Plenty of changes for A-K Valley softball teams ahead of 2025 season

By: John Phillips
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 6:43 PM

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Change is the theme for many of the Alle-Kiski Valley softball programs heading into the 2025 WPIAL season — changes in class, sections, head coaches and players.

Freeport is among the teams bumping up in class to join Section 1-4A. Coach Ron DeJidas’s team brings zero seniors into the new season yet remains optimistic for improvement on a 11-7 record last year that ended with a trip to the WPIAL quarterfinals.

“We have three good classes coming up,” DeJidas said. “We do the same thing each year. We show up every day and get better. It worked out well last year.”

Among seven returning letterwinners are junior third baseman Addyson Caruso and outfielder Addyson Gourley, who each batted near .300.

Also making the jump to join Section 1-4A is Valley. The Vikings had a rough 2024, winning just once under coach Lexi Yates.

Yates, who played softball her entire life, was asked to take over the program in 2024.

“They knew I had softball experience, and with the prior coach retiring, I was thrust into this role,” she said.

Sophomore Kylee Scheib is one of two pitchers the Vikings have returning.

Junior Summer Machen is a shortstop who could help produce runs.

Valley and Freeport join holdovers Knoch and Highlands in Section 1-4A. Despite a 3-14 record, Highlands made the postseason under coach Kasey Wolford. Back are seven starters, including all-section shortstop Carrah Scardinia (.436) and pitcher Madi Gorney (.342).

Coach Chris Gardner enters his third season after he guided Knoch to a 14-7 record in 2024. The Knights finished second to Indiana in section play, then defeated Greensburg Salem in the first round before falling to WPIAL finalist Hampton in the quarterfinals.

Gardner said his team will benefit from offseason experience.

“Offseason to now, a lot of the girls play travel ball and have been busy with that. We don’t have a winter facility, so we use a garage for batting practice,” Gardner said.

Returning starters include Grace Hensch at catcher and Marlee Fraser, a junior pitcher who will eat up innings for the Knights. Both were all-section selections last season.

Burrell and Deer Lakes will again slug it out in Section 1-3A. Burrell went 10-9 and lost to Ellwood City in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Dave Ferres welcomes back an experienced lineup that includes five seniors.

“We bring back the exact same team this year from last,” he said. “We didn’t lose any seniors, so we have the same starting nine, which is awesome.”

Three all-section honorees are back, including Ohio recruit Pyper Ferres at shortstop, catcher Bella Stewart and outfielder Shelby Novak. Senior third baseman Braelyn Jones also returns.

Paul Lagnese takes over Deer Lakes as Rick Cerra resigned after last season to pursue a musical career. He carries just one senior into 2025.

Lagnese will rely on junior pitchers Laney Dineff and sophomore Ella Thomas to carry the load on the mound.

“With softball, pitching is a big thing,” he said. “We have three girls who can throw, and we will get the best matchups we can based on who we play.”

Junior outfielder Siena Plummer will anchor the outfield and provide a bat. Sophia Laurenza is the lone Lancers senior but has lettered each of her first three years.

In Section 2-2A, Ashtin Kirkwood is back as coach of Apollo-Ridge, which should benefit from the return of four seniors who made the playoffs in 2024.

The Vikings will rely on junior pitcher Jocelyn Snyder along with seniors Cassidy Ryan, Olivia Saxion, Madison Butler and Kirsten Ayers to make another postseason run after an 8-6 season.

John Kinnamon’s Kiski Area Cavaliers finished 2-12 overall in a competitive Class 5A. Outfielder Keiko Moorhead is the lone senior for Kiski Area, which again will compete in Section 2.

“She’s a real hard worker who is dedicated to the program.” Kinnamon said. “A real asset to us both on and off the field.”

The competition the Cavaliers face isn’t lost on Kinnamon, with Armstrong, Franklin Regional, Latrobe and Penn-Trafford regularly among title contenders.

“I expect us to be better at the end of the year than we are now,” he said. “I would argue that our section is the toughest top to bottom in the entire WPIAL.”

In Section 1-5A, Plum returns a talented roster after falling in the first round of the playoffs to Connellsville as the No. 9 seed. Phil Dilonardo comes back for his seventh year running the ship.

“I feel good about us improving,” he said. “We are moving in the right direction. It’s nice to be loaded up with upperclassmen.”

That group is led by senior captain Danielle Pici, a Charleston recruit who led the Mustangs in home runs and RBIs. Plum also has three all-section starters coming back, including CF Bella Tavalla, pitcher Riley Stephans and shortstop Jaiden Gentile.

Also in Section 1-5A, Larry Troutman has a new home at Fox Chapel, leaving Leechburg after two seasons.

“It’s a different community, coming from Leechburg,” Troutman said. “(Leechburg has) made the playoffs for 37 years. It’s a big deal, and I told my wife if we don’t make the playoffs, we may need to move out of the state.”

When the job came open down the Allegheny River, Troutman jumped, citing a variety of reasons for the move.

“Those small schools, you have to recruit girls to play,” he said. “You need to do open gyms in the winter. Girls go from sport to sport, and it’s hard. Here at Fox Chapel, we have 32 girls to choose from. The difference is huge, as are the facilities.”

Jillian Haigh returns as the Foxes’ No. 1 pitcher. Sophomore Ella Eisner will anchor third base and add depth as the No. 2 pitcher. Adiana Rose is a four-year starter returning in center field.

Speaking of Leechburg, the Blue Devils lost in the first round of the playoffs to West Greene, finishing 8-10 overall while playing in Section 3-A.

Chris Fabec takes the reins as coach. He served as an assistant under Troutman in 2023 and ’24, making him aware of the pressure to keep the program’s playoff streak intact.

“It is a big thing in the community,” he said. “We intend to keep it going. I feel confident with this group we can make the postseason.”

Junior Addie Zanotto will be the No. 1 pitcher for the Blue Devils.

Also in Section 3-A, St. Joseph will try to improve on a 3-10 season under coach Justin Damico.

The same can be said in Section 2-2A for Springdale, which ended 0-13 last year under coach Joe Giacomin. Riverview will not field a team for a third straight season, but players will co-op with Springdale.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley