What to watch for in WPIAL sports for May 19, 2025: Class 6A baseball playoffs begin

5 hours ago 1

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 10:59 PM

The start of the second week of the WPIAL postseason marks a busy few days filled with district quarterfinal and semifinal action.

It also finally marks the start of the Class 6A baseball playoffs.

With only eight teams qualifying for the postseason in the highest classification, all four quarterfinals will take place Monday.

This has been quite a decade for the Mt. Lebanon baseball program.

Following a loss to Butler in the 2021 quarterfinals, the Blue Devils have played in the 6A baseball title game the last three years.

They defeated rival Upper St. Clair in the 2022 final, David Shields threw a no-hitter as they blanked North Allegheny in the 2023 title game, then they were no hit by David Posey of NA in a loss to the Tigers in last year’s championship game.

To make it four straight years in the finals, the Blue Devils have some work to do as the No. 6 seed.

First up is a tall quarterfinal task as Mt. Lebanon will battle with No. 3 Seneca Valley at North Allegheny at 7 p.m.

The Raiders finished in second place in Section 1-6A with an overall record of 14-6. They ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak.

The Blue Devils ended up in third place in Section 2-6A and, after dropping three of their last four games in the regular season, are 8-12 overall.

A year ago in the 6A semifinals, the Blue Devils defeated the Raiders, 11-5.

These two teams met March 27 in a nonsection game with host Seneca Valley defeating Mt. Lebanon, 9-6.

Trailing the Blue Devils, 4-2, the Raiders exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good.

Brian Kowalkowski had a hit and three RBIs while Wes Conville and Micah Olayer each drove home two for Seneca Valley.

Graham Keen had a double, but suffered the loss on the hill for Lebo.

Listen to the game on Trib HSSN.

Here are the other three quarterfinals in Class 6A:

• Top seed and defending champion North Allegheny (14-6) will go up against No. 8 Hempfield (8-12) at Boyce-Mayview in Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. These two teams squared off in the 2021 6A title game with the Tigers blanking the Spartans, 4-0.

• No. 4 Norwin (12-7) will face No. 5 Butler (11-8) at North Allegheny at 4 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. The Knights won nine straight games earlier this year and the Golden Tornado had a six-game winning streak.

• No. 2 Canon-McMillan (14-6) will be challenged by No. 7 North Hills (8-12) at Boyce-Mayview Park at 4 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. The Big Macs have averaged the most runs in 6A and yielded the least amount of runs in the class.

Tight quarters in 5A

There seems to be talk every postseason about how deep the Class 5A bracket is, no matter what time of year.

However, when the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are involved in first round thrillers with each game featuring only one run, then you know you have a deep bracket.

The good news for top-seeded Pine-Richland is it survived an opening round test from Trinity, 1-0.

The bad news for No. 2 Plum was it did not, and the Mustangs’ season ended.

The Rams leaned heavily on the pitching of Keegan Diehl, who threw a complete game shutout, scattering two hits and striking out seven in the victory over the Hillers.

Now Pine-Richland (18-3) is set to face No. 9 Latrobe (15-6) at Plum at 4 p.m.

The Wildcats also got a strong performance on the mound in the first round as Cole Short yielded one run on five hits and struck out seven in a win over Fox Chapel, 2-1.

Neither team was part of the Class 5A playoffs the last two years because Pine-Richland dropped down from 6A and Latrobe moved up from 4A during realignment this offseason.

Both programs made district diamond history eight years ago when Pine-Richland won the first 6A baseball championship game by beating North Allegheny, 3-2.

Latrobe captured gold in the first ever 5A playoff tournament when it defeated Mars in the 2017 finals, 6-2.

Here are the other three Class 5A quarterfinals contests:

• No. 4 Bethel Park (17-4) goes up against former section rival No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (15-4) at West Mifflin at 7 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. The Section 2-winning Black Hawks rolled past Franklin Regional in the first round, 11-1. The Section 2 champion Jaguars shut down Upper St. Clair in their opener, 4-1.

• No. 15 Mars (9-10) will try to pull off a third straight stunner when it plays No. 7 Peters Township (14-7) at Gateway at 4 p.m. The Fightin’ Planets ended the regular season with a huge win over No. 3 Shaler before stunning No. 2 Plum in the first round, 1-0. The Indians have won five of their last six games, including a 6-5 victory over Baldwin.

• No. 3 Shaler (14-6) goes up against No. 11 Connellsville (14-5) at Plum at 7 p.m. Colby Weber was masterful in allowing one hit and striking out 14 as the Titans blanked Montour, 8-0. Noah Zawislan knocked home both runs as the Falcons stunned No. 6 seed and defending champion Penn-Trafford in the opening round, 2-1.

Section 2-4A shining bright

Section 1-4A has three teams participating in the Class 4A baseball quarterfinals, but it’s not as impressive as having four teams.

All four qualifiers from Section 2-4A are in action Monday after the two section co-champions earned first round byes and the third- and fourth-place teams each were winners in Round 1.

Two of the four teams are set to clash when No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (14-3) takes on No. 11 Ringgold (11-10) at West Mifflin at 4 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN.

The Warriors shared the section crown with West Mifflin.

Elizabeth Forward ended the season by winning four straight games and eight of its last nine contests.

The Rams pulled off a first round eyebrow raiser in defeating Blackhawk, 9-5, as Tyler Fisher led the offense with three RBIs.

It has been a while since these two foes squared off as they split their section series March 24-25.

In the first meeting at Ringgold, Cy Herchelroath threw a perfect game, striking out 10 as Elizabeth Forward won 1-0.

The only run came in the seventh inning when Landon Jackson doubled and scored on a Mitchell Vuick single.

Tyler Fisher only allowed three hits in the tough luck loss for Ringgold.

The next day at EF, Sam Allen doubled twice and Andrew Sprinkle drove in two runs as the Rams beat the Warriors, 6-2.

Here are the other three quarterfinals in Class 4A:

• Section 2-4A co-champion No. 2 West Mifflin (15-5) takes on No. 7 Central Valley (11-10) at Burkett Field in Robinson Township at 7 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. The Titans had a 10-game winning streak end as they lost two of their last three games. The Warriors rolled past Greensburg Salem in the first round, 6-2.

• Section 2-4A third place and No. 5 Belle Vernon (15-6) battles No. 4 Beaver (11-8) at Burkett Field in Robinson Township at 4 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. Parker Lind scattered three hits and struck out 13 in a whitewash of Derry in the opening round, 7-0, while the Section 1 co-champion Bobcats had a first-round bye.

• Top seed and 2024 WPIAL and PIAA 4A runner-up Indiana (19-1) will face No. 9 Ambridge (9-10) at Gateway at 7 p.m. The Little Indians had a first-round bye and have won six in a row since their only loss against Connellsville. The Bridgers’ Joe Leseiko allowed only two hits and struck out six in shutting out Knoch, 5-0.

Who needs pitching?

In the four opening round games of the WPIAL Class 3A softball playoffs, Deer Lakes, Keystone Oaks and McGuffey all relied on pitching and defense to win and advance, limiting their opposition last Thursday to a combined total of one run.

Southmoreland took the opposite approach to the second round.

The Scotties outslugged Hopewell in the first round and won 10-9.

Taylor Dopplehauer led the way, going 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs.

Now No. 7 Southmoreland (10-7) goes up against No. 2 Mohawk (13-5) at Montour at 3 p.m.

While the Scotties have proven to have a high-scoring offense with six of their 10 wins resulting in double-digit run production, the Warriors have allowed the third fewest runs in the classification.

Mohawk enjoyed a first-round bye despite losing three of its final four games.

Here are the other three Class 3A quarterfinals contests:

• Top-seeded and undefeated South Park (18-0) will take on No. 8 Deer Lakes (8-13) at Fox Chapel at 3 p.m. The Eagles had a first-round bye, and the Lancers blanked Charleroi, 7-0, with Sophia Laurenza going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

• No. 12 Keystone Oaks (9-8) will try to pull off another postseason surprise when it plays No. 4 Avonworth (14-4) at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 2:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles upset No. 5 Mt. Pleasant, 2-0, in the opening round behind Kennadi Smith’s four-hitter. The Antelopes had a bye after finishing strong with four straight wins and victories in six of their last seven.

• No. 3 Ellwood City (10-8) will be challenged by No. 6 McGuffey (11-5) at Montour at 5 p.m. The Wolverines had a first-round bye after losing three of their final four regular season games. The Highlanders’ Courtney Bedillion was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs in a 5-1 win over Ligonier Valley.

Rivalry means zero

Two teams familiar with each other as Section 1-2A softball rivals prepare to meet for a third time in a series that has had zero tolerance.

No. 3 Laurel (15-4) will once again battle No. 11 Riverside (8-8) at Fox Chapel at 5 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN.

In the two regular season meetings, the Panthers struggled on offense against the Spartans, producing no runs in two shutout losses.

Laurel won at home in mid-April, 9-0, and then prevailed at Riverside just over two weeks later, 8-0.

The Spartans crushed Northgate in the opening round, 18-1, as Hailey Fell was 3 for 3 with a double and four RBIs.

The Panthers have some momentum coming into the game after stunning No. 6 Waynesburg Central, 14-4.

Charlie Bissell was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs for Riverside.

Here are the other three quarterfinals in Class 2A:

• Another battle of section foes will take place when No. 2 Chartiers-Houston (18-1) will take on No. 7 Seton LaSalle (11-5) at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 6:30 p.m. with audio on Trib HSSN. The Buccaneers won both meetings in the regular season, outscoring the Rebels, 19-2. Chartiers-Houston crushed Brentwood in the first round, 15-0, while Seton LaSalle edged Brownsville, 2-1.

• Top seed and undefeated Neshannock (19-0) faces No. 8 Apollo-Ridge (14-4) at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. with video on Trib HSSN. The Lancers cruised past Burgettstown in their opener thanks to Miley Anderson’s four hits and five RBI, 15-0, and the Vikings ousted Our Lady of the Sacred Heart , 9-8, as Mikaila Ditty has a double, home run and three RBIs.

• Two underdogs playing good ball at the right time collide when No. 13 Shenango (11-8) takes on No. 12 Bentworth (9-9) at North Allegheny at 3 p.m. with video on Trib HSSN. Emma Herb went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs as the Wildcats stunned Frazier, 7-2. Sophomore Sydney Gonglik returned to the circle and allowed three hits and struck out 15 as the Bearcats surprised South Allegheny, 9-1.

Hoping to avoid a repeat of history

Two years ago, the Jeanette softball team rolled past Carlynton in the opening round of the Class A playoffs, only to get crushed by eventual champion Union in the quarterfinals.

Last spring, the team blanked Northgate in the opening round, only to be shut out in a four-inning game by eventual champ Chartiers-Houston.

Now Jeannette (13-4) hopes to be a lot more competitive in another tough quarterfinal with top-seeded Union (16-2) at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. with video on Trib HSSN.

The Jayhawks were impressive again in an opening round win, beating Avella, 13-3.

Grace Stein picked up the win as she allowed five hits and struck out 13 Eagles in the victory.

The Scotties had won 13 straight games before falling in their regular season finale to Chartiers-Houston, 2-1.

In those 13 consecutive wins for Union, 12 were shutouts.

Union has a first-round bye.

Here are the other three Class A quarterfinals:

• No. 2 Carmichaels (14-0) will take on No. 7 Serra Catholic (13-5) at North Strabane Field near Canonsburg at 6 p.m. The Mighty Mikes had a first-round bye and have only played two games in May and none in 13 days. The Eagles crushed Cornell in the opening round, 17-2, as Allona Morton had four hits, a double and a home run.

• No. 3 West Greene (14-3) meets No. 6 South Side (11-7) at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 4:30 p.m. The Pioneers, which ended the season losing two of three after winning 13 of their first 14, had an opening- round bye. The Rams ousted Leechburg, 9-8, with Maya Ringhoff going 4 for 5 with four RBIs.

• No. 4 Sewickley Academy (11-5) is set to battle No. 5 Jefferson-Morgan (9-6) at North Strabane Field near Canonsburg at 4 p.m. The Panthers crushed Monessen in the first round, 15-0, thanks to Quincy Sirko going 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. Karlee Crockard was 2 for 4 with three runs batted in Round 1 as the Rockets exploded on Greensburg Central Catholic, 14-4.

Lax final four

Last year, there were two schools that swept the boys and girls WPIAL lacrosse championships.

For a second straight year and for the third time in four years, the Mars boys and girls lacrosse teams won Class 2A gold a year ago.

Also last spring, the Mt. Lebanon boys and girls teams swept the district 3A championships.

All four teams have advanced to the final four in their respective classifications.

Here are the eight WPIAL semifinal matches set for Monday.

In boys Class 3A:

• Top-seeded Mt. Lebanon (13-4) faces No. 4 North Allegheny (10-8) at Peters Township Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Devils cruised past Central Catholic in the quarterfinals, 17-1, and the Tigers edged Pine-Richland, 7-6.

• No. 2 Shady Side Academy (11-7) battles No. 3 Upper St. Clair (11-5) at Fox Chapel at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs rolled past Canon-McMillan, 15-2, while the Panthers defeated Fox Chapel in the quarters, 11-6.

In girls 3A:

• No. 1 Pine-Richland (17-2) goes up against No. 4 Moon (13-4) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m. In the quarterfinals, the Rams beat Shady Side Academy, 16-5, and the Tigers knocked off Norwin, 13-7.

• No. 2 Upper St. Clair (17-1) will take on No. 3 Mt. Lebanon (13-3) at Peters Township Stadium at 6 p.m. The Panthers doubled up Penn-Trafford in the quarters, 14-7, while the Blue Devils outscored Peters Township, 17-14.

In boys 2A;

• No. 1 South Fayette (18-0) will face No. 4 Peters Township (11-6) at Bethel Park Stadium at 7:30 p.m. In the quarterfinals, the Lions cruised past Indiana, 17-4, and the Indians shut down Chartiers Valley, 12-2.

• No. 2 Mars (16-2) will take on No. 3 Hampton (15-3) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 7:30 p.m. The Fightin’ Planets blanked Bethel Park, 18-0, while the Talbots knocked off Penn-Trafford in the quarters, 16-4.

In girls 2A:

• Top-seeded Mars (17-1) will be challenged by No. 4 Blackhawk (13-2) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 6 p.m. The Fightin’ Planets crushed Oakland Catholic, 23-1, and the Cougars knocked off Hampton in the quarterfinals, 16-9.

• No. 3 Chartiers Valley (14-3) will battle No. 7 Quaker Valley (10-4) at Bethel Park Stadium at 6 p.m. The Colts galloped to a quarterfinals victory over South Fayette, 9-3, and the Quakers became the only team to reach the semifinals outside of a top 4 seed when they upset No. 2 Seton LaSalle, 16-3.

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