Mar 23, 2015 5 min read

While the moves are based on enrollment, it would be hard to look at the WPIAL’s decisions on realignment in Class AA softball this season and not think it was some kind of cruel joke.

Of the five teams that won or tied for one of the four Class A section titles in 2014, three were bumped up to Class AA this season. Another program that moved up, South Side Beaver, finished third in Section 4-A but advanced to the WPIAL title game, where it lost to section rival Neshannock, which also is now in Class AA.

“That was a bit of a surprise to me,” said Carmichaels’ head softball coach Dave Briggs, whose team moved up after finishing in a tie with Jefferson-Morgan for the Section 2-A championship last season.

“We’ve never even really been close (to a Class AA enrollment). It hurts us because we lose a lot of good rivalries that we’ve built up over the years with teams like Frazier, West Greene and Jefferson-Morgan. But you also have four of the teams that were the better teams in Class A moving up this year. When you add them to the teams that already were in Class AA, it’s going to be a buzzsaw.”

In addition to Carmichaels, Neshannock and South Side Beaver, Burgettstown, which reached the PIAA Class A semifinals last season, is back in Class AA.

The Mikes, who are coming off a 14-4 season and have won or tied for a section title in eight consecutive years, will compete in Section 2-AA, while the Blue Devils are now in Section 1-AA.

Both have enough returning players to battle for playoff spots again this season.

While Class AA might well be stacked this season, Briggs has a buzzsaw of his own in senior pitcher Erica Burns, arguably one of the WPIAL’s top pitchers this season regardless of classification.

Burns, who according to Briggs has lost just eight games in her career, is coming off a season in which she went 14-4 with 166 strikeouts in 108 innings while earning all-district honors. She also batted .508 last season, scoring 20 runs.

“She’s been pretty consistent,” said Briggs. “We’re looking for more leadership from her this year. But she’s batted between .400 and .500 in each of her first three years.

“The other thing is that people don’t realize how good of a fielder she is. I’ve never seen a girl so good coming off the mound as she is.”

Burns is one of six returning starters for the Mikes, who also have catcher Katie Mays, infielders Caroline Cree and Natalie McNett and outfielders Laura Walker and Emma Lowry back.

Mark Deer has even more returning at Burgettstown, which went 18-6 last season.

The Blue Devils lost just one player to graduation, pitcher-infielder Bry Lonick, and return a strong nucleus that includes a pair of all-district players in pitcher Katie Tarr and catcher Caley Ritts.

Tarr, a junior, compiled a 10-4 record with 104 strikeouts splitting time with Lonick and Morgan Elleck in the circle. She also drove in 32 runs.

Ritts, who moves to shortstop this season, batted .446 and struck out just one time in 24 games.

Junior Shania Winters, who took last season off after earning a letter as a freshman, starts at catcher. Her sister Cheyanne Winters is at first base. Elleck is at second base and Sam Scopel third.

“Out junior class is really our strength,” said Deer. “We have eight juniors and seven of them start. We have our starting outfield back as well. The experience we got last year, playing so many games and playing at State College, I’m hoping that pays off. These girls have played together the past two summers as well, so they’ve gotten a lot of experience.”

But will it be enough to compete in Class AA?

“It’s not like we haven’t played (in Class AA) before,” said Deer, whose team moved down to Class A in the last enrollment change three seasons ago. “We’re used to it. The teams will have a little bigger rosters, but there were a lot of good teams we played in Class A as well.”

Charleroi also was moved into Section 2-AA, giving that section three returning section champions from 2014. The Cougars, who return pitcher Jen Tighlman, won Section 4-AA last season with an 11-4 record. Waynesburg returns a strong nucleus that includes senior Hannah Gibbons, a Penn recruit, and junior Tiffany Ross to the defending section champ.

The Blue Devils, meanwhile, must figure out a way to get past South Side Beaver, which also is in the section.

Neither Class AA newcomer figures to have an easy road to the postseason.

“We had a nice little run with eight section titles in a row,” said Briggs. “It’s going to be a whole new world. We’ve got to hit the ball better this year if we want to compete. Last year, I wasn’t too pleased with our hitting.”