Some teams prefer to ease into the regular season while ramping up their level of competition as the year goes on, but Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little has never subscribed to that theory.
Following a season-opening loss against Class 6A powerhouse Hempfield, the surging Warriors (5-1, 2-0) have rattled off five wins in a row against a slew of leading title contenders in Class 5A. And with section play heating up, they don’t appear to be showing signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through,” Little said. “The weather hasn’t been really nice to us. But we have played some really good games. We always try to get the best competition.”
It all started with a 5-1 win on March 18 at reigning PIAA Class 5A champion Thomas Jefferson, followed by an 8-6 home win against North Hills on March 24. Penn-Trafford then scored a one-sided 11-1 victory at Shaler on March 27 — an eye-opening result even without ace pitcher Bria Bosiljevac in the circle for the Titans, but one that Little isn’t putting too much stock into.
“It could have ended up 1-0 or 2-1 if [Bosiljevac] pitched,” Little said. “We knew in the back of our head, we weren’t going to see her, and we’ll probably see her in the playoffs if we get there.”
On March 31, the Warriors opened up section play against defending WPIAL champion Armstrong in a battle of fierce rivals who have gotten all too familiar in recent years. The River Hawks, of course, rallied to defeat Penn-Trafford in last year’s WPIAL Class 5A semifinals on their way to capturing their second WPIAL championship in the past three years.
Armstrong’s first WPIAL title in 2022 also came at the hands of the Warriors in another instant classic — another heartbreaking loss that Little and his players haven’t forgotten.
“Those games will stick in my brain until the day I die,” Little said. “It was a great battle [in last year’s semifinal]. It’s hard to call it great when you don’t come out on top, but we did battle.”
It’s a new year now, though, and Penn-Trafford signaled in the first meeting with the River Hawks that the balance of power in the rivalry may be shifting. Sparked by a three-hit game from senior outfielder Rilie Moors and a two-hit, two-RBI performance by senior third baseman Cam Ponko, the Warriors racked up 13 hits overall in a 7-2 victory to earn some much-needed payback.
“I think we went into the Armstrong game especially with a [different] mindset,” Ponko said. “They have always been our biggest competition and who we aim to beat, but this year we went in with a different mindset. We just had a lot of fun, we played our game, and the feeling was great.”
Following a nine-day layoff due to inclement weather, the Warriors picked up right where they left off with another marquee win against Latrobe on Wednesday. Another top contender in Class 5A Section 2, the Wildcats entered the contest averaging more than 10 runs per game — but sophomore pitcher Allyson Paulone silenced Latrobe’s powerful bats, and Ponko and fellow all-section senior Giuliana Youngo swatted back-to-back solo home runs to lift Penn-Trafford to a pivotal 4-2 win.
“It’s extremely fun playing with these girls,” Ponko said. “I don’t even think it’s about the wins this season. To me, it’s just about having the best senior year I possibly can and taking it all in.”
An IUP recruit, Ponko batted .500 while mashing five home runs a year ago, and she is enjoying another terrific season as a senior. But while she is heralded as the centerpiece at the heart of the Warriors’ lineup, Penn-Trafford’s biggest strength lies in its depth and consistency from the top to the bottom of the order.
Senior designated player Bella Rubbe serves as the team’s table setter in the leadoff spot, followed by Moors in the No. 2 hole, Ponko batting third and Youngo hitting cleanup. The bottom half of the order also features plenty of talent, including senior shortstop Kylie Anthony and senior center fielder Lorryn Sepe, who are just as vital in the field as they are at the plate.
“We took a new approach when we got to two strikes [after the Hempfield loss], and a lot of girls held onto it and started doing it and making themselves tougher hitters,” Little said. “There is a lot to be said about a loss. We came out of there with a goal in mind of being tougher hitters.”
Playing such a daunting schedule so early in the season will surely benefit the Warriors in the long run, regardless of their record or playoff seeding. And if early returns are any indication, Penn-Trafford is well-equipped to embark on another memorable postseason journey this spring.
But as much as Little would love to bring the Warriors their first WPIAL title after years of near-misses, he isn’t wasting any energy or losing any sleep over it. After all, a state title remains the ultimate goal, and he already has one of those under his belt.
“I don’t dwell on it,” Little said. “We’ve been blessed — not with the WPIAL titles, but to have a solid program. … We’ve been there numerous times. I have a feeling we’ll get it sometime. As long as we keep battling and getting more opportunities to be there, we’ll get it. Whether I’m there or not, somebody will do it.
“It’s all about that playoff run. You get yourself into the dance, whether you’re No. 16 or No. 1. Just look at TJ last year. They came out of nowhere. That’s what happens.”
Sekely shining in circle for unbeaten South Park
As a sophomore, Sydney Sekely made a name for herself as one of the area’s most prolific pitchers, posting mind-boggling numbers while leading South Park all the way to the WPIAL Class 3A title game.
One year later, Sekely is already soaring to new heights for the undefeated Eagles (9-0, 3-0).
Through South Park’s first nine games, Sekely is 9-0 with an 0.16 ERA, 0.34 WHIP and 90 strikeouts to only three walks in 43 innings pitched. She has fired three perfect games and an additional no-hitter on the year, but her finest performance yet may have come in a memorable duel against Bentworth ace Sydney Gonglik on March 31, in which Sekely tossed a complete-game shutout and fanned 12 batters in a 2-0 triumph.
Proving she is more than just an ace pitcher, Sekely turned in a monster game at the plate against Steel Valley on Wednesday, going 3 for 3 with a double, a triple and three RBIs to lead South Park to a 20-1 mercy-rule win. For the season, she is batting .522 with five extra-base hits, 10 RBIs and an OPS of 1.412 — and with their prized junior leading the way, the Eagles have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 100-2.
Cavenaugh showcasing star power for South Fayette
Already established as one of the most well-rounded players in the WPIAL going into the season, South Fayette star Maddie Cavenaugh is taking her game to a new level as a senior.
A Slippery Rock recruit, Cavenaugh starred in center field as a junior after shining at shortstop for the Lions (6-2, 1-0) as a sophomore. Now, following an injury to South Fayette’s starting catcher, Cavenaugh has seamlessly shifted to the backstop for her final high school season while putting up some jaw-dropping numbers at the plate.
After batting .527 with 8 home runs, 24 RBIs and 30 runs scored as a junior, Cavenaugh is hitting .542 with 3 home runs, 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored through the first eight games in 2025 — and she is even doing some pitching. In 17⅔ innings of work, Cavenaugh holds an ERA of 1.58 with 26 strikeouts to just 4 walks.
The five-tool talent had a game to remember for the Lions in a 6-3 win over Montour on Wednesday, going 2 for 2 with a triple, a home run and a pair of RBIs to help South Fayette pick up its sixth consecutive win after an 0-2 start.
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
