While seven of the eight playoff spots in WPIAL Class 6A baseball have already been decided, the races for the section crown and playoff positioning is getting tighter and tighter heading into the final section series next week.
In Section 1-6A, nothing has been settled yet in the series between North Allegheny and Seneca Valley.
The Tigers won at home on Monday, 7-3.
Then the Raiders countered with a home victory Tuesday, 4-2.
The winner of the Seneca Valley at North Allegheny game at 7 p.m. Thursday not only gets bragging rights in the rivalry, but also has a shot at the top spot heading into the final week.
Currently, the section records have Butler at 6-2, both Seneca Valley and North Allegheny at 5-3 and Central Catholic at 5-6.
Central Catholic battles Butler in their series finale at Pullman Park at 5:30 p.m.
The Golden Tornado have won four straight, including victories over the Vikings on Tuesday, 2-0, and again on Wednesday, 6-4.
This will be the final section game for playoff-bound Central Catholic.
Canon-McMillan was undefeated two weeks ago and looked like it was going to run away and hide from the other four teams in Section 2-6A.
However, the Big Macs have hit a rut, with four losses in their last five section games.
They hit the road to Westmoreland County on Thursday in an effort to avoid a sweep as they visit Hempfield.
This is the final section game for Canon-Mac, which has a 7-4 record in section play.
That is one game back in the loss column of Norwin at 6-3 and Mt. Lebanon at 5-3 and even in the loss column with Hempfield.
The Spartans are 4-4 heading into Thursday’s game and conclude section play next week against Woodland Hills.
Speaking of the Wolverines, they look for their first section win Thursday when they visit Mt. Lebanon.
Try, try again
Several postponements and a suspended game later, the showdown between two of the top Class 5A softball teams looks like it will finally happen Thursday.
With first place in Section 4-5A up for grabs, Baldwin hosts Thomas Jefferson at 5 p.m. on Trib HSSN.
The Highlanders are 11-1 in the section and 12-2 this season after their 13-game winning streak was snapped Wednesday in a home loss to Trinity, 4-0.
The Jaguars are 9-1 in the section and 10-2 overall after they defeated Bethel Park on Wednesday, 9-1.
Two weeks ago in the first meeting between the two, 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.
Last week, the game began and in the top of the first inning, Jemma Danko crushed a two-run homer after Adalina Bracco has singled with two outs to put TJ up, 2-0.
However, the umps delayed the game because of lightning, and soon after, the skies opened up and heavy rains made the field unplayable, forcing another postponement.
No. 1 v 2
The top two teams in the latest WPIAL boys volleyball coaches poll in Class 3A are set to collide Thursday.
Top-ranked North Allegheny hosts No. 2 Butler in a Section 1-3A match.
The Tigers are undefeated with a 5-0 section record and a 7-0 mark overall.
The Golden Tornado is tied with Seneca Valley at 3-2 in the section and 12-2 this season.
Butler split with Seneca Valley during the regular season, with its other loss coming at home to North Allegheny earlier this month, 3-0.
Thursday on Trib HSSN
There are six broadcasts and two podcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 23rd 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 – Canon-McMillan at Hempfield at 4:15 p.m. on the Westmoreland County Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Audio Stream – Seneca Valley at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Volleyball Video Stream – North Hills at Gateway at 7:15 p.m. on Gateway Gators Productions at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Volleyball Audio Stream – Butler at North Allegheny at 4:45 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Video Stream – Penn-Trafford at Franklin Regional at 6 p.m. on the Westmoreland County Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com