NEW CASTLE — One inning was all the Mohawk High softball team needed.

The Lady Warriors struck for five first-inning runs to cruise past Beaver Falls, 8-4, in a WPIAL Section 5-AA home matchup.

Mohawk (6-2 section, 8-4 overall) kept its hold on third place in the section with the win, just a game behind Riverside (7-1, 9-1).

Rachelle Miller paced the Lady Warriors with three hits, including two doubles. Devon Giancola contributed a single, a double and two RBIs, while Hannah Morrow drove in three runs and Merran Nottingham added two RBIs.

Mohawk rolled up four runs on four hits and a walk in the first.

“We were really hitting the ball today,” Lady Warriors coach Pam Beatty said. “We strung some hits together and scored some runs. We had one bad inning in the field and that’s where we gave up our four runs, but overall we played real well.”

Jaki Bender (3-2) earned the victory, going seven innings and allowing four runs — one earned — on four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.

“She did real well,” Beatty said. “It was mainly her location. She was catching them off guard.

“There were some runners on quite a few times, but we were able to get out of those situations. And they scored all of their runs with two outs.”

Beaver Falls (3-5, 4-7) scored all four of its runs with two outs in the third inning. The Lady Warriors tacked on two runs in the second and one in the fourth.



Neshannock 11,

Freedom 1

The Neshannock High softball team continues to roll.

The Lady Lancers scored nine runs in the bottom of the second inning to blow the game open and roll to an 11-1 WPIAL Section 5-AA home win over Freedom.

The game was stopped after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Amanda Furst (10-0) earned the win, tossing three innings. Furst allowed one hit and no runs with five strikeouts and no walks. She had two RBIs as well.

Katie Burrelli and Rayanna Furst, Amanda’s younger sister, also drove in two runs apiece for the Lady Lancers (7-0 section, 10-0 overall).



West Allegheny 11,

New Castle 5

West Allegheny powered its way past New Castle in a nonsection road game for the Lady ’Canes.

The Lady Indians (8-1) pummeled three home runs, two from Cristina Alati and one from Bri Lach, who was 4 for 4.

Christina Evans went 4 for 4 for New Castle (4-7), and Dana Perrotta was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. The Lady ’Canes took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and led 5-1 after two, but West Allegheny came roaring back with four runs in the third, one in the fourth and five more in the fifth.

“It was a competitive ball game,” New Castle coach Leah Ann Williams said. “The score isn’t indicative of how we played. That’s the best team I’ve seen this year. They can really hit the ball — their home runs were legit.

But it was a good day even though we lost. We start the second half of the section (today) and we’re excited about it.”

Alyea Cioffi (2-1) suffered the loss. She yielded five runs — one earned — on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jenna Frank took over in the fifth and allowed one hit in two innings.



Riverside 5,

Laurel 0

No information was reported.



Boys Track

’Canes cruise

Trevor Blackwell captured three victories for New Castle in a 112-38 decision over Hopewell.

Blackwell won the 1600 and 3200, while participating on the victorious 3200-meter relay team.



Colon wins three

Mohawk’s Zac Colon posted three wins in a 101-49 victory over Neshannock.

Colon won the 100, 400 relay and the pole vault events for the Warriors.

Robbie Kroner (1600, 1600 relay) was a double winner for the Lancers.

Laurel prevails

Ethan Wilson claimed three wins for the Spartans in a 101-49 victory over Union.

Wilson won the 800, 3200 relay and the javelin for Laurel.

Patrick Staph (1600 relay, triple jump) and Malik Williams (400, 1600 relay) won two events apiece for the Scotties.



Girls track

New Castle falls

Sisters Kyrstin Hood, Jordyn Hood and Allyson Hood won three events each for New Castle in an 82-68 loss to Hopewell.

Kyrstin won the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the 400 relay. Jordyn captured the 100, 400 relay and the triple jump, while Allyson secured verdicts in the 400 relay, high jump and the long jump.



Glasser claims four

Laurel’s Ashley Glasser recorded four wins in a 100-47 decision over Union.

Glasser earned wins in the 400, 400 relay, 1600 relay and the long jump.

Hailey Tammaro (400 relay, 1600 relay, 3200 relay), Dalainey Meals (shot put, discus, javelin) and Jessica Conrad (300 hurdles, 1600 relay, 3200 relay) were triple winners for the Lady Spartans.

Janis McGill (800, 1600, 3200) three events for the Lady Scots.



Durbin takes three

Mohawk’s Melissa Durbin notched three wins in a 112-37 decision over Neshannock.

Durbin posted victories in the 100, 400 relay and the long jump.

Anna Lisa Frengel scored a pair of wins (shot put, discus) for the Lady Lancers.