Sometimes, sentimentality gets the best of Denny Little.
A confirmed baseball romanticist who still collects and trades bubble-gum cards, the Penn-Trafford softball coach allows himself to daydream, if only for a few seconds.
He gets whisked away to one of his program’s proudest days.
The setting is Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park, where his Warriors used a cluster of late-game doubles to push past Greencastle-Antrim, 2-0, and win the PIAA Class 5A championship.
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about it often,” Little said. “It was such a special way for last year’s senior class to end their high school careers. It is something they will share for the rest of their lives.
“It was a reminder of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful support system of people … the whole P-T culture.”
A new season begins Friday and Penn-Trafford is primed to follow its 21-3 season with another title push.
Replacing seven seniors, including TribLive Westmoreland County player of the year Cam Ponko, won’t be easy.
“For years, we have filled in gaps,” Little said. “This year, we are filling in the Grand Canyon. We lost seven seniors that contributed 75% of our hits and run production. This year’s group needs to be mentally fit right away to overcome the adversities and challenges involved in defending the successes of the program.”
Junior pitcher Allyson Paulone is back in the circle, which automatically makes the Warriors a contender for their first WPIAL title. Paulone was 20-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 172 innings.
Her catcher also returns in senior Mackenzie Cox, a Saint Francis commit, as do senior first baseman Liz Welsh and senior second baseman Ella Mains.
“Allyson is only a junior and has herself primed to break most of the school pitching records,” Little said. “Cox handled our pitchers masterfully and was a stalwart behind the dish.”
Welsh and Mains had key doubles in the state final.
Junior Annabell Carvajal, a successful pinch-hitter last season, is another key bat.
A newcomer who could add more offensive pop to the order is Torrie DeStefano, a basketball standout who helped lead Penn-Trafford to the second round of the PIAA basketball playoffs.
“We did manage to kind of acquire a free agent of sorts,” Little said. “She played baseball all of her life as a shortstop. I am confident her athletic skills will translate into something special on the softball diamond.”
Senior Gabby Rubbe showed power last season.
The Warriors’ offensive approach won’t change, and that is: “Score runs to take the pressure off of our pitcher so she can do her thing,” Little said.
Around the county
While Penn-Trafford tries to defend its PIAA title, another local power, Hempfield, will look to repeat as WPIAL champions.
The Spartans, who were 23-2, captured their ninth district title. If they win a 10th, they will tie Baldwin and Sto-Rox for the most in WPIAL history.
“It is a new team and especially feels that way because there will be new faces in the circle,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said. “We expect to work hard in the preseason to get the team ready for tough section play.
“Expectations don’t change season to season. We just need new people to step up and play key roles while the returnees guide the team.”
Senior Lauren Howard, who moves from second base to shortstop, could be the centerpiece of the offense. The Virginia commit hit .614 with 43 hits, including nine doubles, six triples, and five home runs. She had 28 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
Other college commits include senior pitcher Julia Varhola (James Madison), senior catcher Ella Berkebile (Bucknell), senior outfielder Claire Mitchell (Marist), senior first baseman Emily Bozek (IUP), senior third baseman Joey Cline (Cal (Pa.)) and senior Hailey Uhrinek (Saint Vincent).
Mitchell hit .447 with a team-leading six home runs and a school-record 41 runs.
Berkebile is a quiet leader who can take charge of the defense.
Varhola appears to be the incumbent starter with the graduation of Riley Miller, who was 19-2 last year with a 0.76 ERA before heading to Kent State. Varhola, a more traditional fireballer, has seen starts and relief appearances throughout her career.
Newcomers to watch include freshmen Jocelyn Luft and Jayelyn Luft, who are Madison’s daughters, and junior Abby Magill.
Jayelyn Luft is a fast-throwing left-handed pitcher who moves the ball in the zone, and she can be equally dangerous as a slap hitter.
Junior Katie Dougan is another arm, albeit one who changes speeds more regularly than Varhola and Luft.
“You will see Julia with the ball early on in the season,” Tina Madison said. “She is a Division I commit and the expectation is she leads the circle.
“There are three pitchers at Hempfield that any WPIAL team would love to have and they are all very different. We will see how the season develops; there may be a mix of all three.”
With Seneca Valley ace Lexie Hames now at Clemson, the Raiders may finally step aside as Hempfield’s most feared postseason rival.
Hempfield will begin the season in Orlando, Fla., with three games starting Thursday.
• Paulone and Varhola are not the only big-game pitchers coming back.
Top arms include Jeannette senior Grace Stein, senior Alle Scarpa of Greensburg Salem, junior Haylee Myers of Derry and junior Danica Trainer of Mt. Pleasant.
Stein, a Pitt-Greensburg commit, was 14-5 with a 1.04 ERA and 196 strikeouts.
Her career numbers: 34-13, 1.28 ERA, 539 Ks.
“She has been working hard in the offseason,” Jeannette coach Tubby Stein said. “She wants to go deeper in the playoffs this year and is trying to reach 700 strikeouts for her career. With all the extra work with her pitching trainer, I expect her to reach all these goals.”
Scarpa, a Seton Hill commit, was 10-6 with 194 Ks. She has 25 wins, a 3.23 ERA and 422 Ks in her career.
• Norwin, which has become a regular contender in 6A, will try to push Hempfield again. Like Hempfield, the Knights can exhale some with Hames gone at Seneca Valley.
Key returnees include juniors Diem Wardzinski (OF) and Maddie Kugler, senior pitcher Abbie Telli, senior designated player Miley Harrison and sophomore catcher MaKenna Black.
Norwin made the WPIAL final two years ago and the semifinals last year.
• Keep an eye out for Latrobe in 5A. The Wildcats are brimming with offensive potential as sophomore Natalia Scekeres and seniors Sara Blossey (Point Park commit) and Miley Williams (Saint Vincent commit) return to the lineup. The Wildcats averaged 7.7 runs last year.
• Former Hempfield ace Maddie Uschock is the new coach at Franklin Regional as she takes the reins from Jim Armstrong, who led the Panthers for 23 years.
Franklin Regional finished second in Section 2-5A behind Penn-Trafford at 13-7, 9-3.
The team has a massive task in replacing a tremendous one-two power punch in Division I players Toryn Fulton (South Florida) and Ciara Camacho (Kent State), but Uschock is far from rebuilding.
Just two seniors return to a group with a large concentration of juniors, including Adrianna Martz.
Bella Salas, Ellah Rozycki and Maddie Hill all return with varsity experience in the circle.
• Seven starters return for Belle Vernon, another Class 4A playoff team. They include shortstop Kaylee Sypolt (.381), third baseman Mailey Hayes (.386) and outfielder Bella Williams (.339).
Leopards coach Tom Rodriguez begins his 26th season leading the Leopards. He is 325-161 with five WPIAL titles, the last in 2018.
• Greensburg Salem finished 12-6 and made the 4A playoffs. Scarpa also carries a big bat after hitting .417 with five homers and 22 RBIs.
Sophomore catcher Hannah Olbeter returns, along with junior first baseman Cate Waughaman (6 HR, 25 RBI).
The Golden Lions have a freshmen class that shows potential.
“Scarpa and our defense kept us in every game last year,” Golden Lions coach Bill Wright said. “We really like how our lineup is coming together and believe we are going to be much better offensively.”
• Derry reached the Class 4A quarterfinals, edging Greensburg Salem, 2-1, in the first round. The Trojans lose only two seniors and return pillar players senior Francesa DePalma and Myers.
DePalma is a Salem commit.
• Perrennial playoff team Southmoreland, a returning quarterfinalist, has to replace big-hitting catcher Makayla Etling but should get continued production from sophomore Makayla Brown and senior Zoey Murphy.
• Yough missed the 3A playoffs last year but returns all nine starters and could be very deep pitching wise.
Standout Adoria Waldier, who missed most of the season with an injury, is the only graduation loss.
A clean bill of health could propel the Cougars.
Sophomore Kylee Fisher returns after missing last year with a blood clot in her back. She was the team’s top hitter and pitcher in 2024.
Erin Reisinger and Kenzie Smartnick also rejoin the team after sitting out with knee injuries.
Sophomore Jaidyn Vay and Fisher are key arms. Shortstop Brooke Kowalski (.392) and second baseman Kylee Odelli (.345) are offensive threats.
Center fielder Anna Linders committed to Washington & Jefferson.
“I don’t think there is another team in our section with the pitching depth we now have,” Yough coach Dutch Harvey said. “I’m looking for 2026 to be a good year with all players back and healthy, and expect a long playoff run.”
• Another Class 3A team is Mt. Pleasant, which has juniors Danica Trainer, Talia Reho, Kendra Brunson and Kendell Waters back.
Trainer hit .532 with four homers and 22 runs and also had six wins and a 2.47 ERA in the circle.
“We have a really nice mix of players that have a lot of game experience, and a freshmen class that will push for playing time,” coach Paul Reho said. “Expectations are high for this group.”
• Jeannette (13-5) made the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals. Stein also can do damage offensively (.417, 23 RBIs), and senior Abby Shaw hit .411.
• Ligonier Valley has a new coach for the first time in 28 years. Mark Zimmerman stepped down and was replaced by Patricia Houpt, a former assistant.
The Rams will look to keep their playoff streak intact. They have not missed qualifying for the postseason since rejoining the WPIAL in 2020. (There was no season in ‘20 because of the covid pandemic.)
• Fourth-year starting pitcher Joey Hurst, who is headed to Cal (Pa.), is back in the circle to lead Monessen.
• Greensburg Central Catholic is not fielding a team this season due to low participation numbers.
Players to watch
Ella Berkebile, Sr., C, Hempfield
Sarah Blossey, Sr., OF, Latrobe
Makayla Brown, So., SS, Southmoreland
Francesca DePalma, Sr., OF, Derry
Lauren Howard, Sr., 2B, Hempfield
Joey Hurst, Sr., P, Monessen
Jayelyn Luft, Fr., P, Hempfield
Adrianna Martz, Sr., OF, Franklin Regional
Marlee Miller, Jr., OF, Ligonier Valley
Claire Mitchell Sr., OF, Hempfield
Haylee Myers, Jr., P, Derry
Zoey Murphy, Sr., P, Southmoreland
Hannah Olbeter, So., C, Greensburg Salem
Allyson Paulone, Jr., P, Penn-Trafford
Alle Scarpa, Sr., P, Greensburg Salem
Natalia Scekeres, So., SS, Latrobe
Abigail Shaw, Sr., 3B, Jeannette
Grace Stein, Sr., P, Jeannette
Kaylee Sypolt, Jr., IF, Belle Vernon
Danica Trainer, Jr., P, Mt. Pleasant
Julia Varhola, Sr., P, Hempfield
Jaidyn Vay, So., P, Yough
Diem Wardzinski, Sr., OF, Norwin