2024 WPIAL Class A softball championship preview: Union vs. Chartiers-Houston

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | 4:04 PM

Purchase Photo Options

2024 WPIAL Class A softball championship

No. 1 Union (20-1) vs. No. 3 Chartiers-Houston (16-2)

11 a.m. Wednesday at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field

How they got here: Union defeated No. 8 Jefferson Morgan, 11-2; and No. 5 West Greene, 10-0. Chartiers-Houston defeated No. 6 Jeannette, 16-0; and No. 2 Carmichaels, 3-2.

WPIAL titles: Union 2 (2022, 2023); Chartiers-Houston 8 (2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1999, 1988, 1987)

Coaches: Doug Fisher, Union; Tricia Alderson, Chartiers-Houston

Players to watch: Meadow Ferri, Chartiers-Houston; Olivia Williams, Union

Extra bases: Union seeks its third straight WPIAL championship and the third in program history. The Scotties’ only loss this season came at the hands of Neshannock, the No. 1 seed and a WPIAL finalist in Class 2A. The Union offense has been overpowering at numerous times this season. With 21 runs scored in two playoff games, the Scotties have averaged 13.2 runs a game this season. Williams, a sophomore, leads the team in hitting at .532 (25 of 47). Junior Mia Preuhs fronts the team with seven home runs, and freshman Irelyn Fisher has enjoyed a breakout season with 42 RBIs. Preuhs has been lights out in the WPIAL playoffs this season. She surrendered five hits over 13 innings with 22 strikeouts against just three walks. Both runs in the Jefferson Morgan win were unearned. For the season, she is 14-1 with a 1.44 ERA, 150 strikeouts and 28 walks over 77⅔ innings. Seven linep regulars are hitting .400 or better. … Chartiers-Houston hopes to add to its tradition of WPIAL championships. The Bucs seek their first WPIAL title since they won back-to-back crowns in 2011-2012. Last year, they fell to Union in the semifinals but rebounded to finished third, winning the consolation final and punching their tickets to states. Chartiers-Houston made it to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals in 2021 before dropping down to Class A. The Bucs played a memorable three games against Section 2 rival and No. 2 seed Carmichaels. The teams split the first two games and shared the section championship. The rubber match last week went to the Bucs in a 3-2 final that went down to the final at-bat. Ferri, Chartiers-Houston’s ace pitcher, struck out Carmichaels standout hitter Carys McConnell on a 3-2 pitch with the tying run on first to end the game and send the Bucs to the championship game. The Bucs are averaging 10.7 runs a game. It is Chartiers Houston’s first championship-game appearance since 2016 when it finished runner-up to West Greene.

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: Chartiers-Houston, Union