It’s a busy start to a big week with WPIAL baseball and softball quarterfinals along with boys volleyball and lacrosse semifinals all on Monday.
The only tournament that has not started finally gets underway with Class 6A baseball.
There are four quarterfinals, including No. 5 Central Catholic taking on No. 4 Norwin at Gateway at 7 p.m.
Eleven years ago, the Vikings earned their first district baseball championship with a shutout of the Knights, 2-0.
Jack Tumulty was the winning pitcher for Central Catholic, throwing a complete game while allowing six hits and striking out six.
This season, the Vikings got off to a great start, winning five of their first six Section 1-6A games.
However, six straight losses in section series sweeps by North Allegheny and Butler dropped Central Catholic into a third-place tie with Seneca Valley at 5-7 in the section and 9-11 overall.
The Knights swept Section 2-6A series from Hempfield and Woodland Hills while getting swept by Canon-McMillan. They finished in a tie for the section crown with the Big Macs at 8-4 after taking two out of three from Mt. Lebanon in their final section series. They are 12-8 for the season.
On March 21, in the second game of the season for both teams, host Norwin defeated Central Catholic, 6-1.
Caden Sivrich was the winning pitcher for the Knights while Joshua McFadden suffered the loss of the Vikings.
Leading 3-1, Norwin put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the three other Class 6A quarterfinals:
• Top-seeded Butler faces No. 8 Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny at 7 p.m.. The Section 1 champion Golden Tornado are 17-3 and have won 10 straight while the Blue Devils are 13-7 and finished the season splitting their final six games.
• No. 2 Canon-McMillan goes up against No. 7 Seneca Valley at Boyce-Mayview Field in Upper St. Clair at 4 p.m. The Section 2-6A co-champion Big Macs are 15-5 with wins in three of their last four games while the defending champion Raiders are 10-10 with four consecutive losses.
• No. 3 North Allegheny battles No. 6 Hempfield at Boyce-Mayview Field in Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. The Section 1-6A runner-up Tigers are 12-8 and were 4-4 in their final eight games. The Spartans are 10-10 with wins in three of their final four games of the regular season.
Section 3-4A strong
We are down to the elite eight in the district Class 4A baseball playoffs, and half the field is from Section 3-4A.
It helps that the co-champions in the section, Indiana and Valley, enjoyed a first-round bye while the third- and fourth-place teams, Knoch and Derry, were winners into the quarterfinals.
Two of those teams collide in the second round Monday when top-seeded Indiana tangles with No. 8 Knoch at Gateway at 4 p.m.
The Little Indians are 15-4 the season after winning both the WPIAL and PIAA championships.
Indiana won its first six games and finished with victories in four of its last five contests.
The Knights are 13-8, but dropped their final three games this season.
In the opening round, Zane Pacek was the winning pitcher, allowing only three hits as the Knights edged Blackhawk, 2-1.
Knoch and Indiana split their two regular season games with each winning a low-scoring game at home.
The Knights won in Russleton, 2-1 on April 21, while the Little Indians returned the favor with a 1-0 victory at White Township Park.
A year ago, coming off a first-round bye, Indiana needed nine innings to edge Ambridge, 1-0.
There are three other Class 4A quarterfinals Monday:
• Following upset losses by No. 4 Beaver and No. 5 Belle Vernon, it will be No. 13 Derry taking aim at No. 12 Hampton in the second round at Plum at 7 p.m. The Trojans are 8-9 following a 2-1 win over Beaver in which Max Doherty drove home two and picked up the win. The Talbots are 13-8 and coming off a 7-1 victory over Belle Vernon as Caleb Custer had two hits with a double and an RBI.
• No. 2 Elizabeth Forward comes off a bye to face No. 7 West Mifflin at Norwin at 4 p.m. The 2025 runner-up Warriors are 14-5 after winning the Section 2-4A crown while the Titans are 14-6 following a 3-1 win over Ambridge in which Derek Tudek had two hits and a double. EF swept the section series from West Mifflin, winning 3-1 and 5-4.
• No. 3 Valley will take on No. 6 Hopewell at West Mifflin at 6:30 p.m. The Valley Vikings are 14-5 and had a first-round bye after earning a share of the Section 3-4A title. The Hopewell Vikings are 15-5 after beating Ringgold, 5-3, behind starter Kington Krotec, who also was 2 for 4 at the plate with a double.
Going back vs. Cali
Fort Cherry took over sole possession of first place in Section 1-2A baseball in the last section series in April by winning both games against California.
Now the top two teams in the section are set to meet in the quarterfinals as the Rangers face the Trojans at Joe Maize Field in Peterswood Park in Peters Township at 6:30 p.m.
Fort Cherry won its first 16 games of the season before suffering its first loss in the regular season finale against Burgettstown.
California is 12-6, and despite the late losses to Fort Cherry, has won four straight including a first-round win over defending Class 2A champion Freedom, 3-1. Weston Monticelli was the winning pitcher in the postseason opener, allowing only four hits.
In their two games played three weeks ago, the Rangers beat the Trojans, 9-0 and 12-7.
There are three other quarterfinals in Class 2A Monday:
• No. 4 Riverview will take on No. 5 Laurel at North Allegheny at 4 p.m. The Raiders are 13-6 following a first-round win in eight innings over Frazier, 5-4, in which Miles Duncan had two hits and two RBIs, including the walk-off game winning single. Laurel is 11-6 and blanked Burgettstown in the opening round, 7-0, with Luca Santini throwing a one-hitter and striking out 13.
• No. 2 Neshannock is challenged by No. 7 Apollo-Ridge at Pullman Park in Butler at 7 p.m. The Lancers had a first-round bye as co-champs in Section 2-2A with a record of 16-3. The Vikings are 12-8 after beating Shenango in the first round, 2-1, behind the pitching of Brody Henderson.
• No. 3 South Side plays No. 11 New Brighton in a battle of Beaver County teams at Pullman Park in Butler at 4 p.m. The Rams won the Section 3-2A title outright with a record of 14-3. The Lions are 9-9 after upending OLSH in the first round thanks to Carter Jackson, who was 3 for 3 with a double, triple and two RBIs.
Then there was one with none
With late regular season losses by Freeport and Fort Cherry, Greensburg Central Catholic is the only district baseball team with no losses.
The Centurions won the Section 1-A title outright with a 12-0 record and finished 16-0 in the regular season.
Following a first-round bye, No. 2 GCC opens the postseason against No. 7 Jefferson-Morgan at Ross Memorial Field at the W&J Sports Complex at 4 p.m.
The Centurions have been dominant this season, scoring 165 runs while allowing only 31.
The only margin of victory closer than four runs for Greensburg Central Catholic was when it defeated Carmichaels, 5-3.
The Rockets are 12-8 following a first-round victory over Union, 6-2.
In that game, Brayden Ellsworth was 4 for 4 with an RBI.
This will be the third meeting of the season between these section foes.
The Centurions swept the Rockets back in March by scores of 4-0 and 8-2.
There are three other quarterfinals in Class A Monday:
• Top-seeded Eden Christian Academy faces No. 8 Carmichaels at Ross Memorial Field at the W&J Sports Complex at 6:30 p.m. The Warriors captured the Section 3-A title with a 13-4 record and have won 12 of their last 13 games. The 2025 runner-up Mighty Mikes are 9-8 and coming off a playoff win over Sewickley Academy, 7-4, in which Dom Yazzoni was the winning pitcher and drove in two runs.
• No. 4 Western Beaver battles No. 12 Bishop Canevin at Joe Mize Field at Peterswood Park in Peters Township at 4 p.m. The Golden Beavers are Section 2-A winners with an 11-3 record with wins in five of their last six games. The Crusaders improved to 7-10 when they stunned Leechburg in the first round, 9-5, thanks in part to Nate Astor going 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs.
• No. 3 Serra Catholic takes on No. 11 Aquinas Academy at West Mifflin at 4 p.m. The defending champion Eagles were the Section 3-A runners-up with a record of 12-6. The Crusaders are 10-5 after a first-round triumph over Avella, 5-2, in which Patrick Richthammer had a double and drove home two runs.
Softball too?
Avonworth and South Park have become big-time rivals on the baseball field.
Perhaps those schools are ready to carry that rivalry over to the softball diamond.
For the second straight year, the Antelopes and Eagles will battle in the district softball postseason when they collide at Gateway at 3 p.m.
No. 8 Avonworth is 11-8 after taking care of Yough in the opening round, 3-2.
Ana Fowler was the winning pitcher for the ‘Lopes with 12 strikeouts, plus she had a double and an RBI.
South Park is the top seed and enjoyed a first-round bye.
The Eagles are 17-1 and winner of Section 3-3A. They were victorious in their first 16 games this season before losing in eight innings to the top team in Class 6A, Hempfield, by a score of 7-6.
These teams played in the WPIAL 3A semifinals a year ago with the Eagles defeating the Antelopes, 9-6.
Winning pitcher Sydney Sekely also had two hits for South Park. Emma Obersteiner and Abby Brooks each smacked two-run homers for Avonworth.
There are three other quarterfinals in Class 3A Monday:
• No. 4 Ellwood City clashes with No. 5 McGuffey at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. The Wolverines enjoyed a first-round bye after a 9-5 regular season and a second-place finish to Mohawk in Section 2-3A. The Highlanders are 10-6 and advanced to the quarters with a win over Hopewell, 7-3. Miley Main was the winning pitcher as she struck out 12 and drove in two runs.
• Defending champion Mohawk is the No. 2 seed as it prepares to face No. 7 Keystone Oaks at Seneca Valley at 6:30 p.m. The Warriors won the Section 2-3A crown with a 14-5 record and earned a first-round bye. The Golden Eagles improved to 16-4 with a 6-0 win in the first round over Deer Lakes. Kennadi Smith was the winning pitcher with 11 strikeouts and also was 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI.
• No. 6 Burrell battles No. 3 Mt. Pleasant at Gateway at 5 p.m. The Buccaneers are 11-8 after eliminating Charleroi, 6-3. Christian Gural drove in three for the Bucs. The Vikings won the Section 1-3A crown and had a first-round bye. Mt. Pleasant defeated Burrell twice this season by scores of 8-2 and 12-2.
Again and again and again
For the third straight postseason in the WPIAL Class 2A softball bracket, there is a quarterfinals ‘Cat fight.
Once again in the second round, it will be Bentworth against Shenango, this time at Montour at 5 p.m.
In the 2024 second round, No. 2 Bentworth beat No. 7 Shenango, 8-1.
Last spring, the No. 12 Bearcats once again eliminated the No. 13 Wildcats, 3-1.
Now Bentworth tries to make it three in a row, this time as the No. 3 seed.
The Bearcats won the Section 4-2A title outright with a record of 18-2, including a first-round victory over Burgettstown, 5-0.
Junior pitcher Sydney Gonglik put on a show, throwing a seven-inning no-hitter with 19 strikeouts.
She also was 3 for 3 at the plate with two doubles and a home run.
Shenango hopes the third time is a charm as it is the No. 6 seed.
The Wildcats were tied for second in uber-tough Section 1-2A, one game behind top-seeded Laurel.
Addison Downing was 3 for 3 with a double and four RBIs as Shenango improved to 15-5 with a first-round win over Apollo-Ridge, 11-1.
The other quarterfinals in Class 2A Monday:
• No. 1 Laurel will go up against No. 9 Frazier at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. The Spartans are 14-5 after defeating Shady Side Academy in three innings, 15-0, behind a no-hitter from Riley Balcolm with eight strikeouts. The Commodores improved to 12-9 by upending Seton LaSalle in the opening round, 6-3, thanks to a three-hit game by Morgan Fisher.
• Four-time defending champion and No. 5 Neshannock will look to avoid another upset by No. 13 Brownsville at Montour at 3 p.m. The Lancers started off their latest title defense with a victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 11-1, as Gianna Paglia had three hits and five RBIs. The Falcons flew past South Allegheny in the opener, 8-1. Winning pitcher Ava Clark had two hits and three RBIs.
• No. 2 Chartiers-Houston will take on No. 7 Riverside at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 4 p.m. The Buccaneers edged Washington in the opener, 2-1, to improve to 17-2. Aubree Randolph tripled in the Bucs’ win. The Panthers beat Brentwood, 6-1, in Round 1 to move to 9-5 on the season. Both Saeryn Hoover and Addison Drake homered for Riverside.
‘A’ rematches
All eight teams that reached the quarterfinals in WPIAL Class A softball a year ago are back into the second round this spring.
Two of the four contests Monday are quarterfinal rematches.
Top-seeded Union will take on No. 8 Jeannette at North Allegheny at 3 p.m.
The Scotties are 16-2 this year and captured the Section 1-A title outright. They had a first-round bye last week.
The Jayhawks moved to 11-3 on the season with a first-round win over Bishop Canevin, 10-0.
Grace Stein not only threw a one-hitter for the ‘Hawks with 16 punchouts, she also smacked a 3-run homer.
Last year in the quarters, Union needed five innings to advance past Jeannette, 10-0.
In the other rematch from a year ago, No. 3 West Greene battles No. 6 South Side at Trinity Middle School at 5 p.m.
The Pioneers are 12-7 and coming off a first-round bye after finishing second to Carmichaels in Section 2-A.
The Rams are now 10-8 following a close first-round win over Beth-Center, 4-3.
Brooke McNary was 3 for 3 with an RBI for the Rams.
Last year’s meeting was a thriller as West Greene advanced with an eight-inning win over South Side, 7-6.
In the other two Class A quarters:
• No. 4 Serra Catholic faces No. 5 Jefferson-Morgan at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 6 p.m. The Eagles claimed the Section 3-A crown with a record of 12-5 and are coming off a bye. Emilee Bazzoli was 3 for 3 with four RBIs to lead the Rockets past Leechburg, 18-2, to improve to 15-6.
• No. 2 Carmichaels will be challenged by No. 7 Sewickley Academy at Trinity MS at 7 p.m. The Mighty Mikes had a bye last week after winning the Section 2-A title with a record of 15-4. The Panthers are now 10-3 after beating Monessen, 10-7. Sutton Rea had two doubles and two runs batted in for SA.
Volleyball as expected
The 2026 WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs have gone as planned when the steering committee set up the brackets.
The top four seeds will square off Monday in the Class 3A final four while the top three seeds along with the No. 5 seed have reached the semifinals in Class 2A.
Here are the four matches that will set the stage for the two district championship matches Wednesday.
In Class 3A:
• It was 30 years ago when Baldwin defeated Penn Hills to win its first and only WPIAL boys volleyball Class 3A championship. Now the Highlanders are two wins away from a second gold, but they must defeat top seed and defending champion North Allegheny. No. 4 Baldwin (15-3) and NA (11-0) meet at North Catholic at 6 p.m.
• What a turnaround season this has been for Butler. A year ago, the Golden Tornado missed the playoffs and finished 8-7. This spring, they are the No. 2 seed with a record of 15-4. On Monday, they battle rival and 2025 district runner-up, No. 3 Seneca Valley (13-4) at North Catholic at 7:30 p.m.
In Class 2A:
• Top-seed Shaler (14-1) has its eye on a fourth consecutive WPIAL boys volleyball crown and a repeat of 2A gold. But they first must take care of No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (10-7), fresh off a win over No. 4 Deer Lakes in the quarterfinals. The Titans and Jaguars collide at Chartiers Valley at 6 p.m.
• Five years ago, Seton LaSalle won its first and only WPIAL boys volleyball title in 2021. The Rebels are 20-1 and the No. 2 seed as they prepare to take on undefeated and No. 3 seed South Fayette (17-0) at Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m.
Lacrosse final four
Last year, Mt. Lebanon in Class 3A and Mars in 2A ruled the district lacrosse scene.
The Blue Devils and Fightin’ Planets swept gold in both the boys and girls brackets.
It marked the second straight year both programs pulled off the sweep since Mt. Lebanon and Mars also won boys and girls titles in 2024.
Those are the only two times that two schools won the boys and girls 3A and 2A titles in the same year.
Shady Side Academy swept 3A gold in 2022 and Mars swept 2A championships in 2021 and in the last three years.
Heading into the semifinals, six schools have a chance to win double gold with boys and girls lacrosse teams still alive, three in 3A and three in 2A.
Those schools are Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel and Pine-Richland in 3A and Mars, Hampton and South Fayette in 2A.
Here are the 3A semifinals:
• On the boys side, top-seeded Mt. Lebanon (15-1) will take on No. 5 Pine-Richland (10-7) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 8 p.m. and No. 2 Fox Chapel (15-2) faces No. 4 Shady Side Academy (9-5) at Avonworth at 8 p.m.
• For the girls, No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (15-1) will be challenged by No. 4 Fox Chapel (12-2) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 6 p.m. while No. 2 Pine-Richland (15-3) battles No. 3 Upper St. Clair (12-2) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m.
The 2A semis:
• For the boys, top-seeded Peters Township (15-2) goes up against No. 4 South Fayette (12-3) at North Allegheny at 6 p.m. and No. 2 Hampton (14-4) will take on No. 3 Mars (13-4) at Avonworth at 6 p.m.
• On the girls side, No. 1 Mars (17-1) is challenged by No. 4 South Fayette (11-6) at North Allegheny at 8 p.m. while No. 2 Hampton (13-4) battles No. 3 Quaker Valley (15-2) at Fox Chapel at 8 p.m.
Monday on Trib HSSN
There are 15 broadcasts and two podcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 18th day of May.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Softball Player of the Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Diamond Team of the Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Mt. Lebanon vs. Butler at 7 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Central Catholic vs. Norwin at 7 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Quarterfinals: Bishop Canevin vs. Western Beaver at 4 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Seneca Valley vs. Canon-McMillan at 4 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 4A Quarterfinals: Hampton vs. Derry at 7 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Riverview vs. Laurel at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Apollo-Ridge vs. Neshannock at 7 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: California vs. Fort Cherry at 6:30 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: McGuffey vs. Ellwood City at 7 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Neshannock vs. Brownsville at 3 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Shenango vs. Bentworth at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Frazier vs. Laurel at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Riverside vs. Chartiers-Houston at 4 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Quarterfinals: Jeannette vs. Union at 3 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A Semifinals: Baldwin vs. North Allegheny at 6 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com