Sometimes Mother Nature can be cruel.
The Knoch softball team found out the hard way in its Class 4A quarterfinal loss to No. 6 Beaver last season.
“That was a game we thought we had handled,” said coach Chris Gardner. “After about three or four lighting delays and a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, Beaver came back and we couldn’t score. That was a heartbreaking moment for us.”
The No. 3-seeded Knights lost 8-5. It was a tough way to finish a season that saw them go 17-4 overall, string together 17 wins in a row and claim a Section 1-4A title by going 12-0 in section play.
“We had a good year,” Gardner said. “We lost our first game and then we got on a roll. The girls started playing well, started to believe.”
This season promises to be more of the same for Knoch, which only lost three seniors from last year in catcher Grace Hensch, Brooke Bastin and Carissa Tekely.
The Knights return both of their outstanding pitchers in Marlee Fraser and Kalla Purcell, who each had an ERA under 2.00. Fraser, who was injured halfway through last season, sported a 1.00 and Purcell, who is coming off wrist surgery in the offseason, had a 1.58.
“Kalla had to do a lot of pitching last year, and she did a phenomenal job,” said Gardner. “Marlee is back and throwing harder than I’ve ever seen her throw. We have the luxury that we don’t have to pitch the same girl every day. When you throw in Emersyn Jones, I have three capable pitchers.”
Jones was the team’s leading hitter last season, sporting a .509 average, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and 29 total hits as a freshman.
“She was a huge boost to this team,” said Gardner. “They say hitting is contagious, and once she started going, the girls followed suit, and that was a big reason why we rattled off 17 straight wins.”
Jones will play either third or shortstop while junior McKenna Bradely and sophomore McKenna Jones will look to replace Hensch, who was a mainstay as Knoch’s backstop for four seasons.
The Knights will be led by a group of seniors that includes Fraser, Elizabeth Danik, Lindsey Wise and Alena Tekely. Kaylee Bachman was also in the plans for the Knights, but an offseason injury will see her miss the entire season.
The goal for this year’s team is to get past the hurdle it can’t clear — making it past the second round of the playoffs. The bar is set high, and there’s an added motivation after the boys basketball team won a WPIAL championship this winter.
“Our girls were following that all the way,” said Gardner. “That’s all they talk about, and the team’s goal is to get there ourselves, and there’s no reason they can’t do it. We’ve won section championships in three of the last four years. The goal is to get further on than what we have.”
Fox Chapel
The Foxes are looking to head back to the playoffs after upsetting No. 5 Franklin Regional, 4-0, in last year’s Class 5A playoffs before falling to North Hills for the third consecutive year.
“It’s still a tough section. Shaler is defending section champs, and there’s Plum, North Hills, New Castle, Mars and Penn Hills,” said coach Larry Troutman, who is in his second year after coming over from Leechburg.
“If we can make it out of our section and into the playoffs, we can make some noise.”
The Foxes return two all-section players in Jillian Haigh (first team) and Ella Eisner (second team) and have six to seven returning starters.
Haigh, who hit .612 last year, received her first Division I offer from Wagner. Eisner led the team in home runs with five.
“We averaged eight runs a game last year,” Troutman said. “Our batting order looks to be strong again this year. We have depth, which also gives us plenty of options.”
One addition to that offense is Giuliana Foley, who was hurt for the majority of last year but hit three home runs in 11 games played. She’ll play outfield and catch.
Troutman is also excited about a quartet of incoming freshmen who looked great in fall ball. Two of those freshmen, Lexi Stabile and Izzy Zober, provide pitching depth.
Plum
Plum returns seven starters from last year with five of them being seniors.
Leading the way is a pair of senior pitchers, Riley Stephans and Makenzie Marotta, who each earned second-team all-section honors last year. Catcher Liana Yusko, shortstop Jaiden Gentile and outfielder Gianna Tavella round out the returning seniors.
Junior first baseman Brooke Bernosky and sophomore Lily DeLuca are also back as starters. Last year, DeLuca started as a second baseman but due to injury moved to the DH spot.
Coach Phil DiLonardo is hoping having a veteran roster pays off.
“It’s nice to have five or six seniors who have been in the playoffs every year and have that experience,” he said. “If we play up to our potential, we can get over that first-round hump and make a run this year.”
Kiski Area
The Cavaliers sport a young team in a tough Section 2-5A filled with contenders Armstrong, Franklin Regional, Latrobe and last year’s PIAA champion, Penn-Trafford. Even with only three seniors and three juniors on its roster, Kiski Area returns eight starters from last season.
Leading hitter Alyssa Perona will headline a nucleus of power hitting that also incudes Kyla Hutcherson, Samantha Matson and Dakota Rainey.
Newcomers Kyleigh Rainey and Peytan McGarry will be looked on to contribute.
“We’re in a really tough section, but I think we’re ready to compete,” said coach John Kinnamon. “I feel like we’re on the rise and are eyeing one of those playoff spots.”
Freeport
Last year, the Yellowjackets opened the season with three straight wins before falling on hard times.
“We just drifted off, and we weren’t able to regain our footing,” said coach Ron DeJidas. “We didn’t have a single senior on our team last year, so that leadership left us, and when things didn’t go our way, we didn’t have anyone on the field to pick us up.”
No seniors means that everyone returns for Freeport, including junior Leah Clark, who is coming back after being injured. She was a very good hitter last year and will also split time as a pitcher.
Also returning for the Yellowjackets is Grace Palko, who caught every game as a freshman, and fellow sophomore Samantha Devlin, who looks to help secure the outfield. Maddie Bell is a freshman who DeJidas sees contributing to the pitching rotation.
There were also a few players who committed to colleges in the offseason. Senior third baseman Addyson Caruso picked Waynesburg and senior pitcher/center fielder Addison Gourley committed to Pitt Johnstown.
The team’s top pitcher, junior Ali Smith, put in a lot of work in the offseason. Combining her with Bell, Clark and Gourley gives the Yellowjackets options in the circle.
The most important thing for the Yellowjackets this season is to awaken the bats, and they spent all offseason working to improve.
“We put a lot of time into our hitting,” said DeJidas. “Last year we struggled at times, especially in a section that has a lot of strong pitching. We have to be able to put the ball in play and make things happen.”
Highlands
The Golden Rams finished just two games short of a playoff spot last year and are looking to make the playoffs this season.
“We’re looking to finish top three in our section,” said coach Kasey Wolford. “We’re looking to improve our technical skills and foster strong communication throughout.”
The Golden Rams lose starting pitcher Madison Gorney, starting shortstop Carrah Scardina and starting first baseman Gabby Campana-Chambers from last year, but return the bulk of their nucleus.
Alexis Arms returns as a utility player, Sophie Lentz and Mallory Zendarski return in the outfield and Alexis Bender is back behind the plate. The Rams will also be looking for newcomers Addy Gouza and Myah Artuso to make contributions.
St. Joseph will not field a team this year and players will co-op with Highlands.
Burrell
After being an assistant at Burrell for the last two years, Brandon Daughtry takes over as head coach and inherits a team that returns five starters from last year.
“We’re looking to compete and make a return to the WPIAL playoffs after a year hiatus,” said Daughtry.
Haylee Heasley will start at first base, Tina Gural returns as center fielder and pitcher, Jenna Morrison will patrol left field, Sophia Gregg will move from second base to shortstop and Shelby Novak returns from injury to pitch and play outfield.
Addy Wojtczak and Santina Gamboa are incoming players looking to contribute.
Deer Lakes
The Lancers returns all of their starters from a team that made the quarterfinals in the Class 3A playoffs last year, including their top three RBI producers. Senior Siena Plummer hit four home runs and knocked in 15 runs, sophomore Riley Jones had 14 RBIs, and senior Laney Dineff hit a pair of home runs and brought in 11 runs.
Coach Paul Lagnese expects junior catcher Ava Shea to be one of the best catchers in the section.
The Lancers also bring in three freshmen who will be contributors at some point this season. Joey Adams and Molly Farster will help in the field and Karcyn Hartman will join Dineff and junior Ella Thomas to provide a triple threat in the circle.
“Even though there is some tough competition in the likes of Yough, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland, we’re looking to win our section,” said Lagnese.
Apollo-Ridge
For the first time in school history, the Vikings made it out of the first round of the playoffs, defeating OLSH, 9-8, last year. Unfortunately, they lost in the next round of the Class 2A playoffs to eventual champion Neshannock, 14-2.
“Last season, we were really excited,” said coach Ashtin Kirkwood. “Neshannock was a great team, and we knew going in that it was going to be a tough one. I was really proud of how my girls handled that game.”
Makaila Ditty, who led the team with six home runs, returns as does leading hitter senior Jocelyn Snyder, who posted a .513 batting average. Both are pitchers who held opponents to under a .230 average last year. Ditty will see time in the outfield and Snyder will split time at first base.
Joining them as returning starters are senior second baseman Josalin McCauley, senior outfielder Sarah Niel and senior catcher/outfielder Julie Bertino.
Sophomore Kourtney Levesque will play shortstop while fellow sophomore Madison Hugely will get looks in the outfield and at first base. Kirkwood is going to try junior Arianna Hughley at third base this year. She’s only played in the outfield in the past.
The Vikings have 11 freshmen on the team, led by Julianna Zelonka.
“I think we’re going to do well again this year,” said Kirkwood. “Our goal, just like last year, is to win a section championship. We’re going to try and make it even further in the playoffs. Just seeing how much these girls want that win, it’s going to be the biggest driving factor for us this year.”
Leechburg
With a new coach and a young roster, the Blue Devils are looking to begin a new era of softball.
First-year coach Morgan Pierce wants her team to “have fun with the game and learn something at the end of the day.”
Leechburg lost a large number of seniors from last year, leaving the roster full of freshmen. Third baseman Isabella Foley, shortstop Emilee Kostyak and pitcher Adalyn Zanotto are the only returning starters while Madison Kostenlansky, Brooke Cuffia and Bianca Linkes are new additions.
Valley and Springdale are each looking to rebound from last year where both teams went winless. Riverview will not field a team for the fourth year in a row, but their players will co-op with Springdale.
Players to watch
Mikaila Ditty, P/OF, Apollo-Ridge
Jocelyn Snyder, P/1B, Apollo-Ridge
Sophia Gregg, LF, Burrell
Tina Gural, CF/P, Burrell
Shelby Novak, SS, Burrell
Laney Dineff, OF/P, Deer Lakes
Riley Jones, C/SS/3B, Deer Lakes
Siena Plummer, CF/1B/P, Deer Lakes
Ella Eisner, P/INF, Fox Chapel
Jillian Haigh, P/SS, Fox Chapel
Grace Palko, C, Freeport
Ali Smith, P, Freeport
Alexis Sayles, P, Highlands
Mallory Zendarski, OF, Highlands
Alyssa Perona, 1B, Kiski Area
Madison Rearick, P/2B, Kiski Area
Aubrey West, P, Kiski Area
Marlee Fraser, P, Knoch
Emersyn Jones, 3B/SS, Knoch
Kalla Purcell, P, Knoch
Isabella Foley, 3B, Leechburg
Adalyn Zanotto, P, Leechburg
Makenzie Marotta, INF/P, Plum
Riley Stephans, P, Plum