It would seem Neshannock would have a tough time topping its 2025 championship season that ended with WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A championships and a 26-0 record.
But that could have been said for the past four seasons.
The Lancers have won four straight district championships, are riding a 52-game winning streak and again are the favorites to hoist a WPIAL trophy.
But don’t count out the other talented teams in Class 2A that are looking to dethrone the Lancers.
Here is a look at the 2026 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class 2A softball.
Preseason Top 5
1. Neshannock (26-0 last season)
Neshannock has gone undefeated the past two seasons and added a fourth straight WPIAL title and second consecutive state title last spring. The Lancers also won the 2022 state crown. They return six starters, including senior outfielder Jaidon Nogay (.574), a Kent State commit and all-state selection, and Mercyhurst recruit Gianna Paglia, a senior pitcher. Nogay has 86 RBIs and 99 runs scored in three seasons. Neshannock will miss graduated pitcher Addy Frye, who is now at Providence after going 23-0 with a 0.81 ERA and 217 strikeouts while also batting .547 with 41 RBIs. She had an 81-8 career record. Frye, the state’s overall pitcher of the year, was Trib HSSN 2A player of the year for three straight seasons. All-state catcher Gabby Quinn (Kent State) and all-state outfielder Miley Anderson (Kent State) also graduated. Three softball players are still competing with the Neshannock basketball team in the PIAA playoffs.
2. Chartiers-Houston (22-3)
Five starters are back for Chartiers-Houston, which is chasing a 10th WPIAL title. The Bucs were WPIAL runners-up last season after winning the Section 3 title at 10-0. They averaged 8.8 runs while allowing just 1.7 per game. Senior shortstop Lauren Rush is a three-time all-state selection and a Baldwin Wallace commit. Juniors Taryne Drilak and Aubree Randolph were all-section selections last year, and senior infielder Seanna Riggle also returns. The Bucs graduated catcher Ella Richey, who hit .573 with 12 homers before heading to King University, as well as the state’s Class 2A pitcher of the year, Meadow Ferri, who is now at Kent State.
3. Laurel (15-5)
Laurel went 10-2 in Section 1 last season and secured the No. 3 seed for the WPIAL playoffs before falling to Riverside in the quarterfinals. Back are all-state second baseman Mayci Lang (Westminster) and all-state outfielder Ivy Pancher (Cleveland State). All-section infielder Hailey Fell also returns.
4. South Allegheny (14-4)
South Allegheny won Section 2 at 10-0 last season and earned the No. 5 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. The Gladiators return all-state catcher Cadence McBride, a Waynesburg commit. Seven starters return, including all-section honorees Ava Brown, Carrera Conley and Emma Jackson.
5. Bentworth (10-11)
Bentworth, the Class 2A finalist in 2024, welcomes back LSU recruit Syndey Gonglik. An all-state pitcher as a freshman, she was limited in the circle last season but is expected to pitch again later this spring. She was selected all-state at first base as a sophomore last season after batting .522 with seven homers and 31 RBIs. All-state outfielder Sophia Gaussa (Washington & Jefferson) also returns for the Bearcats, who finished fourth in Section 4.
Players to watch
Brianna Aluisia, sr., INF, Shenango
Gracie Auth, jr., OF, Northgate
Ava Brown, sr., P, South Allegheny
Layla Chapman, so., P, Seton LaSalle
Ava Clark, sr., P, Brownsville
Carrera Conley, sr., INF, South Allegheny
Mikaila Ditty, so., INF, Apollo-Ridge
Taryne Drilak, jr., INF, Chartiers-Houston
Mya Eshenbaugh, so., DP, OLSH
Hailey Fell, so., INF, Laurel
Sofia Gaussa, sr., OF, Bentworth
Lyla Gill, so., INF, Brownsville
Sydney Gonglik, jr., INF, Bentworth
Emma Herb, jr., C, Shenango
Addison Hiles, jr., P, Frazier
Emma Jackson, so., OF, South Allegheny
Mayci Lang, sr., INF, Laurel
Kennedi Lynn, sr., P, Shenango
Ella Makel, so., C, Waynesburg Central
Cadence McBride, sr., C, South Allegheny
Andi Midler, jr., OF, Burgettstown
Jaidon Nogay, sr., OF, Neshannock
Zoe Offie, sr., OF, Shenango
Gianna Paglia, sr., INF, Neshannock
Ivy Pancher, sr., OF, Laurel
Faith Partozoti, jr., OF, Washington
Aubree Randolph, jr., OF, Chartiers-Houston
Lauren Rush, sr., INF, Chartiers-Houston
Raya Sentipal, sr., INF, Burgettstown
Becca Shriver, sr., INF, Shady Side Academy
Jocelyn Snyder, sr., P, Apollo-Ridge
Gina Tedrow, sr., P, Waynesburg Central
Emme Travalena, so., DP, Frazier
Leann Walzer, sr., C, OLSH
Diamond notes
• Shenango (11-9) was third in Section 1 last season and reached the quarterfinals. It returns eight starters, including all-state outfielder Zoe Offie (.533). Also back are all-section selections in shortstop Sydney Byerly (.474), third baseman Brianna Aluisia, catcher Emma Herb (.433) and pitcher Kennedi Lynn (10-8, 2.41 ERA, 114 strikeouts).
• Apollo-Ridge (14-5) was second in Section 2 last season at 8-2 and reached the quarterfinals. The Vikings return senior pitcher/first baseman Jocelyn Snyder, who hit .513 with 26 RBIs and also had a 3.07 ERA and 72 strikeouts. They also return sophomore all-section pitcher/utility Mikaila Ditty (6 HR). Apollo-Ridge also has 11 promising freshmen.
• Shady Side Academy (4-8) has eight returning starters, including Penn State Behrend recruit Becca Schriver (.469), an all-section pick.
• After finishing second in Section 3 and reaching the quarterfinals, Seton LaSalle (11-6) will look to six returning starters, including all-section pitcher Layla Chapman. Catcher/infielder Madison McElroy is a Bethany commit. The Rebels will miss graduated all-state first baseman Gianna Ferrieri (Carlow).
• A pair of all-section selections return for Section 4 champion Frazier (13-4) — sophomore DP Emme Travalena and junior pitcher Addison Hiles. The Commodores graduated all-state third baseman Grace Vaughn (East Tennessee State).
• Waynesburg Central (11-7) earned the No. 6 seed last season after finishing 8-2 in Section 4. Back are senior pitcher Gina Tedrow and sophomore Ella Makel, who each were all-section selections.
• Brownsville (11-6) will try to improve on its third-place finish in Section 4 behind pitcher Ava Clark (Cal (Pa.)), who earned second-team all-state honors in 2025.
• The top four finishers in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
2026 alignment
Section 1: Aliquippa, Freedom, Laurel, Neshannock, New Brighton, Riverside, Shenango
Section 2: Apollo-Ridge, Brentwood, Northgate, Shady Side Academy, South Allegheny, Springdale
Section 3: Burgettstown, Carlynton, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Seton LaSalle
Section 4: Bentworth, Brownsville, California, Frazier, Washington, Waynesburg