2025 WPIAL softball postseason outlook

Here’s a look at the WPIAL softball playoffs, which begin Monday and conclude May 28-29 at PennWest University, California’s Lilley Field.

CLASS 6A

Defending champion: Seneca Valley

No. 1 seed: Hempfield

Best quarterfinal game: Canon-McMillan vs. Pine-Richland

Player to watch: Lexie Hames, Seneca Valley. There isn’t much left to be said about the Raiders’ flame-throwing, home-run smashing superstar that hasn’t already been written. A Clemson recruit and two-time PUP Player of the Year — among several other prestigious honors — Hames has 35 career home runs and more than 900 career strikeouts, and she will attempt to cap off her spectacular career by leading Seneca Valley to its third WPIAL title in the past four seasons.

Sleeper: Pine-Richland. Don’t be fooled by the No. 5 seed — these Rams are more than capable of erupting for an offensive explosion at any time. The highest-scoring team in Class 6A at an average of 10.3 runs per game, Pine-Richland out-slugged defending WPIAL Class 5A champion Armstrong, 27-20, in the final game of the regular season, and the Rams have scored 10 runs or more in 11 of 20 games this season. They also swept the season series against defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Seneca Valley, including a stunning 9-8 comeback win on April 17.

The lowdown: For the third year in a row, No. 1 Hempfield and No. 2 Seneca Valley split their regular-season series — but this time, the Spartans earned the section title outright while finishing 19-1 overall in the regular season. Many are already forecasting a WPIAL championship clash between the teams for the second time in three years, but Hempfield’s stunning upset loss against Norwin in last year’s WPIAL semifinals offered a sobering reminder that anything can happen in the postseason. … After leading the Spartans to their eighth WPIAL championship in an unforgettable extra-innings duel against Raiders ace Lexie Hames in the 2023 Class 6A title game, senior pitcher Riley Miller is looking to cap off her career with a second WPIAL crown. A Kent State recruit, Miller helped Hempfield secure the section title and No. 1 seed with a 1-0 win against Hames and Seneca Valley in the regular-season finale. … Spartans junior Lauren Howard is a Virginia recruit batting .656 with 6 doubles, 6 triples, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs and 35 runs scored, while senior shortstop Allie Cervola is an Ohio recruit hitting .441 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 20 RBIs and 29 runs scored. … For the Raiders, Hames has seven home runs and 18 RBIs in only 34 at-bats this season, drawing 35 walks while posting a slash line of .529/.768/1.294 for an OPS of 2.062. The Clemson recruit has also fanned 243 batters in 99⅔ innings, holding a record of 15-2 with an 0.49 ERA. She struck out 19 in last year’s 4-3 extra-innings win against Norwin in the WPIAL final. … Last year, Norwin put on the glass slipper and shocked Hempfield in the WPIAL semifinals, then the Knights nearly capped off their Cinderella run with a shocking upset against Seneca Valley in the WPIAL title game. Don’t be surprised if they pull off another upset as a No. 6 seed against No. 3 North Allegheny in the quarterfinal round. … Pine-Richland senior catcher Calle Henne is a Pitt recruit batting .583 with 13 home runs, 35 RBIs and a 1.400 slugging percentage for the Rams, and she has yet to strike out all season. Henne also has a flair for the dramatic, as her game-tying grand slam helped Pine-Richland complete a seven-run comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to sweep the season series against Seneca Valley.

Championship picks: Hempfield (Steve Rotstein), Seneca Valley (Brad Everett)

CLASS 5A

Defending champion: Armstrong

No. 1 seed: Penn-Trafford

Best first-round game: Thomas Jefferson vs. Armstrong

Player to watch: Bria Bosiljevac, Shaler. A coveted junior pitcher who has dealt with nagging injuries over the past two seasons, Bosiljevac appears to be rounding back into top form just in time for the postseason. The Indiana recruit helped propel the Titans to the WPIAL and PIAA championship games as a freshman, and her presence in the circle and at the plate will certainly make Shaler one of the top title contenders in Class 5A.

Sleeper: Plum. The third-place finisher in the loaded Class 5A Section 1, the Mustangs enter the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, but they are capable of giving every team in the field a run for their money. Plum has belted a whopping 40 home runs as a team, with Lily DeLuca, Dani Pici and Liana Yusko each tied for the team lead with seven homers apiece. The Mustangs are tied for the No. 4 highest-scoring offense in Class 5A with an average of 9.4 runs per game.

The lowdown: The deepest classification in the WPIAL might be more loaded than ever in 2025, with a handful of legitimate championship front-runners and several dark horses capable of crashing the party. Penn-Trafford was the obvious choice as the No. 1 seed, having won 17 games in a row following a season-opening loss against Hempfield, the top seed in Class 6A. The Warriors are still seeking their first WPIAL title after years of close calls under coach Denny Little, and with stellar senior Cam Ponko leading the way, this could be their best chance yet to bring home the gold. … Shaler coach Tom Sorce has the ultimate ace up his sleeve in Bria Bosiljevac, who is back in the circle as one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL after having her promising sophomore season cut short by a season-ending injury. An Indiana recruit, Bosiljevac will try to lead the No. 2 Titans back to the WPIAL title game for the second time in three seasons. … Despite playing the entire season without star shortstop Aubrey Police, who tore her ACL during a preseason scrimmage, West Allegheny battled its way to a Section 3 title and No. 3 seed under the watchful eye of coach Mindi McFate. Senior catcher Ava Henke is a big reason why, with the Ohio recruit providing steady leadership behind the plate while surpassing 100 hits for her career. … No. 4 North Hills is always a threat to go on a run under longtime coach Libby Gasior, with senior outfielder Alexa Edmunds and junior pitcher Abby Sutton both playing key roles for the Indians this season. As for No. 5 Franklin Regional, the Panthers have a high-powered lineup led by two of the top overall players in the area in seniors Toryn Fulton and Ciara Camacho. … Following its improbable run to the WPIAL title game as a No. 10 seed last season, No. 6 Thomas Jefferson won’t be sneaking up on anybody this time around. After an up-and-down start in the first half of the season, the Jaguars have won six of their past seven games and appear to be heading into the playoffs with plenty of momentum once again. … Defending champion Armstrong has a daunting task ahead in its quest for a fifth consecutive WPIAL championship appearance. The River Hawks enter this year’s tournament as a No. 11 seed, but they are still as dangerous as ever, laying claim to the highest-scoring offense in Class 5A at 10.7 runs per game.

Championship picks: Shaler (Steve Rotstein), Penn-Trafford (Brad Everett)

CLASS 4A

Defending champion: Elizabeth Forward

No. 1 seed: Elizabeth Forward

Best first-round game: Beaver vs. Belle Vernon

Player to watch: Julia Resnik, Elizabeth Forward. Arguably the top shortstop in the area, this Robert Morris recruit claimed PUP Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 before taking home the PUP’s Most Well-Rounded Player award as a sophomore in 2024. Batting .592 with an outstanding OPS of 1.728 while playing her trademark gold-glove defense, Resnik will try to help the Warriors secure back-to-back WPIAL titles in Class 4A.

Sleeper: Beaver. It has been a few years since the Bobcats reigned supreme over Class 4A with two-way superstar Payton List, who is now excelling at JMU following her transfer from Virginia Tech. After a couple of down years, coach Amy Haggart has No. 6 Beaver right back in the thick of the championship chase this season, ranking third in Class 4A with an average of 9.7 runs per game.

The lowdown: Despite graduating standout slugger and lights-out pitcher Shelby Telegdy, defending champion Elizabeth Forward is once again the top seed going into this year’s Class 4A tournament, and the Warriors will surely be a popular pick to bring home their second consecutive WPIAL crown. Senior Julia Johnson has taken over for Telegdy as the team’s No. 1 pitcher, and Elizabeth Forward ranks tops in Class 4A and No. 4 in the WPIAL with an average of 10.8 runs per game. Junior shortstop Julia Resnik is a Robert Morris recruit slashing .592/.688/1.041 with 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 23 RBIs and 31 runs scored. … No. 2 Hampton is hoping for revenge after a one-sided loss against the Warriors in last year’s WPIAL title game. The Talbots have put together another solid campaign, going unbeaten in section play despite the graduation of star catcher Mackenzie Reese, who is now playing at Pitt. … Riding a 17-game win streak earlier this week, No. 3 Knoch appeared to have the top seed in its sights, but the Knights had the wind taken out of their sails with a pair of back-to-back losses against Laurel and Shaler. Can they rediscover their winning ways in time to make a run at the title? … No. 4 West Mifflin rebounded from a 2-3 start to win 13 of its past 16 games, with the Titans picking up a pair of non-section wins against Bethel Park and Frazier to close out the regular season. No. 5 Blackhawk and No. 6 Beaver tied for second place behind Hampton in Section 3, and both the Cougars and Bobcats will be looking to play spoiler on their way to the championship game.

Championship picks: Elizabeth Forward (Steve Rotstein), Elizabeth Forward (Brad Everett)

CLASS 3A

Defending champion: Mohawk

No. 1 seed: South Park

Best first-round game: Southmoreland vs. Hopewell

Player to watch: Sydney Sekely, South Park. In the midst of a remarkable two-year stretch few pitchers in WPIAL history can match, Sekely led the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and the No. 1 seed for this year’s Class 3A tournament after coming up short in last year’s WPIAL title game against Mohawk. A junior, Sekely is 16-0 on the season with an 0.50 ERA, 162 strikeouts, 12 shutouts and three perfect games.

Sleeper: McGuffey. Speaking of Sekely and South Park, not many teams have given the Eagles’ ace more of a fight than the Highlanders, who gave the Eagles all they could handle in a 5-3 defeat on the road on April 11. McGuffey senior Makenna Crothers has a 1.95 ERA with 104 strikeouts to 19 walks in 82⅔ innings pitched, while freshman Miley Main is batting .455 with a team-leading 17 RBIs on the year.

The lowdown: Last year, everybody was gunning for Avonworth while the Antelopes attempted to secure a WPIAL championship three-peat. In the end, it was the Mohawk Warriors who came away with their first WPIAL title in school history after a 9-2 win against South Park. The top-two seeds could be on a collision course for a championship rematch this year. … Junior pitcher Sydney Sekely led the No. 1 Eagles to an undefeated regular season, posting a 16-0 record with an 0.50 ERA, 0.49 WHIP and 162 strikeouts to only seven walks in 83⅔ innings pitched. Senior outfielder Kylie Mettrick and junior first baseman Grace Kempton have also had big years at the plate for South Park. … While No. 2 Mohawk knows how to score runs in bunches, the Warriors fell a bit flat during a three-game skid to end the regular season. Still, Mohawk’s potent offense features a handful of impact players who know how to win big games. Junior first baseman Lydia Cole is batting .420 with 9 doubles, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs, and fellow junior Addy Moskal is hitting .527 with 10 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. … Despite losing a crop of talented seniors from last year’s team, Avonworth is right back in the thick of the championship hunt. Seniors Emma Obersteiner and Sydney Savatt have picked up the slack while powering the Lopes to the No. 4 seed. … No. 3 Ellwood City, No. 5 Mount Pleasant and No. 6 McGuffey all have what it takes to go all the way, making this arguably the most wide-open playoff field of any classification this spring.

Championship picks: South Park (Steve Rotstein), Mohawk (Brad Everett)

CLASS 2A

Defending champion: Neshannock

No. 1 seed: Neshannock

Best first-round game: South Allegheny vs. Bentworth

Player to watch: Addy Frye, Neshannock. The Lancers have a handful of players to choose from, but Frye stands out as not only a consistent power-hitting threat in the heart of Neshannock’s order but also one of the best pitchers the WPIAL has seen in recent years. In the circle, “The Great 8” is 15-0 on the year with an 0.56 ERA, and she holds a career record of 72-1 with more than 600 strikeouts along with 24 career home runs.

Sleeper: Frazier. After moving back up from Class 1A, the No. 4 Commodores claimed the Class 2A Section 4 title while losing three games overall by a combined total of four runs. Frazier owns notable non-section wins against the likes of South Allegheny and Belle Vernon, and coach Don Hartman always has his team ready for the postseason. Sleep on the Commodores at your own risk.

The lowdown: All eyes were on Class 2A as the unofficial main event of last year’s WPIAL championships, when Neshannock captured its third consecutive WPIAL title in a highly anticipated showdown against Bentworth and freshman phenom Sydney Gonglik. An injury is preventing Gonglik from pitching this season, but a new challenger has emerged to the top-seeded Lancers’ throne in the form of No. 2 Chartiers-Houston. The Buccaneers are coming off a WPIAL Class 1A title last season, and they returned virtually their entire starting lineup from last year’s team while bumping up to Class 2A. If they meet Neshannock in this year’s title game, it could go down as one of the biggest clashes of defending champions in WPIAL history. … Like Chartiers-Houston, the Lancers also have almost every key player back from last year’s unit, including the “Fantastic Four” of senior pitcher Addy Frye, senior third baseman Gabby Quinn, senior outfielder Miley Anderson and junior outfielder Jaidon Nogay. Frye is a Providence recruit, while Quinn, Anderson and Nogay are each committed to play at Kent State. … Bucs senior pitcher Meadow Ferri is also a Kent State recruit, while her battery mate, senior catcher Ella Richey, is the reigning Pennsylvania Class 1A Player of the Year. Chartiers-Houston shortstop Lauren Rush is also an all-state selection. … Don’t pencil in the championship matchup just yet without considering No. 3 Laurel, though. Coming off an eye-opening win to snap Knoch’s 17-game win streak, the Spartans know archrival Neshannock better than anybody, and they always give the Lancers a competitive game. … No. 4 Frazier and No. 5 South Allegheny met earlier this season, with the Commodores emerging victorious in a non-section clash, 9-4. They could meet again in the quarterfinal round for the right to take on Neshannock in the WPIAL semifinals, and both teams have plenty of firepower.

Championship picks: Neshannock (Steve Rotstein), Neshannock (Brad Everett)

CLASS 1A

Defending champion: Chartiers-Houston

No. 1 seed: Union

Best first-round game: South Side vs. Leechburg

Player to watch: Carys McConnell, Carmichaels. A speedy junior shortstop who always seems to shine in big moments, McConnell is batting .550 with five home runs, 27 RBIs and a .975 slugging percentage for the Mighty Mikes on the year. After leading Carmichaels to the WPIAL finals as a freshman and the state finals as a sophomore, it shouldn’t surprise anybody if McConnell has more playoff magic in store for the Mighty Mikes.

Sleeper: Jeannette. The No. 8 Jayhawks might be flying under the radar going into the postseason, but they are still a dangerous ballclub with one of the top pitchers in Class 1A in junior Grace Stein. For the season, Stein is 12-4 with an 0.77 ERA and 176 strikeouts to just 13 walks in 90.2 innings pitched, and she is batting .432 with 11 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs.

The lowdown: The top-two seeds here appear to be a step above the rest of the competition, but remember — anything can happen in the postseason. That being said, it would be a major shock to see anybody other than No. 1 Union and No. 2 Carmichaels squaring off for the Class 1A title at Lilley Field later this month. The two teams met in a memorable back-and-forth affair in the 2023 WPIAL Class 1A championship game, with the Scotties rallying for a 10-8 win and their second consecutive title. They went on to fall just short of a WPIAL championship three-peat, suffering a 9-5 defeat against Chartiers-Houston in last year’s WPIAL final. … Senior pitcher Mia Preuhs has already pitched in three WPIAL title games for Union, and she is attempting to polish off her decorated career with a third gold medal. Preuhs already has more than 600 career strikeouts to go with a school-record 27 career home runs. … Despite a pair of razor-close losses during the regular season against Neshannock and Chartiers-Houston, the Scotties received the top seed for this year’s Class 1A tournament over the undefeated Mighty Mikes. That may give Carmichaels all the added fuel it needs to avenge its 2023 championship defeat, as if the Mighty Mikes weren’t already motivated enough. Together, junior shortstop Carys McConnell and junior pitcher Bailey Barnyak team up to form one of the top tandems in the WPIAL, and they would love nothing more than to bring Carmichaels its first WPIAL title since 1998. … If anybody is capable of knocking off one of the top two seeds, it could be No. 3 West Greene. The Pioneers used to reign supreme over Class 1A, capturing five consecutive WPIAL crowns from 2016-21 under coach Bill Simms.

Championship picks: Union (Steve Rotstein), Carmichaels (Brad Everett)