By:
Monday, May 12, 2025, TRIB-LIVE
The Fox Chapel softball team has been plagued with maddening moments of inconsistency on defense.
But when the lights were at their brightest during the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs Monday at North Allegheny High School, the 12th-seeded Foxes didn’t melt down.
Fox Chapel committed only one error and got timely hitting to spring a 4-0 upset over No. 5 Franklin Regional. The Foxes (13-6) will play a team they lost to twice, North Hills, in the quarterfinals at a site and time to be determined.
“They are resilient and bought into what they were teaching them,” Fox Chapel coach Larry Troutman said. “They have played well defensively for the last month and a half. They made the simple plays simple.”
Fox Chapel pitcher Jillian Haigh, who finished with eight strikeouts, said the Foxes feel they have figured out how to approach games.
“In some of our games, I think we came into them without energy,” Haigh said. “When it’s a big game, we show up and bring a ton of energy.”
One of the Foxes’ most important plays came in the bottom of the first inning.
Franklin Regional shortstop Toryn Fulton smashed a two-out triple.
Haigh then forced Ciara Camacho to fly out to center field.
The Panthers were limited to three hits and had only three runners reach scoring position.
Panthers coach Jim Armstrong ultimately blamed the loss on a failure to hit but was unhappy with the strike zone.
“We didn’t hit,” Armstrong said. “Once you call things outside and get it in people’s heads, it hurts a lot. The strike zone was too wide and too outside. … But you can’t win with three hits.”
Haigh set the pace for Fox Chapel’s offense in the fourth. She opened the inning with a single and advanced to second when Ella Eisner drew a walk.
Summer Burkart then smashed a double that reached the wall on a bounce and plated two runs.
“I wanted to get a hit,” Burkart said. “It doesn’t matter how hard or how far. I wanted to get a hit and get on base.”
Heidi Stiger then reached on an infield single. Fox Chapel shortstop Maria Stiger then put down a bunt that changed the game.
The ensuing throw sailed down the first-base line, scoring Burkart. Maria Stiger was thrown out attempting to reach second, while Heidi Stiger took advantage of the chaos to score and put the Foxes ahead 4-0.
“We were focusing on paying attention to every play,” Haigh said. “All 22 players are on focused on every play. The bench is cheering us on and telling us what to do. It’s a team effort.”
Franklin Regional had runners reach scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings with two outs. Fulton reached third on an error in the sixth, and Ava Rhoten singled and stole second base in the seventh.
Both were stranded when Haigh forced flyouts.
It was a strong performance from Haigh, who also finished with two hits
“She’s a bell cow and comes in and does whatever we ask her to do,” Troutman said. “She works so hard at the craft.”