A-K Valley high school baseball playoff preview capsules for May 15, 2024

By: Bill Hartlep
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 3:31 PM

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WPIAL baseball playoffs

Class 5A

First round

5-Plum (13-7) vs. 12-Trinity (8-8)

7 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway

Winner plays: 4-Bethel Park (13-6) May 20 in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Erik Streussnig, Plum; Matthew Robaugh, Trinity

Extra bases: Plum tied for the Section 1 title with Penn-Trafford, Fox Chapel and Franklin Regional after all four teams finished 9-3. The Mustangs average 6.4 runs. In the past month, they swept Penn Hills, Gateway and Franklin Regional in section play and split with Fox Chapel. Streussnig has an ERA under 3.00. Jack Anderson is hitting over .400. … Trinity tied for third in Section 2 at 5-5. The Hillers have lost three of their last four games. They average 5.1 runs per game. Trinity had three players named first-team all-section: Gibson Havanis, Matthew Robaugh and Karson Hathaway. Robaugh is a WVU commit. Junior Kaden Hathaway also is a WVU commit.

Class 4A

First round

7-Chartiers Valley (11-6) vs. 10-Kiski Area (11-8)

4:30 p.m. Wednesday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 2-Thomas Jefferson (17-2)/15-Ringgold (8-11) May 20 in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Jake Federouch, Chartiers Valley; Nate Witt, Kiski Area

Extra bases: Chartiers Valley placed third in Section 3 at 6-4. The Colts average 5.4 runs per game while allowing just 2.9. They won three of their last four games, including nonsection victories over South Fayette, Mt. Lebanon and Hampton. Federouch tossed a no-hitter April 23 against Elizabeth Forward, and Ethan Ridgeway tossed a perfect game April 19 against Woodland Hills. … Kiski Area was 5-5 and took third in Section 4. The Cavaliers lost three of their past four games but built some momentum with wins over Knoch (2) and Franklin Regional before that. Witt, the team captain, was named first-team all-section. Jake Smith and Brad Rupert were second-team selections.

3-West Mifflin (16-2) vs. 14-Knoch (9-9)

7 p.m. Wednesday at Plum

Winner plays: Winner of 6-North Catholic (13-4)/11-Elizabeth Forward (11-7) May 20 in quarterfinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Zane Griffaton, West Mifflin; Zane Pacek, Knoch

Extra bases: West Mifflin tied for the Section 3 title with Thomas Jefferson at 9-1. The Titans average 6.8 runs while allowing just 2.3. Their only losses are to TJ and Kings (Ohio). Griffaton is batting .426 with 16 RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Griffaton (4-0, 0.66 ERA) and Jake Martina (3-1, 2.94 ERA) have anchored the pitching staff. … Knoch was fourth in Section 4 at 4-6. The Knights average nearly 6 runs per game. They have been on a hot streak of late, winning six of their past seven games. Sophomore Zane Pacek is a 6-foot-10 righty with a fastball in the mid-80s. Senior Jacob Stallsmith is a Cal (Pa.) commit, and senior Brady Wozniak will play at Washington College.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Chartiers Valley, Kiski Area, Knoch, Plum, Trinity, West Mifflin