What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 23, 2024: Class 5A baseball teams battle for section supremacy

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | 12:42 AM

It’s another busy day of section series baseball around the WPIAL, including three key games in Section 2-5A.

Coming into Monday’s games, only two games in the standings separated all six teams.

Bethel Park (7-4) and South Fayette (5-4) were tied for first place with 4-2 records. Connellsville (6-7) and Trinity (5-5) were tied for second place at 3-3 and Peters Township (5-8) and Upper St. Clair (5-8) were even for fifth place at 2-4.

Following Monday’s three games where Bethel Park, Trinity and Upper St. Clair were victorious, the Black Hawks are alone in first place at 5-2, South Fayette and Trinity are 4-3, Connellsville and Upper St. Clair are 3-4 and Peters Township is 2-5.

On Tuesday, their section series continue with Bethel Park at Connellsville, South Fayette hosting Trinity and Peters Township facing Upper St. Clair at Boyce-Mayview Park.

You can watch the Indians and Panthers game at 7 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

Another section where the top four teams are squaring off for a second straight day on Tuesday is Section 1-A.

Avella (6-2, 7-2) visits Carmichaels (5-2, 7-2) while first-place Fort Cherry (6-1, 8-1) is home to West Greene (4-3, 5-3).

On Monday in the opening game of each series, the Mighty Mikes defeated the Eagles, 14-3, while the Rangers knocked off the Pioneers, 8-3.

2A finalists exhale

The two teams that played for district gold in Class 2A baseball last season have some breathing room atop their respective sections.

Defending champion Seton LaSalle (9-1, 8-0) has extended its lead over Freedom (7-4, 5-2) in Section 2-2A to two games after the Rebels defeated the Bulldogs on Monday, 8-5.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (6-1, 8-4) remains a game out in the loss column after sweeping a doubleheader from Aliquippa.

Seton LaSalle travels to Freedom on Tuesday.

In Section 3-2A, last year’s runner-up Serra Catholic (6-0, 9-0) is alone in first place after cruising past Jeannette (4-2, 6-3) on Monday, 11-1. Serra Catholic visits Jeannette on Tuesday.

Grade ‘A’ matchups

Two of the top WPIAL softball games slated for Tuesday is in Class A.

The much anticipated first battle of the season for the top spot in Section 1-A takes place when two-time defending champion Union (10-0, 12-1) visits South Side (5-0, 6-2).

The Scotties are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Rochester on Monday while the Rams defeated Carlynton for a second straight time.

In the crowded top of Section 2-A where Chartiers-Houston (5-0, 7-1), West Greene (5-1, 6-3) and Carmichaels (3-1, 6-2) are separated by only one game in the loss column, West Greene visits Carmichaels on Tuesday afternoon.

Second half begins

The second half of section play begins Tuesday for most section in WPIAL boys volleyball.

The eventual winner of Section 1-2A could be determined when North Catholic visits Ambridge.

The Bridgers were perfect in the first half of section play and begin the second half with a 7-0 section record, one game ahead of the Trojans at 6-1.

Ambridge beat defending champion North Catholic in the first meeting between the two recent champions, 3-2.

Double your pleasure

The 2024 WPIAL boys tennis doubles championships begin Tuesday with first round, quarterfinals and semifinals matches in both Class 3A and 2A.

The 3A first-day matches take place at Bethel Park while the 2A tournament is at North Allegheny.

The championship and consolation finals take place Wednesday at North Allegheny.

The top seed in the 3A bracket is defending champion Zidaan Hassan, a junior from Gateway, with new partner Logan Memije, a sophomore. They have already received a first-round bye into the quarterfinals.

Receiving an opening-round bye in the 2A playoffs is the Sewickley Academy freshman duo of Max Kopf and Ben Terrell.