Welcome to Semifinals Monday in the PIAA baseball and softball playoffs.
The district has plenty of representation heading into the state final four with five baseball and eight softball teams one victory away from playing for gold at Penn State.
Of the remaining baseball teams, four are recent WPIAL champions.
Only South Park (18-6) is in search of its first title this spring in trying to turn district silver into state gold.
The high-flying Eagles hope to continue their near perfect postseason play Monday when they battle District 10 champion Fairview (18-1) at Slippery Rock University at 6 p.m.
South Park has defeated a pair of champions in the state playoffs after falling to Ellwood City in the WPIAL Class 3A title game.
The Eagles first knocked off District 5 winner Bedford, 6-3. Then in the quarterfinals, they disposed of District 6 champ Tyrone, 4-1.
Thus far in the two state playoff games, Slippery Rock commit Cooper Hochendoner has put on a show at the plate, going a combined 6 for 8 with a double, triple, home run and three RBIs. He also was the winning pitcher in the second round victory.
The D-10 Tigers blanked 2025 state champion Riverside in the opening round, 3-0, and then outlasted District 6 runner-up Philipsburg-Osceola in the quarters, 7-5.
The other 3A state semifinals game has District 4 champion Mifflinburg (19-5) taking on District 3 runner-up Bermudian Springs (21-3) at Wenger Field in Fredericksburg at 4 p.m.
Here are the four other WPIAL baseball teams in action Monday:
• In Class 6A, WPIAL champion Butler (21-3) will oppose District 1 runner-up Owen J. Roberts (23-4) at Bald Eagle at 4 p.m.
The Golden Tornado have blown by Mifflin County in the opening round, 2-1, and Chambersburg in the quarterfinals, 3-2.
Mavrik Clement has had the hot stick for Butler, going 3 for 4 with a double and triple and a run batted in during the second round win. He also homered in the first round triumph for the Golden Tornado.
In the other 6A semifinals game, District 1 fourth-seeded Neshaminy (19-7) faces District 1 champion Pennsbury (24-2) at Villanova University at 2 p.m.
• In Class 4A, WPIAL winner and defending PIAA champion Indiana (20-4) battles District 12 runner-up Archbishop Wood (18-4) at Greene Township Park in Scotland at 4 p.m.
The Little Indians have broken away from their usual postseason script of winning close games, usually in extra innings by winning via the 10-run rule in four and six innings.
First, there was a 10-0 whitewash of Somerset thanks to three hits from Chad Force, then the elimination of Hopewell by the same score, 10-0.
In that game, Brady Oakes threw a six inning no-hitter and Charlie Manzie delivered two doubles and two RBIs.
In the other final four contest, District 1 champ Holy Ghost Prep (15-9) goes up against District 4 winner Montoursville (19-4) at Blue Mountain at 4 p.m.
• In Class 2A, District 7 champion Neshannock (20-3) will battle District 10 champ Mercyhurst Prep (21-2) at Slippery Rock University at 4 p.m.
Following a rally from down two to beat Redbank Valley in the opening round, 3-2, the Lancers edged Saegertown in the quarters, 4-2.
Anthony Eakin had two hits and two RBIs for the Lancers, while Denny Joseph went the distance on the mound for the win.
In the other semifinal game, District 4 runner-up Southern Columbia (17-4) will play District 3 champion Halifax (23-1) at North Schuylkill at 4 p.m.
• In Class A, WPIAL winner Eden Christian Academy (18-4) challenges District 9 champ Elk County Catholic (20-3) at First Commonwealth Field in Homer City at 3 p.m.
Brady Hull has been a big part of the Warriors success on the Path to Penn State.
He was 4 for 4 with a home run in the opening round win over Clarion, 7-6, and then he had an RBI double in the 6-1 triumph over West Middlesex in the second round.
Noah Emswiler was the winning pitcher in the quarters for Eden.
In the other semifinal, District 6 runner-up Homer-Center (15-10) takes on Dock Mennonite (10-14) at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School at 4 p.m.
WPIAL, err, PIAA semifinals
When all four teams from the WPIAL won in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs, it guaranteed an all-District 7 quarterfinal and semifinal game.
It also clinched a WPIAL team playing in the state 5A championship game for an eighth consecutive season.
Now the big question is, which district team will it be?
The top two seeds in the WPIAL 5A playoffs finally collide when Shaler (22-1) battles Thomas Jefferson (19-8) at West Mifflin at 6 p.m.
The two-time WPIAL champion Titans have been led by their two big seniors with one shining at the plate and the other in the circle.
Addy Aleski has had four hits in the two PIAA playoff games with a home run and two RBIs.
Bria Bosiljevac has picked up the wins over Red Land, 10-0, and Baldwin, 2-1. She has pitched 12 innings, allowed five hits and struck out 19.
The Jaguars are a young team, but the senior contributions from Addalina Bracco have been huge in playoff victories over Northern York, 10-0, and North Hills, 4-0.
She was a combined 4 for 5 with a double, a home run and four runs batted in.
Junior pitcher Aubrey Shaffer has yet to allow a run, with seven hits allowed and 17 strikeouts in the wins.
In the other 5A semifinals, District 1 runner-up Springfield-Delco (21-3) plays District 2 winner Abington Heights (23-1) at Patriots Park in Allentown at 1 p.m.
• In Class 6A, WPIAL winner Hempfield (23-1) goes up against 2025 state champ Central Dauphin (23-1) from District 3 at Philipsburg-Osceola at 4 p.m.
The Spartans’ Ella Berkabile and Emily Bozek led the win in the opening round over McDowell with two hits each while Jocelyn Luft led the offense with two hits, a home run and two RBIs in the win over Chambersburg.
Julia Varhola struck out 11 in the 4-0 quarterfinals win.
In the other 6A semifinal, District 1 third-place finisher Haverford (20-5) goes up against D-1 champion Owen J. Roberts (25-1) at Spring-Ford at 2 p.m.
• In Class 4A, WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk (14-5) squares off against District 10 champion Harbor Creek (19-5) at Allegheny College at 4 p.m.
Eva Parris and Addy Ramer combined for five hits and five RBIs in the Cougars’ first round win over Punxsutawney, 12-7.
In the quarterfinals, Kylee Prisuta allowed only three hits and struck out 12 as Blackhawk blanked Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast, 2-0.
The Huskies have already eliminated two WPIAL teams, beating North Catholic in the opener, 2-1, then eliminating WPIAL champ Elizabeth Forward in the quarters, 10-3.
In the other final four contest, District 1 champion Pope John Paul II (14-9) goes up against District 2 winner Valley View (22-3) at Lehighton at 1:30 p.m.
• In Class 3A, District 7 winner South Park (22-1) faces District 10 champion Sharon (23-0) at Slippery Rock University at 4 p.m.
Sydney Sekely has been swinging a big stick in the state playoffs.
She is a combined 4 for 7 with two doubles and four RBIs, plus she has been the winning pitcher in both games.
She allowed six hits and struck out six in the Round 1 win over Hickory, 2-1, and then she gave up five hits and had seven punchouts in the Round 2 victory over Westmont-Hilltop, 13-0.
In the other 3A final four game, District 11 champion Pine Grove (25-2) faces District 2 winner Mid-Valley (21-3) at Hazleton at 4 p.m.
• In Class 2A, history could be made with a first all-WPIAL championship game in the state finals.
However, the two remaining District 7 teams must first win their semifinals games.
WPIAL No. 3 seed Laurel (18-6) will take on District 5 champ Everett (20-4) at West Mifflin at 2 p.m.
The Spartans have advanced with a pair of 6-2 wins over Saegertown and Neshannock.
Hailey Felt had three hits, including a home run, in the first round victory. Mayci Lang and Hayler Balcolm each had two hits the second round win.
The Warriors are coming off a quarterfinal elimination of WPIAL winner Bentworth, 3-2.
In the other 2A semifinal, WPIAL No. 4 seed Chartiers-Houston (20-4) squares off against District 1 champion Bristol (23-1) at Mifflin County at 3 p.m.
Kiera Drilak was a combined 5 for 7 for the Buccaneers in the wins over Bellwood-Antis and Montrose and was the winning pitcher in both games.
She will be tested against a Warriors team that has scored 41 runs in two state playoff games, including 26 in a quarterfinals victory over Schuylkill Haven.
• In Class A, WPIAL champion Union (20-2) will battle District 5 winner Berlin-Brothersvalley (22-2) at West Mifflin at 4 p.m.
The Scotties have scored 12 runs in each of their state playoff triumphs.
Irelyn Fisher and Olivia Benedict homered in the 12-9 first round win over Purchase Line, while Samantha Confer had three hits, and Korynne Shannon had two hits and they combined for six RBIs in the 12-2 victory over DuBois Central Catholic.
In the other Class A semifinal, District 2 winner Holy Cross (20-3) takes on District 11 champ Tri-Valley (19-5) at Hazleton at 2 p.m.
Monday on Trib HSSN
There are four broadcasts and three podcasts you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the eighth day of June.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Baseball Player of the Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
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
PIAA Baseball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Semifinals: Neshannock vs. Mercyhurst Prep at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Semifinals: Laurel vs. Everett at 2 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Semifinals: Chartiers-Houston vs. Bristol at 3 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIAA Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Semifinals: Union vs. Berlin-Brothersvalley at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribLive.com