Belle Vernon, Mt. Pleasant softball teams face tests in Thursday’s 3 things to watch in high school sports

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 | 10:51 PM

A couple of 2017 Class 4A softball champions are set for big challenges in their respective sections Thursday afternoon.

Defending WPIAL champion Belle Vernon is looking up at both Yough and Elizabeth Forward in the chase for the Section 2 title. The Leopards (5-2) visit the Warriors (5-1).

Belle Vernon lost at home earlier this month to Elizabeth Forward, 2-0. In that game, Penn State recruit Bailey Parshall pitched a one-hitter for the Leopards, but the Warriors scored unearned runs in the fourth and seventh innings that proved to be the difference.

Defending PIAA champion Mt. Pleasant looks to remain undefeated when it visits Knoch for a doubleheader.

The Vikings (5-0, 7-0) have a one-game lead over the Knights (4-1, 7-2), and a sweep would all but give Mt. Pleasant the Section 1 crown. A split would keep things interesting with Indiana (4-2) still in the mix, but a Knoch sweep in Saxonburg would leapfrog them over Mt. Pleasant and into first place.

Other softball showdowns

Last year, Frazier won the WPIAL Class 2A softball crown, but then lost to Chartiers-Houston, 4-3, in the PIAA quarterfinals.

This year, the Buccaneers are 9-1 overall and 5-1 in Section 2, with that lone loss coming at home against the Commodores.

The two teams meet again Thursday in Perryopolis in one of two Class 2A battles for first place.

Laurel visits unbeaten Mohawk with at least a share of first place in Section 4 up for grabs. The Warriors rolled to a 10-2 win over the Spartans earlier this month at Laurel.

Also, in Class A, they will try to play the-much anticipated rematch between Monessen and West Greene, which was postponed Wednesday. After beating the Greyhounds, 10-0, in the 2017 title game, the Pioneers won the first meeting this year 8-1.

Volleyball feature games

On Tuesday, Hempfield fell out of a three-way tie for first place in Section 3-AAA after losing to Penn-Trafford. The bounce back for the Spartans won't be easy as they visit Norwin on Thursday.

The Knights are now tied for first with the Warriors. A Norwin victory over Hempfield would set up a possible battle for the section crown May 10 when the Knights visit Penn-Trafford. But if Hempfield can win, it keeps alive its section title hopes, and the door would be open for possible tri-champions.

Another key boys volleyball matchup Thursday is Derry at Deer Lakes. The Trojans have a one-game lead over both the Lancers and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. Derry beat Deer Lakes, 3-0, in the first meeting between the two Class AA traditional powers in early April.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Chartiers-Houston, Deer Lakes, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Hempfield Area, Indiana, Knoch, Laurel, Mohawk, Monessen, Norwin