WPIAL title represents return to form for powerful Hempfield softball program

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, May 30, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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From beneath her sunglasses, softball coach Tina Madison peered over a sea of Hempfield players and fans who gathered on the infield at Norwin on Thursday for congratulatory hugs and fist bumps.

There was a different celebration, it seemed, at every base and in the pitcher’s circle — an around-the-horn tribute to the WPIAL champs.

Madison left character briefly during an interview to zero in on some potential mischief.

“Jordy, don’t drop that,” Madison said, directing a command to her 8-year-old son Jordy, a perennial scene-chewer who cradled the WPIAL 6A trophy loosely in his arms as he ran between short and third. “I have to keep tabs on everybody. I have to be a mom, too.”

Jordy held on, and so did the Spartans as they captured their ninth WPIAL title with a 1-0 victory over rival Seneca Valley and ace pitcher Lexie Hames, whom they reduced strikeouts and made more contact against.

They also kept Hames from hurting them offensively by continuing a trend of walking her intentionally — four times in the final to keep her big bat quiet.

Madison put Hames on base 19 times in four years, and she’d make it 20 in a heartbeat given another chance.

A giant hurdle was cleared and power restored to a superior program that finally put a stunning loss to Norwin in last year’s semifinals in the shredder and returned to familiar form.

Big swings and chasing rings are back in style.

“It’s a great thing. It’s a great day,” Madison said as her team moved to 21-1 and secured a spot in the PIAA playoffs. “I thought it might take more than one (run), but we got it done. I am so proud of these girls.”

Hempfield will enter the PIAA playoffs for the 18th time when it faces State College (11-8), the District 6 champion, on Monday.

The time and site have not been announced, but Hempfield may host the opener like it did two years ago.

“We’re happy to get back there,” Madison said of the PIAA postseason.

The Spartans last played in the state tournament in 2023 and finished as the 6A runners-up.

“It’s huge for us,” shortstop Allie Cervola said about returning to the state playoffs. “It was not easy two years ago, but we have the potential to make it back to Penn State.”

First-year starters Emily Bozek and Abigail Magill each had two hits against Seneca Valley in the championship.

Magill’s only starts came against the Raiders.

Bozek said she tried to have quick hands to the ball.

“Winning the title is really something special that happens once in a lifetime, and being a part of that was a surreal feeling,” Bozek said. “I had a good feeling about us putting the bat on Lexie because of how we prepared with the machine and just our overall mindset of playing to win not to not lose.”

Hempfield will now go after its fifth PIAA championship. Its four state titles are the most by a WPIAL team in the sport.

The Spartans won three straight from 2016-18 under legendary coach Bob Kalp.

Hempfield was clinical in scoring its only run Thursday. In the bottom of the first, Claire Mitchell singled, went to second on a passed ball and stole third. She scored on Cervola’s single to center.

The jaws of the defense took it from there, helping ace Riley Miller post a title-winning shutout.

“We didn’t want to go out with a loss,” Cervola said. “At no point did we think we’re going to lose this game.”

Hempfield’s potent lineup and steadily good pitching could spring another run toward a state crown.

Said Miller: “Job’s not done.”

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

Tags: Hempfield