2024 WPIAL Class 5A softball championship preview: Armstrong vs. Thomas Jefferson

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | 3:27 PM

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2024 WPIAL Class 5A softball championship

No. 1 Armstrong (17-3) vs. No. 10 Thomas Jefferson (11-7)

2:15 p.m. Thursday at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field

On the air: Trib HSSN

How they got here: Armstrong defeated No. 16 Western Beaver, 9-5, in the first round; No. 8 Connellsville, 4-1, in the quarterfinals; and No. 4 Penn-Trafford, 8-6, in the semifinals in eight innings. Thomas Jefferson beat No. 7 South Fayette, 6-4, in the first round; No. 2 North Hills, 6-4, in the quarterfinals; and No. 11 Latrobe, 4-2, in the semifinals.

WPIAL titles: Armstrong 1 (2022); Thomas Jefferson 1 (2014)

Coaches: Keith Shaffer, Armstrong; Heidi Karcher, Thomas Jefferson

Players to watch: Emma Paul, Armstrong; Aubrey Shaffer, Thomas Jefferson

Extra bases: Armstrong, which has reached the district finals four straight seasons, is looking for its second WPIAL title in three years. The team also was PIAA runner-up in 2021 and ‘22. The River Hawks won Section 2 at 9-1. They average nearly 10 runs per game. They won 11 straight games before back-to-back nonsection losses to Neshannock and Pine-Richland earlier this month. Paul, a senior shortstop and Fairmont State recruit, is batting nearly .500 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs. She hit a two-run homer in the semifinals. Senior Jessie Pugh was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. … Thomas Jefferson finished third in Section 4 at 6-4 and has rolled through the playoffs as the No. 10 seed. Shaffer, a freshman pitcher, tossed a four-hitter in the semifinals, allowing two runs with six strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Layla Patterson and sophomore Adalina Bracco each knocked in two runs. The Jaguars won a district title 10 years ago by beating Mars, 5-3, in nine innings.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Armstrong, Thomas Jefferson