Nine months ago, Tiffany Seasoltz and Shannon Hite left IUP's Podbielski Field in sorrow, their youthful Bishop Guilfoyle High School team having had its quest for a state softball championship dashed by a WPIAL power in the semifinals.

On Wednesday, about a half an hour from the site of their greatest disappointment, the Lady Marauders' keystone combination in softball will get a chance to rectify things, once again against the best the Pittsburgh area has to offer.

This time, though, it will be on the court instead of the diamond.

Hite and Seasoltz might have a PIAA title in their sights later this school year. However, they are among five Lady Marauders who wouldn't mind delaying the start of softball just a few more days as they collect a PIAA basketball championship.

Hite and Seasoltz will be starting in the backcourt for Guilfoyle Wednesday when it faces Pittsburgh North Catholic in the Class A semifinals at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg.

'If we were able to win two state championships in the same year, it would be phenomenal,' said Hite, BG's second baseman in softball. 'To win one would be great. To win two would be a dream come true.'

It's within the Lady Marauders' grasp, and the Guilfoyle softball contingent, largely an unknown commodity on the hardwood heading into this season, is a big reason for it. Seasoltz has gone from essentially a basketball afterthought to being a team captain and third leading scorer. Hite has moved into the starting lineup and been key to Mark Moschella's defensive game plans.

'Between Tiffany and Shannon, they are asked to watch the best ballhandler on the other team,' Moschella said.

Meanwhile, softball starters Brooke Stayer and Erin Brennan are the first - and often only - two players Moschella uses off the bench. Standout pitcher Miranda Merilli, whose father, Jim, coaches the softball team, is also on the basketball team but has been out of action with an injury.

'Softball started last week, but we're just focused on basketball,' Seasoltz, the shortstop in softball, said. 'I haven't gone to anything for softball yet. Just pictures.'

That, in itself, is a bit of an upset. While it's hardly unusual for BG girls basketball to still be playing in mid-to-late March, Seasoltz place with that team, unlike softball, was in doubt.

Seasoltz saw action in a grand total of 12 quarters in 31 games. She took nine shots and scored four points. Although basketball was the first sport she took up, Seasoltz had understandable questions about whether she had a future in the sport. In softball, that was undeniable.

At one point, she continued just focusing on softball and leaving basketball behind.

'I always wanted to start in basketball, but there were a lot of good players in front of me,' Seasoltz said. 'My parents told me to just be patient.'

Seasoltz gave basketball another chance. She started to focus on playing more under control and, in the offseason between her junior and senior years, things began to fall into place.

'She took me by surprise in how she picked up her game,' Moschella said. 'If somebody would have told me at the end of last year that she'd be averaging eight points a game for us, I wouldn't have believed it.'

So impressed was Moschella with Seasoltz's desire and improvement, he chose her to be a team captain along with Rachel Rea and Alli Williams.

'It really meant a lot,' Seasoltz said. 'I knew if I just calmed down, I could be a good player.'

Hite's job on the basketball team is a little less prominent if just as important.

'My role is pretty much defense, but Coach has been telling me to try to play as a point guard,' Hite said. 'My offensive game is coming along.'

Like Seasoltz, Hite considered giving up basketball but said she just couldn't - 'I'd played basketball forever,' Hite said.

Hite and Seasoltz have been basketball teammates for almost 10 years. Ironically, one of their early hoops coaches was Jim Merilli, who guided their rec league teams.

'He'd like to get softball started, but he likes basketball, too,' Seasoltz said. 'He wants us to do well.'

Basketball and softball seem to have little in common, but both Hite and Seasoltz said there are elements from each sport that can help with the other.

'With softball, you feel it's more of a single-person sport, but it's a whole-team sport like basketball,' Hite said. 'I still have to know where my teammates are going to be.'

'BG sports are so team-oriented,' Seasoltz added.

With everyone back from the Lady Marauders' first-ever District 6 championship softball team, it seems a pretty good bet that Guilfoyle will be poised for another run at a state title in that sport.

It's still a little brisk outside, though. Seasoltz wouldn't mind to wait and let it warm up a little more before heading outside.

'It's good,' Seasoltz said, 'to stay indoors a little bit longer.'