Alle-Kiski Valley softball notebook: WPIAL draw coming up

May 6—Nine Alle-Kiski Valley softball teams will find out their WPIAL playoff fates when the softball committee releases the brackets with first-round matchups, dates, sites and times Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.

It's been a regular season filled with exhilarating wins and heartbreaking setbacks, but now the focus turns to the postseason journey with the opening games slated to begin as early as Monday.

Kiski Area, Freeport and Burrell make returns to the WPIAL playoffs after missing out last year. For the Cavaliers, the drought extended back three years since they last took part in the playoffs in 2022.

Fox Chapel and Plum tied for second in Section 1-5A at 8-4 behind undefeated Shaler.

Knoch finished off back-to-back section titles. The Knights, fronted by a veteran group with skill on defense and in the pitching circle and power at the plate, are 39-5 in section play the past four years.

Deer Lakes, Apollo-Ridge and Leechburg also continue runs in postseason play. The Lancers made the Class 3A quarterfinals last year with a 7-0 first-round win over Charleroi. But they bowed out of the playoffs with a loss to No. 1 South Park on the Eagles' march to a runner-up finish and a trip to states.

The same thing happened to the Vikings, who edged OLSH in the 8-9 matchup at Fox Chapel before running into a buzzsaw known as Neshannock. The Lancers rolled past Apollo-Ridge on their way to a WPIAL championship.

For the Blue Devils, one of the longest streaks in WPIAL history continues.

Leechburg (2-9 overall) finished fourth (2-6) in Section 3-1A for their 39th consecutive trip to the WPIAL playoffs.

Freeport survives emotional stretch

The Yellowjackets withstood a roller coaster for the last three weeks of the regular season to secure a spot in the WPIAL Class 4A tournament.

Freeport lost a trio of one-run games in section, one to section runner-up Indiana and two to playoff qualifier Derry. The Yellowjackets had a 5-1 lead on Greensburg Salem on April 15 before the Golden Lions rallied for a 7-5 win.

But through all that, Freeport stayed alive.

It put itself in position for a postseason berth with a 13-0 win over Greensburg Salem on Monday behind a nine-hit attack and a lineup that drew eight walks against Greensburg Salem starter Allie Scarpa and reliever Olivia Aller. Allie Smith was solid in the circle, pitching a two-hitter with standout defensive plays backing her up.

Then it was onto Tuesday, and the Yellowjackets became big Derry fans as a win by the Trojans over Greensburg-Salem would give Freeport a spot in the Class 4A tournament.

Derry jumped on Golden Lions' pitching early and rolled to a 19-5 win. Freeport and Greensburg-Salem tied for fourth in the section at 5-7. Both teams advance based on their series split.

Plum hopes to break streak

The Mustangs are a perennial playoff qualifier in Class 5A.