What to watch for in high school sports for Oct. 7, 2024: Playoff berths up for grabs

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 8:08 PM

All season long, we have focused on the chase for first place in sections in the four classifications of WPIAL girls soccer.

However, this week, there will be just as much attention on the battle for fourth place and potential playoff berths.

In Class 4A, two of the three sections have head-to-head showdowns as the time is running low on the regular season.

In Section 1-4A, Woodland Hills (2-6, 3-8-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win as it hosts Hempfield (1-6, 3-11). The Wolverines blanked the Spartans, 1-0, in the first meeting.

In Section 2-4A, third-place Canon-McMillan (4-3-1, 8-3-1) looks to wrap up a postseason berth when it welcomes fifth-place Baldwin (3-5, 6-9). The Big Macs pitched a convincing shutout in the first meeting against the Highlanders, 6-0.

Finally, in Section 3-4A, Allderdice (2-5, 4-7) visits fourth-place Butler (3-5, 7-7). The Dragons are not eligible to participate in the WPIAL playoffs, so the Golden Tornado has clinched.

Two for the top

Just because we are looking at fights for fourth doesn’t mean we are ignoring the matchups for section supremacy.

In Section 3-3A, South Fayette (11-3) visits Thomas Jefferson (8-4-1). The Lions are 8-0 in section play, a game ahead of the Jaguars at 7-1.

The lone blemish for TJ was a loss at South Fayette on Sept. 16, 7-1.

It is a crowded top in Section 2-2A, with Burrell (10-2-1), Freeport (9-1-1) and North Catholic (10-2) separated by only one game.

On Monday, the Buccaneers visit the Yellowjackets. The Bucs are 6-2 in the section, and the Yellowjackets are in first at 6-1-1.

North Catholic is 5-2 as it visits fourth-place Shady Side Academy (3-3-1, 5-7-1).

Team tennis serves up opening round

Will the WPIAL Class 3A girls team tennis title return to the South Hills?

In the last five years, the 3A team champion has come from the South Hills four times.

Peters Township won the crown in 2019, Upper St. Clair in 2021, Mt. Lebanon in 2022 and Bethel Park won it all last fall.

The 2024 Class 3A tournament begins Monday with these eight opening-round matches, which all begin at 3 p.m.

*No. 16 Baldwin at No. 1 Mt. Lebanon

*No. 9 Penn-Trafford at No. 8 Pine-Richland

*No. 13 Seneca Valley at No. 4 Upper St. Clair

*No. 12 Mars at No. 5 Fox Chapel

*No. 15 Norwin at No. 2 Shady Side Academy

*No. 10 Latrobe at No. 7 North Allegheny

*No. 14 Thomas Jefferson at No. 3 Bethel Park

*No. 11 Peters Township at No. 6 Franklin Regional

The Class 2A girls team tennis playoffs begin on Tuesday.

Tags: Allderdice, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Burrell, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Hempfield, Latrobe, Mars, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shady Side Academy, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills