Hempfield softball clips Chambersburg for another 1-run win in PIAA quarterfinals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, June 5, 2025 | 8:49 PM

Purchase Photo Options

WINDBER — As quickly as Hempfield built its lead, Chambersburg did everything it could to tear it down.

And it almost did.

It didn’t take Hempfield long to adjust to Chambersburg’s pitching, but the Spartans did have to recalibrate to hold off another opponent in the state playoffs.

WPIAL champion Hempfield overcame a three-run sixth inning by Chambersburg to preserve its lead and finish off a 4-3 victory in the PIAA Class 6A softball quarterfinals Thursday at Windber Sports Complex.

Hempfield (23-1) advances to the semifinals Monday to play Nazareth (21-4) at a time and site to be announced.

The Spartans were coming off a narrow 2-1 win over State College in the first round.

They nearly saw Chambersburg (19-6), the runner-up from District 3, rally from a 4-0 deficit.

“Our last two practices were great,” Spartans senior shortstop Allie Cervola said. “It was hot, but we showed up and grinded it out. We had confidence in Riley (Miller), and we knew everyone was going to step up.”

Hempfield was concerned with the slower speed of Trojans pitcher Kori Leedy, but it quickly put those worries to rest when junior Claire Mitchell ripped the first pitch deep for a triple. Cervola knocked her in for a 1-0 lead in the first.

“That gives us a deep breath,” Cervola said. “If Claire can hit, we all can hit, too.”

The Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the third after back-to-back doubles by Lauren Howard and Cervola, and an RBI single by Miller, who improved to 19-1 with the win.

Cervola, Howard and Miller all went 2 for 3 for Hempfield, which last made the semis in 2023.

The Spartans had nine hits.

“We knew it was time to lock in,” Miller said. “I know my job is pitching, but hitting is a bonus. It’s super-exciting to get to the semifinals.”

Howard doubled in the fifth and scored on Miller’s single to make it 4-0.

After Hempfield left the bases loaded, the Trojans showed they weren’t ready to pack up and go home just yet.

“Yes, Hempfield may be one of the best teams in the state, but so are we,” said Chambersburg coach Chris Skultety, an Armstrong Central graduate and former WPIAL athlete. “We’re not chopped liver. We can compete with the big dogs. The thing today was, we didn’t hit early. They scored a lot of their runs with two outs. I was a little nervous when they got that fourth run.”

In the sixth, Chambersburg’s Breanne Paetow led off with a solo home run. With two outs, Sanay Jones walked and Kylee Perry singled.

That brought up Marley Onomastico, who calmly sent a two-run double to left to suddenly make it a 4-3 game.

“We adjusted well,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said. “That’s a great ballclub we played. It was a big adjustment going from preparing for 70 (mph) to 50. We had to keep working. Our defense was solid today.”

Miller got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout, then, after the Spartans went 1-2-3 in the sixth, Miller got two Ks and a groundout to seal the one-run win.

“We were a little slow getting going,” Miller said. “We need to get more hits. Not spread out, more in a row.”

Miller allowed five hits and struck out six while walking three.

Chambersburg also made the semifinals in 2023.

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

Tags: Hempfield