A-K Valley softball playoff preview capsules: Games for Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By: Bill Hartlep
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 5:16 PM

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WPIAL softball playoffs

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

2-Hampton (15-4) vs. 7-Knoch (15-6)

4 p.m. Wednesday at Mars

Winner plays: Winner of 3-Indiana (13-6)/11-Blackhawk (9-7) in semifinals (time, date, site TBD)

Players to watch: Mackenzie Reese, Hampton; Marlee Fraser, Knoch

Extra bases: Hampton won Section 3 at 11-1 and is averaging 10.1 runs per game while allowing just 3.6. The Talbots have won three of their past five games. Their lone section loss was a 1-0 defeat at Chartiers Valley on May 1. Reese, a catcher, is a Pitt recruit who is hitting nearly .600. Senior shortstop Charlotte Lomb, who is batting .500, is headed to Albany. Pitcher Marissa Snyder has a 2.02 ERA and nearly 100 strikeouts and also is batting .500. … Knoch was the Section 1 runner-up at 8-2. The Knights average 5.9 runs per game and allow 3.8. They rebounded from a late three-game skid with nonsection wins over Karns City and Deer Lakes. Then they beat Greensburg Salem, 8-3, in the first round behind McKenna Brailey, who was 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Pitcher Marlee Fraser tossed a five-hitter with nine strikeouts.

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: Hampton, Knoch