What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 20, 2025: Coming off memorable section race, Franklin Regional to meet Fox Chapel

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 11:20 PM

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Last season, one of the craziest section races in WPIAL baseball history ended in a four-way tie for the crown.

Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford and Plum all finished with 9-3 records and tied for first place in Section 1-5A.

Now two of those four teams collide in a nonsection contest set for Thursday when the Foxes host the Panthers at 4 p.m.

While Franklin Regional remains in Section 1-5A along with Penn-Trafford and Plum, realignment has moved Fox Chapel to Section 3-5A.

A year ago, these two played their section series in mid-April and split, with each team winning on the road.

The Panthers won at Fox Chapel, 9-6, and then the next day, the Foxes won at Franklin Regional, 4-2.

In fact, in 2023, the teams split their section series and again, both teams won games on the road.

Thus far this season, Franklin Regional is 3-0 following a perfect trip to Vero Beach, Fla., in which they scored a total of 27 runs in the three victories.

Fox Chapel won its season opener Tuesday, beating visiting Norwin, 7-2.

Title game anniversary

This spring marks the 10-year anniversary of the first — and to this point, only — WPIAL baseball championship for Central Catholic.

In the 2015 Quad-A title game, Jack Tumulty pitched a complete game, allowing six hits while striking out six in a shutout win over Norwin, 2-0.

Don’t feel bad for the Knights. though, as they won WPIAL diamond gold in 2016 by beating Plum, 7-3.

On Thursday, the programs can celebrate their anniversary when Central Catholic hosts Norwin at the No Offseason Complex in Russelton.

The Vikings are 1-0 after beating Highlands on Monday, 7-4.

The Knights are still searching for their first win of the season after losing to Penn-Trafford and Fox Chapel.

Before and after the trip

Two district softball teams with high expectations in their respective classifications meet in a nonsection contest Thursday when Chartiers-Houston visits Yough.

What makes this matchup interesting is one team is just coming off a southern trip while the other is planning to head south next week.

Yough went 2-0 on its trip to Orlando, Fla., for the KSA Disney Classic.

The Cougars won the first game, 4-3, then cruised to victory in the second game, 19-0.

Chartiers-Houston defeated West Allegheny in its season opener last week, 7-5.

The Buccaneers will be at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for games on March 27-29.