There is a first time for everything, such as making your first ever appearance in the PIAA playoffs.

Knoch softball was able to accomplish just that after the girls defeated Thomas Jefferson 7-2 on Tuesday in the WPIAL 4A consolation game.

“This year has been pretty rewarding for me being a first-year coach,” Knoch coach Gary Coe said. “We’ve gone further than any other team in Knoch history, so its been a good year. The girls have jelled, came together and worked hard and they play well together.”

The Knights are 16-2 on the season, and they will face district 10 champion Grove City (14-5) at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Slippery Rock University.

“We just go into every game with the same approach,” Coe said. “We play our game, play to our level and see what comes out of it.”

Junior Amanda Fischer will be on the mound for the Knights.

Freeport baseball has gone through similar turmoil in recent years, but a 1-0 win over Keystone Oaks on Wednesday in the WPIAL 3A consolation game, secured the Yellowjackets a spot in the state tournament for the first time since 1998.

The Yellowjackets will square off with Franklin (21-1) at 4 p.m. Monday at SRU’s Critchfield Park.

“Franklin is a pretty good team, really good offense, lots of talent,” Freeport coach Ed Carr said. “When they score a lot of runs, they tend to take a lot of pitches so we need to make sure we throw strikes and get ahead of those guys.”

Junior pitcher Jarrett Heilman will get the start on the hill for Freeport. Heilman has pitched back to back shutouts in his past two starts, including a near perfect game that lasted almost six innings against Waynesburg Central.

On the flip side, Moniteau baseball has seen plenty of success on the diamond, as it looks to make a second straight appearance in the PIAA playoffs after defeating Coudersport 5-4 in the District 9 2A championship game via a seventh-inning home run by Jared Lominski.

“All year long we’ve preached composure and being mentally tough,” Moniteau coach Ross Martin said. “Over the course of any baseball game, especially high school, there is going to be adversity and kids just have to expect that and be able to overcome it.”

Serra Catholic (20-3) awaits the Warriors on Monday, with a 3:30 p.m. start at Showers Field in DuBois.

Senior pitcher Hunter Fitzingo will get the start for Moniteau. Fitzingo has a 4-0 record this season, with 77 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.64.

“(Fitzingo) has earned the right to be there,” Martin said. “Pitched very well for us the past several years in tough situations and his coaches and teammates have the upmost confidence in him.”