What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 30, 2024: Titles up for grabs as some sections wrap up regular season

By: Don Rebel

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 12:49 AM

Welcome to the final day of April and the final day of section play for all the six-team sections in the WPIAL.

If the weather cooperates, there are some great races coming down to the last game in the seven WPIAL baseball sections that conclude section play Tuesday.

• In Section 2-5A, Bethel Park (6-3, 8-5) will battle Trinity (5-4, 7-6) at the W&J Sports Complex in Washington.

If the Black Hawks win, they are outright section champions. If the Hillers prevail, they earn a share of the section title.

If South Fayette (5-4, 6-5) wins at Upper St. Clair on Trib HSSN at 7 p.m. and Trinity wins, the Lions will force a three-way tie for the top spot and there will be tri-champs.

• In Section 3-5A, North Hills (7-2, 9-3) will take on West Allegheny (6-3, 10-3) in the battle of the Indians, Take 2, at Donaldson Elementary School Field.

If North Hills wins, it is outright section champion. If West Allegheny takes the victory, it earns a share of the section title.

In the same section, Shaler (5-4, 11-4) hosts Mars (5-4, 7-5) while Moon (4-5, 7-7) is home to New Castle (0-9, 1-14).

The Titans have clinched. The Fightin’ Planets need a win or a Moon loss to clinch. The Tigers need a win and a Mars loss to clinch. Moon wins the head-to-head tiebreaker over Mars.

• In Section 1-4A, the winner of the Ambridge (3-6, 5-7) at Hopewell (3-6, 7-8) game clinches a playoff berth.

• In Section 2-4A, Albert Gallatin (3-6, 3-13) can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Ringgold (4-5, 6-8).

• In Section 3-4A, Thomas Jefferson (8-1, 14-2) can earn a share of the conference crown with a win at Woodland Hills.

West Mifflin can earn a share of the section title with a win at home against Chartiers Valley.

McKeesport can clinch with a win at Elizabeth Forward.

• In Section 4-4A, the winner of the Hampton at Knoch game earns a playoff berth. A Knights win forces a tie for fourth place, but Knoch would own the tiebreaker over Hampton.

• In Section 2-3A, a South Allegheny win at Keystone Oaks gives the Gladiators the outright section championship.

Greene County showdown

One make-up game to watch in WPIAL softball is a battle for fourth place between a pair of Greene County rivals in Section 2-A Tuesday.

While HSSN Team of the Week Chartiers-Houston, Carmichaels and West Greene sit in the top three spots in the section standings, one game separates Jefferson-Morgan (5-6) and Mapletown (4-7).

The Rockets are 5-4 and in fourth place, one game ahead of the Maples at 4-5.

In the first meeting between the two teams last week, Jefferson-Morgan won big at home, 11-1.

The rematch is set for Mapletown at 4:15 p.m.

Sights on second place

While Canon-McMillan is running away with the Section 1-3A boys volleyball title, four teams are within one game of each other in the fight for second place. All four go head-to-head Tuesday.

Baldwin, Moon and Bethel Park are all 3-3 in the section while fifth-place Upper St. Clair is 2-4 with four section matches remaining.

On Tuesday, Moon visits Baldwin while Bethel Park is home to Upper St. Clair.

Track & field semifinals

Qualifying teams will try to earn a spot in the 2024 WPIAL team championships by winning their bracket Tuesday in the district team semifinals.

Each semifinal bracket in boys and girls Class 3A and 2A has at least four teams. The winner of each bracket will be one of four teams to participate in the WPIAL finals May 7.

Boys 3A

At Butler – Butler, Central Catholic, Franklin Regional, Moon

At North Allegheny – Blackhawk, Canon-McMillan, Hampton, North Allegheny

At Norwin – Baldwin, Connellsville, Kiski Area, Norwin

At South Fayette – Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Lebanon, New Castle, Penn-Trafford

Girls 3A

At Butler – Butler, Franklin Regional, North Catholic

At North Allegheny – Blackhawk, Canon-McMillan, Hempfield, North Allegheny

At Norwin – Kiski Area, Laurel Highlands, Norwin, Upper St. Clair

At South Fayette – Belle Vernon, Mt. Lebanon, Oakland Catholic, South Fayette

Boys 2A

At California – California, Fort Chery, Greensburg Central Catholic, Winchester Thurston

At Shenango – Deer Lakes, Hopewell, Shenango, South Side, Trinity Chrsitian

At South Park – Derry, East Allegheny, Quaker Valley, South Park

At West Mifflin – Ellwood City, Knoch, Riverview, Waynesburg Central, West Mifflin

Girls 2A

At California – California, Fort Chery, Southmoreland, Winchester Thurston

At Shenango – Freeport, Hopewell, Shady Side Academy, Shenango

At South Park – Derry, Freedom, Quaker Valley, South Park

At West Mifflin – Beaver, Knoch, Mohawk, Waynesburg Central, West Mifflin

3A hits the postseason courts

The WPIAL boys team tennis playoffs continue Tuesday with seven first-round Class 3A matches.

The top seed is North Allegheny, which will not be in action as it enjoys a first-round bye into the quarterfinals.

The other matches are:

No. 9 Peters Township at No. 8 Franklin Regional

No. 13 Moon at No. 4 Fox Chapel

No. 12 Allderdice at No. 5 Mt. Lebanon

No. 15 North Hills at defending champion No. 2 Gateway

No. 10 Norwin at No. 7 Pine-Richland

No. 14 Butler at No. 3 Upper St. Clair

No. 11 Mars at No. 6 Shady Side Academy

All seven matches begin at 3:30 p.m.

Class 2A quarterfinals matches are set for Wednesday while the 3A quarterfinals are Thursday.