The first section series of the second half in WPIAL baseball conclude Tuesday, including one in Section 3-4A that is the first of three straight key series that will help determine the final order in the top half of the section.
The week began with Indiana and Knoch deadlocked atop the section, the Little Indians at 4-0 and the Knights at 2-0.
Valley was a game back at 3-1.
The three teams were a combined 23-5 overall as Indiana was prepared to face Greensburg Salem and Knoch tangled with Valley.
After Monday, the 2025 district and state champion Little Indians are alone in first place at 5-0 after they rolled past the Golden Lions.
Meanwhile, the Knights fell back into a tie for second place with the Vikings after Valley defeated Knoch in the section series opener, 6-1.
On Tuesday, Indiana hosts Greensburg Salem at White Township Park while Knoch travels to Valley.
More section series finales
There are several other section series finales from Class A up to 4A between the top two teams in the section. Some are fighting for first place while others are looking for breathing room.
• Section 2-4A is a lot like Section 3-4A in that there are three teams are in the hunt for the top spot.
West Mifflin is now alone in first place at 6-0 after edging Ringgold while Elizabeth Forward fell into second place at 5-1 after falling to Belle Vernon on Monday.
Currently, Belle Vernon is in third place at 6-2 and Ringgold is fourth at 3-5.
The two series conclude Tuesday with West Mifflin visiting Ringgold and Elizabeth Forward hosting Belle Vernon.
• In Section 1-3A, Ellwood City travels to Esmark Field in Sewickley for another battle against Quaker Valley.
The teams met Monday at Ewing Park in Ellwood City with the host Wolverines winning big, 11-1.
The current section standings have EC on top at 4-1 and the 2025 district runner-up Quakers sitting at 2-2.
• While Our Lady of the Sacred Heart sits alone in first place in Section 3-2A, the two teams on the chase collide for a second straight day.
In the series finale, South Side visits Riverview at Riverside Park in Oakmont.
On Monday, the Rams fell at home to the Raiders, 5-4.
Riverview is now 6-1 in section play while South Side is 3-2.
• Finally, in Section 3-A, Eden Christian Academy hosts Sewickley Academy.
The Warriors are threatening to run away with the section title after beating the Panthers on Monday, 19-1.
Eden Christian now has a two-game lead over second-place Sewickley Academy.
Two for Tuesday
Following a couple of postponements, two of the top Class 5A softball teams finally collide for the second time this season.
With first place in Section 4-5A up for grabs, Baldwin hosts Thomas Jefferson at 5 p.m. on Trib HSSN.
The Highlanders sit in first place at 8-0 in the section and 10-1 this season, riding a 10-game winning streak after beating Connellsville on Monday.
The Jaguars are 7-1 in the section and 8-2 overall after they squeezed by Trinity on Monday, 3-2.
Last week in the first meeting, Thomas Jefferson led 3-0 early and 4-3 heading into the seventh inning before Baldwin rallied for four runs to come back and win.
In Section 3-4A, first-place North Catholic hosts reigning district champion Hampton in the first of two contests between the two this week.
The Trojans are tied for first place with Blackhawk while the Talbots sit in fourth place.
The same teams meet again Friday at Hampton.
First-place volleys
Tuesday marks a busy day filled with section matches in WPIAL boys volleyball.
Sole possession of first place in a 3A section is up for grabs in one of the matches when Fox Chapel visits Gateway.
Both the Foxes and Gators are tied for first place with 4-0 section records.
Tuesday on Trib HSSN
There are seven broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 14th day of April.
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Thomas Jefferson at Baldwin at 5 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – Latrobe at Franklin Regional at 4 p.m. on the Westmoreland County Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – Albert Gallatin at Laurel Highlands at 4 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – West Mifflin at Ringgold at 4 p.m. on MVI Live at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – Apollo-Ridge at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 5:30 p.m. on the OLSH Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Video Stream – Freedom at Laurel at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Audio Stream – Central Catholic at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com