By:
Saturday, May 17, 2025, TRIB-LIVE
The Fox Chapel softball team’s season won’t end with a trip to the PIAA Class 5A tournament, but the Foxes were able to create memorable moments before they were knocked out 6-3 by North Hills in the WPIAL quarterfinals.
In the first round, 12th-seeded Fox Chapel (13-7) stunned No. 5 Franklin Regional.
“They were here last year,” Foxes coach Larry Troutman said. “We told the girls it’s not the same team. It’s not the same uniforms. It’s not the same coaches. Let’s go in and play our game and see what happens.”
Fox Chapel opened the year with four wins and closed the regular season with three straight wins. In the middle of those stretches, the Foxes endured some tough results.
But junior outfielder Summer Burkhart said Fox Chapel was determined to be better in the postseason.
“(Beating Franklin Regional) was important,” Burkhart said. “I wanted to do it for the seniors because it meant a lot to them.”
Burkhart drove in two runs during the Foxes’ win in the first round. Sophomore pitcher Jillian Haigh fanned eight Panthers and picked up the win in the circle.
Haigh also singled to lead off the fourth inning, which is when the Foxes scored all of their runs in their 4-0 win.
Haigh said she had a simple approach at the plate.
“Just put the ball in play,” Haigh said. “We’ve been focusing on that all season. It’s not about the home run. It’s about getting a hit and giving the bat to the next person.”
The Foxes’ offense was consistent. Fox Chapel averaged 8.5 runs per game and scored 10 or more runs eight times.
Against Franklin Regional, Haigh showed her mettle in the first inning. After allowing Toryn Fulton to smash a triple, she worked out of the jam.
“Just focusing on the next batter,” Haigh said. “People are going to get hits. That’s part of the game. But it’s about the next batter at the plate and not letting them get a hit.”
The loss to North Hills in the quarterfinals marked the third time the Foxes lost to the Indians. Brianna Hnatow, Ella Eisner and Guiliana Foley drove in the runs for Fox Chapel against North Hills.
Burkhart said the Foxes knew they needed energy throughout the potseason to win. Fox Chapel showed it against Franklin Regional.
“We’ve had games like this, where we had to have energy from the beginning,” Burkhart said.