MCKEESPORT — The Bellefonte softball team advanced to the first round of the Class 4A playoffs for the second straight season.
Unfortunately for the Lady Red Raiders, their postseason ended at the same point as 2025.
District 7 champion Elizabeth Forward eliminated Bellefonte, 12-2, in five innings on June 1 at McKeesport’s Boston Ballfield.
Bellefonte (11-11) was the only Centre County softball team in the state playoffs. State College was beaten by McDowell, 6-4, in the Class 6A subregional on May 26 at Slippery Rock University. We’ll take a closer look at that game later in this roundup.
The Lady Red Raiders stomped their way to the first round of the state playoffs with an 18-1 throttling of District 8 champion (Pittsburgh City League) Carrick in six innings on May 26 in a subregional game at Firehouse Field in Pittsburgh.
Bellefonte carried on its tradition of pounding District 8 teams in the subregional. The Lady Red Raiders hammered Carrick, 16-1, in last year’s game and 21-1 two years ago. Bellefonte demolished Obama Academy, 27-0, in 2023.
Bellefonte did most of its scoring against Carrick after the fourth inning, scoring five in the top of the fifth inning and eight in the top of the sixth inning. Carrick scored and an unearned run off of sophomore pitcher Adrienne Massullo in the bottom of the first inning.
“After being in so many close games, it was definitely different to be in a game where we were able to build a big lead,” Bellefonte coach Eric DeVinney said. “It was nice to see the girls relax a little, play with confidence and keep putting pressure on.
Massullo fired a two-hitter, struck out 12 and walked two while throwing 61 of her 85 pitches for strikes.
Massullo got plenty of offensive support as Bellefonte pounded out 17 hits, including nine extra base hits. The fifth, sixth and seventh hitters in the lineup went 9-for-12 with four extra base hits, including two home runs, drove in six runs and scored 11 runs.
Sophomore No. 5 hitter Abby Herr went 3-for-5 with a home run and scored five runs. Sophomore No. 6 hitter Ella Herr went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. No. 7 hitter Aralynn Carson went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored.
“I thought we hit the ball really well up and down the lineup,” DeVinney said. “The Herrs and Carson especially had great approaches at the plate. They were aggressive on good pitches and really helped set the tone offensively.”
Junior No. 2 hitter Riley Santostefano was the most productive, knocking in four runs with two doubles. Junior cleanup hitter Peyton Rimmey had two hits, including a home run, knocked in two and scored twice.
Junior No. 9 hitter Madison Kellogg had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Massullo helped herself from the No. 3 spot by poking two hits, including a triple, and scoring two runs.
“It feels great to advance to states,” DeVinney said after the Carrick win. “That’s always one of the goals, and I’m really proud of the way the girls have worked to put themselves in this position.”
Elizabeth Forward carried a 6-2 lead over Bellefonte into the bottom of the fifth, but the now 21-2 Warriors scored six runs in the inning.
EF pitcher Berlyn Holibaugh, who tossed a two-hitter, connected on a three-run home run to put the 10-run rule into effect and end the game. It was one of three Elizabeth Forward home runs.
Santostefano hit a home run over the center field fence in the fourth inning. Ella Herr had the other hit.
While the Warriors advanced to the June 4 quarterfinals against Harbor Creek, the Lady Red Raiders, who had only one senior in Lydia Osman, will bounce back and focus on getting back to the state playoffs in 2027.
MCDOWELL 6, STATE COLLEGE 4
State College was within a couple innings of joining Bellefonte in the first round of the state playoffs. The Lady Little Lions held a 4-1 lead over District 10’s McDowell going into the bottom of the sixth inning.
But the floodgates opened in that frame as McDowell scored five runs to take a 6-4 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
The Lady Little Lions actually outhit McDowell, 11-4, but they left nine on base. They scored two runs in the first inning, one in the third and one in the fourth.
“Our team did great,” State College interim Coach Vanessa Gordon said. “Our girls were executing exactly what we worked on in preparation for this game, seeing the outside pitch and taking it to right field we were very proud of their composure and how well they played together.”
The first two hitters in the lineup — leadoff hitter Kendall Schenck and Kara Rhinehart — went a combined 4-for-6. Schenck had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Rhinehart collected two hits, knocked in a run and scored a run.
State College’s Landry Moore went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. No. 9 hitter Kate Gilmore also went 2-for-3.
“Overall I think our team hit well,” Gordon said. “Their pitcher struggled with the zone too, but when she did put it in the zone our girls hit the ball hard in play and made things happen.”
Pitcher Paige Moriarta tossed a four-hitter, struck out 11, walked seven, gave up six earned runs and threw 142 pitches – 84 for strikes.
Alex Smith was the hitting star for McDowell. She hit two home runs, including one in the five-run sixth inning, and knocked in three runs. Leadoff hitter Mya Kaliszewski had a two-run double in the sixth. Bridget Zaczyk had a double and an RBI.
Zaczyk went the distance in the pitching circle, striking out five, walking three and giving up four earned runs. She threw 123 pitches – 74 for strikes.
“McDowell is a quality team,” Gordon said. “We were prepared in every aspect of the game that we can control. When umpires squeeze a pitcher’s zone that hard, unfortunately the only way to avoid walks is putting the ball over the plate, and they took advantage of that.”
McDowell (16-8) was eliminated by Hempfield Area, 8-6, in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Lady Little Lions finished with a 10-8 record. The program found itself in an awkward position after a sudden coaching change from Scott Kaminske to interim coach Gordon on April 13.
But State College went on to win its third straight District 6 Class 6A title with a 5-1 win over Altoona.
“This year has been a whirlwind of emotions,” Gordon said. “Coaching high school-aged girls is not for the weak, but coming into the head coaching position one fourth of the way into the season is even harder.
“I am grateful for these players, our athletic department, and the other coaches – Michael Fry, JV head coach, and Jim Schaper, my later in the season assistant – for believing in me and taking every twist and turn in stride.
“This team, and especially the upperclassman, set a new standard for State High softball. I am beyond proud of all that these young ladies have accomplished.”
