Pitchers’ duel expected in Class A baseball final between Eden Christian, Greensburg CC

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1:24 PM

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The last WPIAL team to defeat Greensburg Central Catholic was Eden Christian Academy in the 2025 WPIAL Class A third-place game.

Greensburg Central Catholic now gets a chance for revenge.

The top two teams in Class A collide in the WPIAL finals at 1 p.m. Tuesday at EQT Park in Washington.

The undefeated Centurions (17-0) are seeded No. 2, and the PIAA runner-up Warriors (15-4) are seeded No. 1. They have been headed on a collision course all season.

“They are seeded No. 1 for a reason,” Greensburg Central Catholic coach John Boyle said, “and Noah Emswiler will be the toughest pitcher we will see this season. He throws in the mid-80s and tops out at 88 (mph).

“With Tyler (Samide) going for us, I expect a pitchers’ duel. I expect a low-scoring game. Tyler’s pretty good, too.”

Emswiler, a left-hander, struck out 49 in 33 2/3 innings and only walked 14.

Samide is 7-0 and allowed his first earned run of the season May 18 against Jefferson-Morgan. His batting average is .550 with six home runs and 39 RBIs.

GCC catcher Anthony Grippo is hitting .580 with 26 RBIs. Alec Martin is 6-0.

“We are facing a challenge,” Boyle said. “Eden is well coached and Brady Hull is one of the best players in Class A.”

Hull is batting .565. Greensburg Central Catholic too has an outstanding player in Grippo, a Penn State commit who shuts down opponents’ running games with his strong arm.

“Anthony does a great job calling a game,” Samide said. “He likes us to be aggressive and I trust him.”

GCC has only one WPIAL title, winning in 2015. The Centurions lost in the finals in 1999, 2002, 2016 and 2017.

Eden Christian lost in the 2024 WPIAL finals and lost in the PIAA finals last year.

The Warriors defeated Carmichaels (12-2) and Western Beaver (7-0) in the playoffs.

The Centurions defeated Jefferson-Morgan (4-1) and Serra (2-1) in the playoffs.

Eden Christian defeated GCC, 10-2, in the third-place game last year.

“We did not play well in that game,” said Martin, who started the third-place game. “We made a couple mistakes, and I was not sharp.

“We have been looking to get back to the finals despite losing four starters to graduation and two transfers. Coach Boyle has done a good job getting us back on top.”

Both teams have qualified for the PIAA playoffs. The winner faces the District 9 runner-up, while the loser faces the District 6 champion June 1.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Eden Christian, Greensburg C.C.