Jun 7, 2007 By The 2 min read

The Belle Vernon softball team is in the midst an impressive roll, winning its past 14 games, including the WPIAL Class AAA title game last week and a first-round state playoff game on Monday. The Lady Leopards (20-5) hope their run continues today when they travel to Bedford High School to face Susquehannock, the No. 3 seed from District 3, at 2 p.m. in the state quarterfinals.

Ashley Nichols led Belle Vernon to its first-ever state playoff victory when the sophomore no-hit and shut out Perry Traditional Academy at Fairhaven Park’s Lind Park for an 8-0 victory.

The Warriors, also in the state playoffs for the first time, advanced to this afternoon’s playoff game with a 2-0 victory Tuesday over Bellefonte, the District 6 champion. Megan Sheaf struck out 14 and allowed just two hits, and came up big in the seventh inning when she stranded a runner on third base with three consecutive strikeouts.

Sheaf was also productive at the plate. She led off the fourth inning with a ground-rule double and then scored the only run she would need on Ashley Winterson’s double. The Warriors, coached by David Pollick, scored their second run on Laura Bedgar’s double in the sixth inning.

Susquehannock (20-2) advanced to the state playoffs with a 2-1 victory in 10 innings against Hershey.

Sheaf struck out 18 in the victory.