News

by: Don Rebel

5A CO-CHAMPS OPEN ON THE ROAD

The only section baseball action this week in the three highest classifications is in Section 1-5A where three games get the ball rolling in the only seven-team section in those three classes.

Only two games separated the top four playoff teams a year ago in Section 1, with Penn-Trafford and Plum finishing as co-champs with 9-3 records.

Both the Warriors and Mustangs are on the road Monday against the other two playoff teams from the section.

Penn-Trafford (1-0) visits Fox Chapel (1-1) at 4 p.m. while Plum (2-1) is at Armstrong (1-0) at 3:45 p.m.

The other section game pits Penn Hills (0-0) visiting Franklin Regional (2-3) at 4 p.m.

6A SOFTBALL BEGINS

With only nine teams in WPIAL Class 6A softball, district officials decided for this two-year cycle to go with one nine-team section instead of two sections with five and four teams each.

The bloated section opens up play Monday.

Defending 6A champion Hempfield opens up at home Monday against North Allegheny.

This is not only the section opener, but the season opener for the Spartans and Tigers.

Norwin (1-1) visits Canon-McMillan (0-0) in a rematch of a WPIAL quarterfinal game a year ago. The Knights beat the Big Macs in that postseason matchup, 8-5.

WPIAL runner-up Seneca Valley (3-0) visits Baldwin (1-1) while Pine-Richland (1-2) heads north to Butler (1-0).