WPIAL softball playoffs
Class 5A
First round
9-Chartiers Valley (11-6) vs. 8-Plum (14-5)
3 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin
Winner plays: Winner of 1-Penn-Trafford (17-2)/16-Moon (8-9) in quarterfinals
Players to watch: Lily Duffill, Chartiers Valley; Danielle Pici, Plum
Extra bases: Chartiers Valley tied for second in Section 3 with a 7-3 record. The Colts average 7.0 runs per game. They have won three of their past four games. Junior catcher Lily Duffill is a Penn State commit who surpassed 25 career homers and 100 career RBIs this season. She is batting .556 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. She also has drawn 15 walks. Senior Delaney O’Connor hits .431 with three homers and 21 RBIs and also has a 3.03 ERA in the circle. … Plum, which finished third in Section 1 at 8-4, packs a powerful punch between home run threats Lily DeLuca (8), Liana Yusko (8) and Dani Pici (11). The Mustangs have hit 40 home runs as a team. Pici is batting .515 with 34 RBIs, and Jaiden Gentile hits .514. Riley Stephens has a 4.20 ERA in the circle. The Mustangs average 9.4 runs per game and have won three straight games.
5-Franklin Regional (14-6) vs. 12-Fox Chapel (11-6)
5 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny
Winner plays: Winner of 4-North Hills (15-4)/13-Baldwin (13-5) in quarterfinals
Players to watch: Toryn Fulton, Franklin Regional; Jillian Haigh, Fox Chapel
Extra bases: Franklin Regional averaged nine runs and finished second to Penn-Trafford in Section 2. The Panthers have dropped two of three, with losses to Penn-Trafford and Mt. Pleasant, heading into the postseason. Division I players Toryn Fulton (South Florida) and Ciara Camacho (Kent State) lead the charge, but Adrianna Martz has been an offensive spark plug as well, along with Ceana Copeland. The pitching rotation has added depth this season, but Chloe Lancaster is the anchor. The Panthers have only three seniors. … Fox Chapel had a .500 record (6-6) in a tough Section 1 and took fourth behind Shaler, North Hills and Plum. The Foxes, who started 4-0, have played only twice since April 28 because of postponements. Haigh is the pitcher and top hitter for the Foxes, who have wins over 6A teams Norwin and Butler.