A-K Valley high school look-ahead: Week of May 7, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, May 6, 2018 | 3:51 PM

Monday

• The Burrell girls track and field team will look to defend its WPIAL Class AA team title at the championship meet at Baldwin. The Bucs won their first WPIAL championship last season and advanced to Monday's final after beating Brownsville, Southmoreland and South Park. Beaver, Mohawk and Shenango also advanced to the WPIAL finals.

• A share of the Section 1-3A baseball championship is up for grabs as Burrell (8-2, 7-2) visits Steel Valley (8-5, 7-2) in their section finale. The Ironmen, who won the section title last season, beat the Bucs, 5-1, in their first meeting. The winner of Monday's game will share the section title with Valley (10-5, 8-2).

• The WPIAL volleyball committee will meet and release the playoff bracket, with matches scheduled to begin Tuesday.

• Boys tennis section doubles will take place Monday and Tuesday across the WPIAL.

Tuesday

• St. Joseph softball had hopes of earning at least a share of the Section 3-A title entering the week. The Spartans (8-2, 7-2), who host Geibel in a doubleheader Monday, square off with first-place Leechburg (11-3, 10-1). The Blue Devils blanked St. Joseph, 10-0, earlier this season.

• The playoff race in Section 1-5A softball comes down to the final game. Kiski Area (8-6, 7-6), Gateway (7-6, 7-6) and Plum (8-7, 7-6) came into the week in a three-way tie for third place. All three can earn a playoff spot with a win. A loss wouldn't eliminate them, but they would need help in that case. Kiski Area visits Armstrong (2-12, 2-11), Gateway takes on Woodland Hills (0-13, 0-13) and Plum travels to Franklin Regional (13-3, 11-1).

• Apollo-Ridge baseball entered the week still alive for the WPIAL playoffs, but the Vikings (4-7, 4-7) need three wins and a loss by Bishop Canevin (6-6, 6-6) to get there. The mission starts with a home doubleheader against Sto-Rox (0-10, 0-10).

Thursday

• It's the moment of truth in WPIAL softball as the district committee meets to release the playoff brackets.

• The WPIAL boys lacrosse committee also meets to release the playoff brackets.

• Apollo-Ridge visits Riverview for the teams' Section 3-2A baseball finale. The Vikings potentially could be alive for a playoff spot, giving Riverview (4-8, 3-8) a chance to play spoiler.

• Two of the top teams in their respective baseball classifications square off as Class 5A No. 4 Hampton (13-2) visits Class 4A No. 3 Freeport (11-2). The Yellowjackets came up just short in their bid for a Section 1-4A title, and the Talbots enter the week on a nine-game winning streak.

• The WPIAL boys tennis doubles tournaments begin and will wrap up Friday.

Friday

• WPIAL baseball teams get their turn to learn their playoff fates as the WPIAL committee meets to release the playoff brackets, with games expected to begin May 14.

Saturday

• The Kiski Valley boys rugby team will host a state semifinal match at Kiski Area High School, with a bid to the state championship game on the line. The Titans won a state title in 2016.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview