Penn-Trafford notebook: Warriors softball seeded 4th for WPIAL playoffs

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Penn-Trafford softball team was seeded fourth for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs when the brackets were released May 9.

The Warriors (12-5) drew No. 13 Bethel Park for a first round game that was scheduled for Monday.

The winner advanced to play the winner of No. 5 Shaler and No. 12 Franklin Regional in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

Penn-Trafford finished second in Section 2-5A with a record of 8-2, behind section champ Armstrong (14-3, 9-1), which earned the No. 1 seed.

The Warriors won six of their last seven games. The lone loss in that stretch was a 6-3 nonsection loss to North Hills, which earned the No. 2 seed in the postseason bracket.

In a playoff tune-up game May 8, the Warriors defeated North Allegheny, 2-1. Isabella Rubbe and Ella Mains doubled, Cameron Ponko went 2 for 3 and Allyson Paulone got the win.

Boys lacrosse awarded No. 3 seed

The Penn-Trafford boys lacrosse team was awarded the No. 3 seed for the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs last week after finishing the regular season in second place in Section 1 behind South Fayette.

The Warriors (9-1, 14-4) drew a first-round bye and were set to host the winner of the Shaler-Moon game in the quarterfinals May 15. The winner advances to the semifinals Monday.

Penn-Trafford defeated Moon, 20-10, in a section game April 4. It did not play Shaler, which finished third behind Mars and Hampton in Section 2.

The WPIAL championships will be held May 22-23, at Robert Morris’ Joe Walton Stadium.

Fit to be tied

Penn-Trafford’s baseball team had a chance at clinching the Section 1-5A title with a win against Franklin Regional either on May 6 or 7.

But the Panthers spoiled that celebration by winning both games and forcing a four-way tie for the title with Plum, Fox Chapel and Penn-Trafford.

In the second game, Franklin Regional edged P-T, 1-0, as Max Bernadowski outdueled P-T’s Brandon Rohrer. Owen Sinclair’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly sealed the win for Franklin Regional.

“It was like a playoff game,” Penn-Trafford coach Lou Cortazzo said.

Rohrer worked into the sixth inning for Penn-Trafford, allowing four hits and the game’s only run, when NJ Ramchandran singled for one of his two hits and came around to score on Sinclair’s long fly out to center in the fourth.

Rohrer walked four and struck out three before giving way to junior Hunter Brown, who came on in the sixth with a man on first to pitch a hitless inning.

With the game scoreless, Penn-Trafford threatened to break through first in the top of the fourth.

But, with two on and two outs, a spectacular, diving catch by Franklin Regional centerfielder Cole Brinker robbed Carmen Metcalfe of a potential extra-base hit and denied the Panthers of scoring at least one run.

“Great play in center field,” Cortazzo said. “That saved a run right there.”

Warriors boys finish fourth

The Penn-Trafford boys track and field team fell short in its first trip to the WPIAL Class 3A team championship.

The Warriors finished fourth, falling to Butler (98-52), North Allegheny (98.5-51.5) and Norwin (108-42).

The team advanced to the finals by defeating Mt. Lebanon, New Castle and Elizabeth Forward on May 1 in the semifinals.

Penn-Trafford athletes were scheduled to compete May 15 at the WPIAL individual championship at Slippery Rock.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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