Hempfield softball rebounds in big way vs. Norwin

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, April 15, 2024 | 8:14 PM

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The bounceback was better than the fallback.

Hempfield softball was anxious to take the field again after it was no-hit for the first time in 11 years.

Champing at the bit, the No. 2 Lady Spartans saw Riley Miller and Julia Varhola combine for a one-hitter and Maggie Howard produce a three-hit day as they blanked Norwin, 6-0, in a Class 6A section game Monday in North Huntingdon.

In a rematch of last year’s WPIAL semifinals that Hempfield won 8-5, the Lady Spartans (5-1, 4-1) silenced Norwin (3-5, 2-4), which has lost 4 of 5.

Top-ranked Seneca Valley and ace fireballer Lexie Hames sliced through Hempfield’s order last Wednesday in a 2-0 win. It was Hempfield’s first loss of the season, and it cost the Lady Spartans their No. 1 ranking.

They had one baserunner in the game, thanks to Hames’ lone walk. The defeat was admittedly humbling for the defending WPIAL champions, even though Hames, a Clemson commit, has been dominant.

“We went into the gym (for practice) and worked on some things,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said. “My girls are experienced, the whole lineup is back. But they were comfortable. After that loss, it was different. It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop.”

While the loss to Seneca Valley gave Hempfield cause for pause, the next game gave it a chance at redemption.

After striking out 18 times in its first no-hit loss since 2013, Hempfield leaned on its pitching to record 14 punchouts against Norwin.

A bunt single by Norwin’s Bailey Snowberger in the fourth inning was all the Lady Knights could muster.

Miller, a Kent State commit, tossed four scoreless innings and struck out six. Varhola worked the last three frames and fanned eight.

“I guess maybe Hempfield is not peaking too early,” Madison said. “Our pitching was excellent today.”

While the pitching was doing its thing, Howard was going 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs.

“It felt good to to that in a big game like this,” Howard said. “It’s always a rivalry game with (Norwin). We put (the Seneca Valley game) behind us. We worked really hard the last few days in the gym. We always show up and try to get better.”

Hempfield needed one trip through the lineup to figure out Norwin pitcher Brookelyn Kotch, who throws much slower than Hames.

Five Norwin starters struck out in their first at-bat.

But Emily Griffith singled to open the fourth, and Ella Berkebile followed with a double to deep center.

That brought up Howard, who ripped a two-run single for a 2-0 lead.

Later the inning, with two outs and runners and second and third, Allie Cervola’s sharp grounder was fielded by Snowberger, but her throw to first bounced and pulled the fielder off the bag, allowing two runs to score for a 4-0 lead.

“A win is a win, but we have a lot to work on,” Madison said. “We have good hitters, but we have to adjust to fast and slow, in and out. It took us longer to adjust today than I would have liked.”

Hempfield added two more runs in the fifth on Howard’s two-out, opposite-field blast. The Georgetown commit’s first homer of the season made it 6-0.

“We have been working on front toss, and I think that has helped my confidence,” Howard said. “Me and my dad and sister went to the batting cage for some individual work, and that was helpful. I tend to overthink things. I need to trust myself more. I trust my teammates.”

The home run energized Hempfield, which had seven hits against Kotch and reliever lefty Abbie Telli.

“That’s the game right there,” Madison said.

Lauren Howard also doubled for Hempfield.

Norwin finally got a runner to third in the sixth after Varhola, who struck out the first two hitters of the inning, hit a batter, lost a passed ball and issued a walk.

But she settled in for another strikeout. She struck out the side when she entered the game in the fifth.

“It’s been our Achilles heel, not putting the ball in play,” Norwin coach Brian Messich said. “It should have been closer. Maybe a two-run game. We’re not testing any defenses.

“Hempfield has very good team speed.”

Nine of Norwin’s strikeouts came from the bottom of the order, hitters 6-9.

When the Knights lost to North Allegheny, 6-5, in the bottom of the seventh, they loaded the bases but struck out twice in the top of the frame.

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

Tags: Hempfield, Norwin