When senior Cam Ponko blasted a home run in the first inning, it appeared as though the prolific Penn-Trafford offense might have success against Shaler Area’s ace pitcher. That was the only run the Warriors scored in 11 innings, however, as the Titans edged top-seeded Penn-Trafford 2-1 in extra innings to claim the WPIAL Class 5A Championship at North Allegheny High School.

As a result, Penn-Trafford (20-3) was denied its first district crown, losing in heartbreaking fashion for the second time in the past four seasons. Meanwhile, the Titans (18-5) won gold for the fourth time, and the first time since 2014.

Ponko’s homer represented the first run scored against Shaler junior Bria Bosiljevac through the entire postseason, after the University of Indiana pledge registered three consecutive shutouts.

The next PT batter, Bella Rubbe, nearly went back-to-back, but centerfielder Ella Nash got her glove on the ball, limiting her to a double. Bosiljevac then recorded a strikeout, one of her 17, to strand Rubbe in scoring position.

The No. 2 Titans responded on the top of the second, scoring an unearned run. Addison Aleski blooped a single to open the inning. The next hitter, Emily Spears, hit a comebacker to Warriors pitcher Allyson Paulone, but her throw to second base was errant, allowing Aleski to advance to third. A subsequent sacrifice fly but Haley Machajewski deadlocked the score at 1-1.

“You’re going to give up a run, we needed to score one or two more,” lamented Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little.

Bosiljevac was nearly untouchable for the rest of the contest, striking out the side in order in the second, facing the minimum in the third, and retiring the side in order in the fifth and eighth.

As the pitchers continued to exchange scoreless frames, the contest remained 1-1 into the 10th inning, when the international tiebreaker took effect, placing a runner at second base to start the stanza.

In the top of the 10th, Paulone induced a pair of popups and a groundout, giving her team the golden opportunity to claim a walkoff victory in the bottom of the inning.

However, with Kylie Anthony starting the inning at second, Bosiljevac induced a comebacker from Ella Mains, and after the out was recorded at first base, the Titans doubled off Anthony after she moved too far from second. Bosiljevac then notched another strikeout to send the game to the 11th.

In that inning, the Titans finally broke through, as Ellie Nickel sacrificed the placed runner, Jayla Antomachi, to third base. Although Paulone then authored her first strikeout of the contest, Aleski delivered a two-out RBI single to put the Titans ahead, 2-1.

“I think the turning point was just getting the bunt down for them,” Little detailed, highlighting that Nickel’s sacrifice came with two strikes, whereas several PT batters were unable to execute the bunt.

In the bottom of the inning, Bosiljevac struck out the Warriors in order, including the final punchout of Lorryn Sepe to secure the gold.

Paulone was masterful in the setback, as she allowed just four hits and issued one walk with one strikeout, allowing two unearned runs in the complete-game effort.

“She just mixed her pitches well. She threw fast when she needed to,” Little explained. “Mostly, she just stayed ahead in the counts.”

However, Bosiljevac was just as effective in a different fashion, as she permitted four hits and walked three, striking out 17 while allowing one earned run in the triumph.

While the Warriors once again settled for silver in the WPIAL playoffs, they will have another chance for gold in the state postseason, which commences on Monday with a matchup against Central Mountain. In 2019, PT finished third in the district, but rebounded with a run to the state title, a feat that Little referenced to this year’s team.

“We can and we have done it,” he said of a state crown. “It probably has to go through Shaler again, and we’d probably have a rematch if we make it there, so one at a time.”