Class AA boys team tennis tournament tops Friday’s WPIAL schedule

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, April 20, 2018 | 2:48 PM

Sewickley Academy starts its quest for a 15th consecutive WPIAL Class AA championship when the boys team tennis tournament begins Friday with first-round matches.

Sewickley has won every title since 2004.

The first-round matches pair Greensburg Salem at Sewickley Academy, Knoch at Winchester Thurston, Mt. Pleasant at Valley, Neshannock at South Park, Highlands at Quaker Valley, Beaver vs. Thomas Jefferson at Baldwin, Carlynton at Blackhawk, and Keystone Oaks at Indiana.

Matches start at 3:30 p.m.

The quarterfinals are Monday.

The top three finishers in Class AA advance to the state tournament. The teams that lose semifinals will meet in a consolation match for the third PIAA berth.

Will Laurel Highlands ever slow down?

Friday's baseball schedule includes a matchup between first-place Laurel Highlands (6-0, 6-0) and second-place Franklin Regional (7-2, 5-1) in Section 3-5A.

On paper, it's a battle for first place.

But so far, nobody has threatened Laurel Highlands' undefeated record. The team has outscored its first six opponents 86-7. That dominance includes a 14-0 victory over Franklin Regional on April 6.

Laurel Highlands also defeated McKeesport 15-0, Woodland Hills 15-1, Thomas Jefferson 15-3 and Latrobe 15-1. Its most recent win was 7-2 over Albert Gallatin.

Friday's game is 4 p.m. at Franklin Regional.

Tie-breaker in Class 6A baseball

The baseball schedule also features a key matchup in Section 3-6A, where there's a three-way tie for second between Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.

Canon-McMillan (7-3, 4-2) visits Upper St. Clair (10-2, 4-2) at 4 p.m. Friday.

The Big Macs won the first matchup this season 11-4 on April 4.

Bethel Park leads the section at 5-1.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.