WPIAL releases Baseball sections for 2025-2026 seasons

The WPIAL released new section for baseball and softball for the spring of 2025 and 2026. Class 6A will only be one section of nine teams for the 2025 and 2025 seasons. Pine-Richland and Central Catholic are both dropping down to 5A for the next two years. With the section going to nine teams, Class 6A will now go back to two-game series where they had played three-game series the last two years.

BASEBALL

CLASS 6A

Section 1

Butler

Canon-McMillan

Hempfield

Mt. Lebanon

North Allegheny

North Hills

Norwin

Seneca Valley

Woodland Hills

CLASS 5A

Section 1

Armstrong

Franklin Regional

Latrobe

Kiski Area

Penn Hills

Penn-Trafford

Plum

Section 2

Bethel Park

Chartiers Valley

Moon

Peters Township

South Fayette

Trinity

Upper St. Clair

Section 3

Allderdice

Fox Chapel

Mars

New Castle

Pine-Richland

Shaler

West Allegheny

Section 4

Baldwin

Central Catholic

Connellsville

Gateway

McKeesport

Montour

Thomas Jefferson

Hempfield grad Phil Fox taken in 7th round of MLB Draft

Hempfield grad and former Pitt Panther Phil Fox was taken in the seventh round of the MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. Fox was the 199th overall pick.

Fox is the first player who graduated from Hempfield to be drafted since 2013 when Andy Haines was selected and the third player to formerly play in the Big 56 drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft.

After Hempfield, Fox attended Gardner-Webb before getting injured a few months into being on the team. He had Tommy-John surgery and had to sit out the 2022 season.

In 2023, Fox returned and made the Big South All-Freshman team pitching 30 1/3 innings, picking up three saves and a 4.71 ERA. Fox transferred to Pitt for the 2024 season where he threw 36 2/3 innings, striking out 45 and only walking three guys. He had a 3-2 record with a 1.47 ERA and eight saves for the Panthers. Fox was named a third team All-American and second team All-ACC.

Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields goes 41st overall to the Kansas City Royals in the MLB Draft

Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields got his named called in the MLB Draft last night as he was selected in the 2nd round going 41st overall to the Kansas City Royals.

Shields is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound left handed pitcher who is currently committed to Miami (FL). His senior year, Shields went 5-1 with a 0.96 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 35 innings. When he wasn’t pitching, Shields patrolled center field and hit .383 at the plate.

Shields was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. He was also named the TribLive HSSN Player of the Year.

Shields is the second Mt. Lebanon player taken in the first two rounds since 2015 when the Chicago Cubs took Ian Happ with the ninth overall pick.

Shields was also the second player who played in the Big 56 drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft as Mars grad JJ Wetherholt who played his college baseball at West Virginia went seventh overall to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Shields was the fifth high school pitcher taken in the draft and 14th high school player overall.

10 Big 56 Players named to Baseball all-state team

The Pennsylvania State Baseball Coaches Association released the all-state baseball teams yesterday. The Big 56 had 10 players represented including six on the first team. The teams are listed below, Big 56 players are bolded:

CLASS 6A

First Team

Brody Gebhard – Landisville Hempfield – P

Connor Lawrence – Red Lion – P

Nate Payne – Central Dauphin – P

David Shields – Mt. Lebanon – P

Drew Turner – Downingtown West – P

Gavin Kelly – Central Catholic – C

Jay Slater – Downingtown West – C

Ben Farley – North Penn – INF

Nick Flores – Spring-Ford – INF

Matt Gannon – La Salle College – INF

Chase Harlan – Central Bucks East – INF

Mason Haupt – Northampton – INF

Carson Shuglie – Hempfield – INF

Nick Fiorini – Wilson – OF

Chris Florentino – Hazelton – OF

Brayden Hostetter – Landisville Hempfield – OF

David Lillis – Kennett – OF

Jacob Rivera – Liberty – OF

Matthew Marsten – Quakertown – UTIL

Cooper Natisin – Quakertown – UTIL

Second Team

Jimmy Boyle – Haverford – P

Damian Frayne – Central Bucks East – P

Noah Gyauch-Quirk – Liberty – P

Matt Van Ostenbridge – Liberty – P

Van Willner – Lower Merion – P

Creed Erdos – Seneca Valley – C

Brandt Johnson – Northeastern – C

James Bottger – Wilkes Barre – INF

Aimon Chandler – La Salle College – INF

Louis Inserra – Parkland – INF

Will McCoach – St. Joseph’s Prep – INF

Reece Moody – Central Bucks East – INF

Kaden Schoenly – Cumberland Valley – INF

Aidan Autovino – Perkiomen Valley – OF

Braylen Gonzalez – Liberty – OF

Dante Larocco – Altoona – OF

Jack Mislan – Central Bucks East – OF

Sebastian Rhoades – State College – UTIL

Tanner Stroup – Altoona – UTIL

CLASS 5A

First Team

Austin Dahl – Upper Dublin – P

Luke D’Ancona – Stath Haven – P

Ethan Grim – Governor Mifflin – P

A.J. Levandowski – West Scranton – P

Reese Young – Mechanicsburg – P

Manny Cartagena – Susquehannock – C

Hunter Strohm – Lower Dauphin – C

Aidan Crochier – Upper St. Clair – INF

Bryce Detwiler – Governor Mifflin – INF

Jeff Lougee – Mechanicsburg – INF

Carson Kensinger – Hollidaysburg – INF

Mason Richter – Selinsgrove – INF

Matthew Robaugh – Trinity – INF

Brady Alexander – Shaler – INF

Colby Dealing – South Western – OF

Chad Helwich – Obama Academy – OF

Alex Kelsey – Exeter Township – OF

Tucker Teats – Selingsgrove – OF

Josh Domaracki – Selingsgrove – UTIL

Travis Jenkins – Governor Mifflin – UTIL

Second Team

Adam Horvath – Pocono Mountain East – P

Tegan Kuhns – Gettysburg – P

Jake Lenahan – Abington Heights – P

Danny Nelson – Hershey – P

Luca Urdaneta – Unionville – P

Troy Chamberin – Shippensburg – C

Trey Wingard – DuBois Area – C

Nick Diehl – Unionville – INF

Rocco DelGiudice – Pocono Mountain East – INF

Darren Deriggi – Franklin Regional – INF

Silvio Giardina – Pittston Area – INF

Ryan Petras – Bethel Park – INF

Chaz Wright – Crestwood – INF

Ben Gearhart – Selingsgrove – OF

Jake Hileman – Hollidaysburg – OF

Kye Watson – Manheim Central – OF

Eli Wittman – Carrick – OF

Ryland Yinger – Northern York – OF

Wil Gubba – West Allegheny – UTIL

M.J. Vottero – West York – UTIL

Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields named 2024 TribLive HSSN Baseball Player of the Year

by: Don Rebel

David Shields is likely to hear his name called in the MLB Draft in a couple of weeks, but the Mt. Lebanon senior isn’t counting the days. Instead, he’s in South Florida getting a start on his college education at Miami.

For complete story and interview, click here.

2023-2024 WPIAL Champions

FOOTBALL

CLASS 6A – North Allegheny (2 in a row)

CLASS 5A – Peters Township

BOYS SOCCER

CLASS 4A – Norwin

GIRLS SOCCER

CLASS 4A – Fox Chapel

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CLASS 4A – North Allegheny

BOYS BASKETBALL

CLASS 6A – Upper St. Clair

CLASS 5A – Moon

GIRLS BASKETBALL

CLASS 6A – Norwin

CLASS 5A – South Fayette (3 in a row)

BASEBALL

CLASS 6A – North Allegheny

CLASS 5A – Penn-Trafford

SOFTBALL

CLASS 6A – Seneca Valley

CLASS 5A – Armstrong

Five named to Trib HSSN Terrific 10 Baseball Team

Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

Half of the Trib HSSN Terrific 10 baseball team were Big 56 representatives.

David Posey – North Allegheny – P/1B

7-0 record, 2.39 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 38 innings

.395 on base pct., 15 RBIs

Gavin Kelly – Central Catholic – C

.490 average, .643 on base pct., 10 extra base hits, 14 runs, 16 RBIs, 2 homeruns

Graham Keen – Mt. Lebanon – P/1B

.355 average, 6 homeruns, 24 RBIs

6-1 record, 44 1/3 innings, 1.10 ERA, 53 strikeouts

David Shields – Mt. Lebanon – P/OF

5-1 record, 35 innings, 2 earned runs allowed, 63 strikeouts, 4 walks

.383 average, 16 runs, 18 RBIs

Ryan Petras – Bethel Park – SS

.452 average, 1 homerun, 27 runs scored, 17 RBIs, .565 on base pct., 20 stolen bases

.973 fielding pct.

Trib HSSN names WPIAL Baseball Player, Coaches of the Year

CLASS 6A PLAYER OF THE YEAR

David Shields – Mt. Lebanon

2nd straight season winning WPIAL Player of the Year.

5-1 record, 35 innings, 2 earned runs allowed, 63 strikeouts, 4 walks

.383 average, 16 runs scored, 18 RBIs

Committed to Miami, projected to go 2nd-3rd round of MLB Draft

CLASS 6A COACH OF THE YEAR

Andrew Heck – North Allegheny

17-7 record, WPIAL Champions (2nd title in 4 years), 6 championship appearances in 8 years

CLASS 5A PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ryan Petras – Bethel Park

.452 average, 1 home run, 27 runs scored, 17 RBIs, .565 on base percentage, .575 slugging percentage, 1.141 OPS

.973 fielding percentage

Committed to play baseball at Northwestern

CLASS 5A COACH OF THE YEAR

Lou Cortazzo – Penn-Trafford

Section 1-5A champions, led Penn-Trafford to 1st WPIAL title in program history, finished with a 21-4 record

Recap: PIAA Quarterfinals, Day 1

SOFTBALL

PIAA 6A QUARTERFINALS

(1-3) North Penn 4, (7-1) Seneca Valley 0

Seneca Valley (22-2)

Lexie Hames – 6 innings, 12 strikeouts

Abby Kalkowski – Double

Anna Kalkowski – Double

PIAA 5A QUARTERFINALS

(6-1) Central Mountain 4, (7-1) Armstrong 1

Armstrong (19-4)

Emma Paul – Double

Lily Gutherie – 2 for 3

Natalie Zeigler – RBI

Madison Baker – 6 innings, 5 strikeouts

(7-2) Thomas Jefferson 3, (1-2) West Chester East 1

Thomas Jefferson (14-8)

Adelina Bracco – 2-run double in 6th

Hannah Alonso – 3 for 3, RBI

Morgan Alisesky – 2 for 3

Aubrey Shaffer – 7 innings, 1 run allowed, 7 strikeouts

*will face District 6 champion Central Mountain on Monday in the state semifinals

BASEBALL

PIAA 5A QUARTERFINALS

(6-1) Hollidaysburg 3, (7-1) Penn-Trafford 2

After controversial call in 7th inning, Penn-Trafford’s PIAA playoff run ends with loss to Hollidaysburg

What’s coming up: 6/6/24

by: Don Rebel

GOLDEN BOYS

Hollidaysburg (15-5) won the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship this season, beating Central Mountain in the D-6 finals, 9-1, and then they shut down City League champion Obama Academy in a 5A state preliminary round game, 5-1.

In the opening round of the PIAA playoffs, Hollidaysburg (15-5) defeated Franklin Regional, 4-2.

Now the Golden Tigers try to knock off a third straight area team when they battle WPIAL champion Penn-Trafford (21-3) at Point Stadium in Johnstown at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The Warriors were led by Ian Temple and Carmen Metcalfe, who each had two hits and an RBI in P-T’s first round win over Lower Dauphin, 3-2.

On Friday, WPIAL runner-up Bethel Park (16-7) will take on District 12 champion Monsignor Bonner (18-8) at Cumberland Valley at 2 p.m.

These same two teams met in the state quarterfinals last year as Kevin McGonigle was 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBI as the Friars eliminated the two-time defending PIAA champion Black Hawks, 3-1.

ZERO TOLERANCE

The WPIAL Class 6A softball champions were in fine form Monday, whitewashing District 10 champion McDowell in Erie, 11-0.

Anna Kalkowski was 3 for 4 with a triple for the Raiders while start pitcher Lexie Hames struck out 12 Trojans in five innings.

It was the 12th time Seneca Valley had blanked its opponents, but it was only the second shutout in the Raiders’ last 10 games.

Seneca Valley (22-1) will take on the No. 3 team out of District 1, North Penn (22-3), at Chambersburg at 4 p.m.

5A FINALISTS ADVANCE

The two teams that played for WPIAL 5A softball gold enjoyed an offensive bonanza in the opening round of the PIAA postseason as Armstrong and Thomas Jefferson combined to score 30 runs Monday.

Shelby Cloak, Jessie Pugh, Jordyn Klingensmith and Lily Guthrie reached base three times as the WPIAL champion River Hawks rolled past Latrobe, 13-2.

Zoe Krizan and Allie Chalovich combined for five hits and nine RBIs in leading the Jaguars past District 3 runner-up Solanco, 17-4.

The two District 7 teams must win one more game before a district title game rematch is set in the state semifinals.

Armstrong (19-3) will go up against District 6 champion Central Mountain (15-5) at Heindl Park in DuBois at 1:30 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson (13-8) next takes on District 1 runner-up West Chester East (16-8) at Chambersburg at 2 p.m.