Sports

Last Updated on Friday, 28 June 2024 22:51

Thomas Jefferson Wins 2-1 Walk-Off Thriller for First PIAA Softball Championship

The Thomas Jefferson High School Softball team poses with their PIAA 5A State Champion Trophy

Alison Chalovich (Left) and Aubrey Shaffer (Right) celebrate with their teammates after winning the state championship.

Senior teammates Zoe Krizan (left) and Taylor Karpac proudly show off the PIAA State Championship Trophy.

Throughout the 2024 season, the Thomas Jefferson High School softball team has used one of long-time head and assistant coach John “Hoppy” Mitruski’s steadfast beliefs and popular phrases as a point of focus and motivation.....“You Can’t Coach Heart.” The beloved Mitruski passed away suddenly in May 2023 after serving as the Jaguars’ head softball coach for 33 years, followed by seven more years assisting Heidi Karcher.

The high school serving the West Jefferson Hills School District, Thomas Jefferson demonstrated a massive amount of heart by completing an improbable post-season run by capturing the program’s first PIAA 5A State Championship with a dramatic, eight-inning walk-off 2-1 victory over Pittston Area HS (21-2), the District 2 champion.

The Jaguars (16-8) entered post-season with a 9-7 record and as the No. 10 seed in the WPIAL Tournament, but advanced to the WPIAL title game. Thomas Jefferson then won four consecutive PIAA games (traveling more than 1,300 miles roundtrip) to become the first Girls team to win a PIAA state championship in the high school’s 65-year history.

Thomas Jefferson won the heart-pounding thriller at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park in extra-inning, walk-off fashion. Junior Morgan Alisesky led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single and stole second base. Junior Alayna Grese was intentionally walked and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Junior Alison Chalovich was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs, setting the stage for Taylor Karpac. The senior ripped a single through the left side to score a leaping Alisesky as her teammates and coaches ran onto the field to mob Karpac.

“I was nervous because I hadn’t done much in my at-bats,” said Karpac, one of only two Jaguar seniors. “I knew I had to take advantage of the moment; and then I almost didn’t run to first I was so excited! It’s very exciting; at first our season was a little rocky (W-L record). We played for him (Hoppy) all season.”

Karcher, who played softball at Penn State in the early 1990’s, teaches chemistry and physics at TJ and has been the Jaguars’ head softball coach since 2013. She led TJ to the 2014 WPIAL 3A title as the No. 13 seed.

“We just made BIG history; it’s incredible!” Karcher exclaimed. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. To come from being a 10 seed in the WPIALs to state champions is amazing. It’s an awesome feeling. Female student-athletes are the bomb. Being a student-athlete is a true testament to dedication and teamwork.

“I can’t even explain to you what it means to me (to win the title for Hoppy),” Karcher added. “He was my right hand man. Playing for him is what we’ve been doing all year.”

TJ freshman pitcher Aubrey Shaffer was outstanding, striking out 10 batters, with four walks and allowing seven hits in a complete game performance. “This means everything,” Shaffer said, clutching the PIAA trophy. “And to be the first TJ Girls team to win a state championship is amazing!”

“It’s amazing; we’ve been here for each other all year,” stated senior Zoe Krizan, who has signed to play at Drexel University. “It’s like a Cinderella story. This whole season we played for Hoppy.”