Welcome to Bracketology Thursday.
The various WPIAL committees are set to meet to set up the brackets for the upcoming playoffs in softball and boys and girls lacrosse.
In softball, over 75 district teams are set to vie for six championships.
While Seneca Valley, Armstrong, Elizabeth Forward, Mohawk and Chartiers-Houston hope to win back-to-back softball crowns, Neshannock is trying to make history.
The Lancers have won three straight WPIAL Class 2A championships. Now they look to become only the second team to win four straight 2A titles.
Old Swissvale HS (past of the Woodland Hills school district) captured the first four 2A softball championships from 1979-1982.
Neshannock softball is on an incredible roll.
Since 2021, the Lancers have won three straight WPIAL crowns, two PIAA championships and have only lost one game in the last four seasons, falling to Everett in the 2022 state semifinals.
Lax bracketology
Softball isn’t the only spring sport where the playoff brackets will be released by the WPIAL on Thursday.
The district boys and girls lacrosse postseason tournaments will also be released.
In boys lacrosse, will the Mars dynasty continue?
The Fightin’ Planets boys lacrosse program has captured eight consecutive Class 2A championships and is one of the favorites to make it nine in a row.
The title run for Mars began in 2016.
It certainly isn’t as long, but the Mt. Lebanon boys lacrosse team shoots for a three-peat this spring.
The Blue Devils have won two in a row and have a total of six championships since the first postseason tournament in 2009.
On the girls side, Mt. Lebanon would love to bring out the brooms and sweep lacrosse gold in 3A again this season.
While the Blue Devils look for two straight girls lacrosse crowns, Mars wants to make it three in a row in 2A.
In this decade, the Fightin’ Planets have won three of the four girls 2A lacrosse titles, including in 2023 and 2024.
Baseball regular season finales
There are two more playoff berths in WPIAL Class 3A to be determined on the final day of the district baseball regular season.
In Section 4-3A, McGuffey (5-5) can clinch with one win in a section series doubleheader against Seton LaSalle at EQT Park in Washington on Thursday.
Keystone Oaks (5-6) can clinch with a win at home over Washington on Thursday and one more section loss by McGuffey.
The Golden Eagles could fly into the postseason with a loss, but then they would need rival Seton LaSalle to sweep both games from McGuffey.
Also on Thursday, the Section 1-2A title is up for grabs as Burgettstown (10-1) visits Fort Cherry (9-2).
If the Blue Devils win, they are outright section champions.
If the Rangers are victorious, then the two Washington County schools will share the section crown.
Volleyball playoff implications
There are a handful of WPIAL boys volleyball playoff spots still up for grabs heading into the final full night of the regular season.
• In Section 1-3A, Upper St. Clair (4-5) and Baldwin (4-5) are tied for third place, with Peters Township one game behind (3-6). USC visits first-place Mt. Lebanon (8-1) and Baldwin hosts Peters Township. If Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon win, there will be a three-way tie for third place and all three teams will qualify. If USC and Baldwin win, they will tie for third place and both will clinch.
• In Section 2-3A, Penn-Trafford (6-3) and Hempfield (6-3) are tied for second place and have both clinched. Armstrong is a game back (5-4). On Thursday, Hempfield visits Penn-Trafford and Armstrong hosts fifth-place Norwin. If Penn-Trafford and Armstrong win, the River Hawks qualify. If Hempfield and Armstrong win, the River Hawks are out because they lose the tiebreaker to P-T.
• In Section 3-2A, Seton LaSalle (6-0) hosts Thomas Jefferson (6-1). If the Rebels win at home, they are the outright section champs. If the Jaguars are victorious, they share the section crown with Seton LaSalle.
• In Section 4-2A, South Fayette (8-1) visits Ambridge (8-1) in a winner-take-all section championship game.
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• Also in Section 4-2A, Hopewell (4-4) has clinched as it visits Montour (3-6) on Thursday. The Spartans need a win and a Trinity victory over Hopewell on Friday to clinch.