Top-seeded Elizabeth Forward flexes muscles in WPIAL Class 4A final win over Hampton

By: Jerin Steele
Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 8:40 PM

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There’s been plenty of heartbreak over the last three years, but this time, Shelby Telegdy and the Elizabeth Forward softball team were not going to be denied.

The top-seeded Warriors showed why they’ve been the favorite in WPIAL Class 4A softball all season.

Their strong hitting, pitching and defense were on display Thursday evening at Lilley Field.

Telegdy got the party started with a two-run homer in the first inning and the Warriors rolled from there in a 10-2 victory over No. 2 Hampton the WPIAL Class 4A softball championship.

It’s the Warriors’ second district title and first since 2019.

In the last few years, the Warriors have lost in the WPIAL finals or semifinals, but that changed Thursday.

“We had some tough ones, but this is the biggest moment for us and we finally got one,” Telegdy said. “It felt great. We were all confident and ready to play.”

Telegdy, a Seton Hill commit, smashed her home run to left field, giving the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

“I saw a nice fastball coming inside, but I was able to turn on it and it went,” Telegdy said. “It felt good. It started the momentum and I think it sparked everyone.”

Julia Resnick scored a run in the third to increase the lead to 3-0, and then the Warriors had their big inning in the fourth.

Alivia Grimm led off with a single, Aubri Cimba sacrificed her to second, and Hannah Evans brought Grimm in with an RBI single. Resnick followed with an RBI triple. Telegdy added an RBI double and Berlyn Holibaugh hit a sacrifice fly to right field. In total, the Warriors plated five runs.

“We knew that since this was Shelby’s last year, we had to get this done,” Resnick said.

Hampton, which was in its first WPIAL softball final, got two baserunners in the top of the first, but Telegdy got Aliza Michelli to ground out to first base to end the inning.

After that, Telegdy put up zeros in the circle until the fifth when Mackenzie Reese slammed a double to the left-center gap, cutting the lead to 8-2.

Elizabeth Forward immediately responded with two runs in the bottom half. Grimm singled, Cimba doubled, and Evans brought them both in with a single.

All nine Warriors reached base at least once and eight had at least one hit.

Resnick, Telegdy, Grimm, Cimba and Evans had multi-hit games.

“Our whole lineup, one through nine, we can all hit and get it done. I have full faith in all of us,” Resnick said.

Telegdy pitched a complete game for the Warriors, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.

Reese, a Pitt recruit, reached base twice for Hampton and Marissa Snyder had a pair of hits. The Talbots fell short of winning their first title, but they made school history in getting to the championship for the first time.

“We were excited to be here, and I wanted our girls to be happy no matter the outcome, but no one wants to lose,” Hampton coach Katie Hedderman said. “We’re happy to start showing who we are and what the future of Hampton softball looks like. It won’t be the last time you see us here. It’s just the start.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Hampton