Softball playoff preview capsules: Games of Tuesday, May 14

By: Doug Gulasy
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | 5:55 PM

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Softball

Class 3A

First round

7-Freeport (10-3) vs. 10-Ellwood City (11-6)

4 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: 2-South Allegheny (16-2) on May 20, site/time TBD

Coaches: Sam Ross, Freeport; Gary Rozanski, Ellwood City

Players to watch: Tori Radvan, Jr., P, Freeport; Ariana Garroway, Sr., C, Ellwood City

Extra bases: Both teams average more than nine runs. Section 1-3A runner-up Freeport advanced to the WPIAL semifinals last season. The Yellowjackets’ two section losses came on walk-off homers. Radvan has an 8-2 record and 2.82 ERA and also is batting .646 with six homers and 26 RBIs. Mercyhurst recruit Ally DeJidas is hitting .579 with five homers and 16 RBIs. … Ellwood City finished third in Section 2-3A behind Avonworth and Beaver. The Wolverines won the WPIAL championship in 2017. Garroway, a Robert Morris recruit, is Ellwood City’s top power hitter with a .458 average, three homers and 20 RBIs.

8-Deer Lakes (9-8) vs. 9-Southmoreland (9-6)

5 p.m. Tuesday at Shaler

Winner plays: 1-Avonworth (17-2) on Monday (time, site TBD)

Coaches: Craig Taliani, Deer Lakes; Todd Bunner, Southmoreland

Players to watch: Makayla Blair, Jr., SS, Deer Lakes; Lexi Klatt, Sr., C.

Extra bases: Deer Lakes, which starts just one senior amid a handful of freshmen, won nine of its final 12 games and finished third in a tight Section 3-A race behind Burrell and Freeport. The Lancers appeared in five WPIAL championship games from 2012-17, winning two, and are making their ninth consecutive postseason appearance. … Southmoreland is the defending WPIAL champion and returned eight starters, including Klatt, an Alderson-Broaddus commit, and senior Faith Miller, who will play at Robert Morris. The Scotties are a power-hitting team with 25 home runs.

Class A

First round

6-Springdale (12-3) vs. 11-Quigley Catholic

3 p.m. Tuesday at Shaler

Winner plays: 3-Union (10-5) on May 20, site/time TBD

Coaches: Anthony Pototo, Springdale; Bill Campbell, Quigley Catholic

Players to watch: Alexis Hrivnak, Fr., P, Springdale; Taylor Kirschner, Sr., IF, Quigley Catholic

Extra bases: Springdale is making its first WPIAL playoff appearance since 2000 after a breakout campaign. The Section 3-A runner-up Dynamos, who ended a 16-year streak of losing seasons, won one game each of the last two seasons. Hrivnak sparked the turnaround: The freshman made double-digit strikeout performances commonplace and also led the Dynamos in hitting. After a 19-day layoff because of weather, Springdale played three doubleheaders in five days toward the end of the season. … Quigley Catholic started 1-8 but beat Cornell and Rochester in its final two games to finish fourth in Section 1-A. The Spartans lost to Riverview in the Class A first round last season, their first playoff appearance in 11 years.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Doug at 412-388-5830, dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Deer Lakes, Ellwood City, Freeport, Quigley Catholic, Southmoreland, Springdale