2025 PUP softball Coach of the Year: Neshannock’s Jackie Lash

Having led Neshannock to an unfathomable record of 100-1 over the past four seasons, it’s a bit hard to believe Jackie Lash had never been selected as the Pittsburgh Union Progress softball Coach of the Year before this year.

You know what they say — better late than never, right?

While many softball coaches give off a gruff, intimidating vibe, you would be hard-pressed to find a moment when Lash isn’t smiling on the field or in the dugout. Her exuberant, joyful demeanor clearly rubs off on her players, as the Lancers are known for their vibrant energy and passion for the game. Rather than tear down one of her players after making a crucial mistake, Lash is always there to pick them and remind them what to do better the next time. And most of all, shaping her pupils into strong, confident young women always has been her main priority since taking the helm in 2019.

For all of these reasons and more, Lash is the 2025 PUP Coach of the Year. All coaches in the WPIAL and City League were considered for the award, which was voted on by the PUP sports staff.

In six seasons as Neshannock’s coach, Lash has won four WPIAL titles and three PIAA titles while guiding the Lancers to an overall record of 126-11. They have completed three undefeated seasons under her watch, a feat that no other WPIAL school has accomplished more than once.

A boatload of standout players have come through Neshannock’s program in such a short period of time, including the Nogay sisters — Neleh, Aaralyn and Jaidon — Gabby Perod, Gabby Quinn, Miley Anderson and, of course, the 2025 PUP Player of the Year, Addy Frye. But without a steady, even-keeled coach such as Lash steering the ship, building and maintaining a dynasty of this magnitude simply would never be possible.

The PUP caught up with Lash after returning home from another memorable trip to Penn State, taking a look back on the Lancers’ consecutive perfect seasons while reflecting on the moments she will cherish most from their unprecedented four-year run.

Q: Have you taken any time to rest and catch up on sleep now that the season is over?

A: I felt like my tank was empty these past couple of days. It was funny — Thursday morning [before the game] I got up and showered and did my hair and walked out of the room to go get breakfast, and Payton [Newman] told me, “Wow, Coach Jackie, you look so tired.” You can think you’re doing OK, but I guess it showed. It’s a lot of work.

Q: What was the bus ride home like after Thursday’s championship?

A: We took a long bus ride back to DuBois Area. Last year and this year, we went to Luigi’s restaurant. It’s just a great place, a nice Italian restaurant. It was funny, because some of the girls asked if they had chicken fingers, so I had to go and ask them to get the kid’s menu.

As I was waiting to pay, one of the receptionists told me, “There’s a phone call for you.” So I went and answered their phone, and it was their owner, and he was congratulating us and letting us know that he was there earlier and set up our tables for us. He knew we came last year after winning the championship, and just told me how pleased he was that we thought of coming there again. And they took a picture for us to hang on the wall. … It was just really nice of him to call.

Q: How did this state title compare to the previous two?

A: Very exciting, but I don’t know if all of my emotions have truly set in yet. You get back from it, you read a bunch of emails and text messages, then you go back to work the next day. But really, when you know people are talking about this group of seniors having 100 wins — that is truly the exciting part. The state championship is awesome and amazing, but really, when you think about those numbers, it isn’t going to be matched. … Obviously, Addy [Frye] and Gabby [Quinn] are part of all 100 of those wins. It just doesn’t happen. Those are just phenomenal careers that just can’t be matched.

Q: How has this team managed to compile the two longest winning streaks in WPIAL history while taking on so many championship-caliber opponents from higher classifications over the past four years?

A: Obviously, we have so much trust in these girls. It wasn’t like, “We have to play the top teams and we have to win.” It was, “We have to play the top teams, and we have to compete. And if we happen to win, great.”

That Elizabeth Forward game [this season], being down by a few runs and coming back to win, it shows you so much. This team might not always be winning right away and come out on top, but if they get into a hole, they’re going to find a way to dig themselves out. That’s just a tribute to the leaders we had on this team. And I just really believe it shows these girls they can overcome anything.

Q: Do you realize that you now have more undefeated seasons over the past four years than the rest of the teams in the WPIAL combined in the 21st century?

A: That might have given me goosebumps. I didn’t know that. I do always rely on you for the numbers.

Q: For a team that often makes it look so easy, what has been your biggest challenge as a coach?

A: I would say there are multiple challenges. One of the great things that really contributes to the reason this program is so good is simply the fact that so many of these girls play travel ball. So they’re playing year-round, going to hitting lessons and pitching lessons. They’re putting in the time. When you bring 15 or 16 travel ball players together, it’s hard to let other kids not be a starter.

This is really a hard job, but I treat these kids like gold. I always feel like that’s what my job is to do. To make them comfortable and still wanting to come back and hang in there for long seasons. I bust my butt to do whatever I can to keep things fun and interesting for the girls.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with this senior class that became the first group in PIAA history to win 100 games in four years?

A: I think it has truly been one of the best things. Having these girls in my life is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. So many things you read about coaching are about the impact the coach has on the kids, and how they remember it forever. But I have to say, I view it the exact opposite. The impact they have had on me — just really lasting memories.

I believe the kids have helped me through the adversity. It’s not easy coaching. There is a target on your back. It could be parents, it could be opponents, whatever it might be. But having four girls who were just so willing to work with you — I knew I could always turn to them and say, “Help me. Tell me what I’m doing wrong.”

Q: Who was the most underrated player on this year’s team?

A: I’m going to tell you, and I think we have talked about her before, it’s Gianna DeSalvo. That bottom of the order is so important. … I think Brenna [Frengel] had shown [flashes] throughout, but with Gianna DeSalvo, there was probably some doubt. Because that was one of those four open positions from last year’s team.

I had probably five or six girls who were in the running for that position. But once we started doing practices with more scenarios where you had to make plays at third base or at home, the strength of her arm, to watch the strength of that throw — she is throwing these darts from deep right field to third base or to home plate. She stepped up more and more and showed people why we had her in the lineup. … But on the offensive side, I think she is just a kid who has a beautiful swing. Maybe she lacked some confidence [early on], but it just kept building more and more.

Q: Based on your track record against teams from upper classifications, do you think this team could have competed for a WPIAL or state title in Class 3A, 4A, 5A or even 6A?

A: Yeah, I think so. I felt that this lineup was one of the best we’ve had, top to bottom. Defensively, you’re behind the arm of Addy Frye. So you know she is going to do big things. And you’ve got Gabby catching. Defensively, you’re pretty confident. But whenever you can put an offensive lineup together like the one we had this year, I think that we probably could have gone through a couple of those classes and came out on top.

Q: Do you feel like the loss against Everett in the 2023 PIAA semifinals might have been a blessing in disguise, or do you ever regret missing out on a chance to win four consecutive state titles?

A: It would be cool, but I just think what we’ve done and what these girls have done — three state championships, four WPIALs, that is just unbelievable in itself. I just think that one loss kind of teaches you that you can overcome anything. That’s how I look at it. … Just knowing you had that one loss and you were able to come back that next year and prove that you’re back on top, it is a great thing.

Q: Which of the records this team has broken over the past four seasons are you most proud of?

A: The 100 wins for these seniors. I just love that that happened for this great group of young ladies. As you scroll through Twitter or scroll through Facebook, you see people, and you don’t even know who they are. And they’re posting about, “How about this group of seniors from Neshannock softball?” That, to me, I think, is the most exciting one. Just because it shows what these girls are made of.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

A: Actually, I think I’m going to relax some. Next week, my husband [Kit] and I get to go to Savannah and Tybee Island in Georgia. Our good friend’s daughter is getting married, so that’s their bachelorette weekend. But we have taken that family there, and our family has been there three or four times. It’s a nice non-commercialized beach. And then Kit and I have a different trip planned in early August to the Finger Lakes in New York. We’re going to go on a hot air balloon ride.

Q: Do you think this state championship was the sweetest one of all?

A: I do, because I just can’t imagine anybody is ever going to be able to do this in the future. And just the fact that it was with this group of seniors. … Those few games when we were down, that was the great part. You could hear Addy, Gabby and Miley talking the girls through that pressure. Just helping them dig themselves out mentally.

Q: What will you remember most about this journey with this team?

A: Just how much fun it was. Ultimately, you put the fact aside that it’s a lot of work. Just how much fun we have all had together and how many laughs you have. Just knowing that you end up getting the buy-in from so many kids who are willing to make sacrifices for this team.