The PIAA softball championships kick off on Monday, and the state brackets will have plenty of local flair.
With nine Mid-Penn teams qualifying for tournament play, here’s a look at how they stack up in their matchups.
6A
Garnet Valley vs. Cumberland Valley (@ Cumberland Valley High School, 4 p.m.)
Impact players: Sydney May, Emma Morgan (CV); Zoey Rogers, Anna Sidlowski (GV)
Winner faces: Winner of Haverford vs. East Area
Buzz: Garnet Valley boasts a 21-3 record, but finished sixth place in a stacked District 1. Still, the District 3 champion Eagles can’t overlook the Jaguars. This should be a low-scoring affair, as Anna Sidlowski and Sydney May each sport ERAs in the 1s.
Downingtown East vs. Central Dauphin (@ Central Dauphin High School, 4 p.m.)
Impact players: Kasi Loser, Kayla Fletcher (CD); Rachael Schumann, Lilly Waterer (DE)
Winner faces: Winner of Hempfield vs. Mifflin County
Buzz: This is no easy task for the District 3 runner-ups. The Rams are going up against one of the best pitchers in the state this year in junior Rachael Schumann, who enters play with a 0.78 ERA and 219 strikeouts, while also batting over .500. The Rams lineup is talented enough to challenge, but it will need to be on its A-game.
Chambersburg vs. Central (@ Cardinal O’Hara, 4 p.m.)
Impact players: Kylee Miller, Sam Paetow (Chambersburg)
Winner faces: Winner of Nazareth-Pennridge
Buzz: Central has pretty much run through its District 12 schedule this season, only allowing more than two runs once during an 11-1 season. But that’s the type of game Chambersburg can thrive in, and if Kylee Miller can limit the Lancers offense, the District 3 third-place Trojans could end up being one of the last D3 teams standing.
Mifflin County vs. Hempfield (@ Hempfield High School, 11 a.m.)
Impact players: Madison Wolfgang, Dakota Hershberger (MC); Lauren Howard, Mia Bandieramonte (Hempfield)
Winner faces: Winner of Central Dauphin-Downingtown East
Buzz: The Huskies pulled of a surprising District 6 championship this year, with ace Madison Wolfgang and slugger Dakota Hershberger leading the way. But now, as a reward, they go up against an imposing WPIAL team with a deep lineup. Mia Bandieramonte hit the WPIAL-winning homer in the top of the eighth of their title game last week, and she’s just one of many power-hitting threats in the Spartan lineup.
5A
Hatboro-Horsham vs. Northern (@ Northern High School, 4:15 p.m.)
Impact players: Hailey Irwin, Sammy Magee (Northern); Amaya Lundy, Tess Kearney (HH)
Winner faces: Winner of Cardinal O’Hara-Upper Dublin
Buzz: After a slow start to the year, the Hatters pushed to a state playoff berth behind a solid offense and reliable pitching, taking third in District 1. But Northern is just firing on all cylinders right now, as they’ll look to counter the Hatters even-keeled approach with a power attack that looks as strong as any in the field.
Armstrong vs. Mechanicsburg (@ Mechanicsburg High School, 4 p.m.)
Impact players: Sam Rybacki, Emily Bittner (Mechanicsburg); Jenna Clotz, Jessie Pugh (Armstrong)
Winner faces: Winner of Pocono Mountain East-West Chester Rustin
Buzz: Mechanicsburg heads to its first state playoff game in program history, and they’re handed a difficult hurdle. The Wildcats take on an Armstrong program that has been to the last state title games, and are coming off a WPIAL title game loss where it almost came back from a 9-0 deficit, losing 11-7. Sam Rybacki will likely take the mound, and she’ll have to do her best to limit the Armstrong damage.
Greencastle-Antrim vs. Oxford (@ Oxford High School, 4 p.m.)
Impact players: Meadow Gambacurta, Sydney Orndorff (Greencastle-Antrim); McKenna Frank, Cece Figueroa (Oxford)
Winner faces: Winner of Abington Heights/Franklin Towne Charter
Buzz: It’s been a big-time season for a young Blue Devil team, winning the Mid-Penn title despite a majority of its core being underclassmen. G-A will have its hands full on Monday, though, as Oxford slugger McKenna Frank is a top offensive threat in the classification, while pitcher Cece Figueroa has routinely shut down offenses. The top of G-A’s order featuring Gambacurta, Orndorff and Makayla Jerin will have to set the table.
4A
East Pennsboro vs. Jersey Shore (@ Elm Park, Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.)
Impact players: Jackie Capers, Zoe Holbert (East Pennsboro); Isabelle Engle, Danielle Miller (Jersey Shore)
Winner faces: Winner of Blue Mountain-Swenson
Buzz: Jersey Shore might sit with a 13-9 record, but much like the Lampeter-Strasburg team that topped East Penn in the District 3 title game, the mark is misleading. The Bulldogs won District 4 with as strong playoff run, and are a young team coming into their own at the right time. But East Pennsboro will come into Monday’s matchup fired up and focused, as star pitcher Jackie Capers will do everything in her power to make sure her Panther career doesn’t end with two-straight losses.
Trinity vs. Belle Vernon (Hempfield High School, 2:30 p.m.)
Impact players: Molly Maney, Maddie Smith (Trinity); Olivia Kolowitz, Maren Metikosh (BV)
Winner faces: Winner of Cathedral Prep-Elizabeth Forward
Buzz: Trinity scratched and clawed to get its first state playoff berth in program history, topping Berks Catholic 1-0 to take third in District 3 4A. And the Rocks’ recipe for success is simple: they go as pitcher Maddie Smith goes. If her stuff is on, she’s as tough to hit as anyone in the Mid-Penn. She’ll face a strong WPIAL-winning Belle Vernon lineup, led by slugger Maren Ketikosh, while the Leopards boast a two-headed pitching attack of Olivia Kolowitz and Talia Ross.