EF focused on PIAA playoff run

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

For Harry Rutherford and the Elizabeth Forward softball team, the past is the past, and the present is what they have their sights set on. 

The Warriors aren’t going to dwell on their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal loss to Highlands or their missed opportunity at playing for a WPIAL title. 

Instead, they’re focused on achieving something they fell short of in 2019: Winning PIAA gold. 

“That was the attitude we took as soon as we lost in the semifinals,” said Rutherford, whose Warriors advanced to the state championship game two years ago before suffering a 3-2 loss at the hands of West Perry.

“The goal was to get back to the WPIAL championship game and that didn’t happen, so the goal now is to get back to the PIAA championship. We have another chance here. It’s up to them to perform up to the level they know they can play at.” 

Elizabeth Forward’s first state playoff challenge comes at 5 p.m. Monday when it takes on the District 10 champions from Franklin at Slippery Rock University. 

The Knights (16-6) were the sixth seed out of District 10 and defeated No. 3 Warren, No. 2 Hickory and top-seeded Villa Maria to capture their first title in program history. 

Despite Franklin’s Cinderella run to the district crown, Rutherford won’t let his team underestimate its opponent. 

“They’re obviously not what you would consider a normal sixth seed and as you could see in the WPIAL, there were a lot of lower seeded teams that did quite well, too,” Rutherford said. “I’m not looking past them and saying, ‘OK, this is just a sixth seed.’ They’re District 10 champions and we have to beat a champion.” 

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