What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 7, 2024: Rare 4-way tie still in the cards in Section 1-5A baseball

By: Don Rebel
Monday, May 6, 2024 | 11:59 PM

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“Four for one and one is all” might be the battle cry of the four playoff-bound baseball teams in Section 1-5A.

The line separating the four shrunk Monday as Franklin Regional defeated Penn-Trafford and Fox Chapel knocked off Plum.

So heading into the final day of the regular season Tuesday, Penn-Trafford and Fox Chapel are tied for first place with 9-2 section records, one game ahead of both Franklin Regional and Plum, who are 8-3.

Here’s where it gets fun.

If Franklin Regional beats Penn-Trafford at Haymaker Park in Murrysville and Plum defeats host Fox Chapel, all four teams will finish tied for first place with 9-3 records.

All four would be 3-3 against each other, so all four would be declared the very rare quad-champions in Section 1.

Win and you’re in

Six WPIAL baseball teams control their own destiny heading into the final day of the regular season.

Four others need to win Tuesday and get some help.

Here are the teams that can clinch a playoff berth Tuesday with a victory on the diamond.

In Section 1-3A, the winner of Shenango at Ellwood City will clinch a playoff spot.

In Section 3-3A, East Allegheny is into the postseason with a victory at Freeport.

In Section 3-3A, Derry will earn a postseason berth with a doubleheader sweep of Shady Side Academy. The Trojans could get in with one win and some help.

In Section 1-2A, Beth-Center is in with a win over visiting Washington.

In Section 3-A, Sewickley Academy earns a playoff berth with a win at Carlynton. The Panthers could still get in with a loss and a Cornell loss to Eden Christian Academy

Those teams needing to win and get some help:

In Section 3-3A, Freeport earns a playoff spot with a win at East Allegheny AND two Derry losses to Shady Side Academy.

In Section 4-3A, Yough needs a win at Greensburg Salem AND a McGuffey loss to Waynesburg.

In Section 2-A, Rochester is postseason bound with a victory over Western Beaver AND a Springdale loss to Union.

In Section 3-A, Cornell is playoff bound with a win over Eden Christian Academy AND a Sewickley Academy loss at Carlynton.

Crowns to be claimed

Two section championships are still up in the air and will be decided on the baseball diamond with two head-to-head battles Tuesday.

In Section 1-3A, Mohawk (10-1) will host defending district and state champion Riverside (10-1) a day after the Panthers beat the Warriors on Monday, 3-2.

In Section 2-2A, defending WPIAL champ Seton LaSalle (12-1) will visit Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (12-1) following the Chargers’ win over the Rebels on Monday, 8-2.

Both games can be seen here on Trib HSSN.

In need of some help

Beth-Center (5-6) earned a WPIAL softball playoff berth Monday with a victory over Burgettstown (5-7).

Now the Blue Devils need help to qualify.

If Beth-Center loses at home to section champion Bentworth on Tuesday, Burgettstown will tie Beth-Center for fourth place in Section 3-2A and both will be playoff bound.

Volleyball logjams

Canon-McMillan has clinched the Section 1-3A championship in WPIAL boys volleyball, but the other three playoff spots in the section are up for grabs as the final week of the regular season continues Tuesday.

Baldwin, Moon and Upper St. Clair are tied for second place with 4-4 records while Bethel Park trials by only a game at 3-5.

On Tuesday, Baldwin visits Bethel Park, Moon travels to Peters Township and Upper St. Clair hosts Canon-McMillan.

In Section 2-2A, Mars has clinched the section crown; however, one game in the loss column is the difference between Gateway (5-4), Derry (4-4), Latrobe (4-4) and Armstrong (3-5).

The Tuesday schedule has Gateway at Latrobe, Derry visiting Mars and Armstrong traveling to Deer Lakes.