News

by: Don Rebel

NORTH HILLS NEIGHBORS COLLIDE IN CLASS 5A SOFTBALL

Another chilly, but a tad warmer day will be the backdrop for a busy midweek schedule of WPIAL softball section contests.

One of the key matchups is a battle of a pair of northern power programs colliding when North Hills (8-1) hosts Shaler (4-2) at 3 p.m.

The rivals finished first and second in Section 1-5A last season with the Indians ending up one game in front of the Titans.

Both teams won their first-round 5A playoff games last spring but were ousted in the quarterfinals.

In 2023, Shaler reached the 5A final four, while in 2022, it was North hills making it to the district semifinals.

A year earlier, the Indians made the 2021 WPIAL finals where they crushed Armstrong, 12-1.

Last season, the teams split their regular season games with Shaler shutting out North Hills in the first meeting, 2-0, and then the Indians prevailing in the rematch, 7-3.

This year, they are tied for first place in Section 1-5A with a combined 5-0 record.

North Hills has won five straight games, including section victories over New Castle, Mars and Fox Chapel by a combined score of 29-10.

Shaler has been on the winning side in its last three contests, including section triumphs over Plum and Penn Hills by a combined score of 29-1.

PROPERLY THAWED

Two WPIAL baseball Section 1-6A baseball games pushed back because of the Tuesday cold will now take place Wednesday.

It’s the second game of the three-game section series as Butler visits North Allegheny and North Hills hosts Central Catholic, both at 4 p.m.

In the openers on Monday, Sean O’Donnell doubled and drove home a run to lead North Allegheny past host Butler, 3-1.

Landon Greene was 2 for 3 with two RBIs as Central Catholic edged North Hills, 3-1.

Those results left the Tigers as the only unbeaten team in the section at 1-0, the Golden Tornado are 3-1, the Vikings are even at 2-2 and the Indians slip to 0-4 in section play.