Westmoreland softball playoff preview capsules: Games for Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 4:52 PM

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Class 6A

Quarterfinals

5-Norwin (8-10) vs. 4-Pine-Richland (11-9)

4 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway

Winner plays: 1-Hempfield (18-1) May 22 in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Bailey Snowberger, Norwin; Mackenzie Gillis, Pine-Richland

Extra bases: Norwin is looking to right the ship after two losses to Pine-Richland in section play by scores of 5-2 and 13-1. The Lady Knights made the semifinals last year and lost to Hempfield. Snowberger, a senior shortstop, is a Holy Cross commit. … Pine-Richland begins the playoffs off an 11-6 win over 5A No. 1 seed Armstrong. The Rams, who lead 6A with 178 runs, have been in some high-scoring games, falling 22-14 to Chartiers Valley and beating Mt. Lebanon, 31-12. The Rams lost to Seneca Valley in the semis last year, 7-2.

Class 5A

Quarterfinals

4-Penn-Trafford (13-5) vs. 5-Shaler (15-3)

6 p.m. Wednesday at Plum

Winner plays: Winner of 1-Armstrong (15-3)/8-Connellsville (13-7) in semifinals (time, date, site TBA)

Players to watch: Lorryn Sepe, Penn-Trafford; Olivia Sachs, Shaler

Extra bases: Penn-Trafford slipped past No. 13 Bethel Park in the opener 3-2, as Cam Ponko delivered a run-scoring double in the sixth to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Sepe opened the scoring with a solo home run. After Ponko’s hit, Erin Drotos brought home a run in the sixth with an infield single to make it 3-1. Shortstop Kylie Anthony helped turn a pair of double plays in the win. Freshman pitcher Allyson Paulone earned her first postseason win. The Warriors made the semifinals two years ago on the way to a runner-up finish in the WPIAL. … Shaler won in walk-off fashion in the first round as Alyssa Schaffold ripped a single to center with the bases loaded in the seventh inning for a 3-2 win over No. 12 Franklin Regional. Schaffold went 3 for 4, and Emily Spears and Olivia Sachs had two hits apiece for the Titans, who made the semifinals last year, along with the state finals. Backup pitcher Taylor London won her first playoff start pitching in place of standout Bria Bosiljevac, who has a hand injury but could return for the PIAA tournament if Shaler advances. London did not allow Franklin Regional star Toryn Fulton to get a hit.

11-Latrobe (10-10) vs. 3-West Allegheny (17-3)

5 p.m. Wednesday at West Mifflin

Winner plays: Winner of 2-North Hills (14-4)/10-Thomas Jefferson (9-7) in semifinals (time, date, site TBA)

Players to watch: Kayla Williams, Latrobe; Ava Benish, West Allegheny

Extra bases: Latrobe took care of business in the first round with a 5-1 win over No. 6 Trinity as Madi Balko hit a two-run homer, and Sami Kronenwetter added an RBI double for the Wildcats to help Williams to the pitching win. Williams, a Slippery Rock commit, allowed three hits and fanned five to give her 400 career strikeouts. She also had two hits, including a run-producing double. … West Allegheny rolled to a 12-1, five-inning win over No. 14 Fox Chapel in the first round. Benish went 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs, Ava Henkie doubled, tripled and had two RBIs and Aubrey Police homered and also had two RBIs. Cali Fiscus had two hits and also drove in a pair. Benich helped her cause with a double. Pitcher Autumn Bielecki allowed three hits and struck out four in the victory, which saw the Foxes hang seven runs in the fourth.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin