Local teams dominate seedings as WPIAL playoff pairings released
The WPIAL softball pairings confirmed what everyone in this area already knew.
There is a very strong contingent of local teams.
Among the 16 in the postseason, three area teams were seeded No. 1 and three more drew No. 2 seeds, according to the pairings released Thursday afternoon.
Defending PIAA champions Mount Pleasant and West Greene were slotted at the top of their brackets in Class AAAA and Class A, respectively, while defending WPIAL champion Frazier was No. 1 in Class AA.
Lady Vikings coach Lauren Armanious doesn’t think her team will be affected by the lofty ranking.
“We still have to win. We are very humble and focused,” said Armanious, whose team is unbeaten. “All of them want to win, they want to play. They know how to compose themselves.”
Albert Gallatin and Monessen, both of whom just recently clinched their program’s first-ever section title, drew No. 2 seeds, the Lady Colonials in Class AAAAA and the Lady Greyhounds in Class A, right behind their section co-champion, West Greene.
It’s the highest seed AG and Monessen have ever received.
Yough, a 2016 state champion, was seeded second behind the Lady Vikings in Class AAAA, who defeated the Lady Cougars in the PIAA semifinals last year.
“That’s what we expected,” Yough coach Dutch Harvey said. “They are the returning state champs. They deserve it. We were the No. 1 seed the year after we were state champs.”
The Lady Cougars made a strong run at a second straight PIAA title last year, and Harvey expects the same kind of postseason success this season.
“We’re set up real good. We’re rested,” Harvey said. “Everyone is getting good scrimmages planned out. It keeps you sharp. You always want to scrimmage someone good.”
Five of the six local teams seeded first or second received first-round byes. Only the Lady Commodores, who are part of a 16-team bracket, take the field in the first round as they play No. 16 Brentwood, 2 p.m., Monday, at Peterswood Park Field No. 1.
“We are ecstatic to have earned one of the top four seeds and a bye,” said Albert Gallatin coach Gary Serock, whose team set several program firsts last year, including its first two playoff wins and first appearance in the state tournament. “We have to stay grounded and not take anything for granted. We have to go out there and do it.”
Other local teams which drew top-four seeds were Southmoreland (No. 3 in Class AAA), which received a first-round bye, and defending WPIAL Class AAAA champion Belle Vernon (No. 4).
The WPIAL only officially seeds the top four, but, according to their placement in the brackets, Carmichaels (No. 5 in Class A), Connellsville (No. 5 in Class AAAAA) and Elizabeth Forward (No. 6 in Class AAAA) were each put in the top half. Other local teams in the postseason are Uniontown (No. 13 in Class AAAA), Waynesburg Central (No. 7 in Class AAA), Bentworth (No. 11 in Class AA), Beth-Center (No. 14 in Class AA) and Mapletown (No. 11).
The Lady Maples will be making their first trip to the postseason in a decade when they take the field against No. 6 Sewickley Academy, 4 p.m., Monday, at Peterswood Park Field No. 2.
“The girls are excitedly nervous,” said first-year Mapletown coach Gina Perry. “Actually, they’re pretty excited. They’re not sure what they’re looking at.
“I told them bring your ability to the game. We prepared to play someone of that caliber (Mapletown finished fourth in Section 2-A behind West Greene, Monessen and Carmichaels). I’m making them aware they’re capable of it.”
Only one first-round game pits local teams against each other as Uniontown faces Belle Vernon in Class AAAA on Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Latrobe.
The Lady Leopards are on the same side of the bracket as Mount Pleasant, a team they split with in the postseason last year, but on the opposite side of rival Yough, which shut them out twice this season as those two finished first and second in Section 2-AAAA.
“I thought we might get a three seed. But four is fine,” said Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez, who was also fine with his team’s placement. “I have always felt that No. 1 and 2 from the same section should always be in opposite brackets.”
The Lady Leopards will be shooting for their fourth WPIAL title.
In other games on Monday, Connellsville plays No. 12 Hampton, 4 p.m. at Plum, Bentworth plays No. 6 Laurel, 2 p.m. at Peterswood Park Field No. 2, Beth-Center plays No. 3 Seton LaSalle, 3 p.m. at Baldwin, and Carmichaels plays No. 12 Bishop Canevin, 4 p.m. at Peterswood Park Field No. 1.
In other games on Tuesday, Elizabeth Forward plays No. 11 New Castle, 4 p.m. at West Allegheny, and Waynesburg Central plays No. 10 Freedom, 3 p.m. at Baldwin.
The Lady Warriors, like Mapletown, were stuck in a tough section that included Yough and Belle Vernon. EF, coached by Harry Rutherford, tied with the Lady Leopards for second place.
Harvey believes the Lady Warriors can be a threat in the playoffs as well.
“I expect Harry and Elizabeth Forward to do well,” Harvey said. “EF will do fine.”
The Lady Cougars are one of three teams with byes who will begin play next Thursday, with sites and times to be determined, when they meet the winner of Indiana and West Mifflin. Also on Thursday, Southmoreland plays the winner of Steel Valley and Deer Lakes, and Mount Pleasant plays the winner of Blackhawk and Knoch,
Three of the teams with byes will begin play on Wednesday as West Greene plays the winner of St. Joseph and Western Beaver, Monessen plays the winner of Riverview and Quigley, and Albert Gallatin plays the winner of Kiski Area and Mars.
“We will go on Monday to watch the Kiski-Mars game and scout,” Serock said. “Then, we will prepare for who we are going to play on Wednesday. I know we are going to be more of the hunted this year than the hunter. We definitely feel we can win the WPIAL title, but every game will be a challenge.
“We can’t wait to start playing.”