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2024 WPIAL softball postseason outlook for Beaver Valley teams

ethan morrison, special to the times
·6 min read

The 2024 WPIAL Softball Playoffs begin on Monday, May 13, with eight Beaver County schools vying for WPIAL gold. Lets take a look at the field of teams in this year’s playoff brackets.

Class 6A

Beaver County Schools:  No Schools from Beaver County

Class 5A

West Allegheny's Aubrey Police (26) celebrates after hitting a double during the first inning against Western Beaver Wednesday evening at West Allegheny High School.
West Allegheny's Aubrey Police (26) celebrates after hitting a double during the first inning against Western Beaver Wednesday evening at West Allegheny High School.

Beaver County Schools: No. 3 West Allegheny, No. 16 Western Beaver

Beaver County First Round Matchups:

No. 1 Armstrong Vs. No. 16 Western Beaver May 13, 5 p.m. at North Allegheny High School

No. 3 West Allegheny Vs. No. 14 Fox Chapel on May 13, 7 p.m. at North Allegheny High School

West Allegheny

The Indians come into the 2024 WPIAL Softball playoffs red hot as they put together an impressive season posting a 16-3 overall record and a 9-1 record in WPIAL Class 5A Section three play. West Allegheny’s nine win effort was good enough for the top spot in the section edging out South Fayette by two games.

As for their first round opponent in Fox Chapel, it posted a 7-9 overall record and a 4-6 record in the WPIAL Class 5A section one play.

Western Beaver's Bella Colatriano bats during the third inning against West Allegheny Wednesday evening at West Allegheny High School.
Western Beaver's Bella Colatriano bats during the third inning against West Allegheny Wednesday evening at West Allegheny High School.

Western Beaver

The Golden Beavers are the last team in the field in the 5A postseason bracket after finishing the season two games under .500 in a tough section while finishing with a 6-6 overall record.

Western Beaver will face-off against top seeded Armstrong who had one blemish on its section record finishing with a 9-1 record in section two and a 14-3 overall record.

Class 4A

Beaver County Schools: No. 11 Blackhawk

Blackhawk's Lila Grimm throws the ball to third base in an attempt to beat the runner during the third inning against Hampton Wednesday evening at Blackhawk High School.
Blackhawk's Lila Grimm throws the ball to third base in an attempt to beat the runner during the third inning against Hampton Wednesday evening at Blackhawk High School.

Beaver County First Round Matchups:

No. 6 Belle Vernon Vs. No. 11 Blackhawk on May 13, 4 p.m. at Peterswood Park

Blackhawk

The Lady Cougars come into the postseason as the 11th seed in the Class 4A field after a strong season with a young roster which features just two seniors. Blackhawk finished in fourth place in section three play finishing with a record of 8-7 overall and 6-6 in its respective section.

Peyton Kimberlin and Kylie Pursita have been a strong pitching tandem for the Cougars throughout the course of the season helping navigate the Cougars back into the postseason.

Blackhawk will face-off against the defending champions in Class 4A as it will matchup against Belle Vernon in the first round. The Leopards defeated Montour in extra innings last season to be crowed WPIAL Champions as they defeated the Spartans 8-7.

Belle Veron finished second in its respective section finishing four games behind top seeded Elizabeth Forward as the Leopards come into the postseason with a 8-4 record in section play and a 13-6 record overall.

Class 3A

Ellwood City's Julia Nardone (16) calls out to her teammates after scoring in the fourth inning against Yough during the first round of the WPIAL 3A Playoffs Tuesday evening at North Allegheny High School.
Ellwood City's Julia Nardone (16) calls out to her teammates after scoring in the fourth inning against Yough during the first round of the WPIAL 3A Playoffs Tuesday evening at North Allegheny High School.

Beaver County Schools: No. 6 Central Valley, No. 10 Ellwood City, No. 16 Hopewell

Beaver County First Round Matchups:

No. 6 Central Valley Vs. No. 11 Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday, May 14, 5 p.m. at West Mifflin High School

No. 7 Burrell Vs No. 10 Ellwood City on Tuesday, May 14, 4 p.m. at Mars High School

No. 1 Avonworth Vs. No. 16 Hopewell on Tuesday, May 14, 5 p.m. at North Allegheny High School

Central Valley's Daelyn Dreher runs to 3rd during Friday's game against Beaver Falls at Central Valley High School.
Central Valley's Daelyn Dreher runs to 3rd during Friday's game against Beaver Falls at Central Valley High School.

Central Valley

The Warriors are the top seeded team in the Beaver County coverage area in a loaded classification which see three team’s from the county qualify. Central Valley had a season to remember and look to continue their strong momentum into the postseason after finishing with an 11-2 overall record and a 8-2 record in section two play just one game behind the section champion Mohawk.

The Warriors have a balanced offensive attack which have played major contributions in the teams success over the course of the season as they had five players record over 10 RBIs during the regular season.

Along with its success with runners in scoring position, Central Valley was led by junior pitching tandem Abigale Stewart and Emma Weaver who have played a key role on both sides of the plate for the Warriors during the season.

Stewart hit .550 across 13 games this season for Central Valley which included six doubles and a home run while driving home seven runs on the season. Weaver put together similar numbers to Stewart as she hit .410 in 39 at bats this season driving in nine runs with five extra base hits.

Central Valley will square off against Mt. Pleasant in the first round who finished with an 11-8 record overall and a 4-6 record in section play.

Ellwood City

The Wolverines finished right behind Central Valley in the section and will come into the postseason after a strong regular season posting a 7-3 record in the section and a 14-4 overall record.

Ellwood City will take on seventh seeded Burrell on Tuesday who finished in second place in section one of the classification behind the top seeded Avonworth Antelopes.

Hopewell's Victoria Mann catches a fly ball during the sixth inning against Ellwood City Friday evening at Stiefel Park.
Hopewell's Victoria Mann catches a fly ball during the sixth inning against Ellwood City Friday evening at Stiefel Park.

Hopewell

The Vikings come into the postseason as the last seeded team in the classification and will matchup with top seeded Avonworth on Tuesday afternoon.

Hopewell is led by senior Chloe Nale who has been on of the team’s top hitters over the course of the season as she has posted a .564 average and a .646 on base percentage throughout the regular season.

Nale has had a knack for the long ball as she also leads the team in home runs hitting six long balls throughout the season.

Hopewell secured the final spot in the postseason after finishing with a 3-7 record in section two play while also compiling a 7-11 record overall.

As for their opponent in Avonworth, the Antelopes will look to defend their crown after being crowned 3A champions last season. They continued their dominant run this season as Avonworth cruised to a 9-1 record in section play and a 12-3 record overall.

Lilli Wamsley (44) delivers a pitch during OLSH's WPIAL Class 2A Section Three matchup against Washington on April, 30.
Lilli Wamsley (44) delivers a pitch during OLSH's WPIAL Class 2A Section Three matchup against Washington on April, 30.

Class 2A

Beaver County Schools: No. 5 OLSH, No. 9 Riverside

Beaver County First Round Matchups:

No. 5 OLSH Vs. No. 12 Steel Valley on Tuesday, May 14, 3 p.m. at North Allegheny High School

No. 8 Apollo-Ridge Vs. No. 9 Riverside on Tuesday May 14, 5 p.m. at Fox Chapel High School

OLSH

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart might have a young roster, but it once again looks to make another deep run in the postseason as it comes in as the fifth seed in the WPIAL’s second classification.

Even though the Chargers roster consists of just two seniors and not a lot of experience at the varsity level, OLSH finished second in Class 2A section three play after posting a 10-2 record in section play and a 12-4 overall record.

In the past two seasons, the Lady Chargers have advanced to the WPIAL semifinals but have fallen each time, this year with a young roster, they will look to get over the hump and into the WPIAL Championship game.

OLSH will take on Steel Valley in the first round on Tuesday as the Ironwomen posted a 4-6 record in section two play and a 6-10 record overall.

Riverside's Alya Sterner throws against Ellwood during a nonconference game, Thursday at at Riverside High School.
Riverside's Alya Sterner throws against Ellwood during a nonconference game, Thursday at at Riverside High School.

Riverside

The Panthers come into the post season as the ninth seeded team in the classification after posting a 6-9 record overall and a 6-6 record in section play which was good enough for the final playoff position out of section one.

Riverside will face-off against Apollo-Ridge on Tuesday as it comes in as the eighth seed despite putting together an impressive season where it went 8-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play.

Class 1A

Beaver County Schools: No Schools from Beaver County

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 2024 WPIAL softball postseason outlook for Beaver Valley teams