Freeport junior Ally DeJidas slides safely into third base under a tag during a playoff game last year. This season, the Yellowjackets are rolling and head into the WPIAL playoffs unbeaten.

FREEPORT — Freeport's softball team is used to success, not missing the WPIAL playoffs since 2009.

But the Yellowjackets have taken their play to a higher level in 2018.

Freeport will enter the upcoming Class 3A district playoffs as the Section 1 champion with an undefeated record of 12-0.

It is the first section crown for the 'Jackets since they shared the title with Burrell in 2000.

The 'Jacket offense has been potent all season, not scoring less than four runs in any game and averaging nearly 11 runs per contest.

As a team, Freeport has hit 15 home runs this season, including three from freshman Maya Borghol. Senior Jenna Hildebrand and freshman Emily Schmidt have also shown long-ball capability and are batting .361 and .429, respectively.

Freeport is batting .379 as a team.

Ashleigh Schmidt and Radvan, a sophomore, have logged 66.2 of the team's 75 innings pitched this season and have combined for 62 strikeouts and just 12 walks.

The 'Jackets received a first-round bye in the playoffs and will open the postseason with a quarterfinal game Thursday against the winner of Tuesday's game between Freedom and Waynesburg.

Read the full story in Sunday's Butler Eagle.