PIAA softball postseason rundown: Neshannock eclipses own WPIAL record with 49th consecutive win; Chartiers-Houston's Ella Richey, Hampton's Ashley Schick blast game-winning home runs

If it feels like the Neshannock softball team is making history every time it takes the field, well, that’s because it’s true.

Fresh off claiming their fourth consecutive WPIAL Class 2A title in a one-sided battle of defending champions last week, the Lancers vanquished District 10 runner-up Sharpsville (14-9), 10-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A tournament on Monday. The mercy-rule victory extends Neshannock’s winning streak to 49 consecutive games, breaking the WPIAL record set by the Lancers during the 2022-23 seasons.

That means Neshannock (23-0) now holds the two longest winning streaks in WPIAL history, with both coming during the past four seasons. The Lancers own an overall record of 97-1 over that stretch, including 82-0 against WPIAL foes.

“It’s just really exciting, especially for the girls, just to know they continue to accomplish big goals, even though we don’t focus on numbers,” said Neshannock coach Jackie Lash. “Just winning the WPIAL and continuing on, those are goals the girls set at the start of the season. … They don’t want it to end.”

The game held extra special meaning to Lancers two-way star Addy Frye, a Providence recruit who grew up in Sharpsville before transferring into the Neshannock school district. The reigning Pennsylvania Pitcher of the Year, Frye set the tone with a towering two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, then she added a two-run double later in the game for good measure.

Junior outfielder Jaidon Nogay tallied three hits and three RBIs for the Lancers, while senior leadoff hitter Miley Anderson and freshman Brenna Frengel each notched a pair of hits in the win. Now holding a career record of 78-1 in the circle, Frye allowed two hits while striking out seven in a shutout victory against her childhood teammates.

“Sometimes [Nogay] gets frustrated with just getting a single,” Lash said. “I’ll stand there and just let her know, ‘Hey, you’re standing here on first base.’ … Each one of those hits, she was able to send somebody home. You can’t be disappointed when you’re producing like that.”

Neshannock’s Gianna DeSalvo, left, celebrates with Miley Anderson after scoring against Sharpsville in the first round of PIAA Class 2A playoffs on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Neshannock High School. Neshannock won, 10-0. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Not only did Neshannock make history on Monday, the Lancers did so while their seniors played on their home field for the final time. Lash said there weren’t many emotions shown by the players after the game, though, with their singular focus on the next task ahead.

Now, with another record in the books, Neshannock will next move on to face District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (15-5) in the PIAA quarterfinals on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

“We’ll do our research and see if we can find some games and see what people know and just get ready for them,” Lash said. “Now that we’ve shifted to this third goal and really focusing now on states, that’s all we want — let’s make sure that we are back-to-back [PIAA] champions. Obviously, we’re approaching that just one game at a time and not looking too far ahead.

“That’s the big goal. It would be really cool for these girls who have set so many records to be the ones to go back-to-back.”

Other Class 2A

• The reigning Pennsylvania Class 1A Player of the Year, senior catcher Ella Richey came through with the biggest swing of her career when her team needed it most, blasting a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to power visiting Chartiers-Houston to a 5-2 win at District 9 champion Cranberry (13-5). The Buccaneers entered the final inning trailing, 2-0, before rallying for five unanswered runs with the help of Richey’s 43rd career homer. Kent State recruit Meadow Ferri struck out 10 and walked three while allowing two runs on three hits in a complete-game victory for Chartiers-Houston (21-2).

Chartiers-Houston’s Ella Richey, pictured during the 2024 WPIAL Class 1A semifinals, hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh inning for a 5-2 win against District 9 champion Cranberry in the first round of the 2025 PIAA Class 2A playoffs. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Class 6A

• Kent State recruit Riley Miller followed up her masterful complete-game shutout in last week’s WPIAL championship game with another vintage performance in her final home game at Hempfield (22-1), allowing zero earned runs on only two hits while striking out seven in a 2-1 win against District 6 champion State College (11-9). Virginia recruit Lauren Howard went 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Morgan Walt added a double for the Spartans in the win.

Class 5A

• After its devastating extra-innings defeat in last week’s WPIAL championship game, Penn-Trafford turned the page with a narrow 3-2 road win at District 6 champion Central Mountain (15-2). The Warriors scored each of their three runs in the top of the first inning on consecutive hits by Giuliana Youngo, Kylie Anthony and Lorryn Sepe, providing just enough run support for sophomore pitcher Allyson Paulone, who struck out seven and walked none while allowing just four hits in a complete-game win for Penn-Trafford (21-3).

• Savanna Benish slugged a pair of home runs for WPIAL third-place finisher West Allegheny, which erupted for 10 runs on 12 hits in a 10-4 road win at District 3 runner-up Solanco (24-3). Jenna Nolan also went yard for the Indians (17-5), and Alaina Pass went 3 for 5 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored in the win.

Neshannock freshman Brenna Frengel runs to third base against Sharpsville in the first round of PIAA Class 2A playoffs on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Neshannock High School. Frengel finished with a single and a double in a 10-0 win for the Lancers. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Class 4A

• After entering the game off the bench in the fifth inning, freshman Ashley Schick delivered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to lift WPIAL champion Hampton (18-4) to a 1-0 win against District 9 champion Punxsutawney (10-6) at North Allegheny. Schick also helped turn a pivotal double play on defense to preserve the shutout for sophomore Marissa Snyder, who pitched a complete-game gem with eight strikeouts for the Talbots in a worthy encore to her heroic effort in last week’s WPIAL title game.

• Addy Ramer went 2 for 3 with an inside-the-park home run, Keira Rodu went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs, and Brynn Hysong finished 1 for 2 with two walks and two RBIs for visiting Blackhawk in a 9-3 triumph at District 6 champion Bellefonte (16-3). Kylie Prisuta registered 13 punchouts for the Cougars (15-6), allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk in a complete-game win.

Class 1A

• Mia Preuhs picked up right where she left off in last week’s WPIAL championship game for Union (20-2), pitching her second consecutive no-hitter while blasting the 30th home run of her career to lead the host Scotties to a 12-0 mercy-rule win against District 6 third-place finisher Purchase Line (13-10). Union totaled 14 hits of its own in the win, including three by leadoff hitter Olivia Williams. Irelyn Fisher went 2 for 3 with a pair of home runs for the Scotties, while Olivia Benedict went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs.