The section series between north and south rivals concludes Tuesday with a winner-take-all contest.
South Park had a dramatic comeback victory Monday to keep its section crown hopes alive. Now the Eagles must beat defending champion Avonworth again, this time on the road.
The Antelopes will host the Eagles at 4:30 p.m. in the Section 2-3A championship game.
Avonworth had a chance to clinch the crown Monday but gave up an early five-run lead and ended up losing on the new turf at South Park, 8-7.
The big comeback left both teams at 8-1 atop the section.
Another team looking to take a giant step toward clinching their section on Tuesday is Serra Catholic.
Serra defeated Bishop Canevin at home on Monday, 4-1, to take over sole possession of first place in Section 3A.
If the Eagles can win again, they will only need to sweep Sewickley Academy next week to clinch the section crown outright.
However, a Crusaders home win Tuesday could set up a three-way tie for the section title between Bishop Canevin, Serra Catholic and Eden Christian Academy.
Double showdown
The top two teams in WPIAL Section 3-3A softball finally meet, not once, but twice in a doubleheader slated for the new turf field as South Park hosts Charleroi.
The Eagles are one of four remaining undefeated teams in the district, with an overall record of 15-0, including 8-0 in the section.
These are the final two section games for South Park. All the Eagles need is one win to clinch the outright section championship.
The Cougars are 4-2 in the section and 6-6 overall.
They have won two straight and four of their last five games.
If Charleroi were to sweep the doubleheader, it would win the section crown because both teams would be tied and the black and red would own the tiebreaker.
However, if the Cougars were to be swept, they could tumble into a tie for third place with two section games remaining.
Both teams, along with McGuffey and Keystone Oaks, have clinched Class 3A playoff berths.
Team track playoffs begin
Wash, rinse and repeat.
That is the theme for several programs as the WPIAL team track and field playoffs begin Tuesday with the district semifinals.
The North Allegheny and Quaker Valley girls programs hope to win a fourth straight WPIAL title, while the Butler boys are looking for a fourth 3A championship in the last five years and Quaker Valley boys hope for a simple repeat in 2A.
The four winners at each site in Tuesday’s district semifinals will advance to the team finals May 6.
Here are the sites and the teams participating in the semifinals:
Boys Class 3A
At North Allegheny at 3 p.m.: North Allegheny vs. Baldwin vs. Knoch vs. New Castle
At Norwin at 3 p.m.: Norwin vs. Plum vs. Ringgold
At Butler at 3 p.m.: Butler vs. Kiski Area vs. Moon vs. Penn-Trafford
At South Fayette at 2:30 p.m.: Connellsville vs. Franklin Regional vs. Mt. Lebanon vs. Trinity
Boys 2A
At Shenango at 3 p.m.: Shenango vs. New Brighton vs. Riverview vs. Shady Side Academy
At Greensburg Central Catholic at 3 p.m.: Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Apollo-Ridge vs. Fort Cherry vs. Mohawk vs. Trinity Christian
At California at 3 p.m.: California vs. Beaver vs. Mt. Pleasant vs. South Park
At South Side at 3 p.m.: South Side vs. Quaker Valley vs. The Neighborhood Academy vs. Waynesburg Central
Girls Class 3A
At North Allegheny at 3 p.m.: North Allegheny vs. Blackhawk vs. Hempfield vs. Knoch vs. Upper St. Clair
At Norwin at 3 p.m.: Norwin vs. Laurel Highlands vs. Pine-Richland vs. Plum
At Butler at 3 p.m.: Butler vs. Beaver vs. Belle Vernon vs. Kiski Area vs. Moon
At South Fayette at 2:30 p.m.: South Fayette vs. Franklin Regional vs. Mt. Lebanon vs. Seneca Valley
Girls 2A
At Shenango at 3 p.m.: Shenango vs. North Catholic vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart vs. Shady Side Academy
At Greensburg Central Catholic at 3 p.m.: Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Fort Cherry vs. Laurel vs. Trinity Christian
At California at 3 p.m.: California vs. Carlynton vs. Freeport vs. Southmoreland
At South Side at 3 p.m.: South Side vs. Brownsville vs. Quaker Valley vs. Winchester Thurston
More tennis openers
With the 3A openers in the books, now it’s time for the WPIAL boys team tennis Class 2A playoffs to get under way.
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On Tuesday, the district boys team tennis 2A playoffs begin with eight first-round matches, all set to begin at 3:30 p.m. Here are the matchups:
No. 16 Riverside at No. 1 South Park
No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Beaver
No. 13 Mt. Pleasant at No. 4 North Catholic
No. 12 Ringgold at No. 5 Winchester Thurston
No. 15 Carlynton at No. 2 Valley
No. 10 Central Valley at No. 7 Quaker Valley
No. 14 West Allegheny at No. 3 Blackhawk
No. 11 Montour at No. 6 Hampton