Herald Staff report

A pair of local teams returned to the diamond as the District 10 softball playoffs opened Tuesday.

In Class AA, West Middlesex (17-4) posted a mild 6-4 upset over Titusville (13-5), and in Class AAA, the Hickory Hornettes (8-8) suffered a 12-1 loss to Corry (16-3).

Following are game recaps:

CLASS A QUARTERFINALS

ä West Middlesex 6, Titusville 4 — At Allegheny College’s Robertson Field in Meadville, the Ms. Reds plated 6 runs on 8 hits as they grounded the Lady Rockets, who featured ace pitcher Cassie Savitz. Savitz fanned 3, walked 2 and gave up 6 hits in the loss.

The Ms. Reds scored 3 runs in the 2nd inning, 1 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th.

West Middlesex freshman Heather Michaels struck out 5, issued 3 walks and surrendered 4 runs (3 earned) on 11 hits. Also, Bobbi Lynn Frazzini led the Ms. Reds at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, a single, 2 doubles and a pair of RBI. Carrie Young was 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Mandi Kedrick went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI, Kori Aubel singled, Britnee Zieminick singled, walked twice and scored, and Maegan Kristyak singled and scored twice.

For Titusville, which plated 1 run in the 3rd and 4th frames and 2 in the 7th. Kaylan Wright had 2 singles, a walk and 2 runs scored, Chloé Ruot had 2 singles and a run scored, Amanda Pepple singled, doubled and walked, and Ashley Smith doubled, walked and scored a run.

West Middlesex advances to Thursday’s semifinals against Villa Maria (20-0), 5 p.m. at Penn State-Behrend in Erie.

“It was a great win,” said 2nd-year West Middlesex coach Jon Lamm. “We’re looking forward to Thursday and taking the next step. I was just impressed with our freshman pitcher and how the team rallied around her.”

Lamm’s WM squad was 6-12 last season and didn’t make the playoffs after he replaced longtime coach Gene Rubeo, who created the softball program at WMHS.

CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS

ä Corry 12, Hickory 1 — At PSU-Behrend, Rachel Henderson took a no-hitter into the 7th inning as the Lady Beavers ousted the Hornettes. Henderson fanned 5, issued 2 walks and only gave up 1 hit.