Softball section races are heating up, with Plum and Penn Hills battling for playoff positioning. The two teams are profiled this week.

With a week of games to go, the Lady Mustangs softball team remains in second place in Section 2-AAAA after a 1-1 week in section play.

Plum lost to McKeesport at home 4-3 last Wednesday. Timely hitting was the issue as the squad had seven hits, for of them doubles, but couldn't overcome a two-run first inning by McKeesport.

"We hit, we just didn't hit at the right time," said Plum softball head coach Jay Marston.

"We had our chances, but let them slip away."

The Lady Mustangs bounced back Monday afternoon with a 14-0 victory at Woodland Hills, scoring runs in every inning.

Lexi Grzyback led Plum at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two triples, three runs scored and three runs batted in.

Nina Donatucci was 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs.

Val Dern was the winning pitcher, recording eight strikeouts to improve to 7-3 on the season. She has fanned 68 batters in 66 innings this year.

Donatucci leads the Lady Mustangs with a .542 batting average and Shannon Bradburn is second with a .491 mark.

"It seems like they match each other. Shannon leads off and starts everything and Nina bats third," Marston said.