WPIAL softball playoffs
Class 6A
Quarterfinals
6-Pine-Richland (7-12) vs. 3-Norwin (10-8)
5 p.m. Tuesday at Plum
Winner plays: 2-Seneca Valley (14-5) on May 19 in semifinals (time, site TBD)
Players to watch: Abby Laurent, Pine-Richland; Diem Wardzinski, Norwin
Extra bases: Pine-Richland tied for fifth in the eight-team section. The Rams are allowing 8.0 runs per game. They lost to Canon-McMillan in the quarterfinals last year. Laurent, a Saint Michael’s commit, is batting .548 to lead the team. Norah Cherry has five home runs, and Laurent has four. … Norwin was in the final two years ago and made the semifinals last year, falling both times to Seneca Valley. The Knights split two games with Seneca Valley this season. They have lost 4 of 5 heading into the postseason.
Class 5A
First round
13-Latrobe (10-8) vs. 4-West Allegheny (12-3)
3 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway
Winner plays: Winner of 12-Kiski Area (14-5)/5-Baldwin (16-4) on Thursday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)
Players to watch: Sarah Blossey, Latrobe; Madison Maritz, West Allegheny
Extra bases: Latrobe scores a lot of runs (9.8 per game) but also gives up a lot (7.8). The Wildcats came in fourth in Section 2 behind Penn-Trafford, Armstrong and Kiski Area. They have some dangerous bats in Blossey, Natalia Scekeres, Morgan Maiers and others. Top Class 6A seed Hempfield had trouble with Latrobe in a 5-4 win in eight innings. … West Allegheny split the Section 3 title with Montour, averaging 8.4 runs. The Indians were the No. 3 seed last year and made the semifinals before falling to Shaler. They also made the PIAA semifinals. Maritz is hitting .528, and Irena Santoro is the top pitcher.
14-Connellsville (12-8) vs. 3-Penn-Trafford (17-3)
5 p.m. Tuesday at Norwin
Winner plays: Winner of 11-North Hills (9-7)/6-Montour (12-5) on Thursday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)
Players to watch: Cali Leichliter, Connellsville; Gabi Rubbe, Penn-Trafford
Extra bases: Get ready for some offense. Penn-Trafford has 188 runs, Connellsville 186, making them two of the top scoring teams in 5A. The Falcons have scored 10 or more runs nine times. They beat Latrobe, 20-10. They lost to Elizabeth Forward, 16-15. Leichliter, a Robert Morris commit, is hitting .455 with eight home runs, 28 RBIs and 32 runs. … Defending PIAA champion Penn-Trafford is chasing its first WPIAL title. The Warriors have won 16 of 17 games, with the loss coming to Class 6A No. 1 Hempfield. They have wins against Shaler, Norwin, North Allegheny and Elizabeth Forward. Allyson Paulone, a Mercyhurst commit, is a proven postseason pitcher.