Panther Freshman right fielder Ava Cummings collected three hits in four at bats as the #11 seeded Riverside Lady Panthers defeated #3 seed Laurel Varsity Spartans 11-1 on Monday in the WPIAL Class 2A Quarterfinals.
The upset victory avenged a pair of lopsided losses to the Spartans during the regular season.
Cummings singled in the fifth inning, doubled in the seventh inning, and singled in the fourth inning to power the offense.
Older sister, Joci Cummings, earned the win for Riverside. The starting pitcher surrendered seven hits and one run (zero earned) over seven innings, striking out two and walking three. Claire Zeppelin started the game for Laurel, conceding four hits and five runs (one earned) over three and one-third innings, striking out two and walking two.
Laurel (15-5) came into the contest with wins in 12 of its past 13 games, and its only loss during that span was a 6-2 defeat against Class 2A top overall seed Neshannock. The Spartans had shut out the Panthers in both meetings between the teams during the regular season, winning by scores of 9-0 on April 14 and 8-0 on April 30.
Riverside tallied 11 hits and scored multiple runs in four consecutive innings in the mercy-rule victory. Charlie Bissell and Ava Cummings each collected three hits for the Panthers. Danny Rosenberger and Saeryn Hoover each collected multiple hits for Riverside. Rosenberger, Cummings, and Drake each scored two runs for the offense.
With its quarterfinals victory Riverside (9-8 Overall) sets up a semifinal showdown against defending WPIAL Class 1A champion Chartiers-Houston on Wednesday, May 21st at 5:00 p.m. at North Allegheny H.S. Regardless of the outcome of WPIAL Class 2A semifinals, the Lady Panthers are now guaranteed a spot in the PIAA tournament for the first time since head coach Geri Lynn Cummings took over as head coach in 2017.
Be the first to comment on "#11 Seed Riverside Turns The Table, Stuns Laurel In WPIAL Quarterfinals"