2024 WPIAL Class A Softball Championship Preview: Union vs. Chartiers-Houston

By: Michael Love

Tuesday May 28, 2024 | 4:04 p.m.

2024 WPIAL Class A Softball Championship

Union n°1 (20-1) against Chartiers-Houston n°3 (16-2)

2:15 p.m. Wednesday at Lilley Field in Cal (Pa.)

How they got here: Union beat No. 8 Jefferson Morgan, 11-2; and No. 5 West Greene, 10-0. Chartiers-Houston beat No. 6 Jeannette, 16-0; and No. 2 Carmichaels, 3-2.

WPIAL titles: Union 2 (2022, 2023); Chartiers-Houston 8 (2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1999, 1988, 1987)

Coaches: Doug Fisher, union; Tricia Alderson, Chartiers-Houston

Players to watch: Meadow Ferri, Chartiers-Houston; Olivia Williams, trade unionist

Additional bases: Union is seeking its third consecutive WPIAL championship and third in program history. The Scotties’ only loss this season came at the hands of No. 1 seed and WPIAL Class 2A runner-up Neshannock. The Union offense has been overwhelming on several occasions this season. With 21 points scored in two playoff games, the Scotties have averaged 13.2 points per game this season. Williams, a sophomore, leads the team with a .532 hitting average (25-for-47). Junior Mia Preuhs leads the team with seven home runs, and freshman Irelyn Fisher has had a breakout season with 42 RBIs. Preuhs has been lights out in the WPIAL playoffs this season. She allowed five hits in 13 innings with 22 strikeouts against just three walks. Jefferson Morgan’s two points in victory were undeserved. For the season, she is 14-1 with a 1.44 ERA, 150 strikeouts and 28 walks in 77⅔ innings. Seven line regulars are hitting .400 or better. … Chartiers-Houston hopes to add to its tradition of WPIAL championships. The Bucs are seeking their first WPIAL title since winning back-to-back crowns in 2011-12. Last year, they fell to Union in the semifinals, but bounced back to finish third, winning the consolation final and punching their tickets to the United States. Chartiers-Houston reached the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals in 2021 before dropping down to Class A. The Bucs played three memorable games against Section 2 rival and No. 2 seed Carmichaels. The teams split the first two games and shared the section championship. Last week’s rubber match was won by the Bucs in a 3-2 finale that came down to the final at-bat. Ferri, Chartiers-Houston’s ace pitcher, retired Carmichaels standout hitter Carys McConnell on a 3-2 pitch with the tying run on first to end the game and send the Bucs to the championship game. The Bucs are averaging 10.7 points per game. This is Chartiers Houston’s first appearance in a championship game since 2016, when it finished second to West Greene.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs. A Clearfield native and Westminster (Pa.) graduate, he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at Clearfield Progress. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Tags: Chartiers-Houston, Union