Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL softball playoff capsules: Games of Monday, May 14, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, May 12, 2018 | 11:30 PM

Class 5A

First round

No. 7 Kiski Area (10-6) vs. No. 10 Mars (10-8)

4 p.m. Monday at Hampton

Winner plays: No. 2 Albert Gallatin (11-3)

Extra bases: After ending a six-season playoff drought last season, Kiski Area returns for the second consecutive year. The Cavaliers lost to Montour in the first round in 2017. Kiski Area tied for third place in Section 1-5A and clinched a playoff spot by beating Armstrong in its final game. The Cavaliers won their final four games, including a 4-0 shutout of Penn-Trafford, the third-seeded team in the Class 5A bracket. Junior Megan Andree pitched a perfect game against Gateway on April 27. … Mars finishing third in Section 3-5A behind West Allegheny and Moon to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Planets went 2-15 last season. Senior Izzy Berkopec is a Birmingham Southern recruit.

Class 2A

First round

No. 13 Apollo-Ridge (6-6) vs. No. 4 Mohawk (12-1)

2 p.m. Monday at Hampton

Winner plays: No. 5 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (14-3) or No. 12 OLSH (6-6)

Extra bases: Apollo-Ridge made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2003 and got back this season after finishing third in Section 2-2A. The team fell to Serra Catholic in the first round. The Vikings did struggle in the second half of the season, losing four of their final six games. Pitcher Mollie Charlton and center fielder Teresa DeSimone are among Apollo-Ridge's top players and hitters. … Mohawk won the Section 4-2A title and 11 of 12 section games. The Warriors lost in the first round last season to Avonworth. This season, Mohawk's lone loss came to Laurel. The Warriors can put up runs in bunches, reaching double digits 10 times — including a 26-run outburst against Vincentian.

Class A

First round

No. 7 Riverview (11-4) vs. No. 10 Quigley Catholic (6-6)

2 p.m. Monday at Plum

Winner plays: No. 2 Monessen (13-3)

Extra bases: Riverview is in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after tying St. Joseph for second place in Section 3-A. The Raiders, who lost to Monessen in the first round last season, are seeking their first postseason victory since 2012. After splitting its first six games of the season, Riverview went on an eight-game winning streak that ended in its section finale. Included in the run was a nonsection win over Class 2A playoff team Serra Catholic. Carys Kenny-Howell, a Simon Fraser recruit, leads the pitching staff. Sophomore Alyssa Cappa is hitting .490 with three triples and four homers. … Quigley Catholic is making its first WPIAL playoff appearance since 2007. The Spartans, the fourth-place team from Section 1-A, exceeded 20 runs on three separate occasions this season. Taylor Kirschner leads Quigley in hitting.

No. 8 St. Joseph (10-3) vs. No. 9 Western Beaver (7-5)

6 p.m. Monday at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: No. 1 West Greene (16-4)

Extra bases: St. Joseph made the playoffs for the first time in its history last season and beat Cornell in the first round. The Spartans boast a prolific offense, exceeding double digits in runs in nine of their 10 victories. Seniors Anna Swierczewski, a Franciscan recruit, Serena Edgar and Calley Neelan, junior Shelby Gogal and sophomore Ava Swanson are among the Spartans' top hitters. Gogal and Swierczewski split the pitching responsibilities. … Western Beaver, the third-place team from Section 1-A, lost to Bishop Canevin in last season's first round. The Golden Beavers also have a strong offense, scoring more than 10 runs in all seven of their victories this season.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Kiski School, Mars, Mohawk, Quigley Catholic, Riverview, St. Joseph