Westmoreland high school softball playoff preview capsules for May 13, 2024

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 4:06 PM

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WPIAL playoffs

Class 5A

First round

4-Penn-Trafford (12-5) vs. 13-Bethel Park (10-9)

5 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin

Winner plays: Winner of 5-Shaler (14-3)/12-Franklin Regional (10-8) on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Cam Ponko, Penn-Trafford; Becky Gillenberger, Bethel Park

Extra bases: Penn-Trafford defeated Bethel Park early in the season 10-3. The Warriors had a bounce-back regular season after finishing 6-12 last season and losing in the first round. They have won 6 of 7, including a 2-1 victory over 6A North Allegheny. Penn-Trafford has only two seniors in Mack Keenan and Erin Drotos, a pair of of performers. Ponko, Keenan and Lorryn Sepe homered against Bethel Park. … Bethel Park, the fourth-place team from Section 4, lost to Shaler in the first round last season. The Black Hawks average 5.2 runs and allow 5.2. Gillenberger went 2 for 3 with two RBIs in a loss to Penn-Trafford.

12-Franklin Regional (10-8) vs. 5-Shaler (14-3)

4 p.m. Monday at Plum

Winner plays: Winner of 4-Penn-Trafford (12-5)/13-Bethel Park (10-9) on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Toryn Fulton, Franklin Regional; Taylor London, Shaler

Extra bases: This is a quarterfinal rematch from last season when Shaler won 7-0. Franklin Regional relies heavily on the offensive production of Fulton, a South Florida commit, and catcher Ciara Camacho (Kent State). Fulton is hitting over .600 with 25 runs. … Shaler was dealt a brutal blow with a season-ending injury to star pitcher Bria Bosiljevac. Still, the Titans pack a punch offensively, scoring nine or more runs seven times. Jayla Antomachi and London are hitting better than .500. The Titans made the WPIAL semis and PIAA finals last season.

11-Latrobe (9-10) vs. 6-Trinity (11-5)

5 p.m. Monday at Montour

Winner plays: Winner of 14-Fox Chapel/3-West Allegheny on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Kayla Williams, Latrobe; Taylor Lawrence, Trinity

Extra bases: Latrobe finished third in Section 2 behind Armstrong and Penn-Trafford. Williams, a Slippery Rock commit, is a key pitcher and hitter. Last season, the Wildcats reached the quarterfinals and lost to Trinity, 13-3. Latrobe has been busy. It played four games after completing its section schedule. … Defending WPIAL champion Trinity was the Section 4 co-champion with Connellsville, which earned the No. 8 seed. The Hillers, who made the PIAA quarterfinals, have 28 doubles, 10 triples and 13 homers. Lawrence is hitting .469 with five homers and 17 RBIs. Freshman Zea Sullivan has been impressive. She also has five homers to go with 33 RBIs.

Class 4A

First round

6-Belle Vernon (13-6) vs. 11-Blackhawk (7-7)

4 p.m. Monday at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.

Winner plays: 3-Indiana (13-5) on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Gracie Sokol, Belle Vernon; Zoe Linder, Blackhawk

Extra bases: Belle Vernon is chasing a WPIAL title repeat. The Leopards overcame season-ending injuries to pitcher Talia Ross and power hitter Ava Zubovic to finish tied for second in Section 2 with Uniontown and return to the postseason. Belle Vernon averages more than eight runs. Gracie Sokol and Katie Sokol are key hitters. … Blackhawk came in fourth in Section 3 behind high-scoring Hampton, Chartiers Valley and Montour. The Cougars did not win more than two games in a row all season.

10-Greensburg Salem (8-12) vs. 7-Knoch (13-6)

6 p.m. Monday at Plum

Winner plays: 2-Hampton (15-4) on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Alle Scarpa, Greensburg Salem; Marlee Fraser, Knoch

Extra bases: Greensburg Salem won its last three section games to lock up a playoff spot. Scarpa is a talented sophomore with some power in her deliveries. Slugger Gionnah Ruffner is a Seton Hall commit who can clear the bases. … Knoch, a quarterfinalist last season, finished second in Section 1 behind Indiana. Four of the Knights losses are via shutout. Fraser is a strikeout pitcher who has fanned more than 100, and Knoch does not walk a lot of hitters. The Knights returned six starters.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford