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Photo Credit: Trib Live HSSN

by: Don Rebel

CLASS 6A SOFTBALL POWERS TO FACE OFF

The first full week of April begins with more rain in the forecast in what should be a chilly week at the old ballfields for WPIAL baseball and softball teams.

The two most dominant softball programs in WPIAL Class 6A over the last decade are set to square off for the first of two regular season games Monday.

However, it would not surprise anyone if these powers meet again sometime in the postseason.

First place in Class 6A is at stake when Hempfield hosts Seneca Valley at 4 p.m.

Outside of Bethel Park winning it all in 2021, these two have won the WPIAL softball championship in the highest classification each season since 2015.

The Spartans won five straight titles between 2015-19, and the captured gold again in 2023.

The Raiders are the defending champions and have won two of the last three crowns.

Over the last three years, these two juggernauts have collided on the softball diamond eight times.

Each team has won four games and are 1-1 against each other in the postseason.

Seneca Valley won in the 2022 semifinals on its way to a district crown, and Hempfield won a showdown for gold in the 2023 finals.

Last season, the Raiders won the first game 2-0, while the Spartans bounced back in a big way to win the rematch 15-2.

FINALLY, SECTION PLAY

There are three WPIAL softball sections that have yet to have one single section game, until Monday. Weather permitting, of course.

One of them is Section 3-5A. The game schedule to open section play includes:

Upper St. Clair (5-0) at Montour (2-3) at 4 p.m.

South Fayette (5-2) at Chartiers Valley (2-3) at 3:30 p.m.

West Allegheny (4-3) at Moon (2-2) at 3:30 p.m.

NORTHERN FIGHTS

A year ago, the Butler baseball team finished in fourth place in the five-team Section 1-6A and was blanked in the quarterfinals by top-seeded Mt. Lebanon, 5-0, to finish the season with a record of 6-14.

As they prepare for their second section series of the season, the Golden Tornado have already matched their victory total from last spring with a perfect mark of 6-0.

However, now the real test occurs as Butler opens up a three-game series against defending WPIAL champion North Allegheny on Monday at Pullman Park in Butler at 3:30 p.m.

Fresh off a series sweep of North Hills last week, the Golden Tornado are 3-0 and alone in first place in the section.

This is the Tigers’ section opener after splitting four non-section games. NA has two straight wins with victories last week Mt. Lebanon and Plum, which followed season-opening losses to Pine-Richland and Norwin.

Over the last two seasons, North Allegheny has won five of the six section games against Butler.

The Tigers outscored the Golden Tornado in the five victories, 42-13.

The last win for Butler over North Allegheny was April 14, 2023, 5-2.

There are three other WPIAL Class 6A baseball section series scheduled to begin on Monday.

Elsewhere in Section 1-6A, North Hills (2-6, 0-3) faces Central Catholic (4-2, 1-2) at the No Offseason Complex in Russelton at 3:45 p.m.

In Section 2-6A, Mt. Lebanon (1-6, 0-0) battles Hempfield (4-4, 2-1) at 4:15 p.m. and Norwin (3-5, 1-2) visits Canon-McMillan (7-1, 3-0) at 4 p.m.