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A total of eight teams, four in baseball and four in softball are still alive in the PIAA quarterfinals for District 9 and District 10.
Here’s a brief look at how each of them stacks up against their respective opponents, with the winners advancing to semifinal play on Monday.
BASEBALL
CLASS 1A
Kennedy Catholic (10-10) vs. Eden Christian (18-5)
How they got here: Kennedy Catholic – Beat Riverview, 6-1. Eden Christian – Beat DuBois Central Catholic, 8-7
Top Hitters: Kennedy Catholic – Cody May .492/22 RBIs; Tino Multari .491/11 RBIs; Remi Hart .330/20 RBIs. Eden Christian – Luke Vitrone .484/29 RBIs/16 XBHs; Andrew Proutty .431/23 RBIs; David Kelly .424/30 RBIs
Top pitchers: Kennedy Catholic – Cody May 4-3, 2.93 ERA; Nick Ondo 3-1, 4.77 ERA; Eden Christian – Jacob Fisher 4-0, 0.97 ERA; Caleb Emswiler 2-0, 4.63 ERA
Winner Gets: Union-New Castle/Southern Fulton winner
Class 2A
Johnsonburg (22-0) vs. Shenango (21-2)
How they got here: Johnsonburg – Beat Carmchales, 8-3; Shenango – Beat Mt. Union, 7-3
Top hitters: Johnsonburg – Camron Marciniak .543/24 RBIs; Dom Allegretto .532/16 RBIs; Ethan Wells .468/29 RBIs; Shenango – Shane Cato .500/31 RBIs; Tyler Kamerer .431/31 RBIs; Cre Calabria .421/18 RBIs
Top pitchers: Johnsonburg – Gabe Watts 8-0, 1.66 ERA; Collin Porter 6-0, 0.95 ERA; Luke Zimmerman 4-0, 1.97 ERA, Aiden Zimmerman 3-0, 1.69 ERA; Shenango – Cato 9-0, 3.16 ERA, Braeden D’Angelo 6-0, 2.89 ERA
Winner Gets: Serra Catholic/Seton LaSalle Winner
Class 3A
Hickory (18-4) vs. Central-Martinsburg (21-2)
How they got here: Hickory – Beat McGuffey, 4-2. Central – Beat South Park, 12-8
Top hitters: Hickory – Johnny Leedham .517/18 RBs/14 XBHs; Joey Fazzona .438/19 RBIs; Clay Wiesen .431/16 RBIs/10 doubles. Central – Hunter Klotz .534/45 RBIs/18 XBHs; Paxton Kling .500/38 RBIs; Jeff Honestine .462/11 RBIs
Top pitchers: Hickory – Nick Osborne 6-2, 1.82 ERA; Joey Fazzone 4-1, 2.04 ERA; Connor Evans 3-2, 2.45 ERA. Central – Jonah Snowberger 10-0, 1.92 ERA; Tyler Helsel 4-0, 1.77 ERA
Winner gets: Hopewell/Tyrone winner
Class 4A
Cathedral Prep (20-4) vs. Montour (16-6)
How they got here: Cathedral Prep – Beat Blackhawk, 2-0. Montour – Beat Clearfield, 6-1
Top hitters: Prep – Jack Malec .426/29 RBIs, 6 HRs; Mason Orlando .375; Jackson Mattocks .352/20 RBIs; Cole Constable .319/19 RBIs. Montour – Nick Walker .458/14 RBIs/10 doubles; Matthew Luchovick .403/33 RBIs/4 HRs; Gannon Kadlecik .393/22 RBIs
Top pitchers: Prep – Jacob Engel 8-0, 0.00 ERA, Maddox Stadler 3-1, 2.08 ERA; Tai Hopkins 3-0, 4.13 ERA. Montour – Dylan Mathisen 4-2, 1.82 ERA; Kadlecik 4-0, 1.20 ERA
Winner gets: Eastern York-New Castle winner
SOFTBALL
Class 1A
Cambridge Springs (17-2) vs. West Greene (19-2)
The District 10 champion Cambridge Springs Blue Devils take on the traditional power West Greene, the 2017 and 2018 state champions. The Blue Devils got here via a 9-5 win over Clarion-Limestone in the first-round, while West Greene battled past a pesky Shade squad, 5-4. Tayor Smith had a big game in the win over C-L, while the likes of Paige Verbanc, Kylee Miller, Aly Acosta-Reyes, and Chloe Schultz also spearheaded the offense for the Blue Devils. In the circle, it’s all about Hailee Rodgers, who has put together a terrific season.
They will be facing a West Greene team that features Kiley Meek, who is 19-2 with a 1.98 ERA on the season. Offensively, the Pioneers are led by London Whipkey (.526, 16 doubles), Jersey Wise (.443, 20 RBIs), and Lexi Six (.365. 13 RBIs). The winner will play the winner of the DuBois Central Catholic-Glendale winner.
Class 1A
DuBois Central Catholic (20-2) vs. Glendale (14-7)
The District 9 champion Cardinals are coming off a 14-9 win over Leechburg, while Glendale enters the quarterfinals after a win over Union-New Castle, 6-5. The Cardinals are back in familiar territory and are led by a potent offense, which features the likes of Shyanne Lundy (.561, 50 RBIs), Emma Suplizo (.530, 24 RBIs), Melia Mitskavich (.481, 15 RBs), and Jessy Frank (.464/15 RBIs) just to name a few. In the circle, Morgan Tyler returned after missing part of the season and has pitched to the tune of a 2.79 ERA.
In Glendale, they will be seeing a team that is paced by Chloe Mcelheny and her .406 average, while Hanna Noel leads the team with 20 RBIs. In the circle, it’s Kyla Campbell, who is 10-2 with a 1.55 ERA. The winner will get either Cambridge Springs or West Greene.
CLASS 2A
Union City (21-1) vs. Laurel (18-1)
What a treat this game promises to be, after the D-10 runners-up, Union City, rolled to a 9-0 win over Moniteau in their first-round game, and Laurel, the WPIAL champ, beat Frazier, 6-0. Abby Tingley was nearly perfect in the win over Moniteau and sports a nifty 0.79 ERA for the season. Offensively, the Lady Bears have been a juggernaut, paced by Eliza Reynolds, Sydney Gilbert, and Tingley, who are all hitting .500 are better on the season, led by Reynolds and her .571 average and 29 RBIs. while Gilbert has also driven in 29. Emylee Zienilski (.508) and Cathryn Reynolds (.500) are also part of the .500 club as well.
Freshman Autumn Boyd has pitched to the tune of an 18-1 record for Laurel this season. Offensively, they are led by Abby Miles, as well as Kaylee Withrow, Addison Deal, and Bekah Valenti. The winner will meet the Chestnut Ridge, Ligonier Valley winner.
Class 3A
Punxsutawney (10-10) vs. Cambria Heights (22-1)
Punxsutawney enters this game after a thrilling win in which they rallied past Ellwood City, 4-3 in 10 innings. Cambria Heights, meanwhile, is coming off an 8-1 win over Bermudian Springs. In that win over Ellwood City, Kaylee Guidce’s game-winner brought in Laura Rittenhouse in the 10th. Ciarra Toven, who hit two home runs in the Lady Chucks D9 title game win, had the game-tying double in the seventh, bringing in Kendal Johnston. Johnston is also a leader for the Lady Chucks with her work in the circle this season, including getting the win in the first-round game.
The Lady Chucks square up with a Cambria Heights unit that features senior pitcher Paige Jones and her 1.25 ERA. Offensively Jenna Serafin and her .478 average help spearhead the attack, as well as Karli Storm (.451, 10 doubles), Ari Westrick (.429), and Alexis Griak (.364). The winner will play the Mount Pleasant-Avonworth winner.
