A-K Valley WPIAL baseball playoff capsules for May 18, 2026

By: Bill Hartlep
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 6:45 PM

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WPIAL baseball playoffs

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

8-Knoch (13-8) vs. 1-Indiana (15-4)

4 p.m. Monday at Gateway

Winner plays: Winner of 13-Derry (8-9)/12-Hampton (13-8) in semifinals Wednesday (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Carter Beres, Knoch; Charlie Manzi, Indiana

Extra bases: These Section 3-4A rivals split their season series, with Indiana winning 2-1 on April 21 and Knoch winning 1-0 the next day. … Knoch’s pitching tandem of Zane Pacek and Hunter Lang teamed up to allow one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in a 2-1 win over No. 9 Blackhawk in the first round last week. Beres was 2 for 2 with a double and RBI, and Kaden Dreher knocked in a run for the Knights, who held opponents to 3.0 runs per game this season. Knoch snapped a three-game skid with its first-round victory. … Defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Indiana averaged 7.3 runs per game, second most in Class 4A behind Belle Vernon (8.0). The Little Indians, who earned a first-round bye, are led by Seton Hill commit Charlie Manzi and fellow seniors Sully VanHoose (West Chester) and Ethan Shank (IUP).

6-Hopewell (15-5) vs. 3-Valley (14-5)

6:30 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin

Winner plays: Winner of 2-Elizabeth Forward (14-6)/7-West Mifflin (14-6) in semifinals Wednesday (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Benjamin McDonald, Hopewell; Jaron Minford, Valley

Extra bases: Hopewell is searching for a sixth WPIAL title after winning recent championships in 2021 and ‘23. The Vikings scored a 5-3 win over No. 11 Ringgold in the first round after Benjamin McDonald went 2 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs. Charles Smetana also doubled in a run. Kingston Krotec anchors the pitching staff. The Vikings were second in Section 1 at 8-4 behind an offensive attack that averaged 6.7 runs. Hopewell has won seven of its past eight games, including five straight. … Valley earned a first-round bye after receiving the No. 3 seed. The Vikings scored an impressive 4-2 nonsection win over previously unbeaten Freeport in the regular-season finale. Dom Dunkel went 7-0 with 55 strikeouts on the mound during the regular season. Valley, which shared the Section 3 title with Indiana, is searching for its first WPIAL title.

Class 2A

Quarterfinals

5-Laurel (11-6) vs. 4-Riverview (13-6)

4 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 1-Fort Cherry (16-1)/8-California (14-6) in semifinals Wednesday (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Luca Santini, Laurel; Miles Duncan, Riverview

Extra bases: Laurel cruised to a 7-0 win over No. 12 Burgettstown in the first round, as Luca Santini tossed a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts. Kolton Carlson was 3 for 4 wtih an RBI, and William Zwolenik had two hits and an RBI. Laurel shared the Section 2 title with Neshannock at 9-3. The Spartans averaged 8.5 runs while allowing 3.3. They’ve been one of the hottest teams in the league with nine straight wins. … Riverview scored a 5-4 win in eight innings over No. 13 Frazier in the first round. Miles Duncan knocked in the tying and winning runs to seal the victory. The Raiders are led by Lukas Duncan (.451 and 20 RBIs), pitcher Owen Metz (8-0, 0.82 ERA) and Miles Duncan (.412).

7-Apollo-Ridge (12-8) vs. 2-Neshannock (16-3)

7 p.m. Monday at Pullman Park, Butler

Winner plays: Winner of 3-South Side (14-3)/11-New Brighton (9-7) in semifinals Wednesday (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Brody Henderson, Apollo-Ridge; Nathan Rickel, Neshannock

Extra bases: Noah Stewart’s two-run single in the third inning proved to be the difference for Apollo-Ridge in its 2-1 first-round victory over No. 10 Shenango. Brody Henderson tossed a five-hitter for the victory. The Vikings are looking for their first WPIAL championship. … The Lancers have won six WPIAL championships, the most recent coming in 2015. Shortstop Nathan Rickel hit .526 this season to lead the Lancers, who shared the Section 2 title with Laurel at 9-3. They averaged 9.4 runs per game and won five of their past six games.

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: Apollo-Ridge, Hopewell, Indiana, Knoch, Laurel, Neshannock, Riverview, Valley