2025 WPIAL Class A softball preseason breakdown

By: Bill Hartlep
Friday, March 14, 2025 | 11:31 PM

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Union’s two-year run as the WPIAL’s top Class A softball team was stopped by Chartiers-Houston last spring, but the Scotties return a decorated lineup in their chase to regain the title.

The Scotties have won five straight section championships and have two WPIAL titles and three runner-up finishes, plus a PIAA silver medal, in that five-year span.

While Chartiers-Houston moved up to Class 2A in the offseason, Union will have some competition for the top spot, notably Carmichaels, last year’s state runner-up in Class A.

Here is a look at the 2025 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class A softball.

Preseason Top 5

1. Union (20-3 last season)

After rolling to the Section 1 title at 12-0, the Scotties fell to Chartiers-Houston in the WPIAL championship game and were ousted in the PIAA first round. Six starters return to a lineup that averaged 12.3 runs per game. The group includes three first-team all-state players — junior first baseman Olivia Williams (.500), a Findlay recruit; senior outfielder Addie Nogay (.422), who will play Fairmont State; and junior DP Olivia Benedict (.492). Senior pitcher Mia Preuhs, a Canisius commit who was 14-3 and also hit .397 last season, and sophomore catcher Irelyn Fisher (.456) were second-team all-state.

2. Carmichaels (19-4)

Carmichaels returns nine starters from a team that made a run to the PIAA title game last season. After falling in the WPIAL semifinals, Carmichaels rebounded to win the third-place game and then three PIAA tournament games before falling to DuBois Central Catholic in the state final. The Mighty Mikes are looking for their first WPIAL title since going back to back in 1997-98. Junior pitcher Bailey Barnyak (18-3, 1.30 ERA, 228 Ks) and junior shortstop Carys McConnell (.518, 8 HR, 39 RBIs) are each two-time all-state selections. Senior catcher Kaitlyn Waggett and senior first baseman Ali Jacobs, a Salem commit, were second-team all-state. Senior second baseman Ashton Batis also is back after missing last season with an injury.

3. West Greene (13-10)

The Pioneers, who won five straight WPIAL Class A titles from 2016-21, reached the WPIAL semifinals last season with a lineup that averaged 7.7 runs per game. Seven starters return, including Marissa Tharp (.300, 28 runs), a second-team all-state outfielder, and Payton Gilbert (10-8, 91 Ks, .434, 32 RBIs), a second-team all-state pitcher/infielder. Junior third baseman Emmaline Beazell (.324, 18 RBIs) was all-section, 2B/pitcher Sammi Zimmerman hit .323 with 16 RBIs as a freshman, and catcher Kylee Davis (.333) also returns.

4. Jeannette (12-3)

The Jayhawks return eight starters after finishing second in Section 3 at 10-2 and reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals. They averaged 7.1 runs while allowing just 2.0 last season. Junior pitcher Grace Stein is back after earning second-team all-state recognition and is on track to play after an injury in the fall. She went 12-3 with a 1.02 ERA and 202 strikeouts last season.

5. South Side (13-5)

South Side averaged 11.3 runs per game last season while finishing 10-2 in Section 1 and reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals. Five starters return, including three all-section selections in catcher Karis Dunham (.529, 27 RBIs), pitcher Maya Ringhoff and outfielder Madison Morrow.

Players to watch

Bailey Barnyak, jr., P, Carmichaels

Emmaline Beazell, jr., INF, West Greene

Olivia Benedict, jr., DP, Union

Keira Church, so., INF, Sewickley Academy

Grace Clingenpeel, jr., C, Monessen

Karis Dunham, sr., C, South Side

Ava Ferretti, sr., INF, Leechburg

Irelyn Fisher, so., C, Union

Payton Gilbert, sr., INF, West Greene

Joey Hurst, jr., P, Monessen

Ali Jacobs, sr., 1B, Carmichaels

Kendra Jones, sr., INF, Monessen

Keira Lamp, so., OF, Beth-Center

Carys McConnell, jr., SS, Carmichaels

Kelly Morrissey, jr., P, Serra Catholic

Madison Morrow, so., OF, South Side

Addie Nogay, sr., OF, Union

Mia Preuhs, sr., P, Union

Avrey Rado, so., DP, Avella

Maya Ringhoff, so., P, South Side

Quincy Sirko, sr., DP, Sewickley Academy

Grace Stein, jr., P, Jeannette

Marissa Tharp, sr., OF, West Greene

Kaitlyn Waggett, sr., C, Carmichaels

Olivia Williams, jr., INF, Union

Diamond notes

• Class A gained four teams that all dropped down — Beth-Center (Section 2) and Ellis School, Greensburg Central Catholic and Serra Catholic (Section 3). In addition, Bishop Canevin moved from Section 3 to 1.

• Rochester (4-10) has a small roster and will rely on several freshmen to step in right away. The Rams return four starters, including Bella Zupcic, who is moving from third base to catcher.

• Sewickley Academy (2-10) will try to maintain momentum built in the second half of the season. Two all-section players return in senior 3B/P Quincy Sirko (.571) and sophomore shortstop Keira Church (.484).

• Mapletown (5-10) returns six starters, including leading hitter Makenna Lotspeich, a junior shortstop/catcher.

• Beth-Center (6-9) will lean on shortstop Kendall Welsh (.489), 2B Allison Lynch (.318) and all-section centerfielder Kiera Lamp (.419) as it moves down from Class 2A.

• Avella (7-13) returns nine starters, including sophomore all-section DP/pitcher Avrey Rado (.592, 20 RBIs), as well as 3B Taylor Shirley (.396) and outfielder Haleigh Rush (.345).

• Serra Catholic (12-5) drops down to Class A after winning the Section 2-2A title last season, but will be young. Back is pitcher Kelly Morrissey (2.48 ERA, 63 Ks, .421, 24 RBIs).

• Greensburg Central Catholic (7-7) averaged 9.2 runs per game last season and qualified for the playoffs but was hit hard by graduation.

• After reaching the playoffs last season, Monessen (7-8) returns eight starters, including junior pitcher Joey Hurt (.450), all-section junior catcher Grace Clingenpeel (.405) and all-section senior outfielder Kendra Jones.

• Chris Fabec takes over as coach at Leechburg (8-10), which extended its playoff streak to 37 years last season. Senior infielder Ava Ferretti was an all-section selection, and junior pitcher Addie Zanotto returns.

2025 alignment

Section 1: Bishop Canevin, Cornell, Rochester, Sewickley Academy, South Side, Union

Section 2: Avella, Beth-Center, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, West Greene

Section 3: Ellis School, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Leechburg, Monessen, St. Joseph, Serra Catholic

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: Avella, Beth-Center, Carmichaels, Ellis School, Greensburg C.C., Jeannette, Leechburg, Mapletown, Monessen, Rochester, Serra Catholic, Sewickley Academy, South Side, Union, West Greene