Monessen softball has wealth of young talent

Juniors Joey Hurst and Grace Clingenpeel powered the Greyhounds’ offense last season.

Brandon Yorty has a problem that a lot of coaches would like to have.

The Monessen softball coach says he may have more starting-caliber players than he’s got positions in the field to put them in.

Yorty, in his second season at the helm, welcomes back eight starters from a playoff team a year ago that went 7-8 overall.

After finishing third in the section, the Greyhounds bowed in the WPIAL playoffs to South Side Beaver, 13-3.

“We have a lot of starters back and we have some newcomers who are pushing to get playing time,” Yorty said. “It really is a nice problem to have. It’s great for competition that’s for sure.”

And while the Greyhounds have eight returning starters, only one — infielder Kendra Jones — is a senior.

Monessen’s returning starters are led by juniors Joey Hurst and Grace Clingenpeel.

Hurst, a pitcher, and Clingenpeel, a catcher, led the Greyhounds in hitting last season, batting .450 and .405, respectively.

The duo also combined to drive home 43 runs.

“Last year, our offense basically went through Joey and Grace,” Yorty said. “They were our most consistent hitters and made a lot of things happen.”

Other top returning hitters are junior first baseman Jaz’mein Parker (.323) and sophomore left fielder Bry’Aunna Cook (.308).

Yorty is hoping that another year of experience will really show at the plate for Monessen.

“Hitting is definitely going to be the key to how successful we will be,” he said. “We’ve got to hit better. Last year our strikeouts (96) outnumbered our hits (80) as a team. We have to flip those numbers and keep improving them in the other direction.”

Hurst not only starred at the plate, she has blossomed into an effective pitcher.

Last season, she struck out 70 batters while walking 47.

“She keeps working hard and improving,” Yorty said of his ace. “She should reach 200 career strikeouts this season and she is excited about that goal.”

Still, Yorty is hoping to get more runs for his pitcher.

“We have to do a better job of supporting our pitcher,” he said. “If we hit the ball this season, we have a chance to be really good.”

Newcomers vying for spots include promising freshmen Amirra Brewer and Bailey Koper and sophomore Rayniya Lyons.

Yorty says he expects Brewer to possibly crack the lineup somewhere.

Looking at the revised Section 3 1A the Greyhounds play in, Yorty says he really doesn’t know what to expect because of the changes.

Gone are perennial power Frazier and Bishop Canevin, but added to the mix are Serra Catholic, Greensburg Central Catholic and Ellis School.

Holdovers include last season’s runner-up in the section Jeannette, along with Leechburg and St. Joseph.

“You never know what the new teams will look like, although I’m sure they will be pretty good,” Yorty said.

“Two years ago we finished fourth in the section and last year we were third. I want us to continue the upswing. If we don’t win the section, I’d at least like to see us finish second. Regardless, I expect us to make the playoffs. We definitely have the ability.”