Trib HSSN softball team of the week for April 10, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 9:10 PM

Trib HSSN softball team of the week – West Mifflin Titans

Coach: Erik Hilligsberg (eighth year)

Record: West Mifflin is tied for first place in Section 2-4A with a 4-0 record (6-3 overall) with four consecutive wins.

#Earned: Following victories over Belle Vernon and Uniontown the previous week to get the ball rolling on its Section 2-4A schedule, West Mifflin collected two convincing wins this week heading into a key section contest at home Friday against Laurel Highlands. On Monday, the Titans scored two runs quickly against visiting Ringgold, but then struggled to add on until a monster fourth inning. The Titans blew the game open with 10 unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with nine of those runs coming after two outs. They ended the game early after 4 ½ innings as they blanked the Rams, 12-0. On Wednesday, West Mifflin played its eighth home contest in nine games on the new turf field at its spring sports complex behind the high school. Again, a big inning for the Titans did in their opponent as they added to a 1-0 advantage by scoring seven runs in the third inning. West Mifflin scored four more runs in the fifth inning and ended up picking up the section win over the Eagles, 13-4.

Standout performers: In the circle in both West Mifflin victories this week were junior Rylie Dobank and freshman Annabelle Graham. Against Ringgold, Dobnak started and got the win by pitching four no-hit innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Graham finished the game in the fifth inning, allowing the Rams their only hit and striking out one. In the game against Oakland Catholic, Graham started and got the win, giving up no earned runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in four innings of work. Dobnak pitched the final three innings for the save with no earned runs, no hits, two walks and four punchouts. On offense, Dobnak only had one hit this week, but it was her first varsity home run and she drove in four runs in the two games. Junior Kayleigh Tatters was a perfect 4 for 4 with four walks. She scored five runs and drove in five runs. Sophomore Adilee Salopek was a combined 4 for 6 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Also contributing to the 23 hits over two games were freshman Breezy Dobank (Rylie’s younger sister) with three hits, sophomore Mia Bey and freshman Bella Simak with two hits each, sophomore Taylor Krivanek with four runs scored and sophomore Abby Jakubovic with three RBIs. The Wednesday game also marked the return to the lineup for the first time this season of senior catcher Caleigh Ignat. The Point Park commit returned after a broken foot to go 1 for 2 with a run scored.

Last year: A year after finishing as co-section champions with Knoch in Section 1-4A in 2023, West Mifflin finished in third place, four games behind section champion Indiana and two behind runner-up Knoch. The young Titans never lost more than two games in a row, but their longest winning streak was only three straight as they ended the regular season at 10-8. Just like in 2023, West Mifflin won its first round 4A playoff game, rolling past Uniontown, 10-1; however, the season ended in the district quarterfinals with a loss to rival Elizabeth Forward, 10-0.

Remember when: Two years ago, West Mifflin shared the Section 1-4A championship with Knoch for the program’s sixth section crown. The Titans won three section titles in a four-year span in the mid-1990s with section championships in 1994, 1996 and 1997. The program won back-to-back section titles again 16 years later when the Titans finished first in 2013 and 2014. West Mifflin shared the 2013 section title with Elizabeth Forward, then the following spring, the Titans won the section outright finishing two games ahead of the EF Warriors.

A look back at the 2024 Trib HSSN Softball Teams of the Week

Week 11 – Neshannock Lancers

Week 10 – Laurel Spartans

Week 9 – Mohawk Warriors

Week 8 – Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

Week 7 – Latrobe Wildcats

Week 6 – Penn-Trafford Warriors

Week 5 – Hempfield Spartans

Week 4 – Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Week 3 – West Allegheny Indians

Week 2 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 1 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Tags: West Mifflin