A-K Valley H.S. lookahead: Week of May 6-12

By: Doug Gulasy
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 4:41 PM

Monday

Baseball

Kiski Area needs either a win or an Armstrong loss to clinch its first WPIAL playoff berth since 2016, and the Cavaliers (8-8, 5-5) will get their first opportunity as they visit second-place Gateway. The Gators (12-5, 8-2) edged Kiski Area in extra innings earlier this season. In the ultra-competitive Section 1-A race, Mt. Pleasant (8-7, 6-5), Knoch (9-5, 5-5) and Highlands (9-7, 5-5) are battling for two playoff spots. Two-time defending section champions Knoch will visit second-place Greensburg Salem, and Highlands will play Indiana as the Golden Rams seek to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Leechburg (6-8, 5-4) clinched its second consecutive WPIAL postseason appearance. The Blue Devils now host St. Joseph (5-7, 3-5), which stands one win away from their first playoff trip since 2000.

Softball

Round one between Riverview and Apollo-Ridge was entertaining, with Riverview (7-4, 6-4) scoring a 9-8 walk-off win just last week. Apollo-Ridge (7-4, 6-4) gets a chance for some revenge on its own home field as the Raiders visit. The teams are tied for third in Section 2-2A. Springdale (11-2), in the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2000, will play its third doubleheader in five days as Jeannette and St. Joseph visit. St. Joseph (4-6, 4-6) remains alive for its third consecutive postseason berth, as the Spartans stand a game behind Greensburg Central Catholic for fourth place.

Boys tennis

A trio of Alle-Kiski Valley teams will play WPIAL quarterfinal matches, with the opportunity to keep pushing for a championship. Fox Chapel, the three-time defending Class AAA champion, will host Upper St. Clair. In Class AA, Valley will travel to South Park and Highlands will visit top-seeded Indiana.

Girls lacrosse

Fox Chapel (11-3, 10-0) will attempt to wrap up an unbeaten Section 2-AAA season as the Foxes host local rival Shady Side Academy.

Tuesday

Softball

Apollo-Ridge will see if it can relive one of its most exciting games of the season: a 15-11 April 2 victory over Shady Side Academy, in which the Vikings rallied from an eight-goal deficit. A-R will host Shady Side Academy in the teams’ Section 2-2A finale.

Wednesday

Baseball

Will the final Section 1-4A playoff berth come down to this? Knoch hosts Highlands in a section finale at Pullman Park, with the Knights likely needing a win to get into the postseason. The Golden Rams won the first meeting by a run, so they hold the tiebreaker. Freeport (11-5, 8-2) held a slight edge over Deer Lakes (9-7, 7-2) and Steel Valley (9-7, 8-3) for first place in Section 1-4A beginning the week. The section title could come down to Wednesday’s meeting with Deer Lakes at Freeport Community Park. Deer Lakes won the first matchup, 2-1. Kiski Area faces off with Armstrong; either the Cavaliers will have clinched a postseason berth, or they will need a win over the River Hawks to do so. Armstrong won the first meeting.

Thursday

Baseball

On the final day of the section season, the only scheduled section game in the Alle-Kiski Valley features Valley hosting East Allegheny. The Vikings (4-10, 3-6) need three wins and three Burrell losses in the final week to clinch its third consecutive playoff appearance.

Softball

An intriguing nonsection game between local section champions, Plum will host Section 1-3A champion Burrell which began the week on a 10-game winning streak and won its first outright section title since 2011. The WPIAL will release the 2019 playoff brackets.

Boys volleyball

Deer Lakes closes a crucial three-match week with its section finale at Mars. The Lancers began the week trying to wrap up a postseason berth; they have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs every year since 2006.

Boys lacrosse

The WPIAL playoff brackets will be released.

Friday

Baseball

In a nonsection game between playoff-bound opponents, Deer Lakes visits Class 5A squad Hampton (10-6). The WPIAL will release its 2019 playoff brackets.

Girls lacrosse

The WPIAL playoff brackets will be released.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Doug at 412-388-5830, dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley