Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff preview capsules for May 21, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, May 19, 2018 | 9:45 PM

WPIAL softball playoff preview capsules

Class 6A

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Hempfield (17-3) vs. No. 8 Canon-McMillan (10-6)

7 p.m. Monday at Latrobe

Winner plays: Winner of No. 5 Norwin (11-6)/No. 4 North Allegheny (14-7)

Coaches: Bob Kalp, Hempfield; Michelle Moeller, Canon-McMillan

Players to watch: Maddie Uschock, Hempfield (Sr., P); Katelyn Greaves, Canon-McMillan (Sr., 1B)

Extra bases: Streaks have been the hot topic this season for Hempfield. Some longstanding ones have been broken and others still are going, such as the team's string of 14 consecutive playoff wins. The Spartans are seeking a fourth straight WPIAL title and third straight PIAA championship. Uschock, a Dominican recruit, is an underrated ace who played behind star Morgan Ryan and now wants her own shot at a title-run in the circle. Outfielder Laura Fox is a key outfielder and often gets big innings started. … Canon-McMillan outslugged Fox Chapel in the first round, 15-12. Erica Haught and Olivia Ulam each had four hits for the Big Macs, who had 16 total hits. This will be the Big Macs' eighth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals.

No. 3 Latrobe (10-3) vs. No. 11 No. Peters Township (10-8)

4 p.m. Monday at Seton Hill

Winner plays: Winner of No. 2 Baldwin (10-4)/No. 10 Mt. Lebanon (8-8)

Coaches: Rick Kozusko, Latrobe; Nicole David, Peters Township

Players to watch: Makayla Munchincki, Latrobe (Jr., C); Jill Yeates, Peters Township (Jr., 2B)

Extra bases: Latrobe is seeking a return to the WPIAL championship game after finishing runner-up to Hempfield last year. The Wildcats are coming off a first-round bye. They dropped two of their final four games, to Norwin and Penn-Trafford, which likely dropped them from the No. 2 seed. Munchinski, a Cal (Pa.) recruit, is one of the area's better hitting catchers and is a battery mate of standout junior power pitcher Kiley Myers, a Marist recruit. Senior shortstop Karley Kovatch is an IUP recruit. … Peters Township, back in the playoffs after three years away, found itself in a hit barrage in the first round before outlasting Seneca Valley, 16-13. Madison Morgan had four hits, including two home runs, and four RBIs, in the win. The Indians have scored eight or more runs eight times.

No. 5 Norwin (11-6) vs. No. 4 North Allegheny (14-7)

5 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: Winner of No. 1 Hempfield (17-3)/No. 8 Canon-McMillan (10-6)

Coaches: Brian Mesich, Norwin; Rick Meister, North Allegheny

Players to watch: Sara Russell, Norwin (Jr., C); Ashley Adams North Allegheny (Jr., P)

Extra bases: Junior Alex Brentzel's third-inning grand slam helped push the Knights past North Hills, 8-2, in the first round for Norwin's first playoff win since 2001. Leah Yoder added three RBIs for the Knights. Sophomore Victoria Shimko took a team-best .450 average into the playoffs. … North Allegheny, which beat Norwin in the first round in 2001 after the Knights won a preliminary-round game, moved into the second round with a 6-5 win over Bethel Park. Freshman Chloe Szczepaniak doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Section 3 champion Tigers, who have won seven of their last eight games. The only loss was to Hempfield.

Class 5A

Quarterfinals

No. 3 Penn-Trafford (16-3) vs. No. 11 Thomas Jefferson (11-5)

5 p.m. Monday at Latrobe

Winner plays: Winner of No. 2 Albert Gallatin (11-3)/No. 7 Kiski Area (11-6)

Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Heide Karcher, Thomas Jefferson

Players to watch: Emma Nedley, Penn-Trafford (Sr., CF); Hayleigh Karcher, Thomas Jefferson (Jr., C/IF)

Extra bases: Penn-Trafford has been one of the top offensive teams in the WPIAL over the past two seasons but the Warriors want validation with playoff success. They have not reached the semifinals since 2014. Penn-Trafford pulled a pair of head-turning wins, over 6A No. 1 Hempfield and No. 3 Latrobe. Nedley has been a clutch hitter while junior Morgan Nedley is an on-the-rise shortstop. Also watch freshman designated hitter Brooke Cleland. … Thomas Jefferson surprised No. 6 Moon in the opening round, 3-2. The Jaguars scored three runs with two outs in the seventh inning to rally past the Tigers.

No. 4 Franklin Regional (14-6) vs. No. 5 Connellsville (12-6)

5 p.m. Monday at Plum

Winner plays: No. 1 West Allegheny (17-1)/No. 8 Trinity (13-7)

Coaches: Jim Armstrong, Franklin Regional; John Byrd, Connellsville

Players to watch: Angalee Beall, Franklin Regional (Jr., P); Josey Moorhead, Connellsville (Sr., OF)

Extra bases: Franklin Regional earned a bye after finishing as co-champion of Section 1-5A with Penn-Trafford. The Panthers, however, went 4-5 in their final nine regular-season games, including three shutout losses. That said, they have a potent lineup that produced eight or more runs, seven times. Beall, a Point Park recruit, is the Panthers' go-to pitcher and one of their top hitters. Senior outfielder Christina Kemerer has shown power at the plate. … Connellsville defeated Hampton in the first round, 7-4. Moorhead helps power the lineup for the Falcons. The Mercyhurst recruit is hitting over .400.

Class 4A

No. 1 Mt. Pleasant (15-0) vs. No. 9 Knoch (13-5)

3 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: Winner of No. 4 Belle Vernon (18-3)/No. 5 Ambridge (9-5)

Coaches: Lauren Armanious, Mt. Pleasant; Tim Knappenberger, Knoch

Players to watch: Meadow Uncapher, Mt. Pleasant (Sr., 1B/P); Celia Knappenberger, Knoch (Sr., P)

Extra bases: Mt. Pleasant, the defending PIAA champion, is eager to make a run as its third WPIAL title in three years after winning in 2016. The wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the regular season has eight shutouts and has allowed just 10 runs all season. Uncapher is a Seton Hill recruit and team leader. Junior Carolyn Alincic, a Dominican recruit, is a shutdown pitcher. A young and talented lineup features the Poulich sisters, senior Chloe (Towson) and freshman Courtney (Lousiana-Lafayette). Freshman Haylie Brunson is a Liberty commit. … Knoch lost both games to Mt. Pleasant in Section 1-4A, on the same day. The Knights blanked Blackhawk in the first round, 12-0.

No. 2 Yough (15-3) vs. No. 7 Indiana (13-5)

2 p.m. Monday at Seton Hill

Winner plays: Winner of No. 3 Beaver (13-1)/No. 6 Elizabeth Forward (17-3)

Coaches: Art Harvey, Yough; Harold Wilson, Indiana

Players to watch: Hannah Bach, Yough (Sr., SS); Alley Bush, Indiana (Jr., C)

Extra bases: Yough, which won the PIAA title two years ago, is going after its second WPIAL title, the first coming in 2011. Rapid-fire hitting and crisp defense are staples of the Cougars. The team's losses are to 6A Latrobe and Norwin, and Seymour, Wisc., in a season-opening game in Florida. Pitcher Kierra Waywood (1.26 ERA) is expected back after suffering a bruised elbow a few games ago. Bach is a Pitt recruit. … Indiana, which finished tied for second in Section 1 behind Mt. Pleasant, opened the playoffs with a 13-11 win over West Mifflin.

No. 4 Belle Vernon (18-3) vs. No. 5 Ambridge (9-5)

4 p.m. Monday at Baldwin

Winner plays: Winner of No. 1 Mt. Pleasant (15-0)/No. 9 Knoch (13-5)

Coaches: Tom Rodriguez, Belle Vernon; Jim Huwar, Ambridge

Players to watch: Bailey Parshall, Belle Vernon (Sr., P); Haylee Holman, Ambridge (So., 2B)

Extra bases: Belle Vernon is the defending WPIAL champion, and the Leopards began their title defense with a 12-0 win over Uniontown. Star lefty and WPIAL strikeout queen Parshall tossed a one-hitter and struck out 15. … Ambridge, which lost to Yough in the WPIAL semifinals and Mt. Pleasant in the third-place game last year, opened with a 6-2 win over undermanned Derry in the first round. Holman led the offense with three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Sophomore Kim Kuzma also had three hits for the Bridgers.

Class 3A

No. 3 Southmoreland (7-7) vs. No. 6 Steel Valley (12-6)

6 p.m. Monday at Trinity Middle School

Winner plays: Winner of No. 2 Freeport (12-0)/No. 7 Waynesburg (10-7)

Coaches: Todd Bunner, Southmoreland; Matt Janov, Steel Valley

Players to watch: Bethany Bunner, Southmoreland (So., OF); Morgan Farrah, Steel Valley (Sr., SS)

Extra bases: Southmoreland did not win its section and finished the regular season with a .500 record but the Scotties still earned a first-round bye and a third seed. The Scotties were behind No. 1 South Park and tied No. 7 Waynesburg for second place in Section 3. Southmoreland made the semifinals last year before falling to Ellwood City, 3-1. South Park then defeated the Scotties in the third-place game, 4-3. … Steel Valley, a regular visitor to the WPIAL postseason, edged past perennial power Deer Lakes, 9-6, in the first round. The Ironmen rallied from a 3-0 deficit after the first inning. Farrah is one of the WPIAL's top offensive threats. The Colgate recruit is hitting .698 with six home runs and 28 RBIs.

Class A

No. 2 Monessen (13-3) vs. No. 7 Riverview (12-4)

4 p.m. Monday at Canon-McMillan

Winner plays: Winner of No. 3 Leechburg (12-4)/No. 6 Sewickley Academy (11-4)

Coaches: Bo Teets, Monessen; Jim Ashbaugh, Riverview

Players to watch: Dana Vatakis, Monessen (Sr., P); Carys Kenny-Howell, Riverview (Sr., P)

Extra bases: Monessen reached the WPIAL final last season but the Greyhounds did something this year that they hadn't been able to do ever before: win a section title. The accomplishment — they shared Section 2 with West Greene — earned them a first-round bye. The Greyhounds have won in a variety of ways, including scores of 2-1 and 25-0. Vatakis, a Robert Morris recruit, can get strikeouts but also is backed by a strong defense. … Riverview had no issues against Quigley in the first round, running away with a 22-0 victory in three innings. The Raiders scored 13 in the first inning as they sent 19 hitters to the plate. Junior Katelyn Davis doubled three times and drove in four.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Hempfield Area, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough