Connect with us

Baseball/Softball

PIAA Softball First Round: Cranberry Gets Walk-off Win; Jamestown, Sharpsville Advance Powered by N. Washington Rodeo

Denali Wenner had three hits in Cranberry's win over Greensburg Central Catholic Monday. Photo by Diane McMunn

SENECA, Pa. – Katelyn Beggs scored from second on a ball hit by Jadyn Shumaker, as Cranberry walked off visiting Greensburg Central Catholic, 8-7, in the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A softball playoffs Monday.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Cranberry manager Chrissy Shumaker told the YDL Sports Network in a phone interview after the game. “To have the game on our home field, there were lots of Cranberry fans, the girls didn’t quit. Through the ups and downs, it didn’t phase them.”

GCC, the third-place team out of the WPIAL, had forced Cranberry to bat in the bottom of the seventh when it tied the game at seven in the top of the inning on a single by Abby Dei

But the Berries escaped a jam in the top of the inning that saw the Centurions have runners on first and second with no out and first and third with one out, as Reyna Watson got a fly out, a line out, and a ground out to keep the game knotted.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Denali Wenner led off with a single to right and moved to second on an error. Beggs came in to courtesy run for the Cranberry catcher, and, after McKaylah Smith popped out to pitcher Emma Henry, Jadyn Shumaker hit a ground ball to Dei at second that she had trouble playing allowing the winning run to score.

               

“There is no quit in our girls,” Chrissy Shumaker, who is Jadyn’s mom, said. “Several times this season, especially late in the season, we have rallied to win. They remained poised and composed and believed that we can win.”

It was fitting that Wenner, the No. 6 hitter, and Shumaker, the No. 8 hitter, were the ones playing the key roles in the seventh inning, as they led the Cranberry offense the entire day.

Both players were 3-for-4 on the day with Wenner’s courtesy runner scoring twice and Shumaker also scoring twice while adding a pair of RBIs. Add in No. 9 hitter Alexis Reisinger going 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs, and the six through nine hitters in the Berries’ order were a combined 7 of 14 with four RBIs and five runs scored.

“It doesn’t matter where we are in the lineup,” Chrissy Shumaker said. “The bottom part did its job tonight. It’s kind of the game plan to have players like Denali, Jadydn, and Alexis at the bottom of the lineup. They can get on and the top of the lineup can hit them in.”

Cranberry led 4-0 after two innings but trailed 6-5 after GCC scored three in the fourth and three in the fifth.

                          

The Berries, though, retook the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Rylee Coe also had two hits (2-for-4) and a run scored in the victory, and Cassie Scabrough walked twice and scored twice.

Watson was solid giving up seven runs, only three earned, on nine hits and five walks while striking otu five.

Macee Magill was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for GCC, while Dei went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI, and Henry was 3-for-4 with a run scored, and three RBIs.

Henry took the loss going 6 ⅓ innings allowing eight runs, five earned, on 10 hits, two walks, and a hit batter while striking out seven.

               

Cranberry, the District 9 champion, moves into the second round against District 5 champion, Everett, a 15-12 winner over WPIAL runner-up Laurel. That game will be Thursday at a site and time to be announced.

JAMESTOWN 6, WAYNESBURG 4

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Kiley Matters and Savannah Thurber hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to break a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning, ultimately lifting Jamestown to its first state playoff win in program history, 6-4 over Waynesburg.

With the game tied at 3, Reese Schaller drew a walk with two outs and, Matters’ drove a 2-1 pitch for a two-bagger to plate Schaller. On the very next pitch, Thurber traded places with Matters with a double of her own.

The Muskies added an insurance run in the sixth when Charlie Jones singled, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Schaller’s single to center.

All of this backed a solid outing by Miranda Biles, who went the distance, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, striking out six, and walking two.

Schaller got things going for Jamestown in the first inning, singling and coming around to score on an error on a ball hit by Matters.

Waynesburg took its first and only lead of the game in the third inning on Hannah Wood’s 2-run double.

Savannah Thurber’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the third brought in Schaller, who walked, and an error allowed Jamestown to re-take the lead.

            

The Raiders tied it again on Kendall Lemley’s RBI double in the fourth before Jamestown took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning.

Schaller set the tone for the Muskies atop the order, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs, while Matters was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Lemley took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) in her six innings on six hits, striking out five and walking three.

With the win, Jamestown advances to play D5 champion Chestnut Ridge, a 4-1 winner over Southmoreland, in the quarterfinals on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

SHARPSVILLE 15, MONITEAU 4, 6 INNINGS

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Breanna Hanley belted two home runs and Keely Whitaker ended the game with a homer as Sharpsville beat Moniteau, 15-4 in six innings to advance to the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.

Hanley also got the win, allowing four runs and scattering nine hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking five.

The Blue Devils scored five runs in the first inning after Moniteau took a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning. The Blue Devils scored nine runs over the first three innings and ended the game with a 6-run sixth inning.

Lily Staab and Emma Covert had back-to-back hits to start the game for Moniteau, Autumn Stewart brought in the first run of the game on her groundout and Addy Williams made it 2-0 on an RBI single.

Whitaker led off the 5-run Sharpsville first with a walk, followed by four-straight hits from Miah Applegarth, Lily Palko, Izzy Candiotti, and Hanley’s 2-run homer.

Hanley hit her second home run of the game in the second inning to make it 8-2.

Whitaker’s homer in the sixth ended the game, part of an effort that saw her score three runs.

It was a 13-hit attack for Sharpsville, with the top five in the order – Whitaker, Applegarth, Palko, Candiotti, and Hanley, combining for 11 of those hits. Palkko also scored three runs, while Candiotti and Hanley had three hits and three RBIs each.

Haley White and Emma Brest also had one hit and an RBI each for Sharpsville.

For Moniteau, Mariska Shunk was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Williams and Staab also had two hits, with Staab scoring two runs.

Covert took the loss, failing to record an out in the first inning and allowing five runs on four hits and a walk. Shunk went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing 10 runs on nine hits, walking three, and walking out two.

Sharpsville moves on to face defending state champion Neshannock (a 9-0 winner over Penns Valley) in the quarterfinals on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

WEST BRANCH 8, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 6

MORRISDALE, Pa. – District 9 runner-up Elk County Catholic fell behind by five runs after four innings and a late comeback couldn’t keep the Lady Crusaders’ season from ending with an 8-6 loss to District 6 runner-up West Branch at West Branch.

The Warriors scored twice in the second, twice in the third, and four times in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead before ECC fought back with a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to close the gap to two runs but could get no closer.

Greysyn Cable had a big day at the plate for West Branch going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Makena Moore was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.

Moore got the win going seven innings allowing six runs, five earned, on 11 hits and four walks while striking out 14.

Sydney Alexander was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI for ECC with Gabby Weisner going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Lucy Klawuhn was also 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI, and Caitlyn Vollmer was 2-for-3.

Emily Mourer took the loss giving up eight unearned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two. She was the victim of four ECC errors.

West Branch will face WPIAL champion Union (New Castle) in the second round Thursday at a site and time to be announced.

CARMICHAELS 7, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 0

DUBOIS, Pa. – There will be no return trip to the PIAA Class 1A title game for DuBois Central Catholic.

The District 9 champion Lady Cardinals saw their dream of a state title ended when WPIAL runner-up Carmicahels, whose only loss came in the WPIAL title game to Union (New Castle) scored seven runs in the third inning to beat DCC, 7-0, at Heindl Field in DuBois.

Only two of the runs were earned, as DCC committed three errors in the inning.

That was more than enough support for Carmichaels freshman pitcher Bailey Barnyak, who became the first pitcher in 59 games to shut out DCC.

Barnyak went seven innings scattering five hits. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine to become the first pitcher to blank the Lady Cardinals since St. Marys’ Kendall Young did so in five innings, April 23, 2021.

Sophia Zalar led the Mighty Mikes offense going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Megan Volthofer was 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI, and Ali Jacobs was 1-for-4 with a run scored, and two RBIs.

Kayley Risser, Melia Mitskavich, Rose Whipple, Lauren Davidson, and Lydia Morgan had singles for DCC.

Mitskavich took the loss going two-plus innings allowing five runs, two earned, on three hits. She struck out two. Rylee Kulbatsky went five innings in relief giving up two unearned runs on five hits while striking out seven.

Carmichaels will face District 6 third-place finisher Glendale in the second round Thursday at a site and time to be announced.

ELIZABETH FORWARD 7, CATHEDRAL PREP 2

ERIE, Pa. – Elizabeth Forward scored a pair of runs in the first inning and never trailed in a 7-2 Class 4A first-round win over D10 champion Cathedral Prep.

Lauren Vay and Carlee Soukup had RBI singles in the first and Prep left the bases loaded without scoring in both the second and fourth innings.

The Warriors pulled away with four runs in the sixth.

“They had a big inning. We wanted to make sure we didn’t let them get a big inning and we just couldn’t get one ourselves,” said Cathedral Prep coach Scott Baldi. “Tip of the cap to them. They’re a very good team.”

Cathedral Prep got on the board in the third, cutting the lead to 2-1 on Madison Simmerman’s RBI fielder’s choice.

After EF’s Shelby Telegdy got out of the bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Julia Resnick led off the fifth with the second of her three triples and scored on an error.

Jenna Wagner led off the bottom of the fifth for Prep with a triple and scored on Emily Dudenhoeffer’s RBI single.

The Warriors broke the game open in the sixth when Sam Malek hit an RBI single and turned the lineup over to Resnick, whose third triple of the game plated two more runs. Telegdy put the finishing touches on the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Telegdy got the win, allowing two runs in her seven innings of work on four hits, striking out six, and walking three.

Wagner took the loss, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, striking out five and walking one.

“Shelby’s a great pitcher and I wish them good luck moving forward,” Baldi said. “Jenna, she’s always going to give you everything she’s got. They (EF) were consistent in their approach. Jenna’s so tough, she’s just phenomenal.”

EF advances to play Belle Vernon, a 6-3 winner over Trinity, in the quarterfinals on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON 13, CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 3

ERIE, Pa. – Ella Richey’s 3-run home run keyed an 8-run seventh inning that helped Chartiers-Houston pull away for a 13-3 win over District 10 champion Cambridge Springs in the Class 1A first round.

Cambridge Springs trailed 5-2 and loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but Meadow Ferri struck out Emily Boylan on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat.

The Bucs had four-straight hits to start the seventh with the top of their order – Richey, Lauren Rush, Ferri and Seanna Riggle. The bottom of the order, led by Reagyn Watkins and Hiedy Almo also had RBIs in the inning before Richey came back up and put the finishing touches on it.

“I asked the girls at the end of the game did we really live by 10, which we did and we supported each other the entire time,” said Cambridge Springs coach Angie Mumford. “We left too many runners on base and unfortunately couldn’t get that clutch hit and we also had some uncharacteristic errors.

Rush had an RBI double and Riggle an RBI fielder’s choice in the first inning to stake the Bucs to the early advantage.

Cambridge Springs scored its first run in the third inning on Hailee Rodgers’ RBI double. The ball was misplayed in the outfield and Rodgers attempted to score on the play but was thrown out.

Richey’s home run was her 14th of the season, and she also scored three runs, while Ferri was also 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

Ferri got the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out 15.

Rodgers took the loss, allowing the two early runs before giving way to freshman Kayla Crawford, who struck out six and limited Chartiers-Houston’s opportunities until the seventh.

“I have seen a ton of growth as a pitcher,” Mumford said of Crawford. “I’m excited to see where the future leads for us because she’s only a freshman. At one point today for us you saw a freshman at pitcher, shortstop, behind the plate, and at third base.”

With the win, Chartiers-Houston advances to play Claysburg-Kimmel, an 8-6 winner over Frazier, on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

AVONWORTH 12, FORT LEBOEUF 2, 5 INNINGS

WEXFORD, Pa. – Fort LeBoeouf took an early 2-1 lead, but defending PIAA champion Avonworth scored 11 runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings in a 12-2, 5-inning Class 3A first-round victory.

Kendall Stull’s 2-run homer gave LeBoeuf an early 2-1 lead, but it turned out to be short-lived.

Sydney Savatt led the way for Avonworth, going 3-for-4 with two triples, a double, three runs, and two RBIs, while Cassandra Heinauer was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Alivia Lantzy and Rylee Gray both drove in two runs.

Lantzy got the win, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out 10 and walking two.

Stull took the loss, allowing 12 runs (six earned) in 4 ⅓ innings on 10 hits, striking out three and walking three.

With the win, Avonworth advances to play Juniata, a 1-0 winner over Burrell, in the quarterfinals on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

                       

More in Baseball/Softball