbelan@yourmvi.com

When it comes to the postseason, it’s typically a recipe for success when you’re able to play a clean game.

Not only did No. 6 Charleroi take advantage of three costly errors from No. 11 Greensburg Central Catholic in an 11-0 win during the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs Tuesday, but it also got a no-hitter from pitcher Sofia Celaschi. 

Put those things together, and you get a five-inning victory in a playoff game. 

“Sofia was incredible,” Charleroi head coach Trey Tilghman said. “She pitched great and we were happy with her performance. We had some nice hits on offense. No crooked numbers, but we did alright.”

The matchup was a rematch of last year’s district quarterfinals, where the Centurions ended Charleroi’s season with a 4-3 win. This time around, it was all Cougars (14-4). 

Celaschi and Kaylee Sypolt knocked in two runs as Charleroi only had six earned runs and six hits despite its 11 runs. Avery Pendo and Lyla Brunner also added an RBI and a hit as Riley Jones and Madalynn Lancy also managed hits.

Tilghman was happy with his squad’s approach at the plate as they only struck out once the entire game.

“I’m happy with the way we swung the bats,” he said. “There was only one strikeout, so I’m really happy with that. If you make contact and put the ball in play, you never know what will happen.”

The Cougars wasted no time opening the scoring, putting up three runs in the first as they scored in every inning. 

After Greensburg CC (7-7) went down 1-2-3, Sypolt was at third with one out when she managed to cross home plate on a wild pitch. Then, Ariahna Blouse managed to score on an erroneous throw to second as she and Jones pulled off a double steal.

The error left Jones at third, and Celaschi grounded out to score her and make the score 3-0 after one. 

The Centurions managed to draw two walks in the next frame, but Celaschi managed three of her nine strikeouts to move it to the bottom of the second.

Lancy opened things up with a double and managed to score on an error to add the only run of the second.

The Cougars broke the game open in the third stanza as they plated six runs to take a 10-0 lead. 

With one out and runners on first and second, Celaschi hit an RBI single to bring a run in. After a pop out, an error allowed Jones and Celaschi to score and make it 7-0 in favor of Charleroi. 

Two walks brought the top of the order back to the plate, and Sypolt took advantage with a 2RBI single. Pendo singled and drove in Charleroi’s 10th run before Sypolt was thrown out trying to make it 11.

After another 1-2-3 inning for Greensburg CC, Charleroi scored the final run of the contest. There were two outs with Jones on second as Brunner stepped up and knocked a single to center field that scored Jones and made it 11-0. 

Two walks and an error allowed the Centurions to load the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Celaschi forced a fly out to center field to end the contest early. 

Charleroi will move on to play No. 3 Laurel (16-4) at a site and time to be determined Thursday. Laurel had a first-round bye. 

“Laurel is gonna be tough for us,” Tilghman said. “We’ve just got to be ready to play. They put their spikes on just like we do, so we’ll see what we can do. I’m excited to play them.”