It was another successful season in Harrison City for the Penn-Trafford softball team in 2024. After winning six of their final seven games, the Warriors made a run to the semifinals before losing to Class 5A powerhouse Armstrong.

Penn-Trafford has reloaded this year with a strong group of experienced players. Leading that collection of upperclassmen is Rilie Moors, who’s been instrumental in Penn-Trafford’s success.

Moors not only returns as one of the most veteran players, but also as a college commit. The Warriors’ senior made her pledge to Seton Hill University.

“The coach (Cassie Moore) had a big part... and the beautiful field,” the soon-to-be Griffin mentioned. “The biggest part was staying close to home. I’m very close to my family, and I’m a homebody.”

Moors is a utility player who is capable of playing the infield, outfield, and catcher. However, she initially was a second baseman for most of her career before making the change to outfield. At first, the position change was scary for Moors, especially with it coming midway through the season.

“I think my first game out there was against Armstrong,” she added. “I know my teammates have my back, and I made sure my center fielder, Lorryn Sepe, knew where I was. She was directing me and giving me all the help I needed.”

With the commitment – and position change – both out of the way, Moors has her attention fully focused on her final season in a Penn-Trafford uniform.

“This is definitely our time,” she noted. “We’ve made some mistakes - sometimes we aren’t hitting. But once section starts, we will know it’s time to go.”

Through the first few games of the year, the Warriors have prepared themselves for the gauntlet that Class 5A will be. After dropping the season-opener to powerhouse Hempfield, Penn-Trafford bounced back with wins against Thomas Jefferson and North Hills.

“After the Hempfield game, we worked a lot on two-strike hitting,” Moors mentioned. “We’ve been working a lot on our weapons, as Coach Denny (Little) calls them.”

As the season starts to ramp up, Moors wants to make sure she helps the Warriors get back to a title game before becoming a Griffin. She is aware that chemistry and connectivity will be key in helping get them to that point.

“The more we act as a team, the more we will play as a team,” she shared. “It’s a family-oriented team and we love spending time together. But once we get on the field, we are very focused and know what needs to happen for us to win.”