Six seniors laid the groundwork for a new set of expectations at West Allegheny. Now a handful of underclassmen will be charged with carrying it on.
STATE COLLEGE — Four years ago, Mindi McFate returned to West Allegheny for her second stint in charge of the softball team.
Six freshmen — Taylor Cummings, Taylor Goldstrohm, Amy Nolte, Mackenzie Partyka, Ashley Seamon and Jillian Weber — arrived at West Allegheny at the same time. The timing was sheer coincidence, but the partnership created a host of firsts at West Allegheny.
First section title in 14 years. First WPIAL championship appearance. First WPIAL title. Back-to-back WPIAL titles. First state championship appearance.
After their sophomore season, it wasn’t just the group’s talent that had McFate excited, but their attitude.
“Just the way they carried themselves on the field and how they carry themselves and treat their teammates, we knew it was going to be something special,” McFate said.
While the state runner-up trophy and two WPIAL titles will be the lasting bits of hardware from their run, the sextet of seniors may have first redefined the expectations at West Allegheny with what happened back in 2016.
“When I came (back), my first year we had seven seniors and we won the section for the first time in like 14 years with that group. Then they all graduated and when these kids were sophomores, everyone was like, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a rebuilding year. We just want to make the playoffs,” McFate recalled.
“That was our goal and we ended up going to the WPIAL championship. It’s all the kids. ... They’re phenomenal athletes, they’re phenomenal people, and they deserve all the credit.”
Now the challenge shifts to West Allegheny’s underclassmen. There are holes to fill. But the talent is there for a potential core. Catcher Britney Wilson led the team in hitting as a sophomore. Sophomore outfielder Savannah Lewis and freshman designated player Megan Pollinger were all-section picks, and freshman right fielder Angela Costa was a spark plug as the No. 9 hitter.
“Just them getting to have this experience, getting to feel what it’s like to come here and be here and win big games,” McFate said. “There’s no substitute for that type of experience for these kids.”
McFate had one last message for her returning players, thanks to the legacy of her six seniors.
“Hey, when these guys were sophomores, we graduated seven seniors and we didn’t know if we were going to make the playoffs,” McFate told them. “Look what they did. Anything is possible.”