What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 3, 2024: Baldwin Invitational celebrates 50 years

By: Don Rebel
Friday, May 3, 2024 | 12:23 AM

One of the oldest and most prestigious track and field meets in the country celebrates a big anniversary this season.

The 2024 Baldwin Track & Field Invitational turns a half-century old Friday.

Some of the top athletes from Western Pa. will gather at Baldwin for the annual event starting at 12:30 p.m.

First or second

Two Class 3A softball rivals collide Friday with a little more juice at stake beyond bragging rights.

Southmoreland (12-2) and Yough (7-3) are a combined 19-5 and will be among the legitimate contenders when the 3A softball playoffs begin in about 10 days.

However, with a road victory, the Scotties have a chance to finish tied with Ligonier Valley at 8-2 and earn a share of the Section 3-3A championship.

If the Cougars win, they will end up in a tie for second place in the section with Southmoreland at 7-3.

In the first meeting April 10, Southmoreland held on to beat Yough, 4-3.

Scotties sophomore Zoey Welling highlighted a three-run second inning with a two-run double.

These programs met in a wild postseason game a year ago.

Southmoreland and Yough combined for 29 runs and 38 hits in a second-round game.

The Scotties scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun the Cougars in a crazy quarterfinals battle between the two rivals, 15-14.

Winning isn’t everything

It is coming down to the end as two Section 4-3A softball teams try to win and clinch a playoff berth.

Seton LaSalle (3-6, 4-8) can clinch with a win, but it won’t be easy as it hosts section champion South Park.

Brownsville (3-6, 4-8) can also earn a playoff berth with a victory, but that also won’t be easy as it travels to second-place McGuffey.

If the Rebels and Falcons both lose, they will still clinch since they split their two section games this season.

Two separate agendas

It has taken a while, but Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and New Brighton will finally finish their baseball section series Friday that began April 6.

In the first game, the host Chargers knocked off the Lions, 6-4.

Both teams are looking for a win to carry some momentum into a pair of huge Section 2-2A series finales next week.

OLSH is 10-1 in the section, one game behind defending champion Seton LaSalle in the loss column.

The Chargers battle the Rebels in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday, and if they remain a game back, a sweep of Seton LaSalle would bring an outright section crown to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

New Brighton is 5-6 in the section and clinging to fourth place as it is one game up in the loss column on South Side.

The Lions close with two head-to-head games Monday and Tuesday against the Rams that could decide the fourth and final playoff spot in the section.