Penn-Trafford holds on for tight victory over Franklin Regional
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Monday, April 22, 2024 | 12:01 AM
Penn-Trafford Giuliana Youngo is congratulated after hitting a two-run home run against Franklin Regional on Monday.
Penn-Trafford’s Rilie Moors makes a running catch on a ball hit by Franklin Regional’s Olivia Cowell on Monday.
Penn-Trafford’s Rilie Moors is safe at third base against Franklin Regional on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Toryn Fulton records a hit against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Alexandria Speranza strikes out to end the game against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Toryn Fulton steals second base against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
Penn-Trafford’s Giuliana Youngo hits a two-run home run against Franklin Regional on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Olivia Cowell can’t get to a ball hit by Penn-Trafford’s Giuliana for a two-run home run on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Celina Camacho scores against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Alexandria Speranza scores against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
Franklin Regional catcher Ciara Camacho makes a diving tag on Penn-Trafford’s Annabell Carvajal on Monday.
Penn-Trafford’s Kylie Anthony makes a catch on a ball hit by Franklin Regional’s Olivia Cowell on Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Ciara Camacho hits an RBI double against Penn-Trafford on Monday.
No matter how up or down the Penn-Trafford softball team is each year — usually up — it has a tendency to play tight games at Franklin Regional.
It’s like clockwork, that short trip to Murrysville.
“We’ve had some crazy games here,” Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little said. “I don’t know what it is about this place.”
The Warriors had another close call Monday, building a five-run lead before holding off a late push from the host Panthers for an 8-7 win and a Section 2-5A sweep.
Last year, the Panthers earned a walk-off win at home over the Warriors.
In this game, Penn-Trafford (7-4, 5-2), which had dropped two of its previous three games, allowed Franklin Regional (6-7, 3-4) to put runners at first and second with two outs and South Florida commit Toryn Fulton, who was 4 for 4, waiting on deck.
“I was sweating there,” Little said. “We knew Franklin wouldn’t go easy into the night.”
But the Warriors didn’t face Fulton again as pitcher Allyson Paulone recorded a strikeout to end it and let the Warriors wipe their collective brow.
The result was quite different than the 14-1, run-ruled win by Penn-Trafford earlier in the season.
“I like the way our girls battled,” Panthers coach Jim Armstrong said. “They didn’t back down. They were down 8-4 but didn’t stop. They could have put their heads down, but they didn’t.”
Franklin Regional had won three of four.
Penn-Trafford built a 7-2 lead with a three-run fifth as Allison Pokrant blasted a solo homer, and Giuliana Youngo added a two-run homer to right.
Little used a number of pinch-runners and pinch-hitters as he threw several different looks at the Panthers.
“We have a lot of young kids, and they’re ready to compete,” Little said. “They are getting their reps now. Two years or so down the line, it will pay off.”
Armstrong admires the Warriors program for obvious reasons: their hitting ability, for one, and Little’s techniques.
“He has really good players and a deep bench,” Armstrong said. “One of the things he does well is sub girls in and keep them engaged.”
Ciara Camacho, who went 3 for 4, gave the Panthers their first run with an RBI double in the first, but the Warriors tied it on Rilie Moors’ run-scoring double in the second.
Cam Ponko started a third-inning rally with a double, and Mack Keenan made it 2-1 with a single before Erin Drotos ripped an RBI double.
It was 3-2 in the bottom of the third after Camacho’s double off the fence scored Fulton, who also doubled. Bella Rubbe made it 4-2 with a run-scoring single in the fourth, following a walk and a bunt single by Moors.
The inning ended with a double play.
Down 7-2 in the fifth, the Panthers began to chip away. With one out, they loaded the bases after back-to-back singles by Fulton and Camacho. A wild pitch and an RBI single by Olivia Cowell cut the deficit to 7-4.
A run in the sixth proved to be beneficial.
Moors, who was 3 for 3, reached on an error and made it to third on a steal before scoring on a groundout by Rubbe to make it 8-4.
Franklin Regional didn’t fade, though.
Fulton’s two-out RBI single in the sixth closed the gap to 8-5.
After the Warriors left two on in the seventh, the Panthers made their final push.
Paulone quietly struck out 11 and earned the complete-game win, despite allowing 14 hits.
Franklin Regional has scored 87 runs and allowed 83.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford
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