melissa hanejko, bucks county courier times
·4 min read
It all comes down to this. We've reached the semifinal round of the state playoffs, with the ultimate goal of playing at Penn State for a PA state championship on the line. Four Bucks County area teams made the semifinal round in three classes. See how they fared in their quests for the ultimate prize, a 2024 PIAA Softball Championship, and scores from the other games around the state.
Class 6A
1-5 Council Rock South 1, 1-4 Downingtown East 0
Eight hits, four walks and no runs. That’s what Lexi Waring has done to get the Golden Hawks to the state championship game. Those stats aren’t for one game though – that’s the sum total of three state playoff games. The Golden Hawks have won all three games 1-0, with Waring winning each pitcher’s duel. Against Downingtown East, she gave up three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Downingtown East pitcher Rachael Schumann gave up five hits and three walks, and struck out nine, in a performance that would be good enough for the win against most teams. In fact, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when Shannon Williams singled to score the game-winning run. Waring had led off the inning with a walk, and was replaced by pinch runner Paige Brady, who scored from second base on Williams’ walk-off hit.
1-3 North Penn 9, 3-1 Central Dauphin 7
Bella Nunn hit an RBI single in the sixth inning to drive in the go-ahead run and send the Knights back to the state championship game, where they will look to defend their title against fellow District One and Suburban One League opponent Council Rock South. The game looked to be over in the third, when the Knights took a 7-1 lead. But Central Dauphin put up a five spot in the fourth inning, and then tied it in the sixth. Casey Sokol singled in the bottom of the sixth and, after advancing to third base on an error, scored the go-ahead run. Talia Smink added some insurance with an RBI single. Gianna Cimino was 3-for-4 with a home run and a double, and in three playoff games, the leadoff hitter is 8-for-9 with three walks, four runs scored, four RBIs, three home runs and three doubles. Sophia Orth and Smink were both 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Class 4A
7-1 Elizabeth Forward 8, 12-3 Archbishop Wood 0
While the Vikings fell short in Monday’s game, the Vikings made the state semifinals for the first time in team history. The Vikings were challenged by Seton Hall commit Shelby Telegdy, who hasn’t allowed an earned run through three state playoff games. The Vikings had five hits, from five players, against Telegdy. While the Vikings graduated several key players, namely leadoff hitter Maura Yoos and Parker Kraus, rising junior pitcher Jackie Cobb had a breakout season as a sophom*ore.
Class 3A
6-2 Juniata 5, 12-1 Conwell-Egan 0
The Eagles had been cruising through the playoffs, but they ran into a problem in Monday’s semifinal game. That problem was Juniata pitcher and Fordham recruit Liz Gaisor, who gave up just two hits, no walks and struck out 20. The Eagles had also been getting top-notch pitching from Lauren Bretzel, who was unavailable to pitch Monday. Sophom*ore Grace Mee filled in admirably, giving up seven hits, one walk and two earned runs. Molly Milewski and Cecelia McBeth had the two Eagles’ hits against Juniata, last season’s Class 3A state runner-up. The Eagles’ successful season included a Catholic League championship and trip to the state semifinals after being ousted in the first round last season.
PIAA Softball Semifinal Scoreboard:
Class 6A
1-5 Council Rock South 1, 1-4 Downingtown East 0
1-3 North Penn 9, 3-1 Central Dauphin 7
Class 5A
2-1 Pittston 2, 3-1 South Western 0
7-2 Thomas Jefferson 9, 6-1 Central Mountain 8
Class 4A
7-1 Elizabeth Forward 8, 12-3 Archbishop Wood 0
11-1 Blue Mountain 5, 11-2 Northwestern Lehigh 3
Class 3A
6-2 Juniata 5, 12-1 Conwell-Egan 0
10-2 Harbor Creek 9, 10-1 Sharon 6
Class 2A
4-1 South Williamsport 3, 6-1 Bald Eagle
7-1 Neshannock 1, 7-3 Laurel 0
Class 1A
9-1 DuBois Central Catholic 2, 2-1 Old Forge 1
7-3 Carmichaels 5, 7-1 Chartiers-Houston 4
What's Next?
Softball season concludes on Thursday and Friday, June 13-14, at Nittany Lion Softball Park at Penn State University. Twelve teams will compete for a state championship in six classes.
The PIAA softball championship game matchups:
Class 6A (Friday)
1-3 North Penn vs. 1-5 Council Rock South, 4 p.m.
Class 5A (Thursday)
2-1 Pittston vs. 7-2 Thomas Jefferson, 4 p.m.
Class 4A (Friday)
7-1 Elizabeth Forward vs. 11-1 Blue Mountain, 1:30 p.m.
Class 3A (Thursday)
6-2 Juniata vs. 10-2 Harbor Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Class 2A (Friday)
4-1 South Williamsport vs. 7-1 Neshannock, 11 a.m.
Class 1A (Thursday)
9-1 DuBois Central Catholic vs. 7-3 Carmichaels, 11 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PIAA high school state softball: Bucks County area teams in semifinals
