All eyes this week will be on EQT Park in Washington for the six WPIAL baseball championships Tuesday and Wednesday and Lilley Field at PennWest University-California for the six district softball title games set for Wednesday and Thursday.
Well, not all eyes.
The WPIAL has 10 consolation games to be played Tuesday and Wednesday at various neutral sites.
Some of these contests are for PIAA postseason seeding purposes — which team will be the third and fourth seeds out of the WPIAL.
However, some of these showdowns are the stressful “win and you’re in” games. These games will determine which teams extend their season into the state playoffs and which will see their seasons end before June.
Here is a rundown of the five baseball and five softball consolation games.
Baseball
Tuesday
Class 4A
Derry (9-10) vs. Hopewell (16-6)
7 p.m., Ross Memorial Park at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington
The Trojans’ unexpected postseason run as the No. 13 seed included wins over No. 4 Beaver and No. 12 Hampton before being shut out by top-seeded Indiana in the semifinals, 3-0.
The Vikings were the No. 6 seed and knocked off Ringgold in the opening round and No. 3 Valley in the quarterfinals, but they fell in a heartbreaker to No. 2 Elizabeth Forward in the semis, 4-3.
The winner goes to the state playoffs while the loser goes home.
Hopewell has reached the PIAA postseason three times this decade: 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Vikings won a state crown 40 years ago, beating Montoursville in the 1986 Class 3A championship game.
Meanwhile, 40 years ago, Derry played in its first and only PIAA baseball playoff game, losing to Bedford in the first round of the 1986 Class 3A playoffs.
Class 2A
Riverview (14-7) vs. South Side (15-4)
4 p.m., Ross Memorial Park at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington
The Raiders were the No. 4 seed in the Class 2A bracket and knocked off Frazier by one run in eight innings in the first round and Laurel by two runs in the second round, then lost by three runs to top-seeded Fort Cherry in the third round.
The Rams had a bye in the opening round as the No. 3 seed, then edged New Brighton in the quarterfinals by one run before losing by one run to No. 2 Neshannock in the semifinals.
The winner goes to the state playoffs while the loser goes home.
Riverview has participated in the state playoffs five times including 2021 and last year in this decade. The boys from Oakmont won the state crown 41 years ago, beating Schuykill Haven in the Class 2A finals in 1983.
South Side has reached the PIAA postseason three times with its most recent extended season coming eight years ago in 2018.
This is the third meeting of the year between these Section 3-2A foes with both teams earning road wins. The Raiders won, 5-4, and the Rams picked up a W the next day, 2-1.
Class A
Western Beaver (12-4) vs. Serra Catholic (13-7)
1 p.m., Ross Memorial Park at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington
The Golden Beavers were the No. 4 seed and had a first-round bye before knocking off Bishop Canevin in a wild game, 7-6. They then lost to top seed Eden Christian Academy, 7-0.
The 2025 district champion Eagles also had an opening-round bye and then rolled past Aquinas Academy, 13-3. Their hopes of a repeat were dashed by No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic, 2-1.
The winner is the No. 3 seed out of the WPIAL and the loser is No. 4.
Serra Catholic has appeared in the state playoffs each year this decade while Western Beaver has qualified twice, in 2000 and 2013.
Wednesday
Class 5A
Montour (17-6) vs. Thomas Jefferson (18-5)
2 p.m., Ross Memorial Park at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington
How will the Spartans react coming off one of the craziest WPIAL playoff games ever, one in which they rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning for nine runs to tie the game, 10-10, only to lose to Upper St. Clair in eight innings, 13-10?
It has been an emotional playoff run for Montour as the Spartans beat rival West Allegheny in nine innings in the opener and then upset top-seeded Pine-Richland in the quarters before falling to USC.
The Jaguars were the No. 3 seed and defeated Mars and Bethel Park in one-run games before losing by a run to South Fayette in the semifinals.
These were the top two teams in Section 4-5A with Thomas Jefferson sweeping their section series from Montour in mid-April by scores of 5-0 and 4-1.
The winner is No. 3 and the loser is No. 4 in seeding out of the WPIAL as both have qualified for the PIAA postseason.
TJ has only reached that point three times, with two coming recently in 2022 and 2024.
Montour qualified for states four times this decade between 2021-2024.
Class 3A
Avonworth (17-6) vs. Riverside (12-8)
5 p.m., Ross Memorial Park at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington
The top-seeded Antelopes blanked Waynesburg in the first round and edged No. 9 Charleroi in the quarters before falling to section rival South Park in the semis, 5-2.
The No. 7 Panthers opened up defense of their 2025 Class 3A crown with wins over Shady Side Academy and South Allegheny, then their repeat hopes vanished with a loss to rival Ellwood City in the semifinals, 6-5.
Both teams have qualified for the state playoffs with the winner earning the No. 3 seed and the loser becoming the No. 4 seed out of the WPIAL.
These two last met in the district playoffs in the 2024 Class 3A championship game with Avonworth outlasting Riverside in one of the best title games in WPIAL history, 4-3, in 14 innings.
The Panthers have won six PIAA championships, including the 2025 crown, while the Antelopes have yet to win state gold, but came close two years ago when they fell to Neumann-Goretti in the 2024 Class 3A title game.
Softball
Tuesday
Class 5A
Baldwin (18-5) vs. Thomas Jefferson (17-4)
4 p.m., West Mifflin
The No. 5 Highlanders beat Kiski Area by a run in the first round and West Allegheny by six in the quarterfinals and then fell to top-seeded Shaler in the semifinals, 10-0.
The No. 2 Jaguars edged South Fayette in the opener and blanked Plum in the second round before being stunned by North Hills in the final four, 6-3.
Both teams have qualified for the state playoffs with the winner claiming the No. 3 seed and the loser No. 4 out of the WPIAL.
These Section 4-5A foes split their two games in the regular season with Baldwin winning 7-4 and Thomas Jefferson taking the second matchup, 6-1.
The Highlanders have reached the PIAA title game three times in their history but haven’t played in a state playoff game since 2018.
In the last appearance for the Jaguars in the state playoffs, they won it all. TJ beat Pittston Area to win the 2024 PIAA Class 5A crown.
Class 4A
Hampton (15-6) vs. North Catholic (14-6)
7 p.m., North Allegheny
The 2025 WPIAL champion Talbots were the No. 4 seed this season and defeated Greensburg Salem and Uniontown before falling to top-seeded Elizabeth Forward in the semis, 7-5.
The Trojans were the No. 7 seed and upended West Mifflin and No. 2 Knoch in the first two rounds, then lost to No. 3 Blackhawk in the semifinals, 13-4.
During the regular season, Hampton swept North Catholic in their two Section 3-4A games, winning by scores of 9-6 and 8-2.
The winner qualifies for the 2026 PIAA Class 4A playoffs while the season is over for the loser.
The Trojans have only made it to the PIAA playoff twice, in 2001 and 2016.
The Talbots have qualified four times for the state playoffs, including in each of the last two seasons.
Class 3A
Ellwood City (10-6) vs. Keystone Oaks (17-5)
3 p.m., North Allegheny
The Wolverines were the No. 4 seed and enjoyed a first-round bye before shutting out McGuffey in the quarterfinals and falling to top seed South Park in the semifinals, 2-0.
The Golden Eagles pulled off back-to-back shutout wins as the No. 7 seed, blanking No. 10 Deer Lakes in the opening round and No. 2 Mohawk in the second round; however, they were finally scored upon and lost to No. 3 Mt. Pleasant in the third round, 3-2.
A berth in the PIAA playoffs is at stake in this 3A consolation game.
Keystone Oaks has only qualified once in school history for the state softball playoffs. They reached the quarterfinals in 2019.
Ellwood City has reached the PIAA playoffs seven times with its most recent appearance coming in 2021.
Class 2A
Laurel (15-6) vs. Chartiers-Houston (18-3)
5 p.m., North Allegheny
The top-seeded Spartans knocked off Shady Side Academy and Frazier in the first two rounds before losing to rival Neshannock in the semis, 7-5.
The No. 2 Buccaneers edged Washington in the first round and shut out Riverside in the quarterfinals, then fell to No. 3 Bentworth in the semifinals, 2-1.
Both teams have qualified for the PIAA playoffs, and the winner of this game earns the No. 3 seed out of the WPIAL.
Laurel has made it to the PIAA playoffs six times, but all six appearances have come in the last six seasons, including a state semifinals berth a year ago.
Chartiers-Houston is about to make its 25th appearance in the state playoffs. The Bucs won it all 16 years ago when they defeated Montgomery in the 2010 Class A title game.
Class A
Jefferson-Morgan (16-7) vs. West Greene (13-9)
4 p.m., Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township
The Rockets were the No. 5 seed and soared to wins over Leechburg in the first round and No. 4 Serra Catholic in the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Union in the semifinals, 17-7.
The Pioneers had an opening-round bye as the No. 3 seed and crushed South Side in their postseason opener, then fell to No. 2 Carmichaels in the semifinals, 9-0.
The winner of this battle of Greene County powers is headed to the state playoffs while the season is over for the loser.
In the regular season, West Greene won both Section 2-A games from Jefferson-Morgan by scores of 10-8 and 10-1.
The Rockets have only been to the state playoffs twice, in 1981 and in 2015.
The Pioneers have played in the PIAA postseason nine previous years, including each season since 2016 with the exception of 2023.
Tuesday on Trib HSSN
There are five broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 26th day of May.
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 4A Championship: Elizabeth Forward vs. Indiana at 7 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Championship: Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Eden Christian Academy at 1 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Championship: Neshannock vs. Fort Cherry at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net and WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 3A Consolation: Keystone Oaks vs. Ellwood City at 3 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video or Audio Stream – Class 2A Consolation: Chartiers-Houston vs. Laurel at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
Wednesday on Trib HSSN
There are seven broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 27th day of May.
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A Championship: South Fayette vs. Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Championship: North Allegheny vs. Butler at 4 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A Championship: Ellwood City vs. South Park at 1 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 5A Championship: North Hills vs. Shaler at 2:15 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Championship: Seneca Valley vs. Hempfield at 4:30 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Championship: Bentworth vs. Neshannock at 12 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net and WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 3A Consolation: Riverside vs. Avonworth at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
Thursday on Trib HSSN
There are three broadcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 28th day of May.
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A Championship: Mt. Pleasant vs. South Park at 2:15 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 4A Championship: Blackhawk vs. Elizabeth Forward at 4:30 p.m. on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Championship: Carmichaels vs. Union at 12 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com