Experience was the difference for Riverside and Vincentian at the WPIAL girls' softball championships, held yesterday at California University's Lilly Field, as both teams claimed a second consecutive title.

Riverside (18-1) defended its Class AA title with a convincing, 8-0 win against Sto-Rox (18-5), while Vincentian (20-2) captured its second Class A crown with a 3-1 win against Avonworth (14-7).

"The experience I picked up in last year's championship game really helped," said Riverside pitcher Kari Falk, who came within one hit of pitching a perfect game. "I was so relaxed and loose. I felt so good on the mound."

Falk faced only 21 batters in the game and retired all but one. A single to right field in the fourth inning by Kerry Connolly was Sto-Rox's only hit. But Connelly didn't stay on base long as she was doubled up on a line shot back to the mound that erased Sto-Rox's only scoring opportunity.

"Kari was so on her game today," Riverside coach Pam McCarty said. "She hit her spots well and had all of her pitches working. I could see how relaxed she was before the game.

"Having pitched in a championship game before no doubt helped."

Riverside gave Falk the support she needed in the fourth, as the Panthers sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to break a scoreless tie.

Falk opened the inning with a walk, then came to bat again later in the inning and capped the rally with a line shot double down the left-field line, which scored two runs. Madison LeBon, the Panthers' No. 9 hitter, also drove in two runs during the rally with a single to right field.

Sto-Rox pitcher Kristen Olejar walked two batters hit another, and allowed two more Panthers to score on a throwing error on a ball hit back to the mound.

"Riverside was the better team," Sto-Rox coach Bill Palermo said.

"I knew that coming into the game. They have a very experienced squad that played in the championship game last year, and we have a very young team. I knew we would have to play an almost perfect game to beat them. But I'm very proud of my girls."

Riverside was making its 11th appearance in a WPIAL title game and claimed its fifth gold medal. Sto-Rox was making its 14th title appearance and finished second for the fourth time.

Vincentian made its fourth consecutive appearance in the Class A title game and captured its second title in a row, while Avonworth was making its first title appearance.

Vincentian's experience in the finals was clearly a factor, as the Royals scored twice in the first with the help of an error by Avonworth third baseman Marissa Milbert and a hit batter. Both runners scored on a double by Royals second baseman Ashley Darby.

"A lot of my players have been here three times, and Avonworth was here for the first time," Vincentian coach Pete Scanga said.

"I reminded my girls of that and told them to use that to our advantage."

Vincentian added another run in the third when pitcher Nina Melvin hit a home run over the left-field fence. Melvin allowed eight hits and one run, while walking four and striking out nine.

"I think we were a little nervous in the first inning," Avonworth coach Chris Knox said.

"This was our first time in a game of this importance and Vincentian was here the last three years.

"Experience was clearly a factor. But I'm very proud of the way my girls played after the first inning."

Avonworth had the bases loaded in the first and third, but Melvin worked out of both jams. The Antelopes loaded the bases again in the fifth and scored their only run on an infield single by right fielder Erin Zakor.

Both games had rain during the final two innings, but it stopped in time for both medal ceremonies. All four teams advance to the PIAA playoffs, which begin Monday.

The WPIAL softball championship game between Shaler and Hempfield will end a day later than expected, after play was suspended last night when heavy thunderstorms ripped through the region.

Play will resume at 4 p.m. today at California University's Lilly Field with Hempfield leading, 2-0, with one out in the top of the second.

With rain having fallen earlier in the day, forcing the game to start 25 minutes later than scheduled, a second dousing of storms with frequent flashes of lightning caused the players to be called off the field at 7:45. When the skies showed no signs of clearing, the call to suspend it was made roughly 30 minutes later.

Hempfield will start with the two-run advantage courtesy of a two-run home run from freshman shortstop Alyssa Bates, who smacked a 2-2 offering from Shaler pitcher Abby Nichter over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the first.

Shaler began the game with a leadoff triple from Gina Goss, but the Titans could not drive her in as Hempfield pitcher T'nia Falbo got the next three batters to strike out swinging.