Hempfield Softball Survives Pitcher’s Duel For Fourth Straight WPIAL Title

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This wasn’t the same Hempfield softball team that dominated its opponents over the last few years, but they were dominate enough to capture its fourth straight WPIAL championship on Wednesday with a 2-1 win in 10 innings against section rival Latrobe at Seton Hill University.

This was a rematch of last year’s final, but the result a lot closer then the 11 run affair in last year’s game.

The winning run scored in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off single by junior Jessica Persin, scoring senior Allison Podkul.

The game remained scoreless all the way until the ninth inning. Latrobe broke the tie in the top half on a RBI double by senior Becca Tatone.

Three outs away from a championship, the Wildcats couldn’t keep the Spartans off the scoreboard. In the bottom half, sophomore Ashley Orischak delivered the tying run with a sacrifice fly, to set up the heroics an inning later.

Hempfield improves to 20-3 on the season and will seek its third straight PIAA championship when the tournament starts on Monday.

Latrobe drops to 12-4, but will also continue its season in the PIAA tournament on Monday.