Class AA quarterfinals
Iroquois Braves (District 10 second seed: 19-5)
vs. Everett Warriors (District 5 champion: 19-2)
Postponed, rain
Game switched to Friday, time to be announced
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Class A quarterfinals
Cambridge Springs Blue Devils (District 10 champion: 20-3)
vs. Vincentian Royals (District 7 champion: 21-2)
When: Today, 5 p.m.
Where: Slippery Rock University
What’s at stake: The winner will play Bishop Guilfoyle or Smethport in Monday’s semifinals
Scouting Cambridge Springs: Coached by Mark McKissock, the Blue Devils’ bid for state championship began with a victory over last season’s state champion. Cambridge Springs took advantage of Curwensville’s four errors in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 1-0 win in Monday’s first round. Elizabeth Dine scored on an error, and Stephanie Baer made the run hold up for a five-hit shutout with no walks and 10 strikeouts. … Baer, who will pitch for Allegheny College next spring, enters the quarterfinal with a 0.43 earned-run average and 250 strikeouts. The senior also leads the Blue Devils with a .470 batting average. Kristen Humes, bound for Edinboro University’s softball team, tops Cambridge Springs with 31 RBIs. Dine has driven in 25 and Baer 22. Baer, Dine and Humes have each hit seven doubles, with Baer good for six triples and Dine two home runs. … Carly Palmero’s status for the game is undetermined. The junior third baseman left Monday’s game in the bottom of the second when she was struck on the left hand by a pitch from Curwensville’s Holly Lansberry.
Scouting Vincentian: Coached by Pete Scanga, the Royals had a significantly easier time in their state opener than Cambridge Springs. Vincentian needed only six innings for a 10-0 victory over Fannett Metal at Monroeville. Sisters Tricia Melvin and Nina Melvin each went 3-for-4 at the plate, with Nina Melvin good for six RBIs. Tricia Melvin, who will pitch for Brown University next season, blanked Fannett Metal on two hits and struck out 10. … Nina Melvin enters the quarterfinal as the Royals’ top hitter. The sophomore catcher has hit .479 and driven in 20 runs. Chelsea Leasure’s numbers nearly match those of Nina Melvin. The senior has a .450 average with 19 RBIs. Junior second baseman Nikki Lindner, who went 2-for-4 on Monday, is another offensive threat. … The Royals won their first WPIAL title with a 3-2 victory over Leechburg in 11 innings.
-- Mike Copper