Heading into the break to announce the Hall of Fame inductees and the Underclass All-Stars, the East squad held a commanding 12-4 lead after scoring seven times in the fourth.

The break interrupted the momentum as the West erupted for six runs during the fifth to cut the deficit down to two runs.

That’s when Ferguson ended up making the two biggest plays of the day as she reached on a single in the sixth while recording a key out in the bottom of the frame to secure a 13-12 East win in the event.

First starting in the sixth, Ferguson beat out a throw for a single, which helped push Claysburg-Kimmel’s Payton Hinish across and helped give the East a three-run lead.

06/16/26 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Team East's Margaret Elias (Cambria Heights) (right) catches up to Madelyn Biter (Conemaugh Valley) as she runs out her grand slam.

In the bottom of the frame, Huntingdon’s Izzy Kazmarski belted a two-run double to cut the deficit down to one.

On the next at bat, Hollidaysburg’s Hallie Chandler smacked a line drive to right field before a Ferguson perfectly timed throw gunned down Kazmarski at the plate.

“I’m always looking at the bases, and when there’s a girl on first, second or third, I know if we have less than two outs, I’m always looking at two bases ahead,” Ferguson said. “We only had a girl on second base.

“Earlier in the game, I did miss a scoop, so I was definitely a little anxious about it. It was the perfect throw. I’ve thrown out girls at home a couple of times, but that was definitely my best throw.”

Her coach, Paula McCleester, couldn’t have been more impressed.

“She played that perfectly, had a great bounce, and she fired it in,” she said.

It proved to be a nice bounce back after an early misplay in left field.

“I had a heart to heart with some of the people here to support me, and they told me to just keep my head up and think of it as a whole new game,” Ferguson said, “That’s exactly what I did, and it gave me the confidence to keep going.”

Ferguson’s career will continue next year as she will head to Chatham University in Pittsburgh where she intends to major in Psychology and minor in film and video.

McLeester is grateful for her service to the program.

“She’s like a coach out in the outfield,” she said. “The girls that are beside her rely on her for instruction and help. We need to bring her back a little bit to help mentor those younger girls coming up from our junior high program and our team now to make sure they understand the importance of outfield.”

The East squad did get a pair of home runs as the Lady Bulldogs’ McKenna Black in the second smacked a solo shot to left-center field before Cambria Heights’ Margaret Elias added a grand slam to center field. Elias was 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

EAST (13): Anderson cf-3b 321, Black 3b-ss 522, Baker c 432, Elias rf 423, Harris cf 411, Hinish 1b 312, Specht 2b 300, Bechtel 2b 300, Ferguson eh-lf 301. Totals: 32-13-11

WEST (12): Gdula cf 321, Hicks lf 200, K. Sprankle c 312, Kazmarski 3b-c 201, Moriarta p-eh-sb 301, Chandler 1b 301, McNelis 2b 310, Beck rf 211, Smith eh-1b 111, A. Sprankle eh-3b 110, Maul eh-ss 222, Mondi eh-p 222, Angellotti eh 010, Vincent eh 100. Totals: 28-12-12.

SCORE BY INNINGS

East 320 700 0 – 13 12 0

West 103 062 0 – 12 12 0

2B – Kazmarski, Maul (W). 3B – Baker (E). HR – Black, Elias (E). RBI – Black, Baker, Beiter, Elias 4, Hinish (E); K. Sprankle, Mondi, Angellotti, Maul 2, Kazmarski 2 (W).

PITCHING COMPARISON

EAST: Specht 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO; Beiter (W) 3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 SO; Anderson (S) 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO.

WEST: Moriarta, 3 IP, 9 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 6 BB, 3 SO; Mondi 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO.

Umpires: Jim Campbell (Plate); Lynn Smith (Bases)