2014 WPIAL SOFTBALL PREVIEW

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 24, 2014 | 2:52 PM

With a new season upon us and WPIAL section play scheduled to start for some on Monday, March 24th, MSA Sports takes a look at some of the softball players and the teams to watch for this 2014 campaign. Will anybody knock Canon-McMillan off their district and state perch in Quad A? Will Greensburg-Salem, Riverside and Neshannock be able to repeat as WPIAL champs this spring after winning district gold a year ago? Those are some of the questions that will be answered over the next six weeks.

MSA Sports will have weekly rankings every Tuesday during the regular season, plus broadcasts and updated standings daily leading up to our exclusive coverage of the WPIAL Softball Playoffs only here on the MSA Sports Network.

WPIAL Class AAAA Preseason Top Ten:
(Final 2013 record in parenthesis)

1)   Canon-McMillan Big Macs  (25-1)

2)   North Allegheny Tigers  (18-6)

3)   Hempfield Spartans  (18-7)

4)   McKeesport Tigers  (17-5)

5)   Latrobe Wildcats  (15-5)

6)   Shaler Titans  (13-6)

7)   Baldwin Highlanders  (11-9)

8)   Bethel Park Black Hawks  (10-8)

9)   Woodland Hills Wolverines  (8-6)

10)   Peters Township Indians  (18-6)

WPIAL Class AAAA Players to Watch:

Maddy Wensel – Norwin
Shelby Noel – Latrobe
Ashley Perillo – Latrobe
Ashleigh Yanniruberto – Penn-Trafford
Kasey Kolick – Hempfield
Alaina Montgomery – Hempfield
Michaela LeDonne – Hempfield
Ufuoma Ogagon – Gateway
Jordan Seneca – Plum
Kelsey Geyer – Woodland Hills
Nicole Welsh – Woodland Hills
Morgan Murphy – Woodland Hills
Vanessa Falce – McKeesport
Kai Gooden – McKeesport
Jessica Beitler – McKeesport
Sami Beining – North Allegheny
Christine Scherer – North Allegheny
Laura Cotter – North Allegheny
Alexa Sisko – Seneca Valley
Jess Neill – Seneca Valley
Maura Kelly – PIne-Richland
Brianna Dobson – Shaler
Abby McCartney – Canon-McMillan
Olivia Larusso – Canon-McMillan
Linda Rush – Canon-McMillan
Molly Welsh – Bethel Park
Mallory O’Brien – Bethel Park
Jen Rimmel – Bethel Park
Karsen Rooney – Upper St. Clair
Kellyn Perich – Peters Township

WPIAL Class AAA Preseason Top Ten:
(Final 2013 record in parenthesis)

1)   Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions  (22-3)

2)   Ambridge Bridgers  (18-5)

3)   Elizabeth Forward Warriors  (17-5)

4)   Trinity Hillers  (12-5)

5)   Blackhawk Cougars  (11-6)

6)   West Allegheny Indians  (13-8)

7)   Highlands Golden Rams  (8-7)

8)   West Mifflin Titans  (17-6)

9)   South Park Eagles  (14-6)

10)   Knoch Knights  (9-8)

WPIAL Class AAA Players to Watch:

Megan Davis – Blackhawk
Heather Barrett – Blackhawk
Susie Blyth – Ellwood City
Christina Evans – New Castle
Kelly Haslett – Ambridge
Jessica Koshinski – Central Valley
Malory Gerst – Montour
Delaney Elling – Trinity
Olivia Gray – Trinity
Brooke Beck – Trinity
Deanna Watson – Moon
Emily Garvin – West Allegheny
Ashley Iagnemma – South Fayette
Karlie Tomich – Yough
Rachael Bowers – Thomas Jefferson
Caitlyn Arico – Elizabeth Forward
Jen Keefer – Elizabeth Forward
Nicole Ashcraft – Belle Vernon
Lexie Ruzzi – South Park
Paige Hertzog – Mount Pleasant
Claire Oberdorf – Greensburg-Salem
Karly Mellinger – Greensburg-Salem
Jordan Saghy – Laurel Highlands
Tiffany Markovitch – Brownsville
Jenna Nypaver – Uniontown
Danielle Voytko – Highlands
Cassidy Runyan – Highlands
Erin Hershman – Mars
Breanna Lent – Hampton
Bethany Hay – Knoch
Abbi Smithmyer – Knoch

WPIAL Class AA Preseason Top Ten:
(Final 2013 record in parenthesis)

1)   Riverside Panthers  (22-1)

2)   Deer Lakes Lancers  (19-2)

3)   Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers  (19-2)

4)   Beaver Bobcats  (11-8)

5)   Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions  (11-5)

6)   McGuffey Highlanders  (15-6)

7)   Seton-LaSalle Rebels  (12-2)

8)   Burrell Buccaneers  (14-5)

9)   Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles  (10-6)

10)   Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers  (8-7)

WPIAL Class AA Players to Watch:

Taylor Mercurio – Seton-LaSalle
Dani Dadig – Seton-LaSalle
Lauren Zola – Seton-LaSalle
Taylor Diperna – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Emily Duerr – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Amanda D’Ottavio – Avonworth
Meghan Staab – Keystone Oaks
Eryn Caragein – Keystone Oaks
Jordan Melko – Carlynton
Sammie Weiss – McGuffey
Cassie Weiss – McGuffey
Megan Shultz – McGuffey
Haley Sutton – Chartiers-Houston
Megan Kraushaar – Chartiers-Houston
Kassie Kesneck – Chartiers-Houston
Hannah Gibbons – Waynesburg
Jenna Henry – Waynesburg
Aubree Yates – Bentworth
Jaila Manga – Burrell
Ashley Syzmkoviak – Burrell
Siera Sarver – Deer Lakes
Tiffany Edwards – Deer Lakes
Bethany Meyer – Ford City
Carolyn Appleby – Greensburg Central Catholic
Sierra Mathos – Greensburg Central Catholic
Nikki Adisey – Greensburg Central Catholic
Alexis Gaughen – Brentwood
Spencer Lawson – South Allegheny
Anjie Tilghman – Charleroi
Maddie Cotter – Steel Valley
Bella Valent – Beaver
Jen Kondracki – Beaver
Casey Farkasovsky – Beaver
Natalie Pritts – Riverside
Brooke Barker – Riverside
Leah Woytek – Mohawk
Callie Master – Beaver Falls

WPIAL Class A Preseason Top Ten:
(Final 2013 record in parenthesis)

1)   Neshannock Lancers  (21-3)

2)   Carmichaels Mighty Mikes  (22-4)

3)   Burgettstown Blue Devils  (17-6)

4)   South Side Rams  (14-5)

5)   Shenango Wildcats  (15-7)

6)   Serra Catholic Eagles  (11-7)

7)   Frazier Commodores  (18-4)

8)   Leechburg Blue Devils  (11-6)

9)   Riverview Raiders  (11-8)

10)   Vincentian Academy Royals  (8-6)

WPIAL Class A Players to Watch:

Caley Ritts – Burgettstown
Morgan Ellek – Burgettstown
Bry Lonick – Burgettstown
Lexi Pilch – Bishop Canevin
Katie Maloney – Sewickley Academy
D.J. Simonelli – Avella
Reagan Rush – Jefferson-Morgan
Cara Grogan – Monessen
Allie Taylor – Serra Catholic
Amy McNeill – Serra Catholic
Caroline Cree – Carmichaels
Erica Burns – Carmichaels
Monica Joseph – Frazier
Bailey Bennington – West Greene
Kelsey Hunter – Vincentian Academy
Kim Corcoran – Vincentian Academy
Sadie Buscher – Riverview
Nikki Anderson – Riverview
Lindsey Rowe – Leechburg
Miranda Reeseman – Leechburg
Monica Carl – Jeannette
Amanda Klawinski – St. Joseph
Marissa Kirkwood – Neshannock
Marrisa DeMatteo – Neshannock
Allie Fischer – Neshannock
Madison Shaffer – Neshannock
Jaylen Young – Quigley Catholic
Connor McGaffic – South Side
Cheyenne Seik – South Side
Alyssa White – Shenango
Kim Burdett – Shenango
Macy Rubin – Shenango
Christina Bertolino – Union