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Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

by: Don Rebel

WINNER TAKES ALL WHEN NORTH ALLEGHENY, PINE-RICHLAND MEET

One game will decide a section championship while another will determine a playoff spot.

WPIAL Class 6A baseball concludes Thursday with two postseason-style matchups.

The Section 1 crown will be determined when North Allegheny visits Pine-Richland.

The two district powers were tied for first place coming into this week’s section series showdown.

On Monday, Peyton Ford had two hits and drove in three runs as the Rams held serve at home, hanging on to beat the Tigers, 10-8.

The next night, Andrew Dixon, August Maslo and Mason Smith each had two hits and NA scored five runs in the fourth inning to keep its section title hopes alive, 5-3.

That leaves both the Rams and Tigers at 9-2 atop the section.

Pine-Richland is 15-4 overall while North Allegheny checks in at 13-4.

You can listen to the game on Trib HSSN at 4 p.m.

In the other key 6A game, fourth place and a playoff berth is up for grabs when Canon-McMillan(7-9) visits Central Catholic (9-9).

The Big Macs actually have a one-game lead over the Vikings headed into the section finale.

However, if Central Catholic wins, that would leave both teams with 7-8 section records.

The tie would be broken based on the Vikings’ sweep of the Big Macs this week.

Central Catholic kept its playoff hopes alive with wins Monday and Tuesday over Canon-McMillan by scores of 9-5 and 12-2.

Also closing out the 6A section schedule Thursday, Seneca Valley looks for a sweep of rival Butler, Section 2 champion Mt. Lebanon tries for a third straight win over Baldwin, and Hempfield and Norwin battle for second place in Section 2.