Boys tennis titles to be decided in Friday’s 3 things to watch in high school sports

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, April 26, 2018 | 11:09 PM

The first WPIAL championships of the spring sports season will be distributed Friday at the finals of the 2018 boys team tennis tournament.

The big question heading into the finals at Shady Side Academy: Will one of the longest championship streaks in WPIAL history grow to one year shy of being eligible for a driver's license?

Sewickley Academy won the 2004 WPIAL Class AA title and has won each year since, sweeping past Indiana, 5-0, a year ago for its 14th championship in a row.

The Panthers will try to make it 15 straight when they once again face Indiana at 2:30 p.m. Sewickley Academy has won 5-0 decisions over Greensburg Salem, Knoch and South Park to the expected spot in the finals. Indiana had defeated Keystone Oaks, Blackhawk and Quaker Valley to reach the title match for the third straight year.

It seems modest in comparison, but Fox Chapel hopes to three-peat in Class AAA. The top-seeded Foxes have defeated Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional and North Allegheny to reach the title match. Their opponent, Shady Side Academy, has knocked off Hempfield, Hampton and Allderdice to earn a spot in the finals.

Shady Side Academy knows what Fox Chapel is trying to accomplish. The Indians won three straight district Class AAA crowns from 2011-13.

The Class AAA title match begins at 3:30 p.m., also at Shady Side Academy.

Hardwood to the diamond

A new rivalry has developed in the 2017-18 school year that has carried over from the basketball season to baseball season — Union vs. Vincentian Academy.

The two were Section 1-A rivals in basketball and split during the regular season as Vincentian Academy won the section title by one game over second-place Union.

Then, the two met in the WPIAL championship game as the Royals edged the Scotties, 54-51, for district gold.

Now the two are nip and tuck in the baseball standings with Union (6-0) holding a one-game lead over Vincentian Academy (5-1) after thrilling 9-8 victory in their first meeting.

The teams battle again Friday at Vincentian Academy.

Two of three

Three baseball teams are fighting for first place in the stretch run of the regular season in Section 3-4A and Section 1-3A.

In Section 3-4A, Ringgold (8-1), West Mifflin (7-2) and Belle Vernon (6-2) are separated by a game and a half. Friday, Ringgold hosts Belle Vernon at 4 p.m. in a game on the TribLive High School Sports Network . The Rams' only section defeat was a 5-4 loss at the home of the Leopards.

In Section 1-3A, Steel Valley (6-1) broke a three-way tie for first place Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over Valley (5-2). Now, the Ironmen can clinch at least a share of the section championship Friday when they host Burrell (5-1). If the Buccaneers prevail, the door remains open for a three-way tie for the section crown.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Indiana, Ringgold, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley, Union, Valley, Vincentian Academy, West Mifflin