Westmoreland softball notebook: Hempfield comes back strong

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | 10:49 PM

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Hempfield put together quite a four-game stretch last week — a positive and productive answer to its first loss of the season.

After dropping a 2-0 decision to Seneca Valley in a game where they were no-hit, the Spartans went 4-0 last week and outscored their opponents 42-0.

Hempfield labeled it as a week to remember.

Ace pitcher Riley Miller and her bullpen gave up only three hits in four games, three of which were shortened by the mercy rule.

Miller allowed one hit over 14 innings — a bunt single by Norwin’s Bailey Snowberger — and struck out 20.

Her backup, Julia Varhola, struck out 17 and gave up one hit in seven innings in the circle, and another pitcher, Hannah Uhrinek, fanned six in two innings of work.

Offensively, Hempfield had 48 hits, including four home runs, and went 18 for 18 in stolen bases.

First baseman Emily Griffith hit .538 with a home run and seven RBIs, Maggie Howard homered, tripled and drove in six and Lauren Howard had six RBIs.

Scotties tee off

Southmoreland hit seven home runs, and Amarah McCutcheon had three of them in last week’s 15-0 win over South Allegheny. Both are believed to be program records for a single game.

Four homers came consecutively from Makayla Etling, Riley Puckey, McCutcheon and Taylor Doppleheuer.

Game moved twice

Southmoreland already had requested its game at Yough be moved because of a school event.

But when the time came to play Tuesday, Yough postponed because of injuries to several players, including three starters.

Yough’s top two pitchers, Kylee Fisher (back) and Adoria Waldier (wrist), are resting injuries.

“It’s a player safety issue at this point,” Yough coach Dutch Harvey said.

Rankings check

Norwin (6-6) slid into the TribLive HSSN 6A rankings, taking the No. 5 spot away from Canon-McMillan this week.

While Penn-Trafford (5A) and Belle Vernon (4A) fell from the rankings, Ligonier Valley surged to No. 2 in 3A after going unranked. Southmoreland dropped from No. 1 to 3 after back-to-back losses to Ligonier Valley, and Yough stayed pat at No. 4.

Jeannette stayed at No. 5 in Class A.

Rematch to watch

The best game on the schedule next week will be the 6A rematch between No. 2 Hempfield and No. 1 Seneca Valley.

The Spartans (9-1, 7-1) will host Seneca Valley (12-0, 9-0) and star pitcher Lexie Hames at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Hames tossed a no-hitter and struck out 18 against Hempfield last time in a 2-0 win.

First-place showdown

Jeannette (6-0, 5-0), which was to play St. Joseph on Wednesday and Thursday, will face one of its most important games in years Monday.

The fifth-ranked Jayhawks will take on No. 3 Frazier (6-0, 6-0) at 4:30 p.m. at Jeannette. The teams are tied for first place.

Jeannette has three section titles, in 2010, ’13 and ’14.

Quite a catch

Derry junior Sophia Mazzoni has the top javelin throw in the state (156 feet, 10 inches).

But she used to have the best throw-down from behind home plate.

Mazzoni used to be a catcher, playing mostly travel ball, but decided to give up the game completely when she became a proficient thrower.

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 C.C., Hempfield, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland