WPIAL SOFTBALL
Seneca Valley surprised a lot of teams last year when, led by a first-year coach and a freshman pitcher, it won the school’s first WPIAL softball title in 23 years.
This year, the Raiders aren’t going to be catching anyone off guard as they look to defend their title in a season that starts Friday for softball teams in Pennsylvania.
“I think, last year, I was just trying to figure out how to coach varsity softball and I had a really good senior class who helped me a lot,” Seneca Valley coach Marlesse Hames said.
Part of the reason why last season’s run to a WPIAL title and the state championship game was so unpredictable was Seneca Valley was coming off the COVID-19 shutdown season in 2020 and a 2021 campaign in which it was 4-6 in section play and missed the playoffs. Another was that pitcher Lexie Hames,the coach’s daughter, was an unproven commodity at the varsity level.
All she did was go 14-6 with a 1.50 earned run average and 150 strikeouts while also being one of the big thumpers in the Raiders’ lineup, batting .380 with 14 homers, 35 RBIs and being selected first team all-state.
Now, Lexie will have to do it with the full spotlight on her. Seneca Valley is the Post-Gazette’s preseason No. 1 team in WPIAL Class 6A.
This year will bring new challenges for all the teams in Class 6A. Because of the biennial PIAA realignment, there are now only nine teams in the classification, with six qualifying for the playoffs.
With only one Class 6A section, it also means teams will play 16 of their maximum 20 contests within the classification. Because of that, there will be heightened pressure to makeevery game count.
Class 6A
This is an anything-canhappen classification. Remember, Seneca Valley finished third in its section last year and went all the way to the state final.
Mt. Lebanon was upset by North Allegheny in the
WPIAL quarterfinals last year but has plenty back to make a run at its first title since 2010. The Blue Devils return senior all-section selections Kate Borza, Brooke Boehmer and Deirdre Flaherty.
If there’s one constant in WPIAL softball, it’s to not sleep on Hempfield. The Spartans won five titles from 2015-19 and were the No. 1 seed last year before losing to Seneca Valley in the semifinals.
Hempfield always has pitching, and junior Riley Miller is among the best in the classification. Throw in a couple of top college recruits in junior outfielder Maggie Howard (Georgetown) and junior infielder Peyton Heisler (Penn) and the Spartans have all the makings of a contender.
Class 5A
Armstrong needed some serious drama to win the WPIAL Class 5A championship last year and Jenna Clontz provided it with a walk-off homer.
Not only was it the first title in Armstrong history but the first for the Armstrong School District.
This year will be different for the River Hawks as they enter as defending champions with the expectation of winning not only the WPIAL but the school’s first state title.
Armstrong returns a host of players, beginning with senior pitcher Cameryn Sprankle. The River Hawks also have junior second baseman Emma Paul, senior catcher Isabelle Atherton and senior outfielder Emma Smerick to go along with Clontz, a senior.
Bethel Park won the Class 6A title in 2022 and may be in a bit of a restructuring year, but the Black Hawks are always formidable.
Perhaps Armstrong’s biggest challenger will once again be Penn-Trafford, which lost to the River Hawks in both the WPIAL finals and the state semifinals.
Class 4A
There was probably a lot of rejoicing in Class 4A when Beaver’s Payton List finally graduated. That’s how dominant she was for the two-time defending WPIAL champions. With her gone, the classification is now wide open.
Beaver has some solid returning starters. Sophomore catcher Sami Springman brings a nice presence behind the dish, while sophomore infielder Taylor Young and senior Kayla Cornell are all-section returnees.
While Beaver reloads, Elizabeth Forward may be ready to pounce. The Warriors have all the pieces, with junior pitcher Shelby Telegdy, senior outfielder Lauren Vay and sophomore infielder Alivia Grimm ready to take center stage.
Class 3A
Avonworth made it look really easy last year in winning the WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A titles. The Antelopes won every game they played by at least three runs and dominated Lewisburg in the statechampionship game, 7-2.
Looking at what they have back, the rest of the WPIAL should be afraid. Junior Alivia Lantzy finished last season 18-4 with a 0.48 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 138 innings. She also hit .339 with 12 RBIs. The Antelopes have their full battery back with junior catcher Rylee Gray, as well as sophomore infielder Sydney Savatt and junior outfielder Leah Kuban.
If Avonworth is to be challenged, it may come from inside its own section, as the team will have to square off twice with WPIAL runnerup Deer Lakes, thanks to realignment.
Class 2A
Defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Neshannock has sophomore ace Addy Frye back. Last season, she was 21-0 with a 0.83 ERA, 172 strikeouts and 15 walks in 110 innings. She also hit .447 with eighthomers and 49 RBIs.
Although the Lancers will lose something without Neleh Nogay, there’s plenty to work with. Neshannock returns a plethora of all-section selections including junior catcher Gabby Perod, senior infielders Hunter Newman and Aaralyn Nogay and sophomore designated player Abigale Measel.
Class 1A
Union beat the giant when it knocked off five-time champion West Greene to claim the school’s first title and has a lot back to make another run. Sophomore pitcher Mia Preuhs was 14-1 with a 1.74 ERA while batting .524 with a 1.015 slugging percentage. Sophomore outfielder Addison Nogay and junior infielder Tori May were also allsection selections.
Don’t count out West Greene. The Pioneers nearly pulled it out last year and have several key players back, including catcher London Whipkey.
Frazier may have been blown out in the WPIAL Class 2A final last year, but the Commodores have some talent back with senior infielder Leena Henderson and senior outfielder Jensyn Hartman. The importance of Commodores junior pitcher Nicole Palmer cannot be ignored, especially with the move down in classification.