2025 WPIAL Class 2A softball preseason breakdown

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 8:46 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Two defending WPIAL champions will try to retain their titles this season in WPIAL Class 2A softball.

Neshannock continued its dominant run last spring by winning a third straight WPIAL championship in Class 2A.

Chartiers-Houston captured the WPIAL Class A title but was bumped up in class in the offseason via PIAA realignment.

The teams will have some competition for the top spot from WPIAL runner-up Bentworth, along with fellow contenders Laurel and Frazier, among others.

Here is a look at the 2025 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class 2A softball.

Preseason Top 5

1. Neshannock (26-0 last season)

It will be impossible for Neshannock to top its 2024 season, but a similar result is not out of the question. The Lancers went undefeated en route to claiming WPIAL and PIAA titles, cementing themselves as one of the more dominant programs in WPIAL history. Five starters return, led by the state’s pitcher of the year, Providence recruit Addy Frye. The senior is 57-1 in her career, helping the Lancers to three WPIAL and two state titles. She also hit .500 with six home runs and 34 RBIs and was 19-0 with an ERA of 0.59 and 212 strikeouts. Senior third baseman Gabby Quinn and junior center fielder Jaidon Nogay also return after earning all-state honors, along with left fielder Miley Anderson and shortstop Callie Biondi. Quinn and Anderson have committed to play at Kent State.

2. Bentworth (18-4)

The Bearcats, who won Section 3 at 12-0, reached the WPIAL final for first time in program history a year ago before falling to Neshannock, 3-0. They then lost to Laurel in the PIAA quarterfinals. Sophomore Sydney Gonglik proved to be one of the state’s top players as a freshman, earning all-state recognition and Trib 10 honors. She hit .764 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs. In the circle, she was 18-3 with a 1.03 ERA and 282 strikeouts. Juniors Zoie McDonald and Sofia Gaussa also return after earning all-section recognition.

3. Chartiers-Houston (20-3)

After winning the WPIAL Class A title and advancing to the PIAA semifinals, Chartiers-Houston has the experience needed for the jump to Class 2A. The Bucs will be led by three returning all-state honorees in senior pitcher Meadow Ferri, a Kent State commit; junior catcher Ella Richey, a King University commit; and junior shortstop Lauren Rush. Richey (.558, 10 HR, 33 RBIs) was a Trib 10 selection and the state’s Class A player of the year. Ferri hit .470 with three homers and 31 RBIs and also had a 0.86 ERA and 244 strikeouts. Eight starters return for the Bucs.

4. Laurel (20-6)

Laurel was the WPIAL third-place finisher and advanced to the PIAA semifinals last season after placing second in Section 1. The Spartans return a pair of talented juniors in shortstop Mayci Lang, who was an all-state pick, and outfielder Ivy Pancher, who was all-section. Pancher was committed to Cleveland State before the school dropped its softball program. Laurel graduated all-state DP Addison Deal (Saint Francis) and Autumn Boyd (Youngstown State).

5. Frazier (13-1)

The Commodores won the Section 3-A title at 12-0 but were bounced in the WPIAL quarterfinals by West Greene for their only loss of the season. They averaged 10.4 runs per game. Five all-section players return — senior catcher Emi Bednar, senior infielders Gracen Hartmen and Grace Vaughn (East Tennessee State), sophomore outfielder Grace Polkabla and sophomore pitcher Addison Hiles.

Players to watch

Johna Abramowicz, sr., P, Northgate

Brianna Aluisia, jr., INF, Shenango

Miley Anderson, sr., LF, Neshannock

Emi Bednar, sr., C, Frazier

Paige Boehm, sr., OF, Brentwood

Ava Ciummo, sr., OF, OLSH

Ava Clark, jr., P, Brownsville

Meadow Ferri, sr., P, Chartiers-Houston

Addy Frye, sr., P, Neshannock

Sofia Gaussa, jr., OF, Bentworth

Sydney Gonglik, so., P, Bentworth

Gracen Hartman, sr., INF, Frazier

Addison Hiles, so., P, Frazier

Carlee Hughes, jr., INF, Carlynton

Mayci Lang, jr., SS, Laurel

Ellie Makel, so., INF, Waynesburg

Zoie McDonald, jr., INF, Bentworth

Kamyla Morris, sr., OF, Seton LaSalle

Jaidon Nogay, jr. CF, Neshannock

Zoe Offie, jr., OF, Shenango

Ivy Pancher, jr., OF, Laurel

Alexa Pellick, sr., INF, Brownsville

Grace Polkabla, so. OF, Frazier

Gabby Quinn, sr., C/3B, Neshannock

Ella Richey, sr., C, Chartiers-Houston

Danielle Rosenberger, sr., OF, Riverside

Lauren Rush, jr., SS, Chartiers-Houston

Raya Sentipal, jr., INF, Burgettstown

Layla Sherman, sr., OF, Burgettstown

Jocelyn Snyder, jr., P, Apollo-Ridge

Gina Tedrow, jr. P, Waynesburg

Grace Vaughn, sr., INF, Frazier

Lee Ann Walzer, jr., C, OLSH

Diamond notes

• Class 2A gained five teams and moved from three sections to four. Northgate and Springdale (Section 2), Carlynton and Chartiers-Houston (Section 3) and California and Frazier (Section 4) all moved up a class. Shady Side Academy and South Allegheny (Section 2), Seton LaSalle (Section 3) and Brownsville and Waynesburg Central (Section 4) all moved down a class. In addition, Bentworth and Washington moved from Section 3 to 4.

• Shenango (11-8) reached the quarterfinals last season and went 8-4 in the challenging Section 1. Juniors Brianna Aluisia and Zoe Offie return after earning all-state recognition.

• Riverside (7-10) has seven starters back after reaching the quarterfinals last season, including senior all-section centerfielder Danny Rosenberger, who has the most stolen bases in program history.

• Apollo-Ridge (8-6) was the Section 2 runner-up last season and returns four seniors — Cassidy Ryan, Olivia Saxion, Madison Butler and Kirsten Ayers — as well as junior all-section pitcher Jocelyn Snyder, who hit .432.

• Senior outfielder Paige Boehm, a Pitt-Johnstown commit, was an all-section performer for Brentwood (5-8).

• Northgate (6-11) was a playoff team in Class A last season and has six starters back, including three-time all-section pitcher Johna Abramowicz.

• OLSH (14-6) was second in Section 3 last season at 10-2 and reached the WPIAL semifinals for a third straight season. The Chargers return two all-section players in senior Ava Ciummo and junior Lee Ann Walzer. They graduated all-state shortstop Morgan O’Brien.

• Seton LaSalle (4-10) will try to rebound from a down season in Class 3A with seven returning starters, including all-section centerfielder Kamyla Morris and pitcher/1B/LF Gianna Ferrieri. Both are committed to Carlow.

• Junior pitcher Ava Clark, a West Liberty commit, was an all-section player for Brownsville (5-10).

• California (1-13) will rely on shortstop Kayla Saeli and catcher Maddy Morton, who each hit over .300 last season.

2025 alignment

Section 1: Aliquippa, Freedom, Laurel, Neshannock, New Brighton, Riverside, Shenango

Section 2: Apollo-Ridge, Brentwood, Northgate, Shady Side Academy, South Allegheny, Springdale

Section 3: Burgettstown, Carlynton, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Seton LaSalle

Section 4: Bentworth, Brownsville, California, Frazier, Washington, Waynesburg

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: Apollo-Ridge, Bentworth, Brentwood, Brownsville, Burgettstown, California, Carlynton, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier, Laurel, Neshannock, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Riverside, Seton La Salle, Shenango, Waynesburg