Derry softball team elevates its game to meet competition of higher classification

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 9:19 PM

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A jump to WPIAL Class 4A wasn’t something Derry softball could control, but the Trojans knew they had to make a quick adjustment to new opponents, better pitching and deeper lineups.

Almost immediately, the girls began to list their goals. Coming up from 3A fit the team’s motif of upping their game and turning a program not known for winning into a legit challenger.

Suddenly, Derry is one tough out.

“We want to make the playoffs,” senior catcher Sophia Doherty said. “The big motivation for us is to be a different team than the one we were the last three years. We have a lot of support and we bring a lot of energy.”

Derry (8-3, 6-2) is in second place in Section 1-4A behind Knoch, the only team to beat it in section so far.

While Derry, which has never won a section title, made the playoffs two years ago, it went 3-13 last year and finished last in Section 3-3A.

“I’m happy with what we’re doing,” Derry coach John DePalma said. “We’re splitting with teams that are better than us. We’ve had some luck, I think, but playing in a section with the Mt. Pleasants, the Southmorelands and the Youghs have helped this group overall.”

Derry was primed for a comeback Friday but had its game against visiting Greensburg Salem (8-4, 4-4) suspended by rain in the top of the fourth inning.

The game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning at the start of the fourth, and heavy rain forced the umpires’ hand just two batters into the resumption. Greensburg Salem leads, 6-2, with no outs and a runner at first.

So why is this team doing what previous ones couldn’t?

Getting a healthy Francesca DePalma back to form has boosted the Trojans. The team’s center fielder and leadoff hitter took a pitch to her left elbow in practice a few games into last season.

“It was shattered,” the junior said. “I had two months of occupational therapy and another month of physical therapy. When it happened, I had to hold it up with my other arm.”

The setback and rehab were trying, but DePalma made a fast recovery and is back on the radar of numerous college programs, many from the Division II level.

The left-handed hitter came back strong and leads the team with 20 hits, including nine doubles, and 18 runs scored. She has a .556 batting average.

“We’re a team now,” Francesca DePalma said. “In past years, there were cliques and groups. When you’re all close, playing softball is easy.”

The power-hitting Doherty has been shredding 4A pitching. The Carnegie Mellon commit is hitting .567 — 2.239 OPS — with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs.

The emergence of sophomore Haylee Myers also has elevated the expectations. Adding a quality pitcher to a lineup of hard-hitting travel players can be the missing piece to the puzzle.

Myers, who is hitting .400 with four homers and 14 RBIs, is 8-2 in the circle with a 2.45 ERA, 91 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 1/3 innings.

Myers has three shutouts.

“Haylee has really helped us,” Francesca DePalma said. “She has been very good, and we’ve had a good defense. When we’re on, we’re a a hard team to beat.”

Derry is following suit with a number of other Westmoreland County teams that are piling up hits and runs, averaging 8.4 runs a game. Five times the Trojans have scored 10 or more runs.

Last year, they scored 52 runs in 16 games and allowed 120. This year, they have 93 runs in 11 games and have allowed 36.

While a 4-3 win over Belle Vernon in the season opener was impressive, a good indication the Trojans were section contenders came earlier this month when they defeated Indiana, 9-5, as part of a six-game winning streak.

“I think Indiana is the best team in the section,” coach DePalma said. “That was a big win.”

Said Doherty: “We hit four home runs in that game. That was a big section win. Yes, we have a lot of power, but we win games with base hits.”

Doherty said camaraderie was not forced with a 13-player roster that didn’t need tryouts to form.

“We have more togetherness than a lot of teams,” she said. “Me and Callie (Krause), our other senior, reached out to the other girls and we talked about the expectation and encouraging each other.”

Coach DePalma, echoing something former Derry girls basketball coach Gene Brisbane said, thinks a more deliberate commitment is necessary for the team to have success.

“You can’t just show up March 7 and swing the bat,” John DePalma said. “I am willing to help the players if they are willing to help themselves.”

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

Tags: Derry Area, Greensburg Salem