Losing in the Class 5A WPIAL semifinals is a distant memory for the Penn-Trafford softball team.

It turned out that would be their last lost of the season as the Warriors claimed the program’s first PIAA championship on Friday with a 5-3 win against Lampeter Strasburg at Penn State University’s Beard Field.

Penn-Trafford led from start to finish. The game remained scoreless until the third inning when senior Emma Armstrong hit a two-run double.

Defense played an instrumental role in the win as well. In the bottom half of the third inning, the Warriors got out of a bases loaded jam when senior catcher Carlee Lamacz picked off a runner to get out of the inning.

Penn-Trafford got two more runs in the fourth inning on a bunt by junior Morgan Hilty. Sophomores Emma Little and Allie Prady scored on the play.

Armstrong put the finishing touches on her high school career and the game with a solo home run, her eighth of the season.

Freshman Mia Smith recorded the final eight outs of the game to record the save.

Penn-Trafford finished the season 23-2 and will only be losing four seniors as they look to make another run next year.

For the first time in program history, the Penn-Trafford softball team will be playing for a state championship.

The Warriors, who entered the Class 5A PIAA tournament as the No. 3 seed, survived District 3 runner-up, Donegal, 5-4 at Mt. Aloysius College on Tuesday afternoon.

Penn-Trafford flirted with danger throughout the game, but was able to escape multiple times. In the fifth inning, Donegal had bases loaded and no outs, but junior Morgan Hilty was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

Freshman Mia Smith came on in relief to record the final six outs, including striking out Donegal’s best hitter to end the game.

The Warriors offense had an answer for Donegal all day long. In the bottom of the first inning, senior Morgan Nedley tied the score 2-2 on a bunt single.

Junior Jess Lichota gave Penn-Trafford its first lead of the game in the second inning with a double off the fence and scored later on a wild pitch.

After seeing Donegal regain a 4-3 lead, senior Emma Armstrong delivered what would be the game-winning two RBI single in the fourth inning.

With the win, Penn-Trafford improves to 22-2 on the season. The Warriors will battle District 3 third place team, Lampeter Strasburg in the Class 5A PIAA Championship Game at 4 p.m. on Friday at Penn State University’s Beard Field.

Throughout the regular season, Penn-Trafford was the team to beat in Class 5A.

Entering the playoffs as the top-seed, the Warriors were upset in the semifinals, but now find themselves as the last WPIAL team standing in the PIAA Class 5A playoffs.

Penn-Trafford accomplished that by defeating three-time defending WPIAL champion, West Allegheny. 6-2 in the quarterfinals held at Peters Township’s Pleasant Valley Turf Field on Thursday.

Sophomore Brooke Cleland was the offensive star for the Warriors in the game, belting two home runs. Her first round tripper was a two-run shot that was part of a three run third inning that gave the Warriors a lead they would not relinquish.

On the mound, junior Morgan Hilty silenced the Indians’ bats, going 5.1 innings.

Penn-Trafford improves to 21-2 on the season and will face the District 3 runner-up, Donegal, in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals on Monday at Mt. Aloysius College at 2:30 p.m.

The Penn-Trafford softball team had to quickly forget about being upset by Connellsville in the Class 5A semifinals.

Facing section opponent Franklin Regional, the No. 1 Warriors jumped on the No. 6 Panthers and cruised to a 6-2 win at Seton Hill University, clinching their spot in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in 29 years.

Penn-Trafford had a 5-0 lead after three innings and never looked back.

Junior Morgan Hilty pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking one.

The win completed the regular season and postseason sweep for Penn-Trafford over Franklin Regional, beating them three times.

The Warriors picked up half their runs in the first inning on a RBI single by senior Emma Armstrong and a two-run double by sophomore Emma Little. Also getting run scoring hits were junior Jess Lichota and sophomore Brooke Cleland.

The Warriors improve to 19-2 and will await their PIAA first round opponent which will be played on Monday.

The top-ranked Class 5A softball team couldn’t get anything going through the first four innings against Franklin Regional.

After not getting a hit, Penn-Trafford erupted for 11 in the final three innings, scoring four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to come away with a 7-1 Section 1-5A road win to remain undefeated.

Junior Morgan Hilty and freshman Mia Smith combined on the mound to allow one run on four hits.

Junior Jess Lichota, sophomore Lizzie Horvat, freshman Hannah Allen, and seniors Madison Forsythe, and Emma Armstrong had key hits in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead.  

Armstrong and sophomore Brooke Cleland had the big blows in the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs.

Forsythe, Armstrong, and Lichota each had a multiple hit game for the Warriors.

Penn-Trafford improves to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the section. The Warriors will host Albert Gallatin today, April 17, in a section game at 4:15 p.m.

Franklin Regional drops to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the section. The Panthers will host Connellsville today, April 17, in a section game at 4 p.m.

There are only two unbeaten teams left in Class 5A and now only one in Section 1 after Penn-Trafford defeated Latrobe 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Warriors scored half their runs in the third inning and the other half in the sixth inning.

Sophomore Brooke Cleland led the offense, going 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

Junior Morgan Hilty picked up the win, going the distance and allowing five hits and two strikeouts.

With the win, Penn-Trafford improves to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the section. The Warriors are scheduled to play at Franklin Regional on Friday in a section game at 4 p.m.

Latrobe drops to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the section. The Wildcats will travel to Laurel Highlands on Monday at 4:15 p.m. in a section game.