Monessen’s ace pitches no-hit gem

No. 2 seed storms past Riverview, 8-0

Monessen pitcher Dana Vatakis has been the WPIAL runner-up in strikeouts each of the past two seasons.

But in her first playoff appearance of the season, nobody was better than the Greyhounds ace.

Vatakis fired a no-hitter and struck out 20 to lead No. 2-seeded Monessen (14-3) to an 8-0 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal victory against Riverview (12-5) at CanonMcMillan.

Vatakis posted 197 strikeouts in the regular season.

More Class 1A

Union 10, Bishop Canevin 0: Sarah Seamans tossed a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts to lead Union (16-2) to a lopsided victory.

West Greene 14, St. Joseph 0: Jade Renner, McKenna Lampe and Kaitlyn Rizor had three RBIs apiece and the Pioneers (17- 4) pounded 15 hits in a fiveinning romp.

Leechburg 8, Sewickley Academy 4: The Blue Devils (13-4) advanced to the semifinals for the second year in a row by defeating the Panthers (11-5).

Class 6A

Latrobe 10, Peters Township 0: Kiley Myers’ no-hitter highlighted a six-inning mercy-rule win for the Wildcats (11-3).

Baldwin 4, Mt. Lebanon 1: Taylor Dadig’s two-run triple sparked a four-run third for the victorious Highlanders (11-4).

Norwin 2, North Allegheny 1: Alex Brentzel doubled home Megan Miller in the seventh to propel the Knights (12-6) into the semifinals for the first time.

Hempfield 3, CanonMcMillan 2: Three-time defending WPIAL champion Hempfield (17-3) continued its quest for a fourth crown thanks in part to a fifth-inning solo home run from Ashley Orischak.

Class 5A

Albert Gallatin 6, Kiski Area 5: Annalia Paoli had a double, a triple and two RBIs for No. 2-seeded Albert Gallatin (12-3).

West Allegheny 4, Trinity 3: Ashley Seamon singled home Britney Wilson with two outs in the seventh as the Indians (18-1) seized a berth in the semifinals.

Thomas Jefferson 7, PennTrafford 4: The Jaguars (125) smoked five doubles and racked up 14 hits to secure a

spot in the semifinals.

Connellsville 4, Franklin

Regional 0: Mia Burd tossed a no-hitter and struck out six for the Falcons (12-6).

Class 4A

Belle Vernon 3, Ambridge 0: Bailey Parshall, who finished ahead of Vatakis for the WPIAL strikeout lead, had a no-hitter to lead the Leopards (19-3) to a victory.

Yough 3, Indiana 0: Winning pitcher Kierra Waywood struck out five and also drove in a run in a three-run fourth to help the Cougars (16-3) advance.

Mount Pleasant 10, Knoch 0: Carolyn Alincic struck out nine as the Vikings (16-0) rolled to victory in five innings.

Elizabeth Forward 4, Beaver 1: The Warriors (18-3) benefitted from a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance from senior Kaylee Ludwick.

Class 3A

South Park 17, Ellwood City 9: Designated hitter Julie Shinavski went 3 for 4 with five RBIs and Katlyn Pavlick and Kaitlyn Morrison each homered in victory for the top-seeded Eagles (151).

Avonworth 3, Burrell 0: Abby Stanley, Dominique Raught and Natalie Marshall each drove in a run for the Antelopes (13-6).

Freeport 10, Waynesburg 4: Ally DeJidas, Ashleigh Schmidt and Claire Crytzer each smacked a two-run homer to spark the Yellow Jackets (13-0) to a victory.

Southmoreland 6, Steel Valley 5: The Scotties (7-7) rallied for four runs in the final inning to capture the victory.

Class 2A

Mohawk 9, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 6: Kaylee Boring’s three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth gave Mohawk (15-1) the separation it needed as it pulled away from the Trojanettes (15-4). Boring went 3 for 3 with five RBIs.

Frazier 9, Neshannock 5: Logan Hartman scattered six hits and struck out seven to steer the Commodores (155) back to the semifinals.

Chartiers-Houston 7, Serra Catholic 1: Jaylese Lombardi and Karlyn Bayer each homered to pace the Buccaneers (16-2) to a victory.

Laurel 5, Seton LaSalle 3: Winning pitcher Madyson Boyd struck out nine to lead the way as Laurel (11-3) captured an upset victory.