Trib HSSN softball team of the week for May 12, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 9:15 AM

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Trib HSSN softball team of the week – Penn-Trafford Warriors

Coach: Denny Little (eighth season)

Record: 8-2 in Class 5A Section 2, 12-5 overall

#Earned: Coming into this week, Penn-Trafford had already concluded its section schedule by winning its final four section contests and finishing in second place in Section 2-5A with an 8-2 record, one game behind section winner and 5A playoff top seed Armstrong and two games in front of third-place Latrobe. The Warriors wrapped up the regular season this week with two nonsection wins, beating 5A No. 8 seed Connellsville, 13-3, on Monday, and then knocking off 6A No. 3 seed North Allegheny on Wednesday, 2-1, to double their win total from last season. Penn-Trafford is the No. 4 seed in the upcoming 5A playoffs and will face Bethel Park (10-9) at West Mifflin in the first round of the district playoffs Monday.

Standout performers: In the Monday win against visiting Connellsville, senior Mack Keenan enjoyed a big afternoon at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. Junior Lorryn Sepe drove in a run with a triple for the Warriors. It was the eighth time this season the P-T offense scored double-digit runs. Two days later against visiting North Allegheny, freshman pitcher Allyson Paulone picked up another victory while junior Isabella Rubbe and sophomore Ella Mains each doubled and junior Cameron Ponko went 2 for 3 for the Warriors’ sixth victory in their last seven games.

Last year: What makes this spring more impressive for Penn-Trafford is that it comes on the heels of a rare down season for the Warriors in 2023. The team finished 4-6 in fourth place in Section 2-5A and 6-12 overall. Inexperience was evident early as P-T struggled out of the gates with a 1-6 start, but did finish with three wins in its last five regular season games. The team did qualify for the postseason once again and gave the eventual 5A champions quite a scare in the opening round, losing to Trinity, 3-2.

Remember when: As they prepare for the 2024 Class 5A playoffs, Penn-Trafford will be hoping to win the school’s first WPIAL softball championship. However, the program does have a title to its name. Five years ago, the Warriors won the PIAA 5A state championship, this after not even reaching the district title game. Penn-Trafford lost to Connellsville in the 2019 WPIAL 5A semifinals, 10-4, for only their second loss of the season. The Warriors knocked off rival Franklin Regional in the 5A consolation game to earn a spot in the PIAA playoffs. There, P-T knocked off District 6 champion Central Mountain, 13-5, eliminated WPIAL champion West Allegheny in the quarterfinals, 6-2, and then reached the state finals with a 5-4 win over Donegal in the semifinals. In the state championship game, Emma Armstrong had a double and home run and drove in three runs while Emma Little and Allie Prady had two hits each in a state crown-winning victory over Lampeter-Strasburg, 5-3.

2024 Trib HSSN Softball Teams of the Week

Week 5 – Hempfield Spartans

Week 4 – Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Week 3 – West Allegheny Indians

Week 2 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 1 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Tags: Penn-Trafford