Hempfield Area High School softball coach Bob Kalp predicted that a "specialty play" would be the difference when the Spartans faced Shaler in last week's WPIAL Class AAAA title game at California University's Lilly Field.

His prediction was on the money, as Hempfield came up with two big "specialty plays" in its 3-2 victory against Shaler.

"We threw out a runner at the plate in the sixth inning," Kalp said. "We also caught a runner off third base in the seventh inning during a bunt attempt. Shaler would have won the game if we didn't come up with those specialty plays."

Hempfield held a 3-1 lead when Shaler's Chelsea Siar opened the sixth inning with a single to left. Lauren Hackett followed with a double over the head of center fielder Jordan Sherrow. Siar tried to score on the play, but was gunned down at the plate on a relay throw from Sherrow to shortstop Alyssa Bates to catcher Angie Comilla.

"That was a big play because it kept [Shaler] from scoring," Kalp said. "The other big specialty play came in the seventh inning after Shaler had scored once to cut our lead to 3-2."

Shaler had runners on first and third with one out when the Titans' Jess Vannucci bunted. Falbo came off the mound to field the bunt, looked to third base, turned and pump-faked a throw to first base, then turned back to third base. Falbo ran Shaler's Brittney DeFazio back toward third base then tossed the ball to Spartans third baseman Rebecca Kuklar, who made the tag.

"We work on those type of plays all the time in practice," Kalp said. "It really paid off in the championship game."

The WPIAL title game with Shaler began last Thursday, but was suspended in the second inning by a heavy rainstorm. The game resumed Friday and Hempfield pulled out the 3-2 victory.

"The rain delay was horrible," Kalp said. "I didn't sleep too well. I tossed and turned all night thinking about what might happen when the game resumed. The delay actually helped Shaler because we had all the momentum when the rains came."

Hempfield scored two of its three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a home run by Bates.

"The rain [and suspension of play] actually helped us," Shaler coach Skip Palmer said. "My kids were a little uptight and Hempfield was real fired up. Hempfield was at the top of its game on Thursday, but didn't seem as fired up on Friday."

When the game resumed, Shaler cut Hempfield's lead in half with a run-scoring double by third baseman Samantha Montoya. Hempfield added another run in the fifth inning with the help of three Shaler errors.

Shaler scored its other run in the seventh inning on a double off the right field fence by DeFazio, who eventually moved to third on a bunt. Then came Kalp's specialty play to save the day.

Hempfield came up with another big "specialty play" in Monday's opening round of the PIAA playoffs. The Spartans recorded a 4-2 victory against District 9 champion DuBois.

"DuBois had runners on second and third in the third inning," Kalp said. "I called for a pitchout and our catcher, Angie Comilla, picked off the runner at third base. That play was big because we scored four runs in the next inning."

Falbo turned in another fine performance on the mound. She allowed only six hits and two earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking two.

"We were fortunate because Sherrow was out of the lineup," Kalp said. "She slammed into the outfield fence on a play during the WPIAL championship game. She seemed OK until [Monday]. At that point, she started getting dizzy. Her parents took her to the hospital, where it was determined that she had a minor concussion. The doctors felt it would be best to keep her out of the lineup."

Hempfield takes a 16-4 record into today's PIAA quarterfinal game against Shaler at noon at Gateway High School. The Titans earned their quarterfinal berth with a 10-5 win against City League champion Brashear.

"After the WPIAL title game, I told Bob Kalp that we would be meeting again in the PIAA quarterfinals," said Palmer, who has led Shaler to the WPIAL title game four of the past five years. "We're looking forward to the rematch and hoping for revenge."