Pieces fit in playoff season for Sewickley Academy softball

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM

The Sewickley Academy softball team has been a force since the start of the 2025 season, and the Panthers are looking to maintain that status in the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

“Our team has become a tight-knit group,” Sewickley coach Bob Sirko said. “We emphasized playing to a standard, and the girls have embraced that mindset, fostering an attitude of constant improvement. The seniors and upperclassmen have created an inviting environment, and the underclassmen have fit right in, making the team feel like family.

“These are high-achieving students, and they bring great attitudes, never quit and are a joy to coach. We’re also fortunate to have dedicated coaches who work hard to support their growth.”

With one game remaining, Sewickley was in second place in Section 1-A with a 7-2 record, behind only first-place Union (10-0) which was 15-1 overall. The Scotties racked up 12 shutouts through 16 games.

After starting the season 7-0 and 9-1, Sewickley lost back-to-back games to Union and Quaker Valley before bouncing back May 5 with a 15-2 section win against Cornell.

The Panthers achieved double digits in runs scored in all but one victory this season and averaged 10.8 runs per game.

“We are very excited, and we’re proud to be among the deserving teams in the playoffs,” Sirko said. “There will be strong competition, and we know we’ll have to play well to advance. We have the talent and have played well at times, though being a young team means we can be inconsistent.

“The goal is to put it all together in the playoffs and make a run. Our focus will remain on controlling what we can, just as we have all season.”

Seniors Marie Bigi and Quincy Sirko have hit with authority and supplied an abundance of power for the Panthers.

As of May 4, Bigi led the club in batting average (.625), on-base percentage (.659), slugging percentage (.975), hits (25) and triples (2). She also had accounted for 10 doubles, 16 stolen bases and 15 RBIs.

Sirko was No. 1 in runs scored (23) and fit in comfortably in the top three in several other offensive categories — batting average (.575), OBP (.614), slugging percentage (.875), hits (23), RBIs (20) and stolen bases (18).

“Quincy and Marie have worked on hitting all four years, and as seniors, they’ve had a lot of at-bats,” Bob Sirko said. “Marie is incredibly strong; she loves weight training and has a powerful, aggressive swing that generates serious force. Quincy is a confident hitter and has always focused on technique and a quick, contact-driven swing, and this year, her added strength has allowed her to drive the ball farther with more consistency.”

Sirko plans to attend Carnegie Mellon to major in biomedical engineering and hopes to land a tryout with the softball team. Bigi will attend Penn State to major in agriculture.

Another outstanding hitter to emerge in the Sewickley lineup this year was freshman Gabby Edmunds, who led the club in RBIs (21), doubles (11) and fielding percentage. She also punched out a .541 batting average, .622 on-base percentage and .973 slugging percentage, collected 20 hits and scored 21 runs.

Sanaa Grant, a junior, scored 19 times and stole 16 bases; sophomore Sophie Crichton led the club with 19 stolen bases and was issued a team-leading 13 walks.

Sirko (2), Grant (2), Edmunds (1) and sophomore Keira “Keke” Church (1) clouted six home runs between them. Church scored 19 times.

“This has truly been a team effort,” Bob Sirko said. “While some players have had standout statistical seasons, everyone has stepped up at critical moments to make major contributions.

“Gabby Edmunds, who leads the team in doubles, just hit her first home run. Sanaa Grant, our other captain alongside Marie and Quincy, has crushed a couple of monster home runs and consistently maintains a strong on-base percentage. Sophie Crichton, a left-handed first baseman, has not only played great defensively but also stepped in as a relief pitcher and delivered key RBIs in the biggest games. And she leads the team in stolen bases.”

As a team, the Panthers were hitting a healthy .406 with a .639 slugging percentage. Seven players have hit .300 or better: Bigi, Sirko, Edmunds, Crichton (.360), Grant (.344), junior V.J. Jeevan (.324) and Charlotte Andrews (.313), another top freshman on the team.

Andrews assumed the starting pitching role and compiled a 9-3 record with one save. The right-handed hurler struck out 123 opponents in 55 1/3innings, averaging more than two strikeouts per inning.

“Charlotte is still a young, developing pitcher with the ability to throw with velocity, breaking pitches and off-speed,” said her coach. “So, as she is learning to adjust her approach, her best pitch is what is working best that day and what suits the matchup.

“She is just getting started. Despite her youth, she works year-round in travel and draws from that experience and continues to learn with every school outing.”

Sewickley’s starting lineup consists of Jeevan (RF), Bigi (CF), sophomore Layla Miller (LF), Sirko (3B), Church (SS), Grant (2B), Crichton (1B), Edmunds (C) and Andrews (P).

The team’s reserves include seniors Laurie Lau (OF/INF) and Persaya Williams (OF) plus sophomore Willlow Simmons (OF).

Bob Sirko added another factor in the Panthers’ regular-season success.

“I cannot emphasize enough how dedicated this coaching staff is to the players and helping set the correct tone,” he said. “Their commitment, time and effort have made a tremendous impact on this team, and I can’t thank them enough.

“Huge credit goes to Bradleigh Peterkin, who played on the inaugural Sewickley Academy team, Ron Frynkewicz, who works with hitters and catchers, Jason Andrews, Char’s dad who calls pitches and helps with the infield, and Todd Edmunds, who works with our outfielders and hitting.”

All the pieces to a winning season seemed to fit nicely for the Panthers.

Tags: Sewickley Academy