Monday marks the start of section series play in WPIAL baseball.
With the exception of Class 6A, 13 sections from Class A to 5A are slated to begin section play this week.
Of course, it is spring, and it is still March, so weather is a major factor.
With rain in the forecast, the chances of playing increase when there is turf involved.
One of the district games slated for turf, at least infield turf, pits defending Class 5A champion Shaler (0-1) opening Section 3-5A play on the road against Fox Chapel (0-1).
The Titans were co-champions with Pine-Richland last year in the section, and then they beat the Rams in the WPIAL Class 5A finals.
However, coach Brian Junker resigned, then later took the job as head baseball coach at Hampton.
Taking over for the reigning champs was recent Titans assistant coach Ben Yeckel.
A year ago, the Foxes finished in third place behind Pine-Richland and Shaler, and won 15 of their 20 regular season games.
However, the end of the 2025 campaign was a bitter one for No. 8 Fox Chapel as it lost to No. 9 Latrobe, 2-1.
Home openers for champs
Two WPIAL baseball champions from last spring are set to begin the long journey toward a repeat with section openers at home.
The surprise of the 2025 WPIAL baseball postseason was Freedom’s title run in Class 2A.
The Bulldogs finished in third place in Section 2 last season, but when the dust cleared on the district postseason, they were raising their first diamond championship.
Freedom (0-2) is scheduled to open section play Monday at home against Northgate (0-0).
Another district winner from a year ago was Serra Catholic in Class A.
The Eagles had to play the 2025 season on the road while renovations were going on at Boston Field in Elizabeth.
Serra Catholic (2-0) hosts Monessen (0-0) in a Section 3-A lid lifter on the turf field Monday.
Nonsection winners meet
While they will wait until next week to open section play, two other 2025 WPIAL champions are set to collide in a nonsection contest Monday.
Class 6A winner Seneca Valley (3-0) are scheduled to visit defending Class 3A champion Riverside (0-2) on Monday.
The two teams were a combined 39-9 last spring with Seneca Valley reaching the PIAA quarterfinals in 6A while Riverside won twice with district and state gold.
The two teams played last season in March with the Panthers beating the Raiders, 8-1.
Softball openers
Weather permitting, section play for district softball is also set to begin in Class 6A, 5A, 4A, 2A and two section games in Class A.
Three 2025 champs are set to open section play Monday.
Following the death of legendary Hempfield coach Bob Kalp last week, the Spartans (2-1) open up Class 6A play with heavy hearts as they host Pine-Richland (1-1).
Shaler in 5A and Hampton in 4A open their title defense on the road in section openers.
The Titans (2-0) visit Fox Chapel (2-0) in a Section 1-5A opener, while the Talbots (1-0) travel to Blackhawk (0-0) for their first Section 3-4A contest of the new season
Monday on Trib HSSN
There are two broadcasts and two podcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 23rd day of March.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with a recap of the 2026 PIAA boys and girls basketball championship games on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast featuring WPIAL basketball Team of the Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – Ringgold at Elizabeth Forward at 4:30 p.m. on MVI Live at 4:30 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Ringgold at Laurel Highlands at 4 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com