Alle-Kiski Valley H.S. sports lookahead: Week of April 23-28

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 7:42 PM

Monday

The WPIAL boys tennis playoffs continue with the quarterfinals. Fox Chapel holds the top seed in Class AAA, with Franklin Regional coming to visit. Valley, coming off a 3-2 first-round victory over Mt. Pleasant, takes on South Park in a rematch from last season's playoffs.

• Valley prepares for a significant week in Section 1-3A baseball by traveling to face Shady Side Academy (3-5, 2-3). The Vikings (6-4, 4-1) took the first meeting 6-0 on their home field.

Tuesday

Deer Lakes and Valley entered the week tied for fourth place in Section 1-3A softball and the playoff spot that comes with it. The Lancers (2-3, 1-3) have won six consecutive section titles but need a win over the Vikings to gain separation. Valley (1-4, 1-3) is coming off its first victory of the season, a 10-0 triumph over East Allegheny.

• Kiski Area (3-5, 3-5) begins the week on the outside of the Section 1-5A playoff race looking in after dropping a pair of one-run games to Gateway on Friday and Plum on Saturday. Now the Cavaliers are seeking a victory that could put them right back in the mix as they host Gateway (4-3, 4-3). The Gators won the first matchup 4-3.

• Apollo-Ridge and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic are battling for first place in Section 2-2A softball, and the Vikings (3-2, 3-1) visit the Trojans (5-1, 4-0) for their first meeting of the season. North Catholic swept the Vikings last season on its way to the section title.

• Kayla Santucci's grand slam highlighted Burrell's 12-1 Section 1-3A softball victory over South Allegheny earlier this season, and the Bucs (6-2, 5-1) will look for another big day as they host the Gladiators (8-3, 3-2) in a rematch.

Wednesday

Valley stunned defending Section 1-3A baseball champion Steel Valley earlier this season, and the Vikings (6-4, 4-1) will try to repeat that 5-4 victory on the road. Valley and Steel Valley (5-3, 4-1) began the week tied with Burrell for first place.

• Apollo-Ridge baseball readies for another key Section 3-2A game as the Vikings travel to face Brentwood (3-3, 3-2). This will mark the team's first meeting of the season, with Apollo-Ridge in third place and Brentwood in fourth.

• For the fourth consecutive season, Freeport will play host to the Section 7-AA track and field championships. The event draws many of the top track and field athletes from the Alle-Kiski Valley, with Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale and Valley all scheduled to attend.

Thursday

Burrell dominated the first Section 1-3A softball meeting against Deer Lakes, 12-2, with Elizabeth Clark's grand slam providing the major blow. Now Deer Lakes (2-3, 1-3) will see if it can shake off its slow start in a rematch against the Bucs (6-2, 5-1). Burrell has won three of the past five meetings.

• Freeport softball is winning late, with one of the examples being a rally to take down South Allegheny in their first meeting of the season. The first-place Yellowjackets (6-0, 4-0) will travel to South Allegheny (8-3, 3-2) for a Section 1-3A rematch of that 9-5 Freeport win.

• St. Joseph and Riverview's first Section 3-A softball meeting was a slugfest, with St. Joseph coming away with a 12-8 victory. The Spartans (4-1, 3-1) are averaging 13.5 runs in their four victories and will look for another big offensive day against Riverview (3-3, 3-3), which is holding on to the final playoff spot in the section.

• The first section boys volleyball meeting of the season between rivals Derry and Deer Lakes went Derry's way; now Deer Lakes will see if it can get revenge on its home court. The Lancers are the defending WPIAL runners-up and two-time defending section champions.

• Deer Lakes and Knoch will see if the third time is the charm as they attempt to meet in Section 1-4A baseball; a pair of games were postponed last week. Knoch (7-1, 6-1) began the week in second place in the section after falling to Freeport last week. The host Lancers (5-4, 2-3) are holding on to fourth place and the final playoff spot and are seeking a big victory to stay there.

FRIDAY

In its second key Section 1-4A baseball game in as many days, Deer Lakes hosts first-place Freeport. The Yellowjackets (7-0, 7-0) claimed the first meeting, 4-2, but Deer Lakes (5-4, 2-3) had the tying run on base in the seventh inning. The Alle-Kiski Valley rivals split their meetings last year.

• Burrell's lone loss this season came to defending Section 1-3A champion Steel Valley, but the Bucs (5-1, 4-1) will get another shot at the Ironmen (5-3, 4-1) in a battle for first place in the section. Those two teams entered the week tied for the top spot along with Valley (6-4, 4-1). Steel Valley beat Burrell, 5-1, on April 13.

• Leechburg and St. Joseph are vying for the fourth and final playoff spot in Section 1-A baseball, and they'll meet for the second time of the season. Leechburg (2-6, 2-3) claimed the first meeting, 14-4, but St. Joseph (1-5, 1-3) will look to square things away on its home field.

•Another Friday, another big track and field invitational, with Mars playing host this week. Highlands' Sydney Brown, Logan Crise, Jmon Rouse and C.J. Thimons and Plum's Madeline Monick and Olivia Pernice are among the returning medalists from the Alle-Kiski Valley.

SATURDAY

The annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association track and field championships will take place at Latrobe's Memorial Stadium. The meet is a valuable tune-up with the WPIAL championships coming in the next month. Burrell, Kiski Area and Valley will attend. Kiski Area's distance runners generally perform well at this meet, and Nick Gabrielli and Kierra Shreffler will see if they can continue that trend.

Tags: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley