Breaking down the 2026 WPIAL softball playoffs

By: Triblive And Bill Beckner Jr. And Michael Love And Paul Schofield
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 5:12 PM

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WPIAL softball playoffs breakdown

Class 6A

Favorite: A heavy favorite to repeat, Hempfield is seeking its 10th WPIAL title, which would tie it with Baldwin and Sto-Rox for the most in WPIAL history. The Spartans are averaging 10.1 runs per game and have won 17 consecutive games. They have, however, been taken to eight innings in their last two games, against 5A Latrobe and 3A South Park. Shortstop Lauren Howard (Virginia), pitcher Julia Varhola (James Madison), outfielder Claire Mitchell (Marist) and catcher Ella Berkebile (Bucknell) are Division I commits. Freshman twins Jayelyn and Jocelyn Luft have bolstered the lineup, with Jayelyn showing emerging talent in the pitching circle. The team’s only loss is to Shaler, 2-1, in a game in which they were no-hit.

Contenders: Seneca Valley has made the WPIAL final four straight years and has two championships in that time. Lexie Hames is no longer dominating in the circle since she moved on to Clemson, but Abby Kalowski and Rachael Dunmire have been a formidable pitching tandem. The Raiders still have offensive pop. … Norwin finished third in the eight-team section and put up 108 runs in section. The Knights were in the WPIAL final two years ago as a No. 5 seed. … Canon-McMillan split two games with Norwin and took Seneca Valley to extra innings.

Don’t overlook: Pine-Richland averages 7.2 runs but gives up 8.8.

Prediction: Hempfield over Seneca Valley

Class 5A

Favorite: Defending champion Shaler is in charge as long as it has ace pitcher Bria Bosiljevac, who will pitch in the Big Ten at Indiana. She has struck out more than 130 this season. The Titans’ lone loss is to Penn-Trafford, 6-1, in a game in which Bosiljevac didn’t pitch. Bosiljevac pitched a no-hitter in a 2-1 win over 6A No. 1 Hempfield. The Titans have scored 10 or more runs eight times.

Contenders: Thomas Jefferson, the Section 4 champion, has allowed only 35 runs behind pitcher Aubrey Shaffer (90 K’s). The Jaguars beat Penn-Trafford and swept Connellsville in section. Adalina Bracco is a tough out. … Last year’s runner-up, Penn-Trafford, which was edged by Shaler in the WPIAL final, 2-1 in 11 innings, has a potent, fast lineup and a proven pitcher. Junior Allyson Paulone helped lead the Warriors to a PIAA title last year. … West Allegheny and Montour shared the Section 3 title and split their two games in lopsided fashion. Montour has 154 runs (9 per game).

Don’t overlook: Baldwin has wins over Thomas Jefferson, Montour and 6A Norwin.

Prediction: Shaler over Penn-Trafford

Class 4A

Favorite: Elizabeth Forward (16-2) is poised to again challenge for a WPIAL title after falling short last year with a loss to Blackhawk in the semifinals. The Warriors captured WPIAL gold in 2024 and in 2019. This year, EF won the Section 2 title with a 12-0 record and has lost just twice all season, against Spring-Ford (Pa.) and St. Paul’s (N.J.) in a season-opening trip south. The Warriors have been led by a solid group of top college commits in shortstop Julia Resnik (Robert Morris), third baseman Addy Nigut (Saint Francis), pitcher/infielder Berlyn Holibaugh (Virginia) and outfielder Hannah Evans (UConn), along with outfielder Aubri Cimba and catcher/first baseman Sophie Pasinsky. Resnik, a senior, bolstered the lineup in early April with her return from an ACL injury.

Contenders: Knoch’s depth in the pitching circle, on defense and at the plate has helped the Knights rise to the top in Class 4A. The Knights won the outright Section 1 title at 11-1. They won 12 games in a row through Tuesday’s 9-7 win over Laurel. Senior pitcher Marlee Fraser and sophomore infielder Emersyn Jones help front the Knoch attack. … Blackhawk, the Section 3 champion (10-2), has scored 10 or more runs seven times, and its four losses have come by a total of seven runs. The Cougars are led by junior infielder Eva Parris, senior outfielder Addy Ramer and senior pitcher Kylie Prisuta. Blackhawk was the WPIAL runner-up to Hampton and a PIAA qualifier last year. … Indiana, the Section 1 runner-up, won nine of 11 games through a 7-6 victory Monday over Ligonier Valley. The Indians are led at the plate by sophomores Claire Brewer (.433), Samantha Martin (.431) and Sophia Boyer (.385) and senior Hannah Ianarelli (.391). … Hampton is back in the WPIAL playoffs with the goal of defending its 2025 WPIAL title. The Talbots battled Blackhawk, North Catholic and Beaver in a competitive Section 3 and finished with a 9-3 record. Junior pitcher Marissa Snyder has been a standout in the circle and at the plate.

Don’t overlook: Beaver won five of its final six games in the regular season and defeated North Catholic, 7-4, on Sunday and lost to Blackhawk by one run April 24. The Bobcats, WPIAL champs in 2021 and 2022, are fronted by a solid group that includes sophomore Olivia Peabody and junior third baseman Bridget Mayo.

Prediction: Elizabeth Forward over Knoch

Class 3A

Favorite: South Park (16-1) was undefeated until a 7-6 loss in eight innings to Class 6A power Hempfield on Tuesday. The Eagles captured the Section 3 title with a 10-0 record and outscored opponents 154-20. Ten of the wins came by shutout. South Park finished as the WPIAL runner-up last year and in 2024. It hopes to take that next step in the playoffs behind senior pitcher Sydney Sekely. The 2025 Trib HSSN Class 3A Player of the Year and Gannon commit has produced again in the pitching circle and at the plate. The Eagles also are led by first baseman Grace Kempton (Bethany) as well as shortstop Sydney Dubyak and outfielder Kaitlyn Polk.

Contenders: Mohawk, the defending WPIAL champion, went undefeated in winning the Section 2 title. Its only losses in 18 games have come to Class 2A powers Laurel (4-0) and Neshannock (6-2), Class 5A West Allegheny by one run and Ohio’s South Range, 3-2. Mohawk has averaged 8.5 runs a game. Seven returning starters from 2025 dot the lineup, including powerful first baseman Lydia Cole, a Gannon recruit. … Mt. Pleasant ran the Section 1 table with a 10-0 record. Junior pitcher Dani Trainer also is a key piece of the batting order. Fellow junior Kendra Brunson, freshman Sadie Poole and sophomore Jenna Whipkey also help form a strong nucleus in a lineup that has scored 8.5 runs a game. … Keystone Oaks, tied for second in Section 3 behind South Park, has won nine games in a row. The Golden Eagles have an veteran lineup with playoff experience. Sophomore Kailyn Brannon, senior Nina Buckley and freshman Sophie Garretson are hitting better than .400. … Ellwood City hopes to again make noise in the playoffs after reaching the WPIAL semifinals last year as the No. 3 seed. The Wolverines have won three WPIAL championships (2008, 2016, 2017). Senior pitcher Amber McQuistion (Slippery Rock) is leading the lineup with a .515 average and 14 RBIs while sporting a 1.90 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings.

Don’t overlook: McGuffey split with Keystone Oaks and took South Park to the limit in a 1-0 loss April 17. It tied with KO for second place in Section 3. Junior Maura Janovich (.432, 11 RBIs, 12 runs) is a leading hitter in a lineup that has scored 6.4 runs per game.

Prediction: South Park over Mohawk

Class 2A

Favorite: Laurel (13-4) edged Neshannock (14-5) and Shenango (13-5) for the Section 1-2A title and is looking for its fourth WPIAL title after winning in 2018, ‘19 and ‘21. The Spartans are led by Madison Evans (.487, 14 RBIs), Haley Fell (.477, 25 RBIs, six home runs) and Elizabeth Pascoe (.476, 18 RBIs, two home runs). They average more than nine runs per game.

Contenders: Bentworth (17-1) has the power and pitching to challenge for the title. Junior Sydney Gonglik is 14-1 with a 0.93 ERA, 195 strikeouts and 12 walks, and she’s also batting .492 with 22 RBIs and eight home runs. Her sister, freshman Makayla Gonglik, is hitting .558 with 29 runs, 29 hits and 20 RBIs. Nora Lindley is batting .509 with 28 hits and 22 RBIs, and Zoie McDonald is hitting .434. … Chartiers-Houston (16-1) is seeking its 10th WPIAL title after falling to perennial power Neshannock, 7-1, in the 2025 final. The only team to defeat Chartiers-Houston was University (W.Va.). The last time the Bucs won the WPIAL title was in 2024. Junior pitcher Taryne Drilak is 15-1 with an ERA of 0.747. She has fanned 113. The top hitters are senior Lauren Rush (.640), freshman Kiera Drilak (.604) and senior Seanna Riggle (.537). … South Allegheny won the Section 2 title at 10-0 by averaging 9.6 runs per game.

Don’t overlook: Neshannock, Riverside and Shenango have been through a battle in Section 1 all season. The Lancers, who have captured the past four WPIAL titles, have won five in a row since getting 10-runned by Laurel and Elizabeth Forward. The Lancers defeated Bentworth, 3-0, in 2024 when Sydney Gonglik was a freshman.

Prediction: Bentworth over Laurel

Class A

Favorite: Union has reached six straight Class A finals, winning in 2025 and 2023. The Scotties are 15-2 and seeking a fourth WPIAL crown after beating Carmichaels, 3-0, in last year’s final. Their only losses came to 5A playoff teams Montour and West Allegheny. Senior Maddie Settle is batting .320 with 26 runs, 16 hits and 14 RBIs. Irelyn Fisher is hitting .514 with 13 runs, 27 hits, 29 RBIs and four home runs. Freshman Nevaeh Hunt is batting .475 with 19 runs, 19 hits and 19 RBIs, plus 14 extra-base hits (seven doubles, two triples and five home runs). Junior pitcher Korynne Shannon is 10-1 with a 1.55 ERA, 32 walks and 115 strikeouts.

Contenders: Carmichaels (15-4) would love another shot at Union in the final. The Mighty Mikes will rely on pitcher Bailey Barnyak, who has a 0.34 ERA. She also carries a .500 batting average with 27 hits, 18 RBIs and two home runs. Sophomore Joselyn Carter is hitting .289 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. Kenlee Machesky is hitting .448, and Carys McConnell is hitting .414 with 21 runs scored, 24 hits and 20 RBIs including five doubles, three triples and four home runs. Their losses were to Allentown, N.J., Laurel Highlands, Morgantown, W.Va., and Jefferson-Morgan. … West Greene finished second to Carmichaels in Section 2 and is led by senior third baseman Emmaline Beazell and freshman pitcher Caitlin Whyte. Beazell is hitting .408 with 18 runs, 20 hits and 22 RBIs. Whyte is 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA and has 57 strikeouts in 47 innings. … Serra Catholic has won 11 straight after starting 0-4. Those losses came against four playoff teams: South Park (4A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Frazier (2A) and Washington (2A). The Eagles are led by pitcher Kelly Morrissey and infielder Brianna Dobnak. Morrissey is 7-4 with a 1.80 ERA and is batting .475 with three home runs. Dobnak is hitting .524 with 21 runs, 22 hits and 12 RBIs.

Don’t overlook: Jeannette (11-3) could make noise behind senior pitcher Gracie Stein, who is 11-3 with a 1.15 ERA. She has 181 strikeouts and only eight walks and is batting .533 with 27 RBIs and 13 doubles. Abby Shaw is hitting .480.

Prediction: Union over Carmichaels

Tags: Baldwin, Beaver, Bentworth, Blackhawk, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Elizabeth Forward, Ellwood City, Hampton, Hempfield, Indiana, Jeannette, Keystone Oaks, Knoch, Laurel, McGuffey, Mohawk, Montour, Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Riverside, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, Shaler, Shenango, South Allegheny, South Park, Thomas Jefferson, Union, West Allegheny, West Greene