Lady Panthers Rally To Knock Off Bentworth, Advance to PIAA Playoffs

Addison Drake hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to lead #11 Riverside to a 4-3 victory over Bentworth Tuesday in the Class 2A 3rd place game.

With the victory the Lady Panthers (10-9 Overall) will enter the PIAA state playoffs on Monday, June 2 against District 10 Champion Seneca High School at site and time TBD.

Bentworth got on the board in the second inning after Hailey Tatar drew a walk, scoring one run and added to its lead when Sydney Gonglik homered to center field, scoring two runs in the top of the third for the Ladycats.

Riverside rallied with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning when Saeryn Hoover collected a two-out single that scored two runs with the help of a fielding error.  Drake capped the Panthers rally two innings later with her two-out single in the fifth to help Riverside take the 4-3 lead.

Ayla Sterner earned the win for Riverside. The starter gave up four hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out five and walking four. Willow Eckels stepped in the circle first for Bentworth, surrendering nine hits and four runs (zero earned) over six innings, striking out three and walking two.  #12 seeded Bentworth committed five errors in the contest.

Adde Burry, Danny Rosenberger, and Hoover each collected two hits for Riverside offensively.

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Avonworth 13, Ellwood City 2

Jayla Jones went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI and Emma Obersteiner had two hits and four RBIs as #4 Avonworth claimed a spot in the PIAA playoffs with a victory over #3 Ellwood City in the Class 3A third-place game Tuesday afternoon.

Avonworth scored seven runs in the first inning.  Ellwood City committed 12 errors defensively.

Sydney Savatt singled, doubled and drove in two runs and Lexie Savatt doubled and plated a pair for the ‘Lopes (16-5 Overall). Alexis Beck had two hits including a home run and an RBI for the Wolverines (11-10). Kylee LeViere and Rylee Prestopine each doubled in defeat.