2024 WPIAL Class A softball preseason breakdown
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Friday, March 15, 2024 | 9:00 AM
Three WPIAL underclassman pitchers earned first-team all-state honors last season, and each returns for the 2024 season, hoping to lead her team to a championship.
Union captured a second straight district title and finished as the PIAA runner-up behind Mia Preuhs in the circle. WPIAL runner-up Carmichaels has sophomore pitcher Bailey Barnyak, and WPIAL semifinalist Chartiers-Houston will again look to junior pitcher Meadow Ferri.
All three teams figure to be in the mix for a district title, along with some other contenders.
Here is a look at the 2024 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class A softball.
Preseason Top 5
1. Union (20-4 last season)
Union has claimed back-to-back WPIAL titles, ending West Greene’s five-year reign atop Class A. The Scotties return four all-state players in their quest to defend their crown. The group is led by junior pitcher Mia Preuhs, who went 13-4 in the circle with 151 strikeouts, including 17 in one state playoff win. She hit .500 with 33 RBIs, including 10 home runs. Also back are sophomore infielder Olivia Williams, sophomore DP Olivia Benedict and junior outfielder Addie Nogay. All three earned all-state honors. Senior catcher Bella Cameron was an all-section selection.
2. Carmichaels (19-2)
Carmichaels is looking for its first WPIAL title since winning back-to-back in 1997-98. Three all-state players and eight returning starters will help bolster that effort. The Mighty Mikes won Section 2 at 12-0, finished as WPIAL runners-up and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals. Sophomore pitcher Bailey Barnyak was an all-state honoree after going 17-2 with a 1.05 ERA and 206 strikeouts. All-state shortstop Carys McConnell hit .507 with 37 RBIs, and junior all-state first baseman/DP Ali Jacobs batted .523.
3. Chartiers-Houston (15-7)
After finishing second in Section 2, Chartiers-Houston reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals a year ago. Six starters return, led by a trio of all-state selections – junior pitcher Meadow Ferri, junior catcher Ella Richey and sophomore shortstop Lauren Rush. Ferri and Richey are two-time all-state picks. Outfielder Emily Swarrow is the team’s lone senior for coach Tricia Alderson, who has more than 430 wins in her 29-year career.
4. Frazier (14-4)
The Commodores won the Section 3 title last season and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals before falling to Carmichaels. They also lost in the PIAA first round to Claysburg-Kimmel. Back is junior all-state third baseman Grace Vaughn, who hit .541 with 22 RBIs, and all-section junior catcher Emilia Bednar. Frazier will miss all-state first-team selections Maria Felsher and Delaney Warnick.
5. West Greene (12-8)
After finishing 8-4 in Section 2 for a third-place finish, West Greene advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Chartiers-Houston. The Pioneers have five returning starters, including senior all-section outfielder Ali Goodwin and pitcher Payton Gilbert, who had 12 wins and 146 strikeouts as a sophomore. They will miss three-time all-state catcher London Whipkey, who hit over .400 each season.
Players to watch
Johna Abramowicz, jr., P, Northgate
Bailey Barnyak, so., P, Carmichaels
Emilia Bednar, jr., C, Frazier
Olivia Benedict, so., DP, Union
Bella Cameron, sr., C, Union
Alison Delong, sr., INF, South Side
Meadow Ferri, jr., P, Chartiers-Houston
Ali Goodwin, sr., OF, West Greene
Ali Jacobs, jr., INF, Carmichaels
Kendra Jones, jr., INF, Monessen
Carys McConnell, so., INF, Carmichaels
Addie Nogay, jr., OF, Union
Miladjia Pavlovich, so., OF, South Side
Mia Preuhs, jr., P, Union
Ella Richey, jr., C, Chartiers-Houston
Lauren Rush, so., INF, Chartiers-Houston
Grace Stein, so., P, Jeannette
Addy Stout, sr., C, Jeannette
Grace Vaughn, jr., 3B, Frazier
Madison Weitzel, jr., INF, Leechburg
Olivia Williams, so., INF, Union
Ava Wood, so., OF, Jefferson-Morgan
Diamond notes
• Leechburg (11-8) will try to qualify for the playoffs for the 37th straight season. The Blue Devils return junior all-section infielder Madison Weitzel. They will miss graduated pitcher Anna Cibik, who hit .489 with five homers, and all-state outfielder Karli Mazak, who hit .518.
• Grace Stein had quite a debut as a freshman for Jeannette (12-5) last season. The pitcher finished 12-5 with a 1.50 ERA and 136 strikeouts while tossing five no-hitters and also batted .590. Senior catcher Addy Stout also returns after earning all-section honors.
• Eight starters return for Mapletown (6-11), including leading hitter Marley Shiflett and pitcher Devan Clark. The Maples finished fifth in a talented Section 2 last season.
• Northgate (8-6), which finished tied for second in Section 1 last season at 8-4, will be led by junior pitcher Johna Abramowicz, who was an all-section selection a year ago and is chasing Northgate’s all-time wins and strikeouts records.
• St. Joseph (3-9) is starting a little behind while it waits for reinforcements from the girls basketball team that reached the PIAA Class A second round. Pitcher/infielder Jamie Noonan, a Waynesburg commit, returns after batting .600, along with junior Violet Hill (.357), Frostburg State basketball recruit Julie Spinelli (.308) and Kayla O’Connor (.300).
2024 alignment
Section 1: Carlynton, Cornell, Eden Christian Academy, Northgate, Rochester, Sewickley Academy, South Side, Union
Section 2: Avella, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, West Greene
Section 3: Bishop Canevin, Frazier, Jeannette, Leechburg, Monessen, Springdale, St. Joseph
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.
Tags: Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier, Jeannette, Jefferson-Morgan, Leechburg, Mapletown, Monessen, Northgate, South Side, St. Joseph, Union, West Greene
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