The spring season wrapped up Saturday with the conclusion of the PIAA state championships. Check out the final scores from baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse.
PIAA Softball Championships
Thursday's games:
Class 1A: 9-1 DuBois Central Catholic 2, 7-3 Carmichaels 0 (9 innings)
Rylee Kulbatsky pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 15, to lead DuBois CC to the win. Marina Hanes doubled to drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, while Melia Mitskavich had an RBI triple in the sixth.
Class 3A: 10-2 Harbor Creek 1, 6-2 Juniata 0
Freshman Brooklynn Cipalla had the game-winning hit to give Harbor Creek the walkoff win in the ninth inning. Pitcher Addison Lucas gave up just four hits and two walks, striking out 10, to earn the victory. Juniata’s Elizabeth Gaisor had an incredible outing as well, giving up three hits and one walk and striking out 21.
Class 5A: 7-2 Thomas Jefferson 2, 2-1 Pittston 1 (8 innings)
Taylor Karpac singled to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Morgan Aliskesky scoring in the Jaguars’ walk-off win. Jaguars’ pitcher Aubrey Shaffer gave up just five hits, four walks and an unearned run, while striking out 10, through eight innings. Pittston starter Gianna Adams allowed seven hits and four walks (two intentional) and struck out 14 in a solid outing. Alisesky and Karpac both had two hits, while Olivia Stock tripled and scored the Jaguars’ first run in the first inning.
Friday's games:
Class 2A: Neshannock 12, South Williamsport 2
Neshannock capped off an undefeated season with the Class 2A championship, needing just five innings to capture the state title. Gabby Quinn was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, while Addy Frye also homered, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Jaidon Nogay added to the hit party, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. In the circle, Frye gave up four hits and one walk while striking out seven in the win. Alizabeth Schuler was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI for South Williamsport.
Class 4A: Blue Mountain 4, Elizabeth Forward 0
St. Joseph’s University commit Marla Freiwald gave up five hits and no walks to earn the win in the circle as Blue Mountain repeated as Class 4A state champs. Leadoff hitter Madison Heim was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Eagles. The Eagles were the first time to score an earned run off Elizabeth Forward's Shelby Telegdy, who gave up eight hits, one walk, and three earned runs while striking out nine.
Class 6A: 1-3 North Penn vs. 1-5 Council Rock South
Gianna Cimino crushed a first-inning home run to give the Knights a 1-0 cushion that would hold until the end. Both pitchers were remarkable, with Bella Nunn giving up three hits and two walks while striking out 13 to earn the win and the Knights' second straight championship. For CR South, Lexi Waring also tossed a gem, giving up two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. Cimino’s home run was the first earned run given up by Waring in the PIAA playoffs.
PIAA Baseball Championships
Thursday's games:
Class 2A: 6-1 Bald Eagle 11, 11-1 Tri-Valley 3
Gavin Burns was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and leadoff hitter Kahale Burns was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four runs scored to power Bald Eagle's offense.
Class 4A: 1-1 Holy Ghost 6, 7-2 Indiana 5
Mat Riendeau. That name will be remembered for a long time, as the sophom*ore delivered the hit that gave the Firebirds their first-ever state championship. Riendeau doubled in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Colin Davis, who had singled, for the walkoff win. Sophom*ore Bam McNab earned the victory in relief, pitching 2⅓ scoreless innings where he gave up one hit and one walk. Tyler Bergkoetter was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Firebirds.
Class 6A: 3-1 Hempfield 3, 12-1 La Salle 2
Brody Gebhard went the distance, giving up five hits and one walk while striking out seven in a complete game effort to clinch the narrow victory for Hempfield. Brayden Hostetter drove in two runs for Hempfield, who scored all three runs in the third inning. For La Salle, Aimon Chandler had two hits, while Matt Gannon and Andrew Bogansky each had a double. Cole Kochanowicz pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings in relief, striking out five and giving up just two hits. Bogansky doubled to lead off the seventh, but, after a sacrifice bunt, Gebhard struck out the next two batters to secure the win.
Friday's games:
Class 1A: Faith Christian 4, Eden Christian 1
The Lions scored four runs in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game and hold on for the win. After two walks in the fifth, Reid Miller singled to load the bases. After the tying run scored on a balk, Jagger Verbit drove a base hit into right field, scoring pinch-runner Justin Murray and Ethan Johnson, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead. Brandon Labs added to the Lions big inning with an RBI single. Miller earned the win on the mound with a superb effort, giving up just four hits, one walk and an unearned run while striking out eight. Two of those hits occurred in the first inning, when Eden scored its lone run after an error. Jacob Janicki had two of EC’s four hits. The Lions completed an undefeated 23-0 season to win their first state title.
Class 3A: 12-1 Neumann-Goretti 12, 7-1 Avonworth 0 (5 innings)
After three scoreless innings, things changed in a hurry as Neumann-Goretti erupted for seven runs in the fourth. After a five-run fifth inning, the Saints were celebrating a state championship. The Saints scored their first three runs on bases-loaded walks, and with the bases still loaded, Evan McCoach hit a bases-clearing double. In the next inning, Andrew Dankanich ended the game with an exclamation point, hitting a grand slam that invoked the 10-run rule. Pitcher Jayce Park gave up a single hit and one walk while striking out eight in the win. It is the third PIAA championship for the Saints, who last won the title in 2017.
Class 5A: 3-2 Governor Mifflin 2, 6-1 Holidaysburg 1
Bryce Wunderlich hit the go-ahead RBI single in the fourth inning, and pitchers Ethan Grim and Bryce Detwiler combined for a two-hitter to secure the win for Governor Mifflin. Holidaysburg got on the board first, with Jake Hileman’s RBI single in the third inning. The Mustangs quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third, on Travis Jenkins’ RBI groundout which scored Detwiler, who had doubled to lead off the inning. On the mound, Grim gave up two hits and three walks while striking out 11 in six innings. Detwiler struck out the side in the seventh inning for the save. This is the first PIAA state championship for Governor Mifflin.
PIAA Boys Lacrosse Championships
Saturday's games:
Class 2A: 1-1 Marple Newtown 11, 7-1 Mars 9
Marple Newtown was trailing 5-1 in the first period, and it was down 7-4 at halftime. Evan Kostack had a little something to say about that, as the sophom*ore opened the second half by scoring three consecutive goals to tie the game at 7-7. Mars regained the lead on an impressive goal through traffic from Enzo Grieco, but Marple Newtown countered with goals from Ryan Keating and Brett Wolski. Mars would tie it again at 9-9, but the Tigers’ defense held Mars scoreless for the final 5:38. Brian Box scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes remaining, and added another for insurance. This is Marple Newtown’s second consecutive PIAA Class 2A title – last year, it also played Mars in the final, trailing 6-1 before winning 11-10.
Class 3A: 1-3 Radnor 9, 12-1 La Salle 6
Radnor goalie and Long Island University commit Johnny Webb held the high-scoring Explorers to six goals, making 11 saves to help secure the Raptors’ fourth straight PIAA title. Senior Villanova recruit Kessy Cox led the offense with three goals, while Nate Lucchesi and Owen Smith scored two apiece for Radnor. Six different Explorers – Stevie Davis, Darryl Kuriger, Mike Rossi, Declan Heilig, Paul Van Bastelaar and Max Wickersham – scored a goal apiece.
PIAA Girls Lacrosse Championships
Saturday's games:
Class 2A: 12-1 Archbishop Carroll 16, 3-1 Twin Valley 7
Archbishop Carroll’s senior players concluded their high school careers going 4-for-4 in state championships as the Patriots’ won their fourth consecutive PIAA title. Senior James Madison University commit Chloe Bleckley led the way with six goals, scoring five in the first half. Sienna Golden had three goals, while Brooke Hippert and Claire Sexton each scored twice. The Patriots held a narrow 4-3 lead after the first period, before outscoring Twin Valley 5-0 in the second period.
Class 3A: 1-2 Conestoga 10, 1-1 Radnor 4
Keating Hopkins was responsible for half of the Pioneers' goals, scoring five times in an epic performance to help Conestoga capture the PIAA state title. Conestoga won the state championship in 2022, but didn't make it to the finals last season.
PIAA Boys Volleyball Championships
Saturday's matches:
Class 2A: 10-1 Meadville 3, 3-2 Manheim Central 1 (25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 28-26)
Class 3A: 7-1 Shaler 3, 11-1 Parkland 0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-20)
How to watch the PIAA championship games:
PCN, Pennsylvania's cable network, will be broadcasting all of the baseball, softball, lacrosse and volleyball state championship games. In Bucks County, Comcast customers can tune in to channel 186, and channel 9 on Verizon.
You can also stream the games live, or watch later, on your phone, tablet, laptop or other mobile device with a subscription toPCN Select.
