Knoch softball team takes another step toward defending crown

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 8:01 PM

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Knoch has been trying to win back-to-back section softball titles for the better part of a decade.

The Knights have no problem getting back-to-back hits and big innings, which could lead them to their goal — and more.

“We’re racking up runs,” sophomore Emersyn Jones said. “Our pitching gives us some confidence and helps us to keep adding on.”

Seven girls had at least one hit, and third-ranked Knoch scored in all five innings Wednesday in a 10-0, run-ruled road victory to sweep Greensburg Salem in Section 1-4A.

Defending section champion Knoch (10-2, 9-1), which began the day a half-game ahead of Indiana for first place, has won eight straight. The Knights have won a section title every other year since 2017 but never gone back-to-back.

“Our bats have really come to life,” Knoch coach Chris Gardner said. “We got a little small ball going today and scored some runs. The girls are confident.”

Knoch has outscored opponents 110-23.

Greensburg Salem (5-5, 5-4), which will likely need to win at least one of its remaining three section games to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, managed only four hits and had two early errors that led to runs. The Golden Lions offense, which came in averaging 9.5 runs, was silenced in their first shutout loss of the season.

“You can’t give a team like that opportunities,” Greensburg Salem coach Bill Wright said. “They’re always good. It’s the same old script when we play them.”

Jones finished 3 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI, senior Alena Tekely had three RBIs and senior leadoff hitter Liz Danik and senior Marlee Fraser each had two hits for the Knights. Both of Fraser’s were doubles.

It was a 2-0 score in the top of the third when Jones led off with a double. A wild pitch and error allowed a run to score before junior Kaila Purcell drove in a run with a single, and another error produced the fifth run.

“We have to make those plays,” Wright said.

Knoch added three more tallies in the fourth after a leadoff single by Jones and a walk. Fraser doubled, sophomore McKenna Jones delivered a sacrifice fly and junior McKenna Brailey smacked an RBI double for an 8-0 lead.

A two-run infield hit by Tekely stretched the advantage to 10 and triggered the mercy rule.

Knoch turned a 4-3 double play in the fourth after freshman Grace Sarver led off with a single.

The Golden Lions went quietly in the fifth.

Purcell was the winning pitcher, scattering four hits and striking out four. Greensburg Salem left two runners on in the first and third innings.

Knoch is known for having a productive lineup, but don’t sleep on the pitching staff — yes, staff.

“We have three good pitchers, and we’ve been mixing it up,” Gardner said. “It’s a nice luxury to have. All three are a little different. KP (Purcell) has been dealing. She spins the ball really well.”

Knoch didn’t need to pitch Fraser or Jones, the other arms in a go-by-feel rotation, although the other two did warm up.

On the other side, senior ace Alle Scarpa took the loss as she allowed 11 hits, walked one and hit two batters.

Sophomore Olivia Aller relieved Scarpa in the fifth.

Scarpa, a Seton Hill commit, went 1 for 2 to continue her strong season at the plate. She is batting a brow-raising .792 (19 for 24) with nine doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs.

“(Knoch) is fighting for a section title, and we’re not,” Wright said. “We’re still trying to find the right fit and find out who we are. We had chances early on. But we made some mistakes that hurt us. It’s the story of our season.”

The bottom four hitters for Greensburg Salem were 0 for 8 with three strikeouts.

The Golden Lions had won three of four coming in. They have section games remaining against Indiana, Freeport and Derry.

Seven of their final eight games are at home.

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

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Knoch