WPIAL Class 4A softball championship preview: Highlands vs. Beaver

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 | 2:28 PM

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2-Beaver (16-0) vs. 5-Highlands (16-4-1)

6:45 p.m. today at Lilley Field, Cal (Pa.)

Road to the finals

• Beaver — After receiving a bye into the quarterfinals, the Bobcats began their postseason journey with a 7-3 victory over No. 7 Yough behind a pair of RBIs from Anna Blum and a home run from Kayla Cornell. Bailey Nicol added two hits and an RBI. Beaver then held off No. 3 West Mifflin, 7-4, in the semifinals with another strong pitching performance from Peyton List and RBIs from Nicol, Cornell, Blum, Mackenzie Boyd and Emilee Hohenshel.

• Highlands — The Golden Rams routed No. 12 Blackhawk, 12-0, in the first round. They continued to roll in the quarterfinals with a convincing 10-2 win over No. 4 Montour behind the pitching of junior Jaycee Haidze (three hits allowed, 10 strikeouts) and the hitting of Kassidy Cambal (3 for 3), Kylie Zourelias (home run), Abbie Deiseroth (two hits) and Jess Cekada (two hits). In an eight-inning, 6-4 semifinal win against No. 1 Elizabeth Forward, the Golden Rams rallied with three in the seventh to tie and two more in the eighth.

Secret to their success

• Beaver — The Bobcats are averaging eight runs a game. Six regulars are batting better than .400 as the team overall is hitting .375. Payton List, the Bobcats’ pitcher and Virginia Tech recruit, leads the way at .455, with seniors Boyd, Blum and Hohenshel; sophomore Cornell; and junior Hanna Crowe also leading at the plate.

• Highlands — The Golden Rams’ experience allowed them to navigate through a challenging Section 1 to share the section crown with Knoch. While the Golden Rams have scored 10 or more runs in a game 11 times this season, they have also employed the services of both Haidze and Deiseroth in the pitching circle. Highlands’ win against Blackhawk was its first in a playoff game since 2005.

Championship factoids

• Highlands — Highlands is making its first appearance in a WPIAL championship game. The Golden Rams’ last playoff game before this successful run was a 6-1 loss to Beaver in the 2018 Class 4A first round.

• Beaver — The Bobcats softball program looked like it was building a dynasty when they won the 2014 WPIAL Class AA softball championship. The team was built on sophomores and freshmen who didn’t lose a game until the PIAA quarterfinals. However, the team moved up to Class AAA the next year and did not have the expected success in 2015 or ’16.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Beaver, Highlands