Neshannock takes state softall title

"UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Neshannock High School softball team had to work a little extra to become a state champion.

The PIAA Class AA championship went to eight innings before Neshannock scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to pull out a 4-3 victory against Warrior Run this afternoon at Penn State's Beard Field. Neshannock (24-1), located in New Castle, was the only WPIAL team to make it to the PIAA championships. The win gave the Lancers their first softball championship in school history.

The winning run scored on a wild pitch. Neshannock's Madison Altmyer led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple down the right-field line. Neshannock's Allie Fischer followed with a slap bunt, but she was thrown out at first while Altmyer stayed at third base.

That brought up Katie Burrelli, who had been hit by a pitch twice earlier in the game. But the first pitch to Burrelli went sailing over the head of catcher Lynn Vermilya, and Altmyer came home with the winning run."