By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 4:25 PM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Penn-Trafford pitcher Allyson Paulone throws against Shaler during the WPIAL Class 5A championship game May 29.
Baseball
Class A quarterfinals
Greensburg Central Catholic (19-4) vs. Clarion (15-6)
2 p.m. Thursday at Slippery Rock University
District-place: Greensburg Central Catholic 7-4; Clarion 9-2
Winner plays: Winner of 7-3 Eden Christian (17-5)/Homer Center (20-5) in semifinals Monday
Players to watch: Tyler Samide, Greensburg Central Catholic; Derek Smail, Clarion
Extra bases: Greensburg Central Catholic won a wild first-round game against West Middlesex, erupting for six runs in the top of the eighth inning before holding on for a 12-9 win. Bobby Smithnosky had four hits, including a double, Samide doubled, Ian Shipley had two triples, and Anthony Grippo and Sean Walker also tripled in the win, GCC’s first in the state tournament since 2018. The Centurions lost to Clarion in the 2017 semifinals, 1-0. Samide, the staff ace who threw two abbreviated no-hitters in the WPIAL playoffs, is available to pitch in the quarters. … Clarion scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull ahead of WPIAL champion Serra Catholic for a 3-2 first-round win. Smail delivered a three-run homer in the big inning for the Bobcats. Smail, who has six homers and 28 RBIs, also was the winning pitcher. Dylan Smail has 23 runs. Clarion won the PIAA title in 2023 and was the runner-up in 2017.
Softball
Class 6A quarterfinals
Hempfield (22-1) vs. Chambersburg (19-5)
4 p.m. Thursday at Iron Horse Sports Complex, Windber
District-place: Hempfield 7-1; Chambersburg 3-2
Winner plays: Winner of 11-2 Nazareth (20-6)/3-1 Cumberland Valley (20-3) in semifinals Monday
Players to watch: Lauren Howard, Hempfield; Kori Leedy, Chambersburg
Extra bases: Hempfield edged past State College at home in the first round, 2-1, to return to the PIAA quarterfinals for the sixth time since 2014. Lauren Howard and Ella Berkebile had RBIs in the state opener with Howard tying the program record for RBIs in a season with her 37th. The Virginia commit also has 40 hits this season and 99 for her career. Pitcher Riley Miller, a Kent State commit, improved to 18-1 as she struck out seven and walked one. The Spartans have played Chambersburg three times in PIAA history, winning 2-0 in the 2016 4A semifinals, 11-4 in the 2017 6A semifinals and 13-3 in six innings in the 2019 6A first round. All-time, Hempfield has won 34 games and lost 13 in the PIAA playoffs. … Chambersburg is in the state tournament for the 25th time. The Trojans defeated Avon Grove, 3-1, in the first round as Brenna Paetow had their lone RBI. The District 3 runner-up Trojans saw deliberate pitcher Leedy allow just three hits and strike out five in a complete-game victory. They took advantage of errors to score two runs. Chambersburg beat State College twice, 10-2 and 9-2. It also has wins against Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley, both of whom are in the PIAA quarters. Chambersburg lost in the first round last year to Downingtown West, 4-3, after reaching the semifinals in 2023.
Class 5A quarterfinals
Penn-Trafford (21-3) vs. Red Land (20-3)
2 p.m. Thursday at Iron Horse Sports Complex, Windber
District-place: Penn-Trafford 7-2; Red Land 3-1.
Winner plays: Winner of 7-3 West Allegheny (17-5)/3-4 Twin Valley (21-5) in semifinals Monday
Players to watch: Bella Rubbe, Penn-Trafford; Abby Snyder, Red Land
Extra bases: WPIAL runner-up Penn-Trafford posted its first state-playoff win since 2022 with a 3-2 victory over Central Mountain in the opening round. Central Mountain beat the Warriors in the first round last year, 10-0. This time, Giuliana Youngo doubled and drove in a run, while Lorryn Sepe and Kylie Anthony each had an RBI for the Warriors, who saw pitcher Allyson Paulone scatter four hits and strike out seven. The Warriors own one state title from their run in 2019. … Red Land, located in Lewisberry in District 3, is a district champion. The Patriots are in the state playoffs for the first time. They dumped North Hills in the first round, 8-1, for their 20th win. Pitcher Addie Wagenheim went 3 for 4 with an RBI double and earned the win with nine strikeouts and one walk. Snyder added two hits and three RBIs, while Karsyn Peifer also had two RBIs and Keira Gibson doubled. The Patriots won their District 3 first-round game on a walk-off homer by Logan Shettel and scored four in the seventh to beat Shippensburg in the district quarterfinals. The Patriots are on an eight-game winning streak.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Penn-Trafford