PIAA softball and baseball first round game recaps from Monday, June 2nd 2025:

Hempfield Area 2 State College 1 (6A Softball) - WATCH BROADCAST

Hempfield Area tallied twice in the sixth inning to break a scoreless deadlock, and the Spartans stranded the tying run at third base in the seventh to edge State College Area 2-1 in the PIAA Class 6A first round. The host Spartans (22-1) received a stellar performance in the circle from Riley Miller, who was perfect for 5.2 innings and allowed just two hits and walked one, striking out seven. Addie Harpster was nearly as impressive for the District 6 Champion Little Lions (11-9), allowing just five hits without issuing a walk, striking out six. The Spartans finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, however, beginning with a one-out double off the right field fence by Claire Mitchell. After a deep flyout by Allie Cervola advanced Mitchell to third, Lauren Howard delivered an RBI single to center to put the Spartans on the board. The subsequent batter, Ella Berkebile, hit a ball to shallow right field, and an error allowed her to reach and Howard to score, putting Hempfield ahead 2-0. That insurance proved crucial, as the Little Lions scored in the top of the seventh. Jessica Hawbaker drew a one-out walk, and a single by Harpster allowed Hawbaker to advance to third. However, a throwing error by the Spartans on the play allowed both Hawbaker to score and Harpster to advance into scoring position. After a groundout advanced the tying run to third base, Sarah Mellott hit a ball on the right side of the infield, as second baseman Howard ranged to her right and threw to first base to record the final out by a split second. Howard and Mitchell each had a pair of hits and a run scored for the Spartans, who advance to the PIAA quarterfinals on Thursday to play District 3 runner-up Chambersburg at the Iron Horse Sports Complex in Windber at 4 p.m.

Penn-Trafford 3 Central Mountain 2 (5A Softball)

Penn-Trafford tallied three runs in the first inning and Allyson Paulone made it stand as the Warriors edged District 6 champion Central Mountain 3-2 in the first round of the PIAA 5A playoffs. Things got started for P-T with Giuliana Youngo's RBI double which gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Kylie Anthony followed with a squeeze bunt and Lorryn Sepe singled home Youngo to stake Penn-Trafford to an early 3-0 advantage. Central Mountain scored single runs in the first and third innings to trim the lead to 3-2 but that's when Paulone got into a groove. The sophomore hurler impressively sat down the final 14 batters she faced to secure the victory. Cam Ponko and Bella Rubbe each collected two hits and scored a run for the Warriors (20-3). Paulone yielded two earned runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking none. Cora Myers and Cirstyn Watson both knocked in runs for Central Mountain (15-2). Penn-Trafford advances to play District 8 Champion Red Land on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Iron Horse Sports Complex in Windber.

Greensburg Central Catholic 12 West Middlesex 9 (1A Baseball)

Greensburg Central Catholic exploded for six runs in the eighth inning as the Centurions earned a 12-9, extra-innings victory over District 10 champion West Middlesex in the first round of the PIAA 1A playoffs at Slippery Rock. After the Big Red tied the game at 6-6 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to eventaully force extras, the Centurions would go back on top in a big way in the eighth. 11 batters came to the plate as Ian Shipley, Brody Bothell, Jackson McMullen, Nick O'Mahoney, Blase Bugosh, and Bobby Smithnosky all drove in runs in the frame to give GCC a 12-6 lead. West Middlesex answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth but with the tying run at the plate, Wyatt Hoffman grounded into a fielders choice to end the game. Smithnosky finished with four hits and scored three runs for Greensburg Central Catholic while Shipley went 3-for-6 with two triples and three RBIs. Alec Martin picked up the win in relief as he surrendered four runs in three innings. Aiden Puskar finished with two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored for West Middlesex (12-9). The Centurions (18-4) advance to play Clarion Area, the No. 2 seed out of District 9, on Thursday at Slippery Rock at 2 p.m.