State champ Cam Ponko of Penn-Trafford adds another highlight in 2nd annual all-star game

By: Josh Rizzo
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 10:05 PM

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Cam Ponko wasn’t against having one more opportunity to wear her green-and-gold Penn-Trafford softball uniform after seeing her senior season culminate with a PIAA Class 5A title. She may have a harder time pulling on her crimson-and-black threads at IUP this fall after creating so many strong memories this spring.

Ponko belted a home run to help Team Gold pick up a 7-5 win over Team Black in the second annual Western Pennsylvania Softball All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Plum.

“I love the idea of putting back on this uniform,” Ponko said. “I never want to take it off. I love Penn-Trafford softball. Being able to put this uniform back on for the all-star game was great.”

Ponko also hit a second home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the three runs the team recorded in that half inning didn’t count.

The teams agreed to play an unofficial bottom of the eighth so everyone had more opportunities to play. Franklin Regional’s Ciara Camacho enjoyed having the chance to play with Ponko, an old rival. Camacho hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning that gave Team Gold a lead it never lost.

“Playing with Cam Ponko rather than against her is much better,” Camacho said.

Team Black took its only lead when Sydney Savatt of Avonworth delivered a solo home run in the game’s second at-bat.

Camacho, who was named her team’s defensive MVP, led a parade of home runs for Team Gold. Toryn Fulton, Camacho’s teammate at Franklin Regional and a South Florida commit, followed with a solo home run to extend the lead to 3-1.

“It was fun,” Camacho said. “This game was fun. I came here, and nobody knows each other, let’s go out there and ball out.”

Ponko opened the second inning with a home run and extended the lead to three. Ponko said she would have been comfortable against any pitcher.

“I’ve seen a few of those pitchers before,” Ponko said. “I think it’s a mindset going up there. I don’t think you have to know the pitcher that you are seeing to go up there with a confident mindset, a plan and a goal.”

Camacho drove in Isabella DeCarlo of Penn Hills on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning. South Fayette’s Madie Cavenaugh homered in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 5-1.

Team Black battled back by plating four runs in the sixth. Norwin’s Rachel Minteer singled in a run and New Castle’s Olivia Hood delivered a three-run home run.

Hood was named Team Black’s offensive MVP.

Julia Johnson of Elizabeth Forward was the winning pitcher for Team Gold, while Meadow Ferri of Chartiers-Houston picked up the save.

“I thought it was great,” Team Black coach Phil DiLinardo said. “There was a lot of good hitting and pitching on each side. It was a good showing for Western Pennsylvania softball.”