Belle Vernon Softball Forfeits Three Games, Out of Playoffs

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | 1:55 PM

Despite finishing in second place in the WPIAL Class AAA Section 3, 2015 district softball champion Belle Vernon will not get a chance to defend their crown. The Leopards must forfeit three section victories because of the use of two ineligible players. Those loses drop Belle Vernon to 6-6 in the section and in fourth place. Top three teams from each section make the WPIAL playoffs.

The players in question are two freshmen who played for the Belle Vernon ‘Junior High’ team which consists of players in 7th, 8th and 9th grade. If the players were on an all Freshman or a JV team, they could be promoted to the varsity team at any time. However PIAA rules do not allow players from ‘Junior High’ to play varsity.

The players played in Belle Vernon’s section victories over Trinity, Ringgold and West Mifflin. With the win via forfeit and the three losses for BVA, Trinity improves to 7-5 in Section 3 and will finish in third place behind Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Forward. The Leopards fall to 6-6.

The WPIAL Softball Pairings are schedule to be announced Thursday with the postseason starting next week.

Tags: Belle Vernon