6A pitcher of year Scogna, Boyertown’s Morgan named to Pa. Coaches All-State team
It’s a fitting tribute for a job well done.
Two weeks after winning the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 6A softball championship, a number of Spring-Ford players were named to the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association (PaHSSBCA) 2022 AllState Team announced Friday. Four Rams were among the six players from Pioneer Athletic Conference programs named to the team, which drew from more than 400 nominations by highschool coaches and media members to fill first- and second-team lineups in each of the state’s six classifications.
Additionally, the committee expanded its awards to include overall Pa. Pitcher and Players of the Year, and Pitchers and Players of the Year in each of the six PIAA Classifications.
Jules Scogna headed the list of Spring-Ford players that included Caitlin Ashley, Riley Gancasz and Ali Wescott. They were all key to the Rams making, then winning, their first PIAA 6A championship game against Seneca Valley, 5-0, on June 13 at Penn State University.
Completing the PAC’s all-state contingent are Boyertown’s Alyx Morgan and Owen J. Roberts’ Natalie Alldred. Morgan, a senior outfielder, was named to the 6A first team while Alldred, a junior first baseman/pitcher, was also a first team pick in the infield.
Scogna was one of four first-team pitchers from 6A, joined by North Penn’s Julia Shearer, Quakertown’s Sydney Andrews and Haverford’s Emma Taylor. She threw a two-hit shutout at Seneca Valley to close out a stellar scholastic career, the Spring-Ford senior heading to Boston University to continue her academic and athletic careers.
Scogna compiled an overall 21-2 pitching record, 14-0 in the PAC’s regular season, with a .589 earnedrun average and 153 strikeouts against 14 walks. She limited opposing batters to 71 hits all spring.
Scogna showed additional might at the plate, with a .395 batting average and 13 runs batted in. It all helped her claim the distinction of being Class 6A’s Pitcher of the Year.
Ashley, with Gancasz Spring-Ford’s two sophomore selections, hit a gaudy .610 with a 1.196 slugging percentage and .622 on-base percentage. The Rams’ designated player had six home runs and doubles among her 25 hits, and she drove in 31 runs while scoring 19 others.
Gancasz, who was moved from outfield to shortstop during the season, batted .457 with 17 RBI. Wescott, a senior outfielder, batted .480 with four doubles and nine RBI.
Boyertown leadoff hitter Morgan had a .500 batting average and .554 onbase percentage. She had 33 hits and 15 RBI along with 20 runs scored.
Owen J. Roberts pitcher Alldred batted .482 with six home runs among her 30 hits. She drove in 25 runs while scoring 19 others.
On the mound, Alldred compiled an 11-4 record and 1.86 ERA, striking out 127 while walking only 16. She also boasted a 1.000 fielding average.
North Penn’s Julia Shearer was selected an Overall Pennsylvania CoPitcher of the Year, sharing honor with Beaver Area’s Payton List. The Overall Pa. Position Player of the Year was Deirdre Flaherty, a catcher from Mount Lebanon.