Lexie Hames neutralizes Norwin again as Seneca Valley advances to Class 6A finals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 8:27 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Norwin opted to pitch to Lexie Hames four times in the WPIAL semifinals. No intentional walks on this day.

If only she hadn’t pitched to them.

Hames wasn’t much of a problem with a bat in her hands, but the high-speed ace from Seneca Valley continued to mow down the Knights from the circle en route to another victory and a fourth straight trip to the WPIAL finals.

Hames gave up three hits and walked three but struck out 16 as the No. 2-seeded Raiders cruised to a 6-1 victory over No. 6 Norwin on Tuesday at Fox Chapel.

The Clemson commit has 73 strikeouts in her past four games against Norwin and 931 K’s for her career.

The defending champion Raiders (16-3) advance to play No. 1 Hempfield (20-1) in the championship game next week at Cal (Pa.).

Norwin (10-12) made contact against Hames but gave up five runs in the first inning and committed three errors as Seneca Valley made it three wins over the Knights this season.

The teams met in last year’s WPIAL final with Seneca Valley winning 4-3 in eight innings. Underdog Norwin couldn’t produce the semifinal magic it did last year in a 5-2 win over Hempfield.

“Norwin is a great team,” said Hames, who improved to 16-2 for the season. “We knew they would be ready. This team we have is very special. The big hurdles we see are becoming little hurdles.”

Norwin finally scratched an unearned run across in the sixth. Diem Wardzinski, who went 3 for 3 for the Knights, reached on an infield single. Rachel Minteer dropped a bunt that died on the turf, and a throwing error let Maddie Kugler score after she walked earlier in the inning.

By then, though, the Raiders, who hadn’t played since May 7 with an opening bye, had built a 6-0 advantage.

“We didn’t play clean,” Norwin coach Brian Mesich said. “When you don’t play clean, this is what happens. It looked like we were going to make it interesting at times but made some boo-boos. If we swing long, she wins. If we swing short, we have a chance.”

In the opening frame, a throwing error after a bunt by Emry Rice allowed courtesy runner Addie Winkle to race home for the first run.

Bella Gross grounded into a fielder’s choice with two on for another run, and it was 3-0 after another Knights miscue on a ground ball to short.

Paige Volz made it 5-0 when she smacked a two-run double down the right-field line.

“Our girls did a great job coming out aggressive at the plate,” Seneca Valley coach Marlesse Hames said. “Getting that lead gave Lexie a little breather.”

A leadoff walk to Hames to start the second and a bunt single from Rice set the table for another run.

Despite a nifty 3-5 double play by Norwin, Gross delivered a single for her second RBI and the sixth run.

Seneca Valley had only six hits off of Abbie Telli, who was aggressive against Hames, the Raiders’ leadoff hitter who has had a career year for intentional walks.

The left-hander Telli even struck out Hames, who has 35 career home runs. Hames went 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.

“That was part of the mental midset,” Mesich said. “We wanted to go right at her. We were aggressive. We just couldn’t catch lightning in a bottle.”

Marlesse Hames is eager to play Hempfield again. The teams split their series this season. Hempfield beat the Raiders to win the 2023 WPIAL title.

“Two great pitchers, two great teams,” she said. “There’s a lot of talent there.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin, Seneca Valley