May 7, 2026 4 min read

When the WPIAL released the softball pairings on Thursday afternoon, it became clear that in Class A and 2A recent success was a major factor.

Defending champion Union got the nod for the top seed in Class A and Carmichaels is the second seed and West Greene is third.

In Class 2A, Laurel was rewarded for winning a section with four-time defending champ Neshannock in it and that made Chartiers-Houston the second seed and Bentworth third.

That means that local teams will likely have to go through each other to make it to a WPIAL championship game at PennWest California’s Lilley Field.

That doesn’t sit well with Bentworth coach Jack Cramer. Even though the Bucs and Bearcats are in different sections, they are close in proximity.

“The one thing I don’t agree with is having Chartiers-Houston and us on the same side of the bracket,” Cramer said. “I just think we should’ve been split. Laurel has Neshannock on their side, so why not switch them? Make us the fourth seed if you have to, I don’t care, but we should have been split up.”

Either Laurel or Neshannock has won the last seven WPIAL Class 2A softball titles. Frazier was the last non-Lawrence County team to win back in 2017.

Chartiers-Houston won the Class A title in 2024.

Whoever wins Class 2A this year will have earned it.

“We are excited to get started next week in the playoffs,” Bucs coach Tricia Alderson said. “Class 2A is very competitive throughout the bracket and I am sure the committee had some tough decisions to make.”

Before a potential meeting, Bentworth and Chartiers-Houston will play a fellow Washington County team in the first round.

The Bearcats will play No. 14 Burgettstown 4 p.m. Wednesday, while the Bucs follow with a game against No. 15 Washington at 6 p.m.

Both games are at Trinity Middle School.

If Carmichaels and Union advance their way through the Class A bracket, it’ll be a rematch of last year’s final, which Union won, 3-0.

Mikes coach Dave Briggs wasn’t surprised with how the bracket shaped up.

“That’s kind of how we figured it would be,” Briggs said. “I thought it could be us or (Union), but the loss we had against Jefferson-Morgan probably hurt us in that regard. It really doesn’t matter though. There’s not much difference between being No. 1 or 2.”

Carmichaels earned a first-round bye, as did West Greene and neither team will play its first playoff game until May 18.

The Mikes get the winner of No. 10 Monessen and No. 7 Sewickley Academy, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday at Montour.

West Greene gets the winner of No. 6 South Side and No. 11 Beth-Center, which play at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at North Strabane Intermediate School.

If they get past the quarterfinals, then the Pioneers and Mikes would meet in the semifinals for a second consecutive season.

“We figured if we were able to win our first (playoff) game, we’d face either West Greene or Jefferson-Morgan for a third time,” Briggs said.

Jefferson-Morgan received the No. 5 seed and plays No. 12 Leechburg 3 p.m. Thursday at Gateway. If the Rockets advance, then they’ll play No. 4 Serra Catholic in the quarterfinals.

Canon-McMillan is the No. 4 seed in Class 6A and plays No. 5 Mt. Lebanon, 6 p.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. The Big Macs split with the Blue Devils in the regular season.

Trinity enters the Class 5A playoffs on an eight-game winning streak and got the No. 7 seed. The Hillers play No. 10 Plum, 5 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway.

South Fayette received the No. 15 seed and plays No. 2 Thomas Jefferson 4 p.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

McGuffey is the No. 5 seed in Class 3A and plays No. 12 Hopewell, 3 p.m. Thursday at Montour. No. 11 Charleroi faces No. 6 Burrell 3 p.m. Thursday at Norwin.

WPIAL Lacrosse

Peters Township is the top seed in the WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse playoffs. The Indians will host the winner of Shaler and Indiana 7 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals.

South Fayette is seeded fourth and also earned a bye. The Lions host the winner of Sewickley Academy and Chartiers Valley, 7 p.m. Thursday.

Canon-McMillan is the No. 7 seed in Class 3A and plays at No. 3 Fox Chapel, 7 p.m. Wednesday.

On the girls side, South Fayette is seeded fourth in Class 2A and got a first round bye. The Lions host the winner of Franklin Regional and Seton LaSalle, 7 p.m. Wednesday.

No. 11 Trinity is at No. 6 Blackhawk, 7 p.m. Monday.

Peters Township is seeded 11th in Class 3A. The Indians play No. 6 Moon, 7 p.m. Tuesday at Chartiers Valley.