Every season feels like "the best season ever", but, statistically speaking, this spring really was the best season ever. Nine teams made it all the way to the PIAA state semifinals, and seven played for a state championship in softball, baseball and lacrosse. Which player set the stage for their team's excellent postseason showing? Check out the top performers from the PIAA playoffs (minimum three games) here.
Stevie Davis, La Salle, lacrosse
The University of Pennsylvania commit, who was selected to play in the Senior All-America Lacrosse Game at Johns Hopkins University later this month, was a force at the center line, helping the Explorers to the Class 3A championship game. In the semifinals, Davis was 8-for-13 on faceoffs against high-scoring Springfield, and he was 9-for-10 against Upper Dublin. He had a game-high three goals in the semifinal win.
Lexi Waring, Council Rock South, softball
Waring was sensational in the circle, leading the Golden Hawks to the PIAA state championship game. Waring gave up just one run in four PIAA games, pitching 27 innings with 10 hits and 7 walks allowed, and striking out 40.
Paul van Bastelaar, La Salle, lacrosse
The senior University of Pennsylvania commit scored seven goals and distributed a team-high six assists in the Explorers’ four PIAA playoff games.
Bella Nunn, North Penn, softball
Nunn outdueled Gatorade Player of the Year Lexi Hames in the PIAA quarterfinals, pitching a one-hit shutout in the win over Seneca Valley. In the championship game, Nunn pitched a three-hit shutout to secure the 1-0 victory over CR South and repeat as state champs.
Max Wickersham, La Salle, lacrosse
The junior Johns Hopkins University recruit was the Explorers’ top goal-scorer in their run to the PIAA championship game, finishing with nine goals and assisting on another five in four games.
Mat Riendeau, Holy Ghost Prep, baseball
The junior delivered the game-winning hit that gave the Firebirds their first-ever state championship when he doubled in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 6-5 walk-off win against Indiana.
Gianna Cimino, North Penn, softball
The senior had an offensive performance for the ages, hitting a home run in each of the four PIAA playoff games. Cimino went 9-12 with five RBIs, four home runs, three walks and a double, with her biggest hit in the state championship, when she hit a leadoff home run that would hold as the game-winner in the 1-0 win.
Colin Davis, Holy Ghost, baseball
The sophomore went 7-for-13 with eight RBIs, six runs scored and two doubles in four Class 4A playoff games.
Maura Yoos, Archbishop Wood, softball
The Vikings’ leadoff hitter went 7-11 with four runs scored, three stolen bases, one RBI, a triple and a double in three PIAA Class 4A playoff games.
Jake Keaser, Holy Ghost, baseball
The sophomore leadoff hitter was the ideal table-setter for the Firebirds on their way to the PIAA Class 4A championship. He scored a team-high eight runs while batting .500 with two walks, six RBIs in the four playoff games.
Molly Milewski, Conwell-Egan, softball
The senior captain led the Eagles’ offense to the Class 3A semifinals, going 5-11 with a double and two RBIs in three games.
Matthew Evans, Holy Ghost, baseball
The sophomore was a major factor on offense hitting from the ninth spot. In four games, Evans went 7-for-11 at the plate with four RBIs, three doubles and one triple, and he scored seven runs for the Class 4A state champs.
Aimon Chandler, La Salle, baseball
The junior hit a walkoff RBI single in the 15th inning – yes, 15 innings – to give the Explorers a 1-0 win over Downingtown East in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
Sophia Orth, North Penn, softball
She went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, driving in a game-tying run in the fifth inning, as the Knights went to win 6-5 over Cumberland Valley and advance to the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals.
Jack Pye, La Salle, baseball
The junior was on the mound for the first 6⅓ innings of the Explorers’ marathon 15-inning battle with Downingtown East, when he retired the first 10 batters, and gave up a lone hit and walk while striking out seven in the eventual 1-0 quarterfinal win. In three appearances in the PIAA playoffs, Pye gave up a total of seven hits, six walks and four earned runs while striking out 16 batters in 15⅔ innings.
Cole Kochanowicz, La Salle, baseball
The senior pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings in the PIAA Class 6A championship game, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out five, though the Explorers were edged 3-2 by Hempfield. In 10⅓ innings over three games, he allowed nine hits, two walks, and two earned runs while striking out 14.
Lauren Bretzel, Conwell-Egan, softball
The Eagles’ pitcher gave up just two hits and one walk against Palisades in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs, and she also earned the win in the quarterfinals, pitching another complete game.
Grayson Weikel, Faith Christian, baseball
The senior pitched a no-hitter through six innings, striking out five and walking just two, to help the Lions edge Nativity BVM 1-0 in the PIAA Class 1A opener. In 13 innings in the PIAA playoffs, Weikel allowed five hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out 13. The Lions’ pitchers, Weikel and junior teammate Reid Miller, gave up a total of two runs in four games.
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Chris Cavalcante, La Salle, baseball
The junior reliever was called upon with the bases loaded with one out in the 13th inning of the PIAA quarterfinals. He got two straight outs without allowing a run to score, and pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings to earn the 1-0 win over Downingtown East.
Parker Krause, Archbishop Wood, softball
Her RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning was the game-winner for the Vikings, who won 5-4 and advanced to the PIAA semifinals for the first time in team history.
Kelly Delise, CR South, softball
She drove in the lone run of the game in the fourth inning of the PIAA Class 6A opener, giving the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead against Liberty that would hold until the end
Katie Aamland, CR South, softball
She scored the game-winning run, and lone run of the PIAA Class 6A opener, in the fourth inning after leading off with a single. Aamland had two of the Golden Hawks six hits against Liberty and was the only player with multiple hits in the 1-0 win.
Grace Stepp, CR South, softball
Her sacrifice fly in the first inning of the PIAA quarterfinals turned out to be the game-winner in a 1-0 victory against Warwick.
Reid Miller, Faith Christian, baseball
The junior was sensational in the PIAA championship game, pitching a complete-game four-hitter, allowing one walk and an unearned run while striking out eight to secure the Class 1A title against Eden Christian. In three appearances in the PIAA playoffs, Miller gave up seven hits, four walks and no earned runs while striking out 18 through 14 innings. In the first round, he had the Lions’ lone RBI in the 1-0 win.
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