News

by: Don Rebel

SECTION 1-5A TEAMS BATTLE FOR TITLE

Some WPIAL baseball teams are down to one, while others still have two section series remaining in the regular season.

The stretch run to the 2025 campaign is underway as teams battle for section championships, playoff positioning and postseason berths.

A year after four teams tied for the Section 1-5A championship, the stage could be set for the crown being shared again.

One game separates the top four teams heading into the final two section series.

The big series this week begins Monday in Murrysville when Franklin Regional hosts Plum at 4 p.m.

The Panthers are 6-2 in the section, tied for second place with both Latrobe and Penn-Trafford, who are also 6-2 and one game behind the front running Mustangs at 7-1.

Franklin Regional is 10-3 overall and has won three straight games, including a section series sweep against Armstrong last week.

Plum has a 12-2 record this season with five consecutive victories and is coming off a sweep of Kiski Area a week ago.

Also on Monday, Penn-Trafford visits Kiski Area and Latrobe hosts Armstrong.

FINALLY MEETING

The much anticipated WPIAL Class 6A softball showdown between the two elite programs that have won eight of the last nine district crowns in the highest classification has arrived.

First-place Hempfield visits second-place Seneca Valley at 4 p.m.

The Spartans are perfect in 6A at 10-0 and overall at 14-0.

The Raiders are 9-2 in 6A and 11-2 for the season after losing two games to Pine-Richland.

These two teams had their first meeting postponed three different times this month.

They are scheduled to make up that game May 6, at Hempfield.

OTHER SOFTBALL SHOWDOWNS

In Section 3-5A, West Allegheny (6-1) hosts Chartiers Valley (6-1) to break a tie for the top spot.