Trib HSSN softball team of the week for May 22, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 10:39 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Trib HSSN softball team of the week – Penn-Trafford Warriors

Coach: Denny Little (ninth year)

Record: Penn-Trafford captured the Section 2-5A crown with a perfect record of 12-0, finishing three games in front of runner-up Franklin Regional. The Warriors have a current overall record of 20-2 with three straight wins after a 17-game winning streak in between an opening day loss to Hempfield and a regular season finale loss to North Allegheny.

#Earned: The postseason for Penn-Trafford began last week with a first-round triumph over Moon, 5-3, followed by a slugfest against Chartiers Valley in the quarterfinals in which the Warriors outlasted the Colts, 14-11. This past week, it was a happy medium in a semifinals game against No. 4 North Hills, as top-seeded Penn-Trafford had the best of both pitching and offensive worlds. P-T jumped on top with two runs in the first inning, added two more runs in each of the third and sixth innings and scored a single run in the fifth inning to advance to the WPIAL finals. The Warriors outhit the Indians, 8-1. No. 1 will take on No. 2 in the WPIAL 5A championship game at Lilley Field at Cal (Pa.) when Penn-Trafford battles Shaler.

Standout performers: On a team soaked with talented seniors, it was the pitching of sophomore Allyson Paulone that stood out in the district semifinals victory over North Hills. She pitched a complete game one-hitter while walking only one and striking out three. Paulone had a no-hitter until a single in the top of the seventh inning prevented a final four no-no. On offense, senior and IUP commit Cam Ponko was 2 for 3 with an RBI and senior leadoff hitter Rilie Moors, a Seton Hill commit, was 2 for 4 with an RBI double. Senior Kylie Anthony was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, and senior Bella Rubbe had a double in two at-bats as the Warriors blanked the Indians, 7-0.

Last year: During the 2024 regular season, the Penn-Trafford softball team bounced back following a disappointing 2023 season in which they finished in fourth place with an overall record of 6-12. The Warriors last spring enjoyed winning streaks of three and four in a row and never once lost two straight games. P-T finished in second place in Section 2-5A, one game behind eventual district champion Armstrong. In the first round of the 5A playoffs, Penn-Trafford edged Bethel Park, 3-2. In the quarterfinals, the offense exploded for double-digit runs to roll past Shaler, 13-4. The after splitting with Armstrong in the regular season, the Warriors fell to the River Hawks in the WPIAL semifinals, 8-6. Penn-Trafford bounced back in the 5A consolation game with a 4-1 win over Latrobe. The season ended with a PIAA first-round loss to Central Mountain, 10-0, as the Warriors finished the campaign with an overall record of 15-7.

Remember when: This will be the third WPIAL championship game appearance for the Warriors. Penn-Trafford lost to Baldwin in the 1990 3A finals in eight innings, 2-1. Three years ago, P-T reached the 2022 5A championship game, only to fall in heartbreaking fashion to Armstrong on a Jenna Clontz walk-off home run, 6-5. While the Warriors are in search of that elusive first district crown, six years ago they were state champions. Penn-Trafford was the top seed in the district 5A playoffs, but was upended by Connellsville in the semifinals. After a win in the consolation game to earn a berth in the PIAA playoffs, the Warriors went to work with a first-round victory over District 6 winner Central Mountain. They defeated WPIAL champion West Allegheny in the quarterfinals and ousted District 3 runner-up Donegal in the state semifinals to reach the PIAA title game at Penn State. There they faced defending state champion Lampeter-Strasburg. Emma Armstrong homered and drove in three runs as the Warriors defeated the Pioneers for state gold, 5-3.

2025 Trib HSSN Softball Teams of the Week

Week 6 – Blackhawk Cougars

Week 5 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 4 – West Allegheny Indians

Week 3 – Jeannette Jayhawks

Week 2 – Pine-Richland Rams

Week 1 – West Mifflin Titans

Tags: Penn-Trafford