CLASS AAAA

PREDICTED WINNER: Trinity. Pitcher Kristen Zelenka is 15-3 with 105 strikeouts. She's not overpowering, but she has a quality defense behind her and the Hillers have a better-than-average offense.

NEXT IN LINE: North Allegheny, Shaler, Hempfield and Kiski Area. ... North Allegheny is playing well, winning eight of its past nine games. Hempfield was ranked No. 1 at the start of the season.

CHECK THIS OUT: Shaler is the defending champion. ... Hempfield's only two losses are to Latrobe (2-1) and Trinity (1-0). Hempfield pitcher Lauren Shaheen is 12-1. ... Kiski Area is one of only two undefeated teams in the WPIAL playoffs. ... Four of the teams in Section 3 qualified for the postseason. They all were within one game of each other in the section standings. ... Every other section has three teams qualify.

CLASS AAA

PREDICTED WINNER: Ambridge. The Bridgers are a prohibitive favorite after taking the title last year. They have allowed only five runs this season. They are 17-1 and their only loss was to Keystone Oaks, 1-0, in the season opener.

NEXT IN LINE: It will be a gigantic upset if Ambridge does not win the title. Mars and Ellwood City are worth watching. Mars' Monica Glomb is 15-1 with 192 strikeouts. Ellwood City has lacked offense at times this season, but pitcher Katelyn Yoho is 13-6 with 189 strikeouts.

CHECK THIS OUT: Ambridge's Amy Joy was the PG Player of the Year in 2005 and has a 28-3 record the past two seasons. ... Ambridge defeated Ellwood City in last year's title game. ... Two of Mars' top hitters are sisters -- Gabrielle and Brittany Berkopec.

CLASS AA

PREDICTED WINNER: Sto-Rox. The Vikings are a heavy favorite and are one of only two undefeated teams in the postseason. The other is Kiski Area. Sto-Rox is led by junior pitcher Michelle Spisak, who is 17-0 with 194 strikeouts. Junior shortstop Jessica Buranovsky is hitting above .500. Sto-Rox has allowed only 10 runs this season.

NEXT IN LINE: No other team measures up to Sto-Rox, but Waynesburg, Washington and New Brighton could make some noise. Waynesburg freshman Courtney Orndoff is 14-1 with 97 strikeouts and a 0.98 ERA.

CHECK THIS OUT: Sto-Rox won its 16th consecutive section title this season. ... Washington's Amanda Baughman is one of the best all-around players in Class AA. She is 14-6 with a 1.23 ERA as a pitcher and also is batting .545 with four home runs and 32 RBIs. ... Waynesburg defeated Washington in the title game last season.

CLASS A

PREDICTED WINNER: Chartiers-Houston. Although they have only 10 players on the roster, the Bucs have enough talent to repeat as WPIAL champion.

NEXT IN LINE: Vincentian and Beth-Center. Vincentian's Casey Melvin is a top pitcher with a 15-2 record and 171 strikeouts. She also is a standout hitter. Beth-Center also has a star pitcher in Geri Whitman, who is 12-4 with 186 strikeouts.

CHECK THIS OUT: Unlike most teams, Chartiers-Houston uses two pitchers regularly. Danielle Claassen and Michelle Greenawalt are both 7-2. Char-Houston's Jaci Timko is one of the best shortstops in Class A. ... Beth-Center's Whitman is a transfer from Albert Gallatin. ... Rochester and Western Beaver are the only teams with .500 records in the Class A playoffs.