Westmoreland WPIAL and District 6 softball playoff capsules: Games of Monday, May 20

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, May 19, 2019 | 9:22 PM

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Monday’s games

softball

Class 5A

Quarterfinals

1-Penn-Trafford (17-1) vs. 9-Albert Gallatin (11-7)

5 p.m. at Seton Hill

Winner plays: Winner of 5-Trinity (14-4) and 4-Connellsville (14-6) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Larry Flowers, Albert Gallatin

Players to watch: Brooke Cleland, So., OF, Penn-Trafford; Maddie Flowers, IF/P, Albert Gallatin

Extra bases: Heavily favored Penn-Trafford earned a first-round bye after one of its most dominant regular seasons. The Warriors’ lone loss came against Elizabeth Forward, 2-1, on the next-to-last day of the regular season. The Warriors have scored seven or more runs 10 times this season. They are 10-0 away from home. The Warriors are seeking their first semifinal berth since 2014. … Two years ago, Albert Gallatin upset No. 2 Penn-Trafford, 9-5, in the quarterfinals at Cal (Pa.). Several players are back from that team, including Flowers (.483, 5 HR, 24 RBIs).

6-Franklin Regional (12-7) vs. 3-Hampton (16-3)

5 p.m. at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: Winner of 10-West Allegheny (9-7) and 2-Plum (15-3) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Jim Armstrong, Franklin Regional; Ron Fedell, Hampton

Players to watch: Angalee Beall, Sr., P, Franklin Regional; Maria Schrecengost, Jr., SS, Hampton

Extra bases: Franklin Regional, which had to wait two extra days to open the playoffs due to a rainout, knocked off No. 11 Montour in the first round. Kylee O’Neil delivered a two-run triple in the win. … Hampton downed No. 14 Latrobe, a finalist in 6A the past two years, 4-1 in the opening round. Bella Nordic drove in two runs and pitcher Anneliese Probeck limited the Wildcats to six hits. Hampton saw a first-round exit last year as it fell to Connellsville, 7-4.

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

1-Mt. Pleasant (15-0) vs. 9-Ringgold (8-8)

3 p.m. at Seton Hill

Winner plays: Winner of 4-Thomas Jefferson (14-3) and 5-Yough (13-5) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Chris Brunson, Mt. Pleasant; Greg Adams, Ringgold

Players to watch: Carolyn Alincic, Sr., P, Mt. Pleasant; Nya Adams, Jr., SS, Ringgold

Extra bases: Top-seeded Mt. Pleasant returns after a first-round bye that has kept the Vikings out of action since May 7. Morehead State commit Alincic (11-0, 1.00 ERA, 147 Ks) is the team’s lone senior and does the heavy lifting in the circle, and a number of talented hitters keep the base paths moving, including sophomores Mary Smithnosky (.554, 31 hits, 10 RBIs) and Hannah Gnibus (14 RBIs, 12 runs). … Ringgold dumped No. 8 New Castle, 9-3, in the first round. Winning pitcher Jillian Scherer also had two hits in the win.

5-Yough (13-5) vs. 4-Thomas Jefferson (14-3)

6 p.m. at Peters Township

Winner plays: Winner of 1-Mt. Pleasant (15-0) and 9-Ringgold (8-8) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Dutch Harvey, Yough; Heidi Karcher, Thomas Jefferson

Players to watch: Kierra Waywood, Sr., P, Yough; Lily Rockwell, So., IF, Thomas Jefferson

Extra bases: Yough, which finished second to Mt. Pleasant in Section 1, is hoping for a rematch with the unbeaten Vikings. Waywood (12-5) has struck out 152 this season and has an ERA just over 1.00. In a 7-0 victory over Central Valley in the first round, she struck out six and allowed two hits, while Savannah Manns and Navaeh Chopp each had two RBIs, and Hannah Christner had two hits. … Thomas Jefferson had a first-round bye. Rockwell is one of the top offensive threats for the Jaguars, who reached double-digit runs nine times and shut out 5A No. 4 seed Connellsville, 3-0.

11-Greensburg Salem (7-11) vs. 3-Knoch (16-1)

3 p.m. at Hampton

Winner plays: Winner of 2-Elizabeth Forward (14-3) and 10-Indiana (12-8) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Rachel Brannigan, Greensburg Salem; Gary Coe, Knoch

Players to watch: Tiffany Bruzda, Sr., SS, Greensburg Salem; Amanda Fischer, Jr., P, Knoch

Extra bases: Greensburg Salem returned to the postseason after a three-year absence and put together its first postseason victory since 2014, 10-3 over No. 6 Ambridge in the first round. Bruzda and Chloe Perkins each had three hits and combined for seven RBIs. Nikki Mellinger, Sydney Tressler and Rena Caruso all had two hits in the win. … Knoch was the Section 2 champion with a 10-0 record. The team has seven shutouts and has not lost to a WPIAL opponent.

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

9-Southmoreland (10-6) vs. 1-Avonworth (17-2)

5 p.m. at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 4-South Park (13-4) and 5-Beaver (13-4) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Todd Bunner, Southmoreland; Jenna Muncie, Avonworth

Players to watch: Faith Miller, Jr., 2B, Southmoreland; Maya Kozup, Sr., P, Avonworth

Extra bases: Defending WPIAL champion Southmoreland took down perennial power Deer Lakes, 10-2, in the first round as sophomore pitcher Jess Matheny tripled and Charity Henderson added an RBI double. … Avonworth started the season 13-0 before a loss to Ellwood City. Kozup is the team’s leader in the circle. She is an Edinboro commit.

Class A

Quarterfinals

10-Jeannette (9-5) vs. 2-Leechburg (15-1)

3 p.m. at Fox Chapel

Winner plays: Winner of 3-Union (10-5) and 6-Springdale (13-3) on Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Zac Karas, Jeannette; Debbi Young, Leechurg

Players to watch: Faith Johnston, Jr., Jeannette; Emma Ritchie, So., P, Leechburg

Extra bases: Jeannette won its first playoff game since 2013 with a 7-3 win over Mapletown. Johnston struck out 12 and added a two-run double during a four-run seventh inning. She has 97 Ks. Jeannette was swept by Leechburg in Section 3 play, 10-0 and 21-2. … Section 3 champion Leechburg is in the WPIAL playoffs for the 33rd straight season. Ritchie (15-1) has 105 strikeouts, 46 walks and a 1.81 ERA. She also is batting .482 with 26 RBIs.

District 6

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

Central Martinsburg (14-6) at Ligonier Valley (17-2)

4 p.m. at Donaldson Field, Ligonier Valley

Winner plays: Winner of 1-Chestnut Ridge (17-3) and 8-Penns Valley (11-9) Thursday in semifinals

Coaches: Johnathan Burket, Central; Mark Zimmerman, Ligonier Valley

Players to watch: Dylan Claycomb, Sr., P, Central; Mia Lynn, Sr., IF, Ligonier Valley

Extra bases: Central Martinsburg owns one Ligonier Valley’s losses after the Dragons took down the Rams, 8-2, on May 1. . … Ligonier Valley toppled Marion Center, 8-4, to win the Heritage Conference title.

— Bill Beckner Jr.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.