Softball Preview: 4/3/23

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Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

SOFTBALL

6A SECTION 1

Canon-McMillan (0-2, 0-2) at Hempfield (4-1, 1-1) – 4 pm

Canon-McMillan has dropped their first two games of the season, both section games. They have fallen to Norwin (15-5) and North Allegheny (9-7). Hempfield is off to a great start, they won their first two games, dropped their section opener to North Allegheny, then won their next two games against Mt. Lebanon (10-0) and Penn-Trafford (9-2). 

Canon-McMillan and Hempfield were scheduled to play last season on May 9 but the game was canceled.

Mt. Lebanon (0-2, 0-1) at Butler (0-4, 0-2) – 4 pm

Mt. Lebanon has stumbled out of the gate dropping their first two contests, including a section game against Hempfield, 10-0. Butler is also winless, including dropping two section games against Pine-Richland and Norwin.

North Allegheny (5-1, 2-0) at Baldwin (0-5, 0-2) – 6 pm

North Allegheny won their first two games, fell to Shaler when they got back from Disney, but have since won three straight games including two section games against Hempfield and Canon-McMillan. Baldwin has started the opposite, as they have dropped their first five games of the season.

North Allegheny and Baldwin played each other in the season opener a year ago, a game North Allegheny won 20-3.

5A SECTION 1

Fox Chapel (3-2, 0-0) at Shaler (5-0, 0-0) – 4 pm

Fox Chapel started 1-2 but have won their last two games against Highlands (7-6) and Peters Township (9-8). Shaler has been dominant to start the season as they have won their first five games. They have won three of those by double digits.

These two teams split the season series a season ago. Fox Chapel won the first game of the season series, 4-3 while Shaler won the second game 8-0.

North Hills (3-0, 0-0) at Plum (2-1, 0-0) – 4 pm

So far so good to start the season for North Hills as they have won all three of their games pretty handily with the closest game being a five-run game. Plum won their first two contests then lost a slugfest to Franklin Regional, 28-19. 

Oakland Catholic (0-0, 0-0) at Penn Hills (3-0, 0-0) – 4 pm

This is Oakland Catholic’s first game of the season. Penn Hills has won their first three games of the season and have scored at least 10 runs in all three contests.

5A SECTION 2

Armstrong (3-1, 0-0) at Penn-Trafford (1-4, 0-0) – 4 pm

After falling to Hempfield (6-3) in the opener, Armstrong has won their last three games going into section play. Penn-Trafford has lost four of five games to start the season with their lone win coming against Thomas Jefferson (11-10) on March 28.

These two teams met twice a year ago both in the playoffs. These two teams met in the WPIAL Championship game where Armstrong defeated Penn-Trafford, 6-5. They would meet again in the state semifinals where it was once again Armstrong beating Penn-Trafford, 3-2.

Franklin Regional (1-2, 0-0) at Kiski Area (3-0, 0-0) – 4 pm

Franklin Regional has alternated losses and wins to start the season. The lone win came in a 28-19 slugfest against Plum. Kiski Area has won their first three games. They have defeated Burrell (1-0), Woodland Hills (15-0) and Knoch (4-3).

These teams split the season series in 2022. Franklin Regional won the first game of the season series, 2-0 on the road. Kiski Area bounced back and won the second game by a score of 5-3. 

Gateway (2-2, 0-0) at Latrobe (5-0, 0-0) – 6 pm

Gateway dropped their opening game to Penn Hills, won the next two games, then fell to Derry on March 27. Latrobe has won their first five games of the season. 

Latrobe handled the season series last year against Gateway defeating the Gators by scores of 18-0 and 16-0.

5A SECTION 3

New Castle (1-2, 0-1) at South Fayette (2-3, 0-0) – 3:45 pm

New Castle has started the season 1-2 including a section loss to West Allegheny, 15-0. It has been an inconsistent start for South Fayette as they won their opening game, lost two in a row after that, then split the next two games.

Mars (2-1, 0-0) at Western Beaver (2-1, 0-0) – 4 pm

Mars dropped their opening game to Shaler (12-1), then won their next two games against Hopewell and Knoch. Western Beaver won their first two games by double digits before falling to Laurel (6-1) on Thursday.

5A SECTION 4

Peters Township (1-3, 0-0) at Thomas Jefferson (4-1, 0-0) – 4 pm

Peters Township won their opening game against Baldwin but have dropped three in a row since. Thomas Jefferson won two in a row to start the season, dropped a game to Penn-Trafford then won two in a row again. 

Connellsville (0-2, 0-0) at Trinity (4-1, 0-0) – 5 pm

Connellsville dropped their first two games of the season to Yough (4-3) and Latrobe (4-0). Trinity went 3-1 on their Disney trip before returning home and defeating Waynesburg (11-3) on Wednesday.

These two teams met in the WPIAL First Round a season ago. Trinity won the game 11-2.

Bethel Park (1-2, 0-0) at Upper St. Clair (2-0, 0-0) – 7 pm

Slow start for Bethel Park as they have been 10-runned twice but also 10-runned Penn-Trafford. Upper St. Clair defeated Bentworth in South Carolina before coming back north and beating Seton LaSalle, 7-3.