Six years ago, these two programs were both crowned 2019 WPIAL baseball champions, one in Class 6A and the other in 5A.
They are both traditional powers on the diamond, tied for the third most district baseball championships.
Now they collide in a much-anticipated Class 5A section series.
First place will be up for grabs over the next couple of days in Section 3-5A as Pine-Richland hosts Shaler at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday with the rematch set for Wednesday at Matulevic Field.
For the moment, the Titans are alone in first place with a 4-0 section record. They have won four straight games and are 8-3 overall.
The Rams are a game back in the loss column at 5-1 in the section and 11-1 for the season. They have won six straight games since suffering their lone loss of the season to Fox Chapel on April 1.
In the latest Trib HSSN baseball rankings, Pine-Richland is ranked No. 1 and Shaler checks in at No. 2.
More key baseball series
Shaler at Pine-Richland isn’t the only key section series with first-place implications around WPIAL baseball beginning Tuesday.
• Bethel Park (5-3) at Moon (3-3) in Section 2-5A
• Ambridge (5-2) at Blackhawk (4-2) in Section 1-4A
• Quaker Valley (4-2) at Riverside (5-1) in Section 1-3A
• Neshannock (4-2) at Shenango (5-1) in Section 2-2A
• South Side (5-1) at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (5-1) in Section 3-2A
• Avella (6-2) at Greensburg Central Catholic (4-1) in Section 1-A
• Leechburg (8-0) at Winchester Thurston (8-0) in Section 2-A
Showdown week begins
Midway through their respective Section 3-2A softball schedules, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Chartiers-Houston have yet to taste defeat in section play.
The Chargers are 4-0 and the Buccaneers are 5-0.
That is about to change as the two square off Tuesday for the first of two meetings this week when Chartiers-Houston hosts OLSH at 4 p.m.
The Bucs are 11-1 overall and won their first 10 games before falling to 3A power South Park last week.
The Chargers are 6-3 this spring and have now won four straight games.
The two will meet again at noon Saturday at the Youthtowne softball field in Clinton.
There are two other games to watch in district softball Tuesday.
• First-place Trinity (6-1) visits second-place Thomas Jefferson (4-2) in Section 4-5A
• First place is up for grabs when Serra Catholic (4-0) hosts Jeannette (3-0) in Section 3-A
Doubles tennis begins
The 2025 WPIAL boys tennis doubles championships get underway in both the 3A and 2A tournaments Tuesday.
The defending champions in Class 3A are the top seed in the playoffs with senior Zidaan Hassan and junior Logan Memije of Gateway looking to repeat as district champions.
In the 2A bracket, juniors Jonah Jasek and Steven Duing of South Park are the No. 1 seed, while one half of the defending champions from last season, Jonah Camardese and Trey Varga of Montour, are the No. 12 seed.
The first round, quarterfinals and semifinals will take place Tuesday starting at 11 a.m.
The 3A first three rounds are at Bethel Park and the start of the 2A tournament takes place at North Allegheny.
The championship and consolation finals will be played Wednesday at Bethel Park.