Norwin softball pulls off another upset, this time thanks to ‘Smiley Miley’

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 6:27 PM

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The darlings of the WPIAL 6A softball playoffs are at it again. And underdog Norwin has “Smiley Miley” to thank for its latest upset.

Junior Miley Harrison wasn’t even sure if she would play in the Knights’ playoff opener, but she came up clutch when her name was called to pinch hit in extra innings.

The bespectacled Harrison worked Sammy Plotsko to a full count before smacking a two-out double to the gap in left center in the top of the ninth to lift sixth-seeded Norwin to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 3 North Allegheny on Wednesday at Fox Chapel.

Norwin (10-11) advances to the semifinals to play No. 2 Seneca Valley (5-3), the team it lost to in last year’s WPIAL championship. The time, date and site for the semifinal has not been announced.

Norwin busted the bracket last year when it stunned then-No. 1 seed Hempfield, 5-2, in the semifinals.

Pressure mounted for Harrison, but she shrugged it off to propel the Knights.

“I just wanted to step in and not think about it,” said Harrison, an always-positive teammate whose nickname is “Smiley Miley.” “I just wanted to be calm and get the barrel on the ball. We came out with more energy today.”

Harrison drove in junior Graciana Castelli, who walked with one out.

“We knew Miley could do it,” said sophomore leadoff hitter Maddy Kugler, who went 4 for 5 and drove in a run. “She’s a clutch hitter.”

Junior lefty pitcher Abbie Telli limited the Tigers (12-8) to four hits and forced 15 flyouts as Norwin beat a team it was swept by in two section games.

Harrison batted for Telli, allowing the ace to rest for the bottom of the inning where she set down the Tigers in order.

“Miley is usually our flex/DP,” Norwin coach Brian Messich said. “I thought about sending her in the batter before. She has a good swing. I pitch them 1,000 balls a day. I know their swings. Everyone had seen (Plotsko) three times by then. She produced a clutch hit at the right time.”

Norwin took a 1-0 lead in the fifth, again with two outs. Sophomore Lia Holtzman singled to right, then stole second. Kugler sent a shot to right, and Holtzman scored when the throw came in wide to finally break the ice.

North Allegheny, which beat Norwin 8-2 and 3-2, answered in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Taylor Condiotte drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sacrifice.

Senior McKenna Rowlands ripped a single to center to tie it.

Norwin had two on in the eighth with two outs after a singe by Kugler and a walk to freshman Makenna Black. But Plotsko got senior Izzy Deering to ground into a fielder’s choice, with sophomore Zoe Rychel making a nice play at second.

“This was a nice, crisp win,” Mesich said. “The second game (against North Allegheny) was just like this. We wanted to put the ball in play.”

Plotsko gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked two.

Junior Erin Fagden had a double for the Tigers.

Telli was pleased to see the Tigers hit popups and to see Harrison deliver with the game on the line.

“My spin helps with that,” she said. “And my rise ball helps to produce fly balls. My defense backed me up.”

As for Harrison: “That’s just what Miley does,” Telli said.

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

Tags: North Allegheny, Norwin