Penn-Trafford blanks Greencastle-Antrim to claim 2nd PIAA softball championship
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Friday, June 13, 2025 | 8:48 PM
Penn-Trafford seniors celebrate with the state championship trophy after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A final on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford’s Giuliana Youngo connects on a double during the seventh inning against Greencastle-Atrim in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford’s Liz Welsh celebrates after her RBI double drove in the go-ahead run during the seventh inning against Greencastle-Atrim in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford’s Giuliana Youngo scores the go-ahead run during the seventh inning against Greencastle-Atrim in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone delivers against Greencastle-Atrim during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone celebrates with teammates after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford’s Ella Mains celebrates after driving in the Warriors’ second run during the seventh inning in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game against Greencastle-Atrim on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford second baseman Ella Mains turns a double play against Greencastle-Atrim during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone (10) celebrates with Cam Ponko, Kylie Anthony and Ella Mains after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone delivers against Greencastle-Atrim during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone celebrates after the final out to defeat Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford’s Giuliana Youngo hugs pitcher Allyson Paulone after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford seniors celebrate with the state championship trophy after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A final on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
The Penn-Trafford dugout cheers with young fans during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game against Greencastle-Atrim on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone celebrates with teammates after defeating Greencastle-Atrim, 2-0, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Penn State.
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn-Trafford has won two PIAA softball championships without ever winning a WPIAL title, and that is just fine with coach Denny Little.
“Sometimes you have to eat your dessert first,” Little said Friday night after the Warriors captured their second state title in six years with a 2-0 victory over Greencastle-Antrim in the PIAA Class 5A final at Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
The Warriors (24-3), who tied the 1990 team’s record for wins in a season, had time for some sweets after their late-starting game ended. They went for ice cream at the Penn State Berkey Creamery before returning home to waiting fans in Harrison City — Harrison City of Champions, as they like to call it after wins of this magnitude.
The Warriors rumbled to life in the top of the seventh inning, scoring both runs with two outs thanks to a boost from the bottom of the order.
No. 7 hitter Liz Welsh and No. 8 Ella Mains, a pair of unheralded juniors, smacked back-to-back doubles to deep center to finally get the Warriors on the scoreboard and back a three-hit shutout by sophomore pitcher Allyson Paulone.
Senior Giuliana Youngo, who has enrolled at Penn State but doesn’t plan to play there, started the rally with a double of her own to the fence.
The Warriors had five hits, and four of them were doubles.
“We feed off each other,” Youngo said. “We knew if we hit, we could continue to go.”
With two down, Welsh sent the first pitch she saw to the wall to score Youngo. Mains followed with a similar rip over the outfield to knock in freshman courtesy runner Brooke Boss for a 2-0 lead.
Penn-Trafford has relied heavily on the top and middle of its order, but the bottom had been waiting to bust out.
“We could feel like our hitting was coming,” Welsh said. “I am so proud of me and Ella. We worked hard for it.”
Little anticipated the lower half of the order might produce in the season finale.
“I had a gut feeling,” he said. “You could see our top four hitters were really geared up and nervous before the game. I told them to calm down. I thought six through nine might come through.
“We’ve had so many heroes come through for us. It’s been a different girl all year.”
Paulone only had one strikeout and no walks but was feisty behind a tidy defense that gobbled up 10 groundouts and eight flyouts.
“I was in a groove,” said Paulone, who finished with a program single-season record of 20 wins (20-3). “This could have ended in anyone’s favor. We got hits when we needed them and the defense made some great plays.”
The Warriors turned a 6-4-3 double play in the second inning, and saw senior third baseman Cam Ponko and senior shortstop Kylie Anthony throw with confidence and zip to first.
“Allyson was so poised, so collected,” Little said. “I think I have only seen her shaken one time, against Chartiers Valley. I don’t have to say anything to her. She just goes.”
Ponko doubled in the fourth for the first hit against Blue Devils’ ace Kiersten Swain, who struck out five and walked one.
But the Warriors, who left two stranded that inning and another in the sixth, finally made solid contact to surge ahead.
Youngo, Welsh and Mains were a combined 0 for 6 with three strikeouts when they came to bat in the pivotal last inning.
“It’s awesome to come through like that,” Mains said. “Especially after starting out the way we did.”
Greencastle-Antrim senior outfielder Kaidyn Zimmerman singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Paulone induced a popup and a groundout to end it.
The Blue Devils, who finished third in District 3, were making their first state-final appearance since 2009 when they won their only title.
“We had a lot of popups,” Greencastle-Antrim coach Mark DeCarli said. “We didn’t hit line drives like we’re used to doing. You’re not going to win too many games with three hits. (Penn-Trafford) put some in the gaps.”
Blue Devils senior shortstop Meadow Gambacurta, a Division I Bucknell commit, was 0 for 3.
Senior Rilie Moors also had a hit for the Warriors.
The state title is the second for Little, and his assistants Mike Cleland and Ron Prady, all of whom had daughters on the 2019 state title team.
The game started 2 hours and 13 minutes late because the Class 3A state final went 13 innings.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Penn-Trafford
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