The queens of diamonds can’t be stopped as they run toward a state title.

The Lady Bobcats softball team faced the Montour Spartans in a Saturday match-up May 1. They came out victorious as the Bobcats scored 9 and left the Spartans scoreless in the seven-inning match up.

The Bobcats belted 13 hits throughout the game. Junior Payton List was on the mound for the Bobcats and recorded 10 strikeouts.

Five days later was senior night and one of the last times the five seniors would play on Ellis Field, the Home of the Lady Cats.

They faced the school rival, Blackhawk Cougars, in a blowout victory 14-4.

Both List and senior Emilee Hohenshel pitched for the Bobcats. The pitching duo each also hit homeruns to contribute to the 11th straight win for the Lady Bobcats.

Just 48 hours later the Bobcats headed to Ambridge to face the Bridgers in a weak match-up. The Bobcats finished the game quickly as they scored 15 runs in three innings to apply the mercy rule and go home early.

Ice cream was the treat on the way home, and the treat was made sweeter as the Bobcats found out they secured the section title with that win. That's right. Your lady Bobcats are the 4A section 3 champions.

The season was far from over for the Bobcats as they still had two section games to play.

May 11, the Bobcats hosted the Vikings from Hopewell. The VIkings fell short to the Bobcats as the Cats scored 6 and gave up zero in the full seven-inning game.

This was an emotional day as it was the last section game that the five seniors would play on the field they grew up on.

The Bobcats ended section play with a win on the road at New Castle when they faced the Red Hurricanes in a 12-0 victory.

This game brought the Bobcats’ season point total to an unbelievable 137-8.

The Lady Cats were ranked second in the WPIAL for 4A giving them a bye week for the first round of playoffs. A week of just practice didn’t fit the Bobcats’ mindset so they set up three scrimmages.

May 13, the Bobcats traveled to West Allegheny as they defeated the 5A team 7-0. Senior Anna Blum went hard for her first at-bat of the game.

After a weekend off the Bobcats went right back to work as they travelled to Pine Richland to face the Rams. The Rams’ solid pitching was a great training aid to the Bobcats’ playoff success.

The Bobcats defeated the Rams 4-2 in seven innings.

The Bobcats then scrimmaged the Laurel Spartans for the second time this year in order to keep their skills sharp in preparation for a run at the WPIAL title.

The trail to WPIAL’s began May 24 in a somewhat close matchup against Yough. The Bobcats got on the board in the bottom of the second when sophomore Kayla Cornell knocked in a run. The Bobcats finished the game on top 7-4.

Two days later, it was Deja vu as the Bobcats defeated West Mifflin by the same score: 7-4. List recorded eight strikeouts in the win.

At the time of writing (June 2), the Bobcats headed to California University of Pennsylvania to take on Highlands in the 4A WPIAL finals in a 6:45 p.m. game.

In their first nail-biter of the season, the Bobcats entered the last inning sitting on a 1-1 tie, but thanks to a Cornell line drive, the ladies secured their legend as WPIAL champions winning 2-1.

Their run at the state title begins June 7.

Now onto the five star seniors for the Lady Bobcats . . .

Anna Blum #6:

Blum has started in the Bobcats’ outfield since she was a freshman. She has been playing softball for 13 years. Blum will attend Clemson University to major in chemistry. Her favorite softball memory is when the team went to Disney for spring training her sophomore year.

Emilee Hohenshel #13:

At first base, Hohenshel as been playing softball for ten years. Her favorite softball memory is when the team went to Disney her sophomore year. She plans to attend West Liberty University to become a dental hygienist.

Jordan Nicol #34:

Jordan had been playing softball for 13 alongside her best friend and cousin Bailey Nicol. She is the Bobcats’ catcher and will attend Carlow University for Pre Physicians Assistant. Her favorite softball memory is pranking a former teammate while at Disney.

Bailey Nicol #43:

Bailey has been playing softball for 13 years and is the starting Bobcats’ shortstop for all four years. Her favorite softball memory is going to Disney her sophomore year. She will attend Carlow University in the fall and majoring in health sciences while rooming with her cousin and best friend, Jordan.

Mackenzie Boyd #54:

At second base, Boyd has been playing softball for 13 years. She will attend Washington & Jefferson College in the fall to study business and to play softball and football. Her favorite softball memory is accidentally breaking Coach Amy’s toe sophomore preseason at batting practice, and to this day, Coach still reminds her of it.