Canon-McMillan and West Greene softball teams both won Monday in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs while McGuffey, Peters Township and Carmichaels baseball squads lost and were eliminated. Canon-McMillan will play District 1 runner-up Neshaminy Thursday while West Greene will face District 10 champion Cambridge Springs.
Softball Brackets WPIAL PIAA
Baseball Brackets WPIAL PIAA
SOFTBALL — Canon-McMillan got seven hits and five RBI from the bottom four spots in the batting order to beat District 10 champion Mifflin County, 7-4. Sophia Duke delivered twice as a pinch-hitter, driving a two-run double in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Lauren Duke added an RBI double in the second plus a run-scoring single in the seventh to lead Canon-McMillan to the state quarterfinals for the first time since winning the 2013 title. The Big Macs will face District 1 runner-up Neshaminy, the team CM beat to win that 2013 championship. Olivia Ulam had two hits and walked three times. Elika Mowery added two hit and scored twice. Brooke Perri picked up the win in relief of Duke. Perri did not allow an earned run and just two hits over the final 2.1 innings.
BASEBALL — McGuffey’s bats were nearly silenced, managing just two hits in Monday’s 4-2 loss to District 10 champion Hickory. The loss ended the most successful season in McGuffey baseball history. Prior to this season, the Highlanders had never won a playoff game. Playing in the school’s first-ever state playoff game, the Blue & Gold took a 2-0 lead in the first, getting a two-out, two-run single from Logan Siebert. Hickory responded in the bottom of the frame, using back-to-back singles, a two-run double, an error and a balk to take a lead it never surrendered. Winning pitcher Nick Osborne retired 13 straight McGuffey batters before Jake Orr doubled to open the sixth. Orr was stranded and the Highlanders were shut down in the seventh to end the game.
Peters Township gave up four runs in the second, five more in the third on the way to a run-rule loss to Central Mountain, ending the Indians’ season. PT was in the state playoffs for the first time in a decade after finishing third in the WPIAL.
PIAA Quarterfinals
Friday, June 10 (sites/times to be announced
Canon-McMillan vs. D1 runner-up Neshaminy – WJPA-AM (1450) or Listen Here!
West Greene vs. District 10 champion Cambridge Springs