Beaver coach Amy Haggart often says standout pitcher Payton List gets better each game. It’s hard to disagree. The senior right-hander struck out a career-high 20 batters and gave up just one hit as the Bobcats (21-0) won their 42nd consecutive game with a 3-0 victory over Burrell. https://tribhssn.triblive.com/beavers-payton-list-crosses-off-burrell-in-state-quarterfinals-with-20-k-shutout/

As she spoke to her team following its 3-2 victory over Fleetwood in the first round of the Class 4A PIAA playoffs on Monday afternoon, Beaver Area High School softball head coach Amy Haggart’s face alone said it all. While the Bobcats (20-0) did enough to escape their battle against the Tigers (16-6) at Neshannock High School, the defending state champions were far from their high-caliber selves, resulting in a closer contest than their head coach would’ve liked. Click below to read more: https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/06/06/close-victory-in-opening-round-serves-as-wake-up-call-for-beaver-softball-fleetwood-piaa/65359265007/    

https://tribhssn.triblive.com/payton-list-fans-15-beaver-blanks-elizabeth-forward-to-repeat-as-wpial-4a-champs/ The beat goes on for the Beaver girls’ softball team. The Bobcats won their 40th consecutive game by pounding out 11 hits and getting a 15-strikeout performance from Payton List in a 6-0 victory against Elizabeth Forward on Friday in the WPIAL Class 4A Championship game at Lilley Field at Cal (Pa.). Beaver (19-0) captured the school’s third WPIAL title, second in a row, and heads into the PIAA tournament on Monday where it looks to win a second consecutive state title. They will play the Fleetwood/Middletown winner from District 3. Elizabeth Forward (16-3) will be heading east for its playoff game. They will play the Hamburg/Big Springs winner from District 3. List, a Virginia Tech commit, kept the Elizabeth Forward hitters off balance by mixing her fastball and curveball. She also helped her own cause by hitting a double to open the bottom of the first inning and scoring on a two-run double by junior third baseman Kayla Cornell. And she pitched in a little pain after getting hit with a pitch above her left elbow. “It affected me hitting more than pitching,” List said. “It hurt to swing, but pitching wise, no, not as much. It did numb my elbow. “It was nice to see all the people get involved. Everybody was hitting. It was a great game and we played great defense, too.” Elizabeth Forward coach Harry Rutherford said he was impressed with List and the entire Beaver team. “I believe she was faster this year that last,” Rutherford said. “That’s a good hitting team. They hit everything.” Elizabeth Forward lost to Beaver in the PIAA quarterfinals in 2021. Taylor Young had three hits while Chloe List had a triple, single and an RBI. “I believe we proved we are a little more than Payton,” Beaver coach Amy Haggart said. “But having ‘P’ in the circle is our bell cow, but these girls have fought all year and have had her back. “Offensively, I couldn’t be prouder than our one through nine. They do the work at practice and they fight hard and we’re all around a great team.” Beaver tacked on a run in the third inning when Samantha Springman was hit by a pitch and scored on Chloe List’s triple. The Bobcats iced the game in the sixth inning on a two-run double by Springman and an RBI double by Hanna Crowe. Elizabeth Forward managed three hits off Payton List, including two doubles by losing pitcher Shelby Telegdy. “Sometimes two or three runs are not enough,” Haggart said. “Getting runs right off the bat was big, but we knew we had to put a few more up there to secure it.” And as the team prepares for another state run, Haggart said she plans to keep it basic. “We’ll prepare with the same mindset and routine every time,” Haggart said. “It’s been working. I’m happy these girls are here and ready to go.” Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Paul by email at pschofield@triblive.com or via Twitter .

https://tribhssn.triblive.com/lists-5-inning-no-hitter-leads-beaver-past-freeport-into-wpial-class-4a-semifinals/ Chalk up another victory for Beaver Area and senior Payton List. The Virginia Tech-bound List gave up no hits and allowed just one Freeport baserunner as the Bobcats blanked the Yellowjackets, 10-0, on Monday in a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal at Mars Centennial Field. List struck out 10 in five innings as Beaver won its 38th consecutive game. The defending WPIAL and PIAA champions (17-0) move on to the semifinals Wednesday against Montour at a site and time to be determined. List had two hits and was intentionally walked twice, but the game was scoreless into the bottom of the third. The Bobcats then sent 14 batters to the plate as part of a nine-run explosion. Ashlee Karas started it with a walk, and List followed with a single. Taylor Young bunted the runners up, and Samantha Springman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Hannah Crowe walked on a 3-2 pitch to drive in Karas, Kayla Cornell hit a bloop that landed behind third base and Beaver was on its way. After a two-run double by No. 8 hitter Alexandria Slipko, the lead grew to 6-0. “One through nine in the lineup, I have confidence and faith in all of them,” Bobcats coach Amy Haggart said. It was back to Karas at the bottom of the order. The senior left fielder sliced a ball into foul territory that Yellowjackets second baseman Aimee Heasley ranged far to her left and made a diving catch on for the second out. Grace Thompson was able to tag up and come home to make it 7-0. A two-run single by Taylor Young drove home two more for a 9-0 lead. “A couple little flare hits there, but that’s softball,” said Freeport coach Sam Ross of the lightning-quick Beaver outburst. “We’ve won games like this, and we’ve lost games like this. It can all happen pretty quick.” Autumn Powell relived Freeport starter Sydney Selker and got the final out to end the third and shut out the Bobcats in the fourth. But in the fifth, List led off with a double, and courtesy runner Meghan Boyd came around to score on a base hit and an error to conclude the game. “We focus a lot on hitting, making sure we hit the pitches where they needed to go,” Haggart said. “I knew once we got started, they were going to be on top of them.” List allowed only a one-out walk to Selker in the first. Added Haggart: “I said it all last year, and I’m saying it this year: Payton seems to get better every game. She got sharper as the game went on. That’s her. That’s what she does.” Ross said goodbye to five seniors who have led the Yellowjackets to a 30-18 record and three WPIAL playoff berths. “We had Autumn Powell, Maddie Shanta, Savanna Urik, Natalie King and Jenna Selker,” Ross said. “They came in right away as freshmen and had to deal with the covid year. No excuses. I believe we had a great season as a small 4A school.” Freeport finished at 10-7 and will drop to Class 3A for the next two years.

The Bobcats pick up a close win over Riverside HS (Ohio) on Day 2 of the Grand Strand Softball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC. They improve to 3-0 on the season.

Payton List pitched a three-hitter with 16 strikeouts and hit a home run and Sami Springman went 3 for 3 to lead Beaver (1-0, 1-0) to a Section 3-4A win over Central Valley (1-2,1-1). Abigail Borello doubled for Central Valley.