Westmoreland lookahead: April 2-7, 2018
By:
Sunday, April 1, 2018 | 5:10 PM
Highlights of the week ahead in Westmoreland high school sports:
MONDAY
Baseball
As weather conditions improve and fields begin to dry to playable standards, many teams are desperate to find early-season rhythm.
A few local games are on the schedule as teams begin to return from Easter break, including Mt. Pleasant at Derry at 2 p.m., and Mt. Lebanon at Hempfield (4:15).
TUESDAY
Softball
Three-time defending WPIAL champion and two-time defending PIAA champion Hempfield will attempt to open Section 2-6A play at home against Allderdice at 4 p.m. The game to watch in that section looks like Latrobe at Norwin (4).
Franklin Regional is scheduled to open its Section 1-5A schedule at Greensburg Salem at 11 a.m.
Returning PIAA Class 4A champion Mt. Pleasant will try to open the season at home against Indiana in Section 1-4A (4).
Baseball
Section 2-5A begins with Franklin Regional at Laurel Highlands and Woodland Hills at Latrobe (7 p.m.), and Jeannette is at West Greene and Monessen is at Greensburg Central Catholic in Section 2-A.
Boys volleyball
The big Section 3-AAA matchup of the night has Norwin, ranked No. 9 in the latest coaches' poll, at No. 6 Hempfield.
Girls lacrosse
Penn-Trafford visits Latrobe in Section 2-AAA.
WEDNESDAY
Softball
Franklin Regional at Gateway is a Section 1-5A game to watch, and Keystone Oaks at Belle Vernon is the key game in Section 2-4A.
Baseball
Returning WPIAL Class A champ Jeannette is scheduled to host Valley.
Boys volleyball
Coaches' poll No. 3 Derry and No. 2 Deer Lakes begin their annual rivalry with a Section 2-AA clash.
THURSDAY
Baseball
Penn-Trafford is scheduled to host North Allegheny in a quality nonsection game.
Other notable matchups include Gateway at Franklin Regional (1-5A), Deer Lakes at Derry (1-4A) and Freeport at Greensburg Salem (1-4A).
Softball
Section 2-6A has Hempfield at Fox Chapel, Norwin at Allderdice and Penn Hills at Latrobe. Section 1-5A games are Franklin Regional at Armstrong, Gateway at Penn-Trafford, and Greensburg Salem at Plum.
Track & field
Penn-Trafford visits Greensburg Salem in Section 1-AAA, and Belle Vernon at Mt. Pleasant is highlighted in Section 2-AAA.
FRIDAY
Softball
Keystone Oaks at Yough in Section 2-4A could be interesting. Other notable games include West Greene at Monessen (2-A), Derry at Greensburg Salem, Greensburg Central Catholic at St. Joseph and Valley at Jeannette.
Baseball
Nonsection matchups include East Allegheny at Mt. Pleasant, Gateway at Penn-Trafford, Greensburg Central at Burrell, Greensburg Salem at Kiski School, and Hempfield at North Allegheny.
SATURDAY
Softball
A pair of talented teams square off with Belle Vernon visiting Ligonier Valley at 2 p.m.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
More High School Baseball
• Hampton trio to play Division I baseball next season• GCC baseball coach Reist organizes fundraiser for team, less-privileged children
• Rivals from North Allegheny, Pine-Richland to join forces at Penn State
• Shaler Area’s Rispoli commits to play baseball at Dayton
• Hampton selects Long as new baseball coach
