6 WPIAL teams debut in Trib HSSN state softball rankings

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 10:13 PM

Four teams from Western Pennsylvania won PIAA softball gold last spring, two from the WPIAL in Hempfield and West Greene, one from District 6 in Philipsburg-Osceola and one from District 9 in Punxsutawney.

However, what happened on the diamond in 2018 means nothing in 2019. Two weeks are in the books for a new campaign.

Only two defending state champs are No. 1 in the first Trib HSSN state softball rankings with Lampeter-Strasburg in Class 5A and Philipsburg-Osceola in 3A.

Six WPIAL teams crack the Top 5 debut rankings, with one in each classification.

Seneca Valley, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Avonworth, Chartiers-Houston and West Greene are included, with the defending Class A champion Pioneers being the highest-ranked team at No. 2.

Here is the first PIAA Top 5 in each of the six classifications through Thursday’s games.

Class 6A

1. North Penn (5-0)

2. Hazleton (3-0)

3. Seneca Valley (6-0)

4. Parkland (6-1)

5. Neshaminy (4-1)

Out: None

Class 5A

1. Lampeter-Strasburg (4-0)

2. Pittston (5-0)

3. Twin Valley (5-0)

4. Latrobe (6-0)

5. Donegal (3-0)

Out: None

Class 4A

1. Nazareth (4-0)

2. Jersey Shore (3-0)

3. Scranton Prep (4-0)

4. Punxsutawney (3-1)

5. Mt. Pleasant (4-0)

Out: None

Class 3A

1. Philipsburg-Osceola (1-0)

2. Holy Redeemer (2-0)

3. Avonworth (7-0)

4. Warrior Run (2-0)

5. North Schuykill (4-1)

Out: None

Class 2A

1. Saegertown (1-0)

2. Marion Center (4-0)

3. Line Mountain (3-0)

4. Chartiers-Houston (6-1)

5. Sharpsville (3-0)

Out: None

Class A

1. Williams Valley (6-0)

2. West Greene (4-3)

3. DuBois Central Catholic (4-0)

4. Claysburg-Kimmel (3-1)

5. Faith Christian (3-0)

Out: None

Tags: Avonworth, Chartiers-Houston, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Seneca Valley, West Greene