Mar 25, 2015 4 min read

The good news for girls softball teams in Section 1-A is Carmichaels, which won or tied for the section title eight consecutive years, moved up to Class AA this season.

Frazier, which finished third in the section behind co-champions Carmichaels and Jefferson-Morgan, an improving Monessen team and California moved into Section 2-A, while Serra Catholic was sent to Section 5-A.

But that doesn’t mean the new six-team section won’t be competitive this season. The Rockets, coming off just the third section title in program history, return nearly every player from last season’s WPIAL semifinalist, and West Greene also has a strong team returning.

Then, there is Chartiers-Houston.

The perennial powerhouse Bucs move down from Class AA, giving Section 1-A another strong team that should contend for the section title.

“Last year, every team (in the section) was good; every game was a nail-biter,” said veteran Jefferson-Morgan coach Tony Barbetta. “It should be the same this year. Whoever brings their A-game will win that day. If you don’t, you’re going to struggle.”

The Rockets brought their best for most of last season, winning a school-record 12 section games – against two losses – and beating Bishop Canevin, 9-1, in the WPIAL quarterfinals. They were defeated, 5-3, in the semifinals by South Side Beaver, then lost, 7-0, to Burgettstown in the WPIAL consolation game, but both of those teams moved to Class AA this year.

Among the Rockets’ key returnees are pitcher Maddie Ludrosky, who is tough in the circle and a strong hitter, and all-district catcher Reagan Rush.

Rush keyed Jefferson-Morgan’s offense last season, batting .540 with two home runs, eight doubles, 16 RBI, 26 runs and 10 stolen bases. Shortstop Morgan Simkovic, second baseman Camryn Dugan and first baseman Jessica Taylor also return to give the Rockets a strong infield.

“If my girls play like they did last year, we’ll be just fine,” said Barbetta. “But between us, Chartiers-Houston and West Greene, any one of those teams could win the section. I’d like to win it back-to-back. We’ve never done that before.”

The Bucs have their sights set on the section title after a rare year saw them finish 10-7 overall and 8-4 in Section 2-AA, good enough for a third-place finish.

“We’re the new kids on the block again,” said Chartiers-Houston head coach Tricia Alderson. “We haven’t been in Class A in a couple of years.

“We’ve been up in class and were in a tough section the last two years, so that should help us.”

The team lost all-district catcher Haley Sutton, but returns nearly everyone else.

Sutton moved to catcher last season when Casey Craig suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but Craig is back for her senior season. Other seniors returning include pitcher-outfielder Kassie Kesneck and shortstop Megan Kraushaar.

Kesneck is dealing with an injury, so freshman Kaitlyn Dittrich has thrown early in the season for the Bucs and done well. Chartiers-Houston also has sophomore Kayla Elliott, who filled in during last season’s 4-2 playoff loss to Riverside when Kesneck was dealing with an injury.

“The more pitching you have, the better,” Alderson said. “Kassie was an all-section pitcher last year. But it’s also nice to have Kassie in the outfield when Casey is pitching. Kassie was an all-section outfielder for two years before moving to pitcher last year. We have a stronger defense in the field when Casey is pitching.”

West Greene has a similar luxury with Bailey Bennington and Madison Renner.

Bennington led area pitchers with 174 strikeouts last season, but also batted .507 with three home runs and 20 RBI.

Renner, meanwhile, started the Pioneers’ 10-0 five-inning win over Geibel Tuesday and struck out 10.

Like Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry moves into the section out of Class AA, while Frazier moves to Section 2-A with Monessen and California.

The Greyhounds should be a factor in the playoff race behind pitcher Taylor Guzzie.