A-K Valley notebook: Freeport, Leechburg softball teams headed to Hampton

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, May 24, 2018 | 10:57 PM

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The two remaining Alle-Kiski Valley teams in the WPIAL softball playoffs will play back-to-back next week.

A doubleheader Tuesday at Hampton Community Park will feature Leechburg and Freeport in the Class A and 3A consolation games, respectively.

Leechburg (13-5) will play Union (16-3) at 2 p.m., with Freeport (13-1) taking on Avonworth (13-7) at 4 p.m. The winners qualify for the PIAA tournament as the WPIAL’s third-place team.

It marks the second consecutive consolation game appearance for Leechburg. The Blue Devils lost to Carmichaels in the game last season.

Freeport and Leechburg played postseason games at Hampton Community Park in recent years. Leechburg likely has the fonder memories, having defeated Sewickley Academy there earlier this week in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Freeport, meanwhile, can exorcise the demons of WPIAL playoff losses in 2016 and ’17 at Hampton.

Section honors

All-section baseball and softball teams recently came out for Class 6A and 5A, and a handful of A-K Valley players received recognition.

In Section 2-6A baseball, Plum’s Markus Cestra, Tanner Froehlich and Ryan Kircher were named first-team all-section. Jackson Rogers made second team and Dom Carlisano was an honorable-mention pick.

In Section 1-5A baseball, Fox Chapel’s Alex Miles made the first team. Fox Chapel’s Jonathan Simon and Ryan Wagner and Kiski Area’s Billy Perroz and Ryne Wallace made the second team, and Fox Chapel’s Mitchell Miles made honorable mention.

Five Fox Chapel players were recognized in Section 2-6A softball: Krystyna Burdelski on the first team, Tawnya Holben, Emma Humes and Jessica Klein on the second team and Eva Speacht on honorable mention.

In Section 1-5A softball, Kiski Area’s Megan Andree and Kelsey Sofaly and Plum’s Gabrielle Fischetti and MacKenzie Lake made the first team. Plum’s Sidney Young made the second team, and Kiski Area’s Courtney Moyer made honorable mention.

International relations

The 24th annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational will take place July 17-21.

The event typically draws teams from around Western Pennsylvania and, traditionally, at least one international team. Games again will be held at James Swartz Memorial Field in Freeport, Freeport Community Park, 18th Street Field in Arnold, Agan Park Field in Springdale and the former Ford City High School baseball field.

The schedule includes the Sonny Westerman Old-Timers Game on July 19 and the USA vs. World game on July 21. Organizers are currently developing activities in remembrance of FIBI founder Westerman, who died shortly before last year’s event.

For more information, visit www.fortheloveofthegame.org.

On the trail

• Springdale senior Josh Harmon committed to play at Washington & Jefferson. Part of the team’s multipronged rushing attack, Harmon led the Dynamos with just under 1,000 yards and ran for 13 touchdowns. He also returned an interception for a score.

I am beyond happy to say that I have decided to further my education and athletic career at Washington and Jefferson College pic.twitter.com/WUEEzZ1YsU

— Joshua Harmon (@HarmonJosh44) May 18, 2018

• Another Freeport girls volleyball will play for a Presidents’ Athletic Conference team, as Mallory Stopko signed with Waynesburg. A reserve on the Yellowjackets’ 2017 PIAA Class AA championship team, Stopko joins fello college recruits Courtney Grubbs (Thiel) and Hannah Mason (St. Vincent).

Congrats Mallory Stopko!! Next Stop – Volleyball at Waynesburg University! @mallorystopko12 #nextchapter #jacketpride pic.twitter.com/xvkuMhlT1N

— Freeport Athletics (@FASD_Athletics) May 18, 2018

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Freeport, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Springdale