May 27, 2015 3 min read

If Thursday’s WPIAL Class A title game is anything like the two meetings between Chartiers-Houston and Jefferson-Morgan in section play, it will be a classic.

In the Section 1-A game, the Bucs (19-2) completed a come-from-behind win to defeat the Rockets, 4-2. Three weeks later, J-M pitcher Madison Ludrosky threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 win. The victory helped the Rockets (14-2) secure a tie for the section lead and it propelled the program into a four-week run that will be talked about in Greene County for quite some time.

Since that last victory, Jefferson-Morgan has won 10 in a row, including three wins in the WPIAL Class A playoffs by outscoring its opponents, 21-2. The most runs the Rockets have allowed came in that first loss to the Bucs. Ludrosky has quietly been the most dominant pitcher in Class A.

She’s tossed eight shutouts and Jefferson-Morgan’s offense has backed her with several brilliant performances, including five home runs in the semifinals against Frazier. Several media outlets, including this blog, predicted this championship matchup when the brackets were announced, but I’m not sure if anyone could foresee this three months ago.

Quite frankly, we shouldn’t be surprised. The Rockets reached the semifinals last year, returned six seniors and only lost one player. Ludrosky should have been on everyone’s radar. I know that opposing coaches in Section 1-A were confident in J-M’s ability to compete for a WPIAL title, but few others did.

Chartiers-Houston has experienced a similar ascension, but its performing well in its return to Class A with a freshman pitcher – Kaitlyn Dittrich. This C-H team is similar to ones in years past. They play incredibly strong defense, have a deep batting order with any player capable of producing a big hit and the Bucs have leadership – seven seniors, including six who start.

The Bucs are a fun team to watch. The Class AAA game between Belle Vernon and Yough will receive much of the attention, but this game has the potential to steal the show at Lilley Field (11:30 a.m.).

When the brackets were announced, I predicted Chartiers-Houston to win. That has not changed. I believe defense will win out and Dittrich will pitch well enough to limit the Rockets.

Notes: The Bucs are seeking their ninth WPIAL title in program history, including their sixth since 2005. … The Rockets have never won a WPIAL title. … The forecast is currently calling for partly cloudy weather with a high of 88 degrees and just five mile-per-hour winds (knock on wood). … The winner is set to open the state playoffs Monday at North Allegheny against the District 9 runner-up, Elk County or Smethport. … The loser gets the District 6 champion – West Branch or Conemaugh Valley.