Powerful offenses lead Hempfield, Penn-Trafford softball teams to top of their classes

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, April 20, 2025 | 4:12 PM

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Hempfield and Penn-Trafford played each other in the softball season opener.

Who knew it was a preview of two of the best — maybe the best — hitting teams in the WPIAL?

Both have been putting the business end of the bat on the ball with crushing regularity, a couple of offenses that shine like justice.

The Westmoreland County powers are on some kind of run and are looking more like championship contenders with each win. And it hasn’t been close.

Hempfield (12-0), ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and No. 2 in the state in Class 6A, has scored 10 or more runs in nine straight games. During that time, it has outscored teams 129-13.

The Spartans average 12.2 runs to lead Class 6A, with a total run differential of 147-17.

“We honestly expected our offense to need a lot of work this year,” Spartans senior pitcher Riley Miller said. “However, we have truthfully proved ourselves wrong.”

Hempfield, which is chasing the ninth WPIAL title and fifth PIAA championship in its proud history, has an embarrassment of riches in a lineup that features six Division I college recruits.

You want gap shots and power? The Spartans have both. Their spray chart looks like a cheetah’s back.

But they also have stellar pitching and steady defensive play.

“I have six girls who are absolutely killing it at the plate,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said. “But honestly, we are not focused on the runs. We are still taking it one game at a time. I am not focusing on anything besides the next game.

“We had a major hole to fill offensively with the graduating seniors last year, and the girls have really stepped up.”

Penn-Trafford (10-1), No. 1 in the WPIAL and No. 4 in the state in 5A, hasn’t lost since the opener — 8-3 against Hempfield — and has put up 11 or more runs five times while outscoring its opposition 116-32.

A 10-game winning streak includes victories against Thomas Jefferson, Shaler, Armstrong (twice), Latrobe and Franklin Regional.

“Honestly, hitting is a way of life at Penn-Trafford,” Warriors coach Denny Little said. “They all know that if you hit well, you play — simple as that. Yes, I expect the hitting, and we are fortunate enough to have focused pitchers who listen to (pitching coach) Amber Watson and do well in the circle.”

Hempfield has six players hitting .474 or better, including junior Lauren Howard, a Virginia commit who is a head-turning 29 for 41 for a .707 average.

Miller, a Kent State commit, is helping herself with a career-type of season at the plate: .577, three home runs, 13 RBIs.

Her pitching has been borderline spotless. She is 10-0 with a 0.57 ERA and 84 strikeouts, part of a one-two punch with junior Julia Varhola (James Madison), who has 34 Ks and is hitting .545 with 10 RBIs.

Miller passed Madison — who then went by Tina Skelly — on the program wins list with 53. Miller is now third all-time for the Spartans behind Morgan Ryan (73) and Jaci Kalp (61).

Madison is fourth with 52 victories.

What is scary about the Spartans is they only have four seniors.

Senior Allie Cervola (Ohio) is batting .488 with 14 RBIs and 20 runs.

Junior Raegan Reamer carries a .500 average and 14 runs scored, and junior Claire Mitchell (Maryland Baltimore County) quietly is hitting .500 with four homers, 19 RBIs and a team-high 28 runs scored.

“We don’t talk about individual stats,” said Madison, a former star pitcher at Hempfield and Penn State. “It’s a nice recognition, but the team winning is much more rewarding.

“We are gaining confidence, and honestly, hitting is contagious. We are going to continue to challenge the girls every practice and game.”

Hempfield is 8-0 in section play but has yet to face No. 2 Seneca Valley (8-2, 6-2), its playoff rival in recent years and the WPIAL champion in 2022 and ’24. Hempfield won it in ’23.

The Spartans also still have to play Norwin twice.

Miller said the hit barrage had provocation. Hempfield was upset by Norwin in last year’s WPIAL semifinals, and the stunner came with consternation and reflection.

A mighty team was humbled and had a year to sit and think about it.

“I think our loss to Norwin last year really straightened us up,” Miller said. “As much as we try not to talk about it or think about it, it really is used as motivation for this year.”

Senior Cam Ponko powers the Warriors. The power-hitting third baseman and Division II IUP commit has a .519 average, five homers, 19 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

Senior Giuliana Youngo (.467, 10 RBIs, 10 runs), senior Rilie Moors (.406, 12 runs) and senior Lorryn Sepe (.400, 11 RBIs, 12 runs) also are tough outs.

Moors is a Seton Hill recruit.

“When it comes to our team, we all have a role or a way we can contribute,” said Ponko, who last week hit three homers, including a grand slam, and had 13 RBIs in three games. “We all are doing our part this year and contributing in every way. It’s extremely impressive to me that everyone is so team-oriented and there has been little to no selfishness. When both of those things come together, we have huge success.”

Senior Bella Rubbe also is headed to IUP. She and Ponko have been the “Smash Sisters” of late. Rubbe (.393, three HRs, 14 RBIs) had three homers, including a grand slam, and seven RBIs in a two-game stretch.

“I really think what impresses us most is the coachability of this group as a whole,” Little said. “I have buddies and fellow coaches who have very talented players, and their main complaint is that their athletes are not coachable. We don’t have that problem here. We find ‘sunshine’ and ‘rain’ in every game, and we work on the ‘rain’ in the practices that follow the games. This seems to keep our girls grounded and focused.”

The sunshine and rain references come from Warriors assistant coach Mike Cleland, who has focused on the team balancing the good and the bad.

Little said his team came with a built-in attraction to cutthroat.

“The internal competition has always been there,” Little said. “I think it starts with our tribes. We have small groups that are always competing, no matter what they do. It could be an elementary gym game, and they want to rip each other’s faces off.”

Little, a former Pitt baseball standout, has worked as a softball hitting coach at Seton Hill, so that aspect of the game holds a special place for him.

His daughter, Emma, was a power hitter for the Warriors and now leads Bloomsburg in homers.

“We teach them that from Day 1,” Denny Little said. “I remember me and Boom (assistant Ron Prady) teaching Cam (Ponko) hitting techniques when she was in sixth grade. Most of these girls are products of a hard work ethic from their parents, our softball camps, and playing extensive summer schedules.”

Penn-Trafford has begun the second wave of section play and will look to stay hot while embracing challenging situations like it did in 2019 when it won a PIAA championship.

“Winning streaks are always a good thing, if you stay grounded,” Little said. “However, I always hope there is loss or close game that they can learn from before playoffs. We need to find challenges as we go to keep them humble. Being too full of oneself is never a good thing, so every once in a while, you have to throw in some rain so it brings them back down to earth.”

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

Tags: Hempfield, Penn-Trafford