A-K Valley softball playoff capsules: Games of Wednesday, May 23, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 | 3:27 PM

Class 3A

Semifinals

No. 2 Freeport (13-0) vs. No. 3 Southmoreland (8-7)

2 p.m. Wednesday at West Mifflin

Winner plays: No. 1 South Park (15-1) or No. 4 Avonworth (13-6)

Coaches: Sam Ross, Freeport; Todd Bunner, Southmoreland

Key players: Ally DeJidas, Freeport (Jr., OF); Bethany Bunner, Southmoreland (Sr., OF)

Extra bases: Section 1-3A champion Freeport is making its first WPIAL semifinal appearance in 25 years after beating Waynesburg, 10-4, in the quarterfinals. The Yellowjackets lost in the quarterfinals each of the last two years. They slugged four home runs against Waynesburg, with Claire Crytzer, Jenna Hildebrand, DeJidas and Ashleigh Schmidt going deep. That's par for the course for the Freeport offense, which has 19 homers in 13 games and is averaging more than 10 runs. DeJidas is hitting over .600 with six homers and 24 RBIs. Sophomore Tori Radvan and Schmidt share the pitching responsibilities. Radvan pitched a complete game against Waynesburg. … Megan Shetterly's walk-off double gave Southmoreland a 6-5 victory over Steel Valley in the quarterfinals, putting the Scotties in the semifinals for the third time in four years. The Scotties needed to rally from a three-run deficit entering the bottom of the seventh. Charity Henderson homered. The win snapped a four-game losing streak. The Scotties bowed out against Ellwood City in the semifinals last season before losing to Steel Valley in the third-place game. The Scotties tied Waynesburg for second place in Section 3-3A and scored double figures in runs in six games.

Class A

Semifinals

No. 2 Monessen (14-3) vs. No. 3 Leechburg (13-4)

2 p.m. Wednesday at Peters Township

Winner plays: No. 1 West Greene (17-4) or No. 4 Union (16-2)

Coaches: Bo Teets, Monessen; Debbie Young, Leechburg

Players to watch: Dana Vatakis, Monessen (Sr., P); Morgan Pierce, Leechburg (Sr., P)

Extra bases: Fresh off a dominating quarterfinal win over Riverview, Monessen will try to get back to the WPIAL championship game for the second consecutive season. The Greyhounds lost to West Greene in last year's title game. Vatakis was superb in the win over Riverview, as the Robert Morris recruit pitched a no-hitter and struck out 20. Destiny Habeck went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Outside of an early loss to its Section 2-A co-champion West Greene, Monessen is unbeaten against Class A opponents. The Greyhounds' other two defeats came against Chartiers-Houston and Belle Vernon, semifinalists in Class 2A and 4A, respectively. Monessen is seeking its first WPIAL title. … Leechburg is appearing in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, losing in this round to West Greene last season. The Blue Devils, making their 32nd consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance, hold the WPIAL record in that category. The program is seeking its first finals appearance since 2008 and its first title since 1995. Pierce is a four-year starter and struck out 10 in Leechburg's 8-4 quarterfinal win over Sewickley Academy. Daesha Knight had three hits for the Blue Devils in that contest. Leechburg has scored at least eight runs in all of its victories this season.