We are halfway through the PIAA playoffs and there are five baseball teams and eight softball teams from the WPIAL still in the hunt for state gold heading into the final four.
Here is what we know about the PIAA championships at Penn State next week:
The WPIAL will have no representation in the Class 5A baseball finals, and there will definitely be a district team in the state softball 5A championship game.
History could be made in Class 2A softball when Laurel and Chartiers-Houston are among the final four teams, but they do not play each other.
The Spartans are on the “western” side of the bracket and the Buccaneers have been playing on the “eastern” side, which could lead to a first all-WPIAL softball state championship game.
As far as the power rankings, the top two teams remain the same in baseball and softball with Butler and Indiana at 1-2 in baseball and Shaler and Hempfield sitting atop the softball Trib 10.
Here are the second-to-last power rankings for the 2026 season. Teams are listed with overall record and last week’s ranking.
These weekly rankings have zero classification boundaries.
Baseball Trib 10
1. Butler Golden Tornado (22-3) (1)
2. Indiana Little Indians (20-4) (2)
3. South Park Eagles (17-6) (7)
4. Neshannock Lancers (21-3) (5)
5. Eden Christian Academy Warriors (18-4) (6)
6. Upper St. Clair Panthers (17-10) (4)
7. Ellwood City Wolverines (19-4) (3)
8. Fort Cherry Rangers (19-3) (NR)
9. North Allegheny Tigers (14-9) (8)
10. South Fayette Lions (14-9) (9)
Out: Elizabeth Forward Warriors
Softball Trib 10
1. Shaler Titans (23-1) (1)
2. Hempfield Spartans (23-1) (2)
3. South Park Eagles (22-1) (4)
4. Union Scotties (21-2) (5)
5. Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (19-5) (NR)
6. Blackhawk Cougars (14-5) (8)
7. Laurel Spartans (18-6) (NR)
8. Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers (20-4) (NR)
9. Elizabeth Forward Warriors (21-3) (3)
10. Bentworth Bearcats (22-3) (6)
Out: Seneca Valley Raiders, Mt. Pleasant Vikings, Neshannock Lancers