WPIAL baseball playoffs
Class 4A
First round
9-Blackhawk (11-7) vs. 8-Knoch (12-8)
6:30 p.m. Monday at Pullman Park, Butler
Winner plays: 1-Indiana (15-4) in WPIAL quarterfinals May 18 (time TBD)
Players to watch: Carter Davis, Blackhawk; Hunter Lang, Knoch
Extra bases: Blackhawk reached the playoffs after finishing 7-5 in Section 1, good for third place. The Cougars are searching for their fourth WPIAL title and first since 2017. After starting 8-0, Blackhawk was swept by Beaver and Hopewell in section play but took two from North Catholic and split with Ambridge. … Knoch averaged 4.8 runs en route to finishing third in Section 3 at 7-3 behind co-champs Indiana and Valley. The Knights won nine of their first 10 games. They lost their last three nonsection contests to Pine-Richland, Montour and Ellwood City.
Class 2A
First round
13-Frazier (9-9) vs. 4-Riverview (12-6)
6:30 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin
Winner plays: Winner of 5-Laurel (10-6)/12-Burgettstown (8-11) in WPIAL quarterfinals May 18 (time TBD)
Players to watch: Brant Alekson, Frazier; Lukas Duncan, Riverview
Extra bases: Frazier finished fourth in Section 1 at 5-7. The Commodores averaged 7.7 runs but also allowed 6.5 per game. They finished strong after being swept by California and Burgettstown in section play, winning three straight against Chartiers-Houston and Beth-Center twice. … Riverview tied OLSH for second in Section 3 at 9-3 after splitting a series with the Chargers last week. The Raiders, who started 5-1, average 5.6 runs and allow just 3.2 per game.
10-Shenango (11-8) vs. 7-Apollo-Ridge (11-8)
7 p.m. Monday at Seneca Valley
Winner plays: 2-Neshannock (16-3) in WPIAL quarterfinals May 18 (time TBD)
Players to watch: Christian Anterock, Shenango; Noah Stewart, Apollo-Ridge
Extra bases: Shenango was the fourth-place finisher in Section 2 at 7-5. The Wildcats, who started 5-0 and won nine of their first 10, average 8.0 runs. They hit a tough stretch at the end of the season, dropping five of their final six games. Shenango won its lone WPIAL title in 2021. … Apollo-Ridge finished fourth in Section 3 at 7-5. The Vikings, who average 5.5 runs per game, swept Springdale, Carlynton and Brentwood in section play.
Class A
First round
12-Bishop Canevin (6-12) vs. 5-Leechburg (9-7)
4 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin
Winner plays: 4-Western Beaver (11-3) in WPIAL quarterfinals May 18 (time TBD)
Players to watch: Brady Wagner, Bishop Canevin; Jaxon Vargo, Leechburg
Extra bases: Bishop Canevin has won four WPIAL titles, including in 2024, ’23 and 2000. The Crusaders tied for third in Section 3 at 3-5. They snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-2 win over Steel Valley on Wednesday. They average 6.2 runs while allowing 7.0. … Leechburg was the runner-up in Section 2 at 7-3. The Blue Devils, who average 6.3 runs, swept Union, Aquinas and Summit Academy in section play. Leechburg is looking for its first WPIAL title.