WPIAL baseball playoff clinchings, scenarios through May 5, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, May 5, 2024 | 10:09 PM

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The 2024 WPIAL baseball playoff field is nearly finalized heading into the final few days of the regular season.

The top four teams in each section qualify for the playoffs with all tied teams advancing if they split their head-to-head meetings.

Coverage of the 2024 WPIAL baseball playoffs can be seen and heard on Trib HSSN starting with the unveiling of the brackets in the Playoff Pairings Show at noon Friday.

Here is the updated list of teams that have earned a district playoff berth, along with playoff scenarios through Sunday:

Class 6A: Set with 8 playoff teams – no first-round games as postseason starts with quarterfinals

Section 1

*Pine-Richland Rams

North Allegheny Tigers

Seneca Valley Raiders

Butler Golden Tornado

Section 2

*Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Hempfield Spartans

Norwin Knights

Central Catholic Vikings

Class 5A: Set with 12 playoff teams – four first-round byes

Section 1

Penn-Trafford Warriors

Fox Chapel Foxes

Plum Mustangs

Franklin Regional Panthers

Section 2

*Bethel Park Black Hawks

South Fayette Lions

Connellsville Falcons

Trinity Hillers

Section 3

*West Allegheny Indians

*North Hills Indians

Shaler Titans

Moon Tigers

(Mars ties with Moon for fourth place, but loses head-to-head tiebreaker and does not qualify).

Class 4A: Set with 16 playoff teams – no byes, no preliminary-round games

Section 1

*Montour Spartans

Central Valley Warriors

Hopewell Vikings

Blackhawk Cougars

Section 2

*Belle Vernon Leopards

Latrobe Wildcats

Ringgold Rams

Uniontown Red Raiders

Section 3

*Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

*West Mifflin Titans

Chartiers Valley Colts

Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Section 4

*North Catholic Trojans

Indiana Little Indians

Kiski Area Cavaliers

Knoch Knights

(Hampton ties with Knoch for fourth place, but loses head-to-head tiebreaker and does not qualify).

Class 3A: 13 of a possible 19 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

Mohawk Warriors

Riverside Panthers

Neshannock Lancers

Shenango (5-5) can clinch with one section series win against Ellwood City (4-6) on Monday and Tuesday. Ellwood City needs to win both games to clinch a playoff berth.

Section 2

*South Allegheny Gladiators

Avonworth Antelopes

South Park Eagles

Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Section 3

Valley Vikings

Shady Side Academy Bulldogs

Burrell Buccaneers

East Allegheny (5-5) can clinch with one win in the section series against Freeport on Monday or Tuesday. Derry (4-6) needs two wins over Shady Side Academy on Monday and Tuesday and an East Allegheny loss, or a split and two EA losses. Freeport (3-7) and Deer Lakes (3-7) are still alive, but they need to sweep and get help. Freeport plays East Allegheny and Deer Lakes takes on Valley.

Section 4

Mt. Pleasant Vikings

Waynesburg Central Raiders

McGuffey Highlanders

Greensburg Salem (6-4) can clinch with a win over Yough on Monday or Tuesday. Yough (5-5) can clinch with a sweep of Greensburg Salem

Class 2A: 9 of a possible 14 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

Burgettstown Blue Devils

Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Charleroi Cougars

Beth-Center (4-6) and Washington (4-6) are tied for fourth place heading into their section series Monday and Tuesday. If they split, both teams qualify.

Section 2

Seton LaSalle Rebels

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

Laurel Spartans

Freedom (6-6) can clinch with one win in its section series against Northgate Monday or Tuesday. New Brighton (5-7) and South Side (5-7) are still alive as they prepare to face each other Monday or Tuesday. They each need to win and hope Freedom loses at least one game.

Section 3

*Serra Catholic Eagles

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

Riverview Raiders

Jeannette (4-6) will face Ligonier Valley (3-7) for fourth place on Monday and Tuesday. Jeannette needs one win to clinch while Ligonier Valley needs to sweep both games.

Class A: 10 of a possible 13 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

Fort Cherry Rangers

West Greene Pioneers

Avella Eagles

Carmichaels Mighty Mikes

Section 2

*Union Scotties

Western Beaver Golden Beavers

Leechburg Blue Devils

Springdale (5-5) has a one-game lead over Rochester (4-6) for fourth place. Springdale has two games against Union while Rochester finishes with two games against Western Beaver. If Springdale and Rochester finished tied for fourth place, both will qualify.

Section 3

*Eden Christian Academy Warriors

Bishop Canevin Crusaders

Carlynton Cougars

Cornell (4-6) and Sewickley Academy (4-6) are tied for fourth place. Cornell has a section series with Eden Christian Academy on Monday and Tuesday while Sewickley Academy goes up against Carlynton twice. If the two teams finish tied, Cornell owns the head-to-head tiebreaker and would clinch.

*indicates clinched section title