2024 WPIAL Class 4A softball championship preview: Elizabeth Forward vs. Hampton

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | 5:36 PM

2024 WPIAL Class 4A softball championship

No. 1 Elizabeth Forward (19-1) vs. No. 2 Hampton (17-4)

4:30 p.m. Thursday at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field

On the air: Trib HSSN

How they got here: Elizabeth Forward defeated No. 9 West Mifflin, 10-0, in the quarterfinals; and No. 4 Chartiers Valley, 7-2, in the semifinals. Hampton beat No. 7 Knoch, 11-2, in the quarterfinals; and No. 11 Blackhawk, 11-0, in the semifinals.

WPIAL titles: Elizabeth Forward 1 (2019); Hampton 0

Coaches: Harry Rutherford, Elizabeth Forward; Katie Hedderman, Hampton

Players to watch: Julia Resnick, Elizabeth Forward; Mackenzie Reese, Hampton

Extra bases: This game is a rematch of last year’s WPIAL quarterfinal contest won by Elizabeth Forward, 9-3. … The Warriors hope to return to the top of the heap in Class 4A for the first time in five years. EF has won 10 games in a row since its only loss of the season, a one-run setback to Class 6A power Hempfield. The Warriors are averaging 10.5 runs over their 20 games. EF collected 10 hits in last week’s semifinal win over Chartiers Valley when it broke open a tie game with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Sophomore Addyson Nigut went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, while senior Shelby Telegdy (2 for 3), sophomore Aubri Cimba (2 for 2, double) and senior Carlee Soukup (three RBIs) had big offensive games against the Colts. Telegdy pitched six innings and gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out 10. Telegdy and Resnick lead the team with 27 and 26 RBIs, respectively. … Hampton won the Section 3 title with an 11-1 record en route to earning the No. 2 seed. The Talbots match EF in runs scored as they are averaging 10.1 per game. Hampton dropped down to 4A last spring after several years in Class 5A. Hampton finished off a season sweep of section rival Blackhawk with last week’s semifinal victory which featured a five-inning no-hitter from Talbots freshman Marissa Snyder. She struck out five and also helped her own cause with a pair of RBIs. Senior Charlotte Lomb hit a home run, and Reese, also a senior, doubled and finished with two RBIs. It was the 13th time this season Hampton scored 10 or more runs in a game. It also was the Talbots’ seventh shutout of the 2024 season. Reese, Pitt commit, is batting better than .550 to lead Hampton.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Hampton