WPIAL Class 6A Championship

#1 Hempfield Area (20-1) vs. #2 Seneca Valley (15-5) – Wednesday 5 p.m. at Lilley Field at California (Pa.)

Pregame at 4:45 p.m. on WSN Audio - LISTEN LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Sean Meyers & Gino Antimarino

While the lead actors have changed, the WPIAL Class 6A Softball Championship feels like another installment of the same movie - a trilogy, to be exact. Hempfield Area and Seneca Valley will meet with district gold on the line once again, but without Riley Miller and Lexie Hames squaring off in the circle.

While Miller and Hames are at Kent State University and Clemson University, respectively, the top-seeded Spartans and No. 2 seed Raiders still boast plenty of stars. The teams have also developed one of the best rivalries in WPIAL softball over the past half decade, as this marks the third title game clash between the schools in the past four years, with the Spartans claiming one-run victories in 2023 and 2025.

Last year’s championship triumph, which was moved to Norwin High School, marked the ninth in Spartans’ history.

The Raiders have enjoyed golden celebrations of their own recently, winning the title in 2022 and 2024.

During the regular season, the Spartans swept the two matchups against the Raiders, winning 5-2 in Harmony, and narrowly prevailing in the rematch at home, 4-3.

Boosted by those wins, the Spartans went 19-1 in the regular season, including 14-0 in Class 6A. Thus, Hempfield Area garnered the top seed in the bracket, and a bye to the semifinals. The Spartans left no doubt in that tilt against No. 4 Canon-McMillan last Tuesday at West Mifflin Area, winning 13-0 in five innings.

Julia Varhola and Jayelyn Luft combined to toss an abbreviated no-hitter, as Varhola worked four innings, walking one while racking up five strikeouts, while Luft retired the Big Macs in order in the fifth. Varhola also starred at the plate, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs, while Lauren Howard also went 3-for-3 with five runs batted in, also drawing a walk, and Luft produced three hits.

After taking a backseat to Miller the past three seasons, Varhola has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the WPIAL this season.

“She’s dominant in the circle, for the most part. There were a few bumps, but she came back and handled it great,” Hempfield Area head coach Tina Madison said of Varhola.

Howard, meanwhile, has established several program records throughout her decorated career. She, Ella Berkebile, and Claire Mitchell are among the seniors who have been through numerous big games throughout their Spartans’ careers.

Hempfield Area has also benefitted from an infusion of youth into the lineup, with freshmen twins Jayelyn and Jocelyn Luft producing at a prolific rate.

“You don’t know who’s going to be the star of the game, and that’s always very nice to have,” Madison said of her deep and balanced lineup.

For the first time in half a decade, that sentiment could also apply to Seneca Valley this year.

“It’s always been Hempfield versus Lexie Hames in the past. Now, it’s very different,” Madison detailed. “They are a little bit deeper – they have multiple girls who can put the bat on the ball.”

Although Seneca Valley sustained five losses, including three of its last four contests in the regular season, the Raiders were seeded second. They proved worthy of the acclaim in the semifinals, as they blasted No. 6 Pine-Richland 13-2 in six innings last Tuesday at North Allegheny.

A trio of college-bound seniors lead the way for SV, as Abby Kalkowski (Gannon University), Paige Volz (California University of Pennsylvania), and Neve Miller (Waynesburg University) have been on this stage before. Kalkowski could see time in the circle, as could junior Rachael Dunmire for first-year head coach Joe DeChristoforo.

In Wednesday’s clash at Cal U’s Lilley Field, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m., the Spartans hope to go a perfect 3-for-3 in championship matchups against the Raiders. If so, they will tie the record for most WPIAL softball titles, which is currently shared by Baldwin and Sto-Rox.

“Hopefully, we come out and jump on them early and take the energy and score some runs,” Madison said of the game plan.