When Hempfield Area defeated Seneca Valley in the 2023 and 2025 WPIAL title clashes, the Spartans prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

For much of Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 6A Championship at Lilley Field at California University of Pennsylvania, it appeared as though it would again come down to the final out. In the bottom of the fifth, however, Hempfield Area created separation, and the Spartans finished off the Raiders in the sixth, notching an 11-1 run-rule triumph.

The win etched the top-seeded Spartans’ place in softball lure, as they captured their 10th district title, tying Baldwin and Sto-Rox for the most in WPIAL history.

Prior to the offensive explosion over the final two innings of play, the Spartans (21-1) were in a tightly-contested battle against the No. 2 Raiders. Although the Spartans took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, Seneca Valley trimmed into the deficit in the fifth, and threatened to take the lead.

Hempfield Area senior pitcher Julia Varhola escaped further damage, though, and the Spartans’ offense answered with six runs in the bottom of the frame before scoring three more times in the sixth to seal the victory.

“I told them you have to win the fifth inning, it’s very important,” detailed Hempfield Area head coach Tina Madison.

“We always say to win the fifth inning,” reiterated Varhola. “The team that wins the fifth inning is usually the team that takes home the win.”

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The crucial fifth stanza had a promising start for Seneca Valley (15-6), as Harlee Hornick opened with a double to left, and Liv Herrem reached on an error. Although Varhola followed with a strikeout and an infield popout, Julia Valasek ripped a comeback that deflected off Varhola’s chest for an RBI single, putting the tying run at third. After receiving a visit from her coach and the trainer, Varhola stayed in the circle, and immediately inducted a flyout by Raiders pitcher Abby Kalkowski to end the threat.

Although Kalkowski retired the first hitter in the bottom of the fifth, Claire Mitchell singled and Jayelyn Luft walked and then they executed a double steal, setting the stage for Lauren Howard. The record-setting senior delivered a two-run single to right field, pushing the Spartans’ lead to 4-1.

“I wasn’t doing the best at the plate, but I knew I had to put the ball in the outfield or on the ground,” said Howard, a University of Virginia signee. “I knew my job, and that was my goal.”

The Spartans were far from done, though, as Ella Berkebile drew a walk, one of three she collected in the game, Jocelyn Luft followed with an RBI single, and then Varhola and Emily Bozek delivered back-to-back doubles, pushing the advantage to 8-1.

After chasing Kalkowski from the circle in the fifth, the Spartans finished their golden performance with three more runs in the sixth, as Jayelyn Luft notched her second infield single of the game, Howard reached safely on a well-place bunt single, Berkebile again drew a free pass, Jocelyn Luft had a two-run double, Varhola was intentionally walked, and Bozek hit a sacrifice fly to plate the game-ending run.

In earning the victory, Varhola allowed six hits and one unearned run, striking out four. The Luft twins each had two hits, as Jocelyn produced three RBIs while Jayelyn scored three times. Mitchell and Howard also had a pair of hits, while Howard, Varhola, and Bozek each collected two runs batted in.

Kalkowski took the loss for Seneca Valley, as she worked 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, on seven hits, issuing three walks while striking out four. Valasek went 3-for-3 with the lone RBI, while Paige Volz had a pair of hits for the Raiders, who were playing in their fifth-consecutive WPIAL title game.

While the championship marked the third in four years for the Spartans under the guidance of Madison, the prior seven championship teams were all guided by Bob Kalp, who passed away earlier this year. His influence and legacy were at the forefront of the Spartans’ minds on Wednesday.

“This whole program is created from him, by him, for him, and we all live by that,” Madison noted. “I know he’s watching from above and smiling big.”

Hempfield Area will commence the PIAA Class 6A playoffs on Monday.