Hempfield, Seneca Valley close chapter of epic rivalry

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 6:54 PM

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The final chapter in a four-year softball rivalry headlined by graduating star pitchers is complete.

Powerhouses Hempfield and Seneca Valley met for the final time in their current iterations Thursday and added another one-run result to the pile — their sixth in 11 meetings.

There were many more hits than expected, but one run for Hempfield was good enough to settle the teams’ last matchup until new lineups meet next spring.

Seneca Valley will lose five seniors, and four seniors will depart Hempfield — after the Spartans play in next week’s PIAA playoffs.

“It’s been a crazy four years,” said Hempfield coach Tina Madison, whose Spartans (21-1) won their ninth WPIAL 6A championship with a 1-0 victory over the Raiders at Norwin. “It’s going to be a lot different next year.”

Aces Lexie Hames of Seneca Valley and Riley Miller of Hempfield won’t face each other again at this level. Both are headed to Division I programs, Hames to Clemson and Miller to Kent State.

But think of the memories they have left behind.

“I am going to be the biggest Clemson fan ever,” Madison said. “Lexie is special.”

Miller and Hames went head-to-head eight times in their careers with Miller winning five, including two WPIAL title games, and Hames taking three.

Hempfield and Seneca Valley played 11 times since ’22. Hempfield won six, and the Raiders five.

“That was the first time we ever beat (Hames) on turf,” Madison said. “We just had to grind and get through it.”

Hames, who was hoping to win her third WPIAL title, surrendered her first earned run of the season when Hempfield is the opponent.

Hempfield didn’t let Hames sniff a pitch as a batter, walking her intentionally four times. Hames shook her head in displeasure as she jogged to first. She finished with 35 career home runs.

Her mother, Raiders coach Marlesse Hames, is impressed by Hempfield’s hitters.

“They do the little things,” the coach said. “They put bats on balls. It comes down to the little things.

“They have such a talented lineup. They complement (Miller).”

Hempfield was prepared for the strong-armed Hames, who finished with 940 career strikeouts.

On Wednesday, the Spartans cranked up their Hack Attack pitching machine to 75 mph — with a twist.

“We turned down the lights,” Madison said. “So they were seeing 70 mph (pitches) in the dark.”

Madison, a college softball fan and former Hempfield and Penn State pitcher, said Nebraska did something similar to prepare for Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens.

Hempfield was sharp in the final despite playing just its second game in 21 days.

Madison won a WPIAL title as a player and now has two in four years as a coach. Asked how this title compares to the one her team won in 2023, the coach smiled and said: “They’re both really freaking good.”

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

Tags: Hempfield, Seneca Valley