A-K Valley high school look-ahead: Week of April 30, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Monday

• Apollo-Ridge holds a half-game edge over Bishop Canevin in the race for the final playoff spot in Section 3-2A baseball, and the Vikings will host the Crusaders (4-5, 4-5) in a crucial late-season contest. The Vikings (4-4, 4-4) roared back from an 11-2 deficit to beat Northgate on Friday and beat Bishop Canevin, 7-5, in the teams' first meeting.

• Plum moved into a first-place tie with Hempfield in Section 2-6A baseball after a walkoff win over the Spartans on Friday. The Mustangs (10-3, 6-2) face another difficult test in third-place Penn-Trafford (7-5, 5-3). The teams' first meeting ended in a 7-5 Plum victory.

• The final playoff spot in Section 1-3A softball is up for grabs as Valley (1-4, 1-3) hosts Deer Lakes. A win would put Valley in the driver's seat for the Vikings' first playoff berth since 2012. Deer Lakes (2-5, 1-4), the six-time defending section champion, is on a four-game losing streak.

• Kiski Area posted a pair of key Section 1-5A victories last week to move within striking distance of the final playoff spot in the section, and the Cavaliers (6-5, 5-5) face a major test as first-place Franklin Regional (11-2, 9-0) visits. Kiski Area pitcher Megan Andree is coming off a perfect game in a 4-0 victory over Gateway on Friday.

TUESDAY

• Freeport stunned Burrell in the teams' first Section 1-3A softball meeting this season, scoring all eight of its runs in the top of the seventh for an 8-6 victory. Burrell (8-2, 7-1) will look for revenge against the Yellowjackets (9-0, 7-0) in a rematch at Freeport Community Park, with first place on the line.

• The WPIAL team track and field postseason begins with Class AA and AAA semifinals at various sites. Alle-Kiski Valley teams competing include Burrell and Deer Lakes in girls Class AA, Riverview and Freeport in boys Class AA, and Kiski Area in boys and girls Class AAA. Four teams from each classification will advance to the championship meet May 7 at Baldwin.

WEDNESDAY

• Rivals Burrell and Valley will meet for a Section 1-3A baseball game with first place potentially on the line. Burrell (6-1, 5-1) won the first meeting 4-2, doing all its damage in one inning. The Bucs are a half-game behind Steel Valley for first place. Valley (8-5, 6-2), coming off a win over South Allegheny, is a game behind the Bucs.

• Deer Lakes dealt Freeport its first Section 1-4A baseball loss of the season last week. The Lancers (7-5, 4-4) will look to topple Knoch at Kelly Automotive Park. The host Knights (10-1, 9-1), tied with Freeport for first place, beat Deer Lakes, 12-0, last week.

• Apollo-Ridge and North Catholic, the top two teams in Section 2-2A softball last season, still haven't met in 2018 because of postponements. The Vikings and Trojans will give it another shot, with North Catholic hosting. Apollo-Ridge (4-3, 4-2) is hoping to deal North Catholic (7-2, 5-0) its first section loss.

THURSDAY

• The Section 1-4A baseball race could be decided when Freeport (9-1, 9-1) hosts Knoch (10-1, 9-1) at Freeport Community Park. The first game came down to the final inning, as Freeport scored five times in the top of the seventh to beat the Knights. Knoch, the defending section champion, looks to avenge that loss.

• Riverview and Bishop Canevin are among the teams tangling for a playoff spot in Section 3-A softball, and they'll meet for the second time this season. Riverview (6-3, 5-3), which begins the week on a three-game winning streak, beat Bishop Canevin (4-3, 3-3), 10-7, earlier this season.

• Another of the Freeport softball team's late-game outbursts came in its first meeting with Deer Lakes, as a sixth-run sixth made the difference in a 10-4 victory. The Lancers, hoping to keep their playoff streak alive, will try to deal the Yellowjackets a rare loss.

FRIDAY

• WPIAL track and field athletes will converge on Baldwin High School for the Baldwin Invitational, one of the final top meets before the WPIAL track and field championships next month. And this meet has the added benefit of taking place at the same site as the WPIAL meet.

• Another top track and field meet takes place with the Pine-Richland Invitational.

• Deer Lakes is scheduled to play five consecutive days of Section 1-4A baseball games, with Friday's taking place against Highlands. The Lancers (7-5, 4-4) are hoping for a big week to secure a playoff spot. Highlands (2-9, 2-7) begins the week on a six-game losing streak.

SATURDAY

• An intriguing nonsection game is on the docket, with Class 3A No. 4 Burrell (8-2) set to host Class 5A Plum (7-6). The Bucs have won six consecutive games entering the week, and Plum is hanging on to the final playoff spot in Section 1-4A.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Plum, Riverview, Valley