News

by: Don Rebel

HEMPFIELD, MT. LEBANON TO MEET ON SOFTBALL DIAMOND

In 2009, the Hempfield softball team defeated Shaler in the WPIAL 4A championship game, 3-2, to capture the school’s second district softball crown.

A year later, Mt. Lebanon knocked off Shaler in the 2010 district 4A finals, 7-2, earning the school its second softball title.

In the last 13 seasons since those two championship results, the Spartans have won six more WPIAL softball titles, including five straight between 2015-2019.

The Blue Devils are still in search of the elusive third softball gold trophy.

On Wednesday, Hempfield hosts Mt. Lebanon in one of four WPIAL Class 6A softball section contests at 4 p.m.

The Spartans are off to another strong start.

Heading into the 6A opener Wednesday against North Allegheny, Hempfield has wins over 5A powers Penn-Trafford, West Allegheny and Shaler by a combined score of 18-4.

The Blue Devils, who finished in last place a year ago with a 2-17 record, already have two victories this spring.

Following a split of two games at the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Mt. Lebanon returned and defeated Peters Township in a slugfest last week, 11-9.

STILL SEARCHING

For the Butler and Norwin softball teams, the new season is a combined eight games old, yet both programs are still searching for the taste of victory in 2025.

On Wednesday afternoon, one of them will quench their winning thirst when the Golden Tornado hosts the Knights at 4 p.m.

Norwin lost non-section games to Fox Chapel, Latrobe and Baldwin before falling at home to Canon-McMillan in its 6A opener on Monday, 4-1.

Butler is also 0-4 following losses to Fox Chapel, New Castle and Baldwin then being rolled in its 6A opener by Pine-Richland, 18-3.

While the Golden Tornado only won three games last season, the Knights were nearly golden when, as the No. 5 seed, they defeated Pine-Richland in the quarterfinals and top seed Hempfield in the semifinals before falling to Seneca Valley in the 6A championship game in eight innings, 4-3.

Here are the two other 6A section games on Wednesday:

North Allegheny travels to Canon-McMillan at 4:15 p.m.

Woodland Hills hosts Pine-Richland at 4 p.m.