Neshannock has Laurel’s number again in latest chapter of storied softball rivalry

Even though Neshannock had won the previous nine matchups in the last three years against county rival Laurel, both teams knew the result of Monday's PIAA Class 2A softball semifinal would be a coin flip.

Neshannock and Laurel met again in the PIAA Class 2A softball semifinals on Monday at Mohawk High School.

Both teams knew the result of the game would be close, but maybe not in the way they expected.

After losing the pregame coin flip, Neshannock scored the only run of the game in the top of the first inning to defeat Laurel, 1-0.

The Lancers advance to the PIAA Class 2A championship game for the second time in the last three seasons. Neshannock also defeated Laurel in the 2022 PIAA semifinals.

Neshannock will face South Williamsport in the state championship game on Friday morning at Penn State’s Beard Field.

On a mild, cloudy day, a steady drizzle began to fall as the teams went out for pregame warmups. The slick, all-turf field played to Neshannock’s advantage as the Lancers struck immediately in their first at-bat.

Miley Anderson bunted and reached on an error to lead off the game. She was sacrificed to second by Jaidon Nogay, stole third on a ball in the dirt and scored on a hard-hit ball by Addy Frye that was ruled an error.

“It’s such a tough feeling,” Neshannock coach Jackie Lash said, “thinking we have to go into this game with the toughest opponent knowing that they are going to get that last chance at bat. So whenever Miley got on base, I was feeling a little bit better right then.

“You have to score first against a team like this, and thankfully we did.”

That unearned run proved to be enough for Frye in the circle. The junior had 12 strikeouts in the one-hit shutout. It was the third consecutive game in the state playoffs that Frye allowed just one hit.

“My backdoor curve was working really well,” Frye said. “At the beginning of the game, my fastball wasn’t working, but towards the end, I fixed it and it started to work for me. I noticed I was slipping a little bit (in the first inning), so I had to go and make an adjustment.”

The elements played a role in the first couple of innings as Frye and Laurel ace Autumn Boyd went back and forth throughout the contest. Both teams had issues in the first inning, but improved as the rain subsided.

“I fully believe the wet turf got us in the first inning,” Laurel coach Frank Duddy said. “That’s the breaks. It is what it is. It’s just a shame that your whole season comes down to one run. We just didn’t hit. We’ve been pounding the ball lately, but we couldn’t get it done today.”

Laurel’s best chance of the game to score came in the home half of the first inning. Ivy Pancher led off with a walk, and Addie Deal was hit by a pitch. It was the only time the Spartans had multiple runners on base. However, Boyd lined out on a comebacker to the pitcher, and Frye got Riley Balcom to strike out to end the threat.

“We set the table. We just can’t push them across,” Duddy said. “That seems to be the story every time we play Neshannock. We can’t get that hit when we need it.”

Frye, a Providence commit, went over 200 strikeouts for the season in the game after surpassing 500 career strikeouts earlier in the postseason. After the two in the first, the only Spartan baserunners were from a Pancher single in the third and a Deal two-out walk in the sixth.

Boyd finished with a four-hitter of her own, giving up only the unearned run in the first inning.

“The story is offense,” Duddy said. “Autumn (Boyd) did a fantastic job in the circle, like she always does. She keeps us in it. She gives us a chance to win. I think we let her down a little bit.”

“To me, these are the top two teams in the state, and it starts with the pitching that each of us have,” Lash said. “Autumn (Boyd) kept us off balance. Every time we had an opportunity, she was able to shut it down. I think she is one of the best.”

Neshannock has now won 73 of its last 74 games. Its only loss in the last three years came in the PIAA semifinals a year ago, a 9-6 defeat to eventual state champion Everett. The loss has been a motivating factor for the Lancers over the past year, with celebrations muted throughout the year after victories. But with the early morning weather similar to the dreary day in DuBois a year ago, Frye and her teammates vowed to ensure the result would be different.

“None of us wanted to feel that again this year