Softball

District champions highlighted in Trib HSSN baseball, softball power rankings

May 31, 2019

A golden week has produced changes throughout the Trib HSSN baseball and softball power rankings, including a new No. 1 in softball following the 2019 WPIAL championships.

Mt. Pleasant pitcher Carolyn Alincic delivers against Yough Monday, April 29, 2019, at Mt. Pleasant Area High School.

Mt. Pleasant vaults to 13th in the nation

May 30, 2019

Mt. Pleasant will go for its second WPIAL softball championship Friday afternoon with it will do so with an even loftier ranking than it had heading into the Class 4A semifinals.

Connellsville’s Payton Lowry howls in victory with teammates while watching from the dugout as their team scores against Penn-Trafford during WPIAL softball semifinals Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Seton Hill University.

Weather again forces WPIAL to postpone some softball championship games

Mother Nature continues to win out over the WPIAL softball finals.

Top-seeded West Greene captures 4th straight WPIAL softball championship

May 29, 2019

West Greene coach Bill Simms doesn’t mind seeing his team have a target on its back.

WPIAL changes start time for Class 3A softball final between Avonworth, Keystone Oaks

With rain in the forecast, the WPIAL moved up the start time for the Class 3A softball final Wednesday at Peterswood Park.

Hempfield pitcher Callie Sowers delivers during the ninth inning of a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal against Seneca Valley Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Fox Chapel High School.

Sowers latest in long line of top-notch Hempfield pitchers

So often in the WPIAL and PIAA softball playoffs, success or downfall depends on the girl in the chalk-rimmed circle in the middle of the infield.

Union Area’s Halaena Blakley scores behind Leechburg Area’s Kristen Knapp in the first inning during WPIAL A girls softball semifinals Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Hampton Coummnity Park.

WPIAL Class A softball final preview: West Greene vs. Union

May 28, 2019

WPIAL Class A softball championship

Keystone Oaks’ Gia Woods scores against Burrell during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.

WPIAL Class 3A softball finals preview: Avonworth vs. Keystone Oaks

WPIAL Class 3A softball championship

Connellsville players crowd the pitchers mound in celebration of defeating Penn-Trafford 10-4 during WPIAL softball semifinals Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Seton Hill University.

WPIAL Class 5A softball finals preview: Connellsville vs. West Allegheny

WPIAL Class 5A softball championship

Mt. Pleasant’s Haylie Brunson scores past Yough catcher Hannah Christner during their game Monday, April 29, 2019, at Mt. Pleasant Area High School.

Mt. Pleasant’s Haylie Brunson opens recruitment

Another one of the WPIAL’s top sophomore softball players has opened her recruitment.

TribHSSN Softball Player of the Week for games of May 20-25, 2019

May 27, 2019

The Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week is Laurel senior Kayla Ruperto, who helped lead the defending WPIAL Class 2A champions back to the title game.

Knoch shortstop Monica Gourley fields a ball hit by Greensburg Salem’s Kayla Gaughan during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.

Knoch softball team 1 win from 1st berth in state tournament

The Knoch softball team had its eyes on a WPIAL 4A title, but a 4-0 semifinal loss to Elizabeth Forward last week curtailed that goal.

Shaler’s Justin DeSabato (right) and the Titans will play Laurel Highlands for the WPIAL 5A baseball title at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The TribLive High School Sports Network will have exclusive coverage of the WPIAL baseball and softball championship games.

TribLive High School Sports Network broadcasts for week of May 27, 2019

May 26, 2019

Twenty-four teams are ready to battle for district diamond gold this week only here on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

Hempfield is trying to join Sto-Rox as the only softball program to win five consecutive WPIAL titles.

Westmoreland high school notebook: Hempfield softball looks to join elite club

As if Hempfield wasn’t already considered to be among the elite of WPIAL softball, the Spartans can hit a high point this week if they pull off another WPIAL championship.

Mt. Pleasant’s Sydney Kanuch (2) and Haylie Brunson celebrate against Thomas Jefferson during WPIAL softball semifinals Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Seton Hill University.

Westmoreland among the best when it comes to high school softball

Bob Kalp has been involved in high school athletics in various capacities for more than 50 years.

Hempfield’s Laura Fox is greeted by teammates at home plate after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of their WPIAL Class 6A semifinal against Seneca Valley Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Fox Chapel High School.

Westmoreland lookahead for Week of May 27, 2019

TUESDAY

Leechburg Area starting pitcher Emma Ritchie throws against Union Area Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Hampton Coummnity Park.

Leechburg softball focused on consolation prize

Leechburg softball coach Debbi Young has found it can be tough at times to get a team energized for a consolation game after a difficult loss in the semifinals, but she doesn’t foresee that being a problem with her current group.