Westmoreland County rivals are set to do battle on the softball field twice in the span of 11 days.
The first clash is set for Friday with a share of first place in Class 6A at stake as Norwin hosts Hempfield at 4 p.m.
The Knights are tied for second place with Seneca Valley with a section record of 5-1 and an overall mark of 5-3.
Norwin has won two straight since falling to Penn-Trafford in a nonsection fray and has posted Ws in five of its last six games.
The Spartans are alone in first place in 6A with a record of 8-0 in the classification and 10-1 overall.
Hempfield has won eight straight since suffering its only loss of the season to Shaler last month.
A year ago, the Spartans swept the Knights in the regular season by a combined score of 11-1.
Two years ago, Hempfield won both regular season games over Norwin by scores of 6-0 and 9-1 before the Spartans were stunned in the 2024 WPIAL 6A semifinals by the Knights, 5-2.
Friday fights for first
There are two other district softball contests Friday that will directly affect the top of the section standings.
In Section 1-4A, Indiana hosts Knoch at 4 p.m.
The Little Indians are alone in first place with a section record of 8-0. Indiana is 9-2 this season and has won five consecutive games.
The Knights are a game out with a 7-1 section record. Overall, Knoch is 8-2 while also riding a five-game winning streak.
In the first meeting between the teams late last month, visiting Indiana blanked Knoch, 6-0.
In Section 3-3A, front-running South Park is home to McGuffey at 6 p.m.
The high-flying Eagles are undefeated in the section at 7-0 and perfect on the season as well at 10-0.
The Highlanders are a game back at 5-1 in the section. They are 5-2 this season and have won four consecutive games.
Greene with envy
There is a wild race for section supremacy going on in Section 2-A between three powers from Greene County.
Jefferson-Morgan, West Greene and Carmichaels are a combined 25-8 overall this season and currently tied for first place.
Two of them collide Friday when Carmichaels meets West Greene at 4 p.m.
The Mighty Mikes are 6-1 with three section games remaining and the Pioneers are 5-1 with four section matchups left.
The Rockets are also 6-1 as they visit Mapletown (2-8, 1-7) on Friday.
Friday on Trib HSSN
There are seven broadcasts and one podcast you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 17th day of April.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Baseball Player of the Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Belle Vernon at Laurel Highlands at 6 p.m. on WMBS-AM 590, WMBS-FM 101.1 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Shady Side Academy at South Allegheny at 4 p.m. on MVI Live at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Shenango at Neshannock at 5:30 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Video Stream – Fort Cherry at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 5:15 p.m. on the OLSH Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Audio Stream – Seneca Valley at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Volleyball Audio Stream – Seneca Valley at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Audio Stream – Hill Academy at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
Saturday on Trib HSSN
There is one broadcast and one podcast you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 18th day of April.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with an update from the 2026 WPIAL baseball and softball seasons on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Video Stream – Shady Side Academy at Upper St. Clair at noon on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com