Postseason forecast: A preview of the 2022 WPIAL softball playoffs

The WPIAL softball playoffs have arrived. After another exciting spring regular season, 80 teams through District 7's six classifications are set to compete for a WPIAL title.

Once again, the softball championships will be held at California University of Pennsylvania's Lilley Field, from June 1-2.

Here is a breakdown of this year's WPIAL softball playoffs:

CLASS 6A

Defending Champion: No. 5 Bethel Park

Despite saying goodbye to a loaded senior class that helped capture a WPIAL title in 2021, Bethel Park will still be a threat this postseason. Seniors Sandra Soltes and Ali Sniegocki have been a pair of big bats that have helped the Blackhawks return to the playoffs. The two will be playing softball at Pitt and Holy Cross, respectively, next spring.

Favorite: No. 1 Hempfield Area

First-year coach Tina Madison will look to lead her team back to the top. Prior to Bethel Park taking home the crown last season, the Spartans claimed the last five championships in the WPIAL's highest classification. Starting pitcher Riley Miller is a player to watch, showing the ability to impact a game both on the mound and at the plate.

Sleeper: No. 3 Pine-Richland

When you have pitching, you always have a chance. The Rams happen to have the best pitcher in Class 6A with senior Gabriella Aughton. The Boston College commit is dominant on the mound and has the ability to keep Pine-Richland in any contest.

Beaver Valley teams: None

First-round matchups (Monday)

No. 7 North Allegheny vs. No. 10 Peters Township at West Mifflin High School, 5 p.m.

No. 8 Norwin vs. No. 9 Baldwin at West Mifflin High School, 3 p.m.

First-round byes: No. 1 Hempfield, No. 2 Mt. Lebanon, No. 3. Pine-Richland, No. 4 Seneca Valley, No. 5 Bethel Park, No. 6 Canon-McMillan

CLASS 5A

Defending Champion: No. 4 North Hills

After winning their first WPIAL title since 2000 last spring, the Indians will look to win it again in 2022. While a few key players are gone, North Hills still has senior and Holy Cross commit Sophia Roncone on the mound. In addition to Roncone, Maria Chutko and Kassidy Wittig are a pair of potent sluggers who make the Indians a dangerous squad.

Favorite: No. 1 Armstrong

Last season, Armstrong reached the PIAA final while getting revenge against North Hills along the way. This year, it's the Riverhawks who'll have a target on their backs. The quartet of Isabella Atherton, Mackenzie Egley, Emma Paul, and Jenna Clontz ― who all gained huge postseason experience in 2021 ― will make them a tough club to beat.

Sleeper: No. 5 West Allegheny

Never doubt Mindi McFate in the WPIAL postseason. Coming off an unexpected first-round exit last spring, West Allegheny has a loaded lineup of returning starters that make them a perfect candidate to play spoiler. Leading the charge for the Indians will be sisters Addy and Elly Vicari-Baker, who've taken major steps since busting onto the scene last year as freshmen.

Beaver Valley teams: No. 5 West Allegheny

First-round matchups (Tuesday)

No. 1 Armstrong vs. No. 16 Hampton at Mars High School, 3 p.m.

No. 2 Penn-Trafford vs. No. 15 Plum at Norwin High School, 5 p.m.

No. 3 Trinity vs. No. 14 Connellsville at Waynesburg University , 5 p.m.

No. 4 North Hills vs. No. 13 Upper St. Clair at North Allegheny High School, 4 p.m.

No. 5 West Allegheny vs. No. 12 Grater Latrobe at North Allegheny High School, 6 p.m.

No. 6 Fox Chapel vs. No. 11 Chartiers Valley at Sewickley Academy, 5 p.m.

No. 7 Franklin Regional vs. No. 10 Shaler at Fox Chapel High School, 3 p.m.

No. 8 Thomas Jefferson vs. No. 9 Kiski Area at Plum High School, 5 p.m.

CLASS 4A

Defending Champion: No. 1 Beaver Area

Beaver County residents all know the story of the 2021 Beaver Area Bobcats by now. Amy Haggart's team became just the fifth WPIAL club to win a state title with a perfect record. A key group of five seniors from last year are gone, but that hasn't slowed down Beaver, which enters the playoffs unbeaten again.

Favorite: No. 1 Beaver Area

No team will have a bigger target on its back than Beaver. MaxPreps currently has the Bobcats ranked No. 11 in the country as they start their postseason journey. Beaver features plenty of familiar faces from last year's team, including seniors Payton List ― a Virginia Tech commit and the 2021 Times Girls Athlete of the Year ― and Hanna Crowe. However, Haggart's squad has also received notable efforts this spring from freshman newcomers Sami Springman and Taylor Young.

Sleeper: No. 9 Central Valley

The cliche goes, "it's hard to beat a team three times." If the Warriors can get past Freeport in the opening round, it will create an interesting quarterfinal matchup against the Bobcats. Beaver took home both contests in the regular season, but Central Valley put up a fight in each of them. The Warriors are a long shot, but with talents like Abigail Borello, Kylie Heid and Macy Littler, perhaps they can make things interesting.

Beaver Valley teams: No. 1 Beaver Area, No. 9 Central Valley, No. 13 Blackhawk

First-round matchups (Wednesday)

No. 4 Yough vs. No. 13 Blackhawk at Plum High School, 3 p.m.

No. 5 Montour vs. No. 12 Knoch at North Allegheny High School, 3 p.m.

No. 6 Belle Vernon vs. No. 11 New Castle at Plum High School, 5 p.m.

No. 7 Highlands vs. No. 10 West Mifflin at Norwin High School, 3 p.m.

No. 8 Freeport vs. No. 9 Central Valley at Mars High School, 5 p.m.

First-round byes: No. 1 Beaver Area, No. 2 Elizabeth-Forward, No. 3 Burrell

CLASS 3A

Defending Champion: No. 8 Mt. Pleasant

Similar to Beaver, Mt. Pleasant also took home WPIAL and PIAA titles last spring. However, the Vikings are a much different team in 2021. A younger lineup has Mt. Pleasant looking to play spoiler, rather than its normal status as the favorite. However, being overlooked could be just what the Vikings need to go on another run.

Favorite: No. 1 Avonworth

The Antelopes have perhaps been the most dominant team in Class 3A, notching a handful of impressive wins, including a sweep against Ellwood City. Senior Meghan Fissore and sophomores Leah Kuban and Aliva Lantzy are three players to watch.

Sleeper: No. 4 Ellwood City

Aside from when they take the field against Avonworth, the Wolverines have been solid in 2022 thanks to a strong returning cast from last year's club, which reached the WPIAL final. What makes Gary Rozanski's team dangerous is the depth in his lineup, which features four players ― Kyla Servick, Aliya Garroway, Julia Nardone and Angie Nardone ― hitting well over .400.

Beaver Valley teams: No. 4 Ellwood City, No. 13 Beaver Falls

First-round matchups (Tuesday)

No. 4 Ellwood City vs. No. 13 Beaver Falls at Seneca Valley High School, 4 p.m.

No. 5 Southmoreland vs. No. 12 Derry at Norwin High School, 3 p.m.

No. 6 Waynesburg Central vs. No. 11 South Park at Trinity High School, 4 p.m.

No. 7 Valley vs. No. 10 Keystone Oaks at Plum High School, 3 p.m.

No. 8 Mt. Pleasant vs. No. 9 North Catholic at Fox Chapel High School, 5 p.m.

First-round byes: No. 1 Avonworth, No. 2 South Allegheny, No. 3 Deer Lakes

CLASS 2A

Defending Champion: No. 5 Laurel

Sophomores Autumn Boyd and Addie Deal have allowed Laurel to remain competitive, but the Spartans are far from the power that they were last season when they captured the program's third straight WPIAL crown. In order to make it four in a row, Laurel will need some big efforts from some new faces.

Favorite: No. 2 Frazier

Both Neshannock and Frazier enter the Class 2A postseason unbeaten, but the Commodores get the extra edge because of their postseason experience. After reaching the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA postseason, look for Frazier to take the next step in 2022. Junior Jensyn Hartman is perhaps the top athlete in the bracket, known for her abilities both as a catcher and on the volleyball court.

Sleeper: No. 4 Chartiers-Houston

Seven returning starters from last year's postseason team have all shown major growth for the Buccaneers, who captured a Section 1-2A crown this year. Chartiers-Houston has notched a few impressive wins over quality opponents, including South Allegheny and Valley, who both reached the playoffs in Class 3A.

Beaver Valley teams: No. 6 OLSH, No. 13 Riverside

First-round matchups (Wednesday)

No. 1 Neshannock vs. No. 16 Fort Cherry / No. 17 Carlynton at Sewickley Academy, 5 p.m.

No. 2 Frazier vs. No. 15 Apollo-Ridge at Penn-Trafford High School, 5 p.m.

No. 3 Ligonier Valley vs. No. 14 Bentworth at Norwin High School, 5 p.m.

No. 4 Chartiers-Houston vs. No. 13 Riverside at Sewickley Academy, 3 p.m.

No. 5. Laurel vs. No. 12 Burgettstown at North Allegheny High School, 5 p.m.

No. 6 OLSH vs. No. 11 Mohawk at Mars High School, 3 p.m.

No. 7 Seton LaSalle vs. No. 10 Carmichaels at Trinity High School, 4 p.m.

No. 8 Charleroi vs. No. 9 Serra Catholic at Trinity High School, 6 p.m.

* No. 16 Fort Cherry vs. No. 17 Carlynton at Trinity High School, Monday at 4 p.m.

CLASS 1A

Defending Champion: No. 1 West Greene

Only three teams have won five straight WPIAL softball titles, and West Greene became one of them in 2021. Once again, the Pioneers look to have a solid shot at the District 7 crown, boasting a loaded lineup that includes stars London Whipkey and Katie Lampe.

Favorite: No. 2 Union

West Greene has to lose sometime, right? Maybe Union will be the team to make it happen this year. The Scotties lost just three games this year, all to teams in higher classifications. Sophomore Mallory Gorgacz is a player who can change a game anytime she steps to the plate, entering the postseason with a .412 batting average and four home runs.

Sleeper: No. 5 South Side

The Rams just missed the WPIAL finals and state playoffs last year and will look to go on another big run this spring. Seniors Madi Fischer, Laney Lewis, and Sage Tellish have been big producers in all areas of the game. Known as a team for their aggressiveness on the bases, don't be shocked if South Side pulls off a major upset in Class 1A.

Beaver Valley teams: No. 5 South Side, No. 11 Rochester

First-round matchups (Tuesday)

No. 5 South Side vs. No. 12 Northgate at Sewickley Academy, 3 p.m.

No. 6 Leechburg vs. No. 11 Rochester at Mars High School, 5 p.m.

No. 7 Jefferson-Morgan vs. No. 10 Saint Joseph at Trinity High School, 6 p.m.

No. 8. Bishop Canevin vs. No. 9 Mapletown at Waynesburg University, 3 p.m.

First-round byes: No. 1 West Greene, No. 2 Union, No. 3 Greensburg C.C., No. 4 Springdale

Contact Noah Hiles at nhiles@gannett.com. Follow him on twitter @_NoahHiles.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 2022 WPIAL softball postseason preview