5 from Hempfield among 13 Westmoreland County softball players named all-state

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | 5:25 PM

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When the final votes were tabulated, Hempfield had the most selections among WPIAL teams on the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association all-state teams released Tuesday.

The WPIAL champion Spartans featured the Class 6A pitcher of the year, senior Riley Miller, who also made the first team along with four other Spartans: junior second baseman Lauren Howard, junior outfielder Claire Mitchell, senior shortstop Allie Cervola and junior catcher Ella Berkebile.

Miller, Howard and Mitchell made the first team, and Cervola and Berkebile were second-team picks.

Miller, a Kent State commit, went 19-2 with a 0.72 ERA and 151 strikeouts, Howard (Virginia) had a career season with a .614 average, nine doubles, six triples, five home runs, 38 RBIs and 36 runs, and Mitchell (Maryland Baltimore County) hit .447 with six homers and a school-record 41 runs.

Overall, 13 players from Westmoreland County garnered all-state recognition.

Southmoreland had three players picked in Class 3A: senior catcher Makayla Etling (.569, 10 HR, 24 RBIs, 31 runs), freshman second baseman Makayla Brown — both first-teamers — and senior shortstop Riley Puckey (second team).

PIAA Class 5A champion Penn-Trafford had two first-team selections: pitcher Allyson Paulone (20-2, 2.08 ERA) and third baseman Cam Ponko (.479, 8 HR, 37 RBIs, 35 runs).

Ponko was the TribLive Westmoreland Player of the Year.

Also in 5A, Franklin Regional senior shortstop Toryn Fulton (first team) was selected, as were Derry junior outfielder Francesca DePalma in 4A and Jeannette junior pitcher Grace Stein in Class A.

Fulton, a South Florida commit, hit .590 with eight homers, 39 RBIs, 37 runs and 38 stolen bases. DePalma batted .538 with 12 doubles and 14 RBIs, and Stein was 14-5 with 196 K’s.

The WPIAL flexed its muscles with 78 players selected to the all-state teams. The district grabbed six player of the year awards.

Seneca Valley’s Lexie Hames, the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, was tabbed the state’s top overall player, while Addy Frye of Neshannock was selected as the top overall pitcher and catcher Calle Henne of Pine-Richland was named the Class 6A player of the year.

Meadow Ferri of Chartiers-Houston (2A) and Mia Preuhs of Union (A) also grabbed pitcher of the year honors.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Jefferson-Morgan, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland