TribLive Westmoreland County softball all-stars: Cam Ponko’s focus helped make Penn-Trafford state champs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 5:51 PM

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Player of the year

Cam Ponko

Sr., 3B, Penn-Trafford

Tears welled up in Cam Ponko’s eyes as she reflected on a banner season. A championship season. A career season.

A player-of-the-year type of season.

The Penn-Trafford third baseman was flooded with emotion after a total recall of her accomplishments — the highs and the lows.

“P-T is very special to me,” Ponko said of her senior year with the Warriors, who went 24-3 and won a PIAA Class 5A championship. “I made a lot of new friends, and I love them and my coaches for what they did for me. We did this together.”

But one of the best seasons in program history almost didn’t include Ponko, the TribLive Westmoreland Softball Player of the Year.

The word “love” came up again as she remembered a time of uncertainty. Before the sure-handed infielder and power-hitting slugger was raising trophies, she was lowering expectations.

“Two years ago, I almost quit playing,” Ponko said. “I didn’t know if I loved the game anymore. I did a lot of thinking, wondering what I wanted to do. My coaches pushed me and helped me find that love again.”

A rejuvenated Ponko turned her newfound passion for the game into a productive run of success.

“They gave me so much confidence and helped me set the bar and gave me a swell of support. It all worked out,” she said.

That it did.

Ponko earned a scholarship to Division II IUP — her coaches believe the Crimson Hawks got a steal because they think Ponko can play and thrive at the Division I level — and will look to carry the momentum into her college years.

This season, she slashed .479/.551/.904 and was an offensive force for the Warriors, who finished second in the WPIAL.

Ponko tied for the team lead in hits (35) and led the Warriors in extra-base hits (14), total bases (66), home runs (8), RBIs (37) and runs scored (35).

Defensively, she made only two errors in 81 chances, commanding the hot corner with an edge.

“It’s going to be hard visualizing the Warriors without Cam Ponko,” Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little said. “It will be like having peanut butter without the jelly. She brought the oomph to our program year-in and year-out. She was an absolute baller this year offensively, defensively and as a leader.

“She had laser-sharp focus on her goal, and that brought the rest of the team up several notches.”

Riley Miller and Lauren Howard of Hempfield and Franklin Regional’s Toryn Fulton also were considered for player of the year.

First team

Ciara Camacho

Sr., 2B/OF, Franklin Regional

Kent State commit hit .459 with nine doubles, four triples, four home runs, 21 RBIs and 29 runs for WPIAL 5A playoff team.

Allie Cervola

Sr., SS, Hempfield

Ohio recruit batted .408 with 31 hits, nine doubles, three homers, 22 RBIs and 22 runs scored for WPIAL Class 6A champion Spartans.

Sophia Doherty

Sr., C, Derry

Carnegie Mellon commit batted .478 with three doubles, 11 homers, 25 RBIs and a 1.825 OPS for WPIAL 4A playoff quarterfinalist.

Makayla Etling

Sr., C, Southmoreland

UNC Pembroke commit carried a .569 average with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 24 RBIs, 31 runs, 10 stolen bases and a 1.261 slugging percentage.

Toryn Fulton

Sr., SS, Franklin Regional

South Florida recruit nearly won WPIAL triple crown with a .590 average, eight home runs, 39 RBIs, 37 runs, eight doubles, five triples, a 1.981 OPS, 1.279 slugging percentage and 38 stolen bases.

Lauren Howard

Jr., 2B, Hempfield

Virginia commit powered the Spartans to a WPIAL 6A title, slashing .614/.659/1.129 with 43 hits, nine doubles, six triples, five homers, 38 RBIs and 36 runs.

Riley Miller

Sr., P, Hempfield

Kent State commit played a key role in a WPIAL championship season, finishing 19-2 with a 0.76 ERA, 151 strikeouts and 27 walks in 120 1/3 innings while also batting .396 with four homers and 18 RBIs.

Claire Mitchell

Jr., OF, Hempfield

Maryland Baltimore County commit had a .447 batting average with 34 hits, six doubles, a team-high six home runs, 24 RBIs and a school-record 41 runs scored.

Allyson Paulone

Jr., P, Penn-Trafford

A top pitch-to-contact arm, she helped lead Penn-Trafford to a PIAA 5A championship and a runner-up finish in the WPIAL, going 20-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 172 innings.

Alle Scarpa

Jr., P, Greensburg Salem

Led Golden Lions to WPIAL 4A playoffs, posting a 10-6 record with a 2.11 ERA, five shutouts, 194 strikeouts and a save while also batting .417 with seven doubles, two triples, five homers and 22 RBIs.

Grace Stein

Jr., P, Jeannette

Two-way standout had a 14-5 record with 1.04 ERA, 196 strikeouts and 16 walks in 101 1/3 innings while also hitting .417 with three homers, eight doubles and 23 RBIs.

Dani Trainer

So., P, Mt. Pleasant

Dual threat for the Vikings batted team-best .532 with four home runs, 22 runs scored and 14 RBIs. She also recorded six pitching wins and a 2.47 ERA.

Second team

Kylie Anthony, Sr., SS, Penn-Trafford

Ella Berkebile, Jr., C, Hempfield

Sara Blossey, Jr., OF, Latrobe

Francesca DePalma, Jr., OF, Derry

Haylee Myers, So., P, Derry

Rachel Minteer, Sr., 1B, Norwin

Rilie Moors, Sr., OF, Penn-Trafford

Bella Rubbe, Sr., DP, Penn-Trafford

Natalie Scekeres, Fr., SS, Latrobe

Gia Stanek, Sr., P/IF, Mt. Pleasant

Kaylee Sypolt, So., IF, Belle Vernon

Giuliana Youngo, Sr., OF, Penn-Trafford

Honorable mention

Makayla Brown, Fr., SS, Southmoreland

Joey Hurst, Jr., P, Monessen

Adrianna Martz, Jr., OF, Franklin Regional

Mya McHugh, Sr., P, Latrobe

Marlee Miller, So., OF, Ligonier Valley

Zoey Murphy, Jr., P, Southmoreland

Hannah Olbeter, Fr., C, Greensburg Salem

Riley Puckey, Sr., OF, Southmoreland

Abigail Shaw, Jr., 3B, Jeannette

Jaidyn Vay, Fr., P, Yough

Lauren VanDivner, Sr., 3B, Belle Vernon

Diem Wardzinski, Jr., OF, Norwin

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough