Alle-Kiski Valley softball notebook: WPIAL draw coming up

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 6:37 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Nine Alle-Kiski Valley softball teams will find out their WPIAL playoff fates when the softball committee releases the brackets with first-round matchups, dates, sites and times at 4 p.m. Thursday.

It’s been a regular season filled with exhilarating wins and heartbreaking setbacks, but now the focus turns to the postseason journey with the opening games slated to begin as early as Monday.

Kiski Area, Freeport and Burrell make returns to the WPIAL playoffs after missing out last year. For the Cavaliers, the drought extended back three years since they last took part in the playoffs in 2022.

Fox Chapel and Plum tied for second in Section 1-5A at 8-4 behind undefeated Shaler.

Knoch finished off back-to-back section titles. The Knights, fronted by a veteran group with skill on defense and in the pitching circle and power at the plate, are 39-5 in section play the past four years.

Deer Lakes, Apollo-Ridge and Leechburg also continue runs in postseason play. The Lancers made the Class 3A quarterfinals last year with a 7-0 first-round win over Charleroi. But they bowed out of the playoffs with a loss to No. 1 South Park on the Eagles’ march to a runner-up finish and a trip to states.

The same thing happened to the Vikings, who edged OLSH in the 8-9 matchup at Fox Chapel before running into a buzzsaw known as Neshannock. The Lancers rolled past Apollo-Ridge on their way to a WPIAL championship.

For the Blue Devils, one of the longest streaks in WPIAL history continues.

Leechburg (2-9 overall) finished fourth (2-6) in Section 3-1A for their 39th consecutive trip to the WPIAL playoffs.

Freeport’s dramatic stretch

The Yellowjackets withstood a roller coaster for the last three weeks of the regular season to secure a spot in the WPIAL Class 4A tournament.

Freeport lost a trio of one-run games in section, one to section runner-up Indiana and two to playoff qualifier Derry. The Yellowjackets had a 5-1 lead on Greensburg Salem on April 15 before the Golden Lions rallied for a 7-5 win.

But through all that, Freeport stayed alive.

It put itself in position for a postseason berth with a 13-0 win over Greensburg Salem on Monday behind a nine-hit attack and a lineup that drew eight walks against Greensburg Salem starter Allie Scarpa and reliever Olivia Aller. Allie Smith was solid in the circle, pitching a two-hitter with standout defensive plays backing her up.

Then it was onto Tuesday, and the Yellowjackets became big Derry fans as a win by the Trojans over Greensburg Salem would give Freeport a spot in the Class 4A tournament.

Derry jumped on Golden Lions’ pitching early and rolled to a 19-5 win. Freeport and Greensburg Salem tied for fourth in the section at 5-7. Both teams advance based on their series split.

Plum hopes to break streak

The Mustangs are a perennial playoff qualifier in Class 5A.

That consistency is what drives each class that puts on a Mustangs uniform.

But recent games in the playoffs have proven to be frustrating.

Plum has reached the WPIAL playoffs six times since 2019, but first-round exits each time, some agonizing, have the Mustangs searching to end the streak.

Coach Phil DiLonardo and his players hope this is the year the seven-game playoff losing streak comes to an end.

With seven starters back from last year, the optimism was there.

And led by the pitching of senior Riley Stephans and a strong lineup, Plum is hoping to end the frustration.

The Mustangs navigated a competitive section with a 3-1 mark down stretch. A 7-6 loss to North Hills in the section finale was the only blemish.

Stephans struck out nine in an 18-5 win over West Mifflin on April 30. One of those nine was the 300th strikeout for her career.

The hitting strength was on display in Plum’s home win over North Hills on April 20. Liana Yusko homered in the second, third and fourth innings of the 17-2 win. She finished with seven RBIs.

Arms in the race

Lexi Stabile burst onto the scene right from the start of the season, pitching Fox Chapel to several key victories.

The freshman struck out 11 and surrendered just one hit to a strong Plum lineup in a 5-0 victory March 25.

Stabile then matched Shaler star Bria Bosiljevac pitch for pitch in a 1-0 loss to the Titans on April 8. She gave up just four hits to a Shaler team that is dangerous throughout the lineup.

But Stabile has been slowed as of late by an injury that has kept her out of the pitching circle.

Enter junior Jillian Haigh, who began the year at shortstop but soon revisited her success as a pitcher from previous seasons. The Foxes have relied on her down the stretch.

In a key 4-3 win over New Castle on April 17, Haigh struck out five and walked none. The Red Hurricanes’ potent offense collected eight hits, but of the three runs scored, none was earned.

Fox Chapel rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Haigh singled in the inning and scored the Foxes’ second run on a double from Heidi Stiger.

Bella Geller later doubled home Stiger for what turned out to be the winner.

Three days later, Haigh allowed just one hit over five innings in a 13-0 victory over Mars.

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: Burrell