What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 11, 2025: Small-school softball powers to square off

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 9:24 PM

Purchase Photo Options

They are two of the most successful high school programs in Greene County.

The West Greene softball program won a record-tying five consecutive WPIAL championships between 2016-2021.

Carmichaels softball captured back-to-back district titles in 1997-1998.

A year ago, both reached the WPIAL Class A final four, but the Pioneers lost to 2022 and 2023 district champion Union while the Mighty Mikes fell to eventual 2024 winner Chartiers-Houston.

Now the schools ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the latest Trib HSSN softball rankings meet for the first time this season Friday afternoon when Carmichaels visits West Greene.

The two southern powers are a combined 3-0 in Section 2-A and 12-0 for the season.

The Mighty Mikes are 1-0 in section play and 5-0 overall by outscoring their opponents, 47-6.

The Pioneers are tied for first place with a 2-0 section record and sit at 7-0 overall after shutting out Mapletown on Wednesday, 10-0. They have scored 52 runs this season and only yielded eight runs.

A year ago, Carmichaels reached the PIAA Class A championship game before falling to DuBois Central Catholic in the title game, 2-0,

The Mighty Mikes swept the two games from the Pioneers last spring, winning 7-3 at home and 2-0 on the road.

Top four collide

The top four teams in two WPIAL softball sections meet head to head Friday.

In Section 1-5A, fresh off its win Wednesday over rival North Hills, Shaler owns a one-game lead over the Indians and Plum and is two games up on New Castle.

Shaler (4-0, 6-2) will host New Castle (2-2, 4-5) at 4 p.m. while North Hills (3-1, 8-2) travels to Plum (3-1, 7-2) at 4 p.m.

In Section 2-4A, West Mifflin and Elizabeth Forward own a one-game advantage over Belle Vernon and Laurel Highlands.

West Mifflin (4-0, 6-3) is home to Laurel Highlands (2-1, 3-4) at 4 p.m. on Trib HSSN and Elizabeth Forward (2-0, 4-1) visits Belle Vernon (2-1, 4-5) at 4 p.m.

Serving for gold

The first WPIAL championships of the spring sports season are set for Friday with the boys singles tennis finals.

Last year, Advaita Sircar of North Allegheny defeated Adam Memije of Gateway in the district championship match, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

The two will meet again in the finals Friday.

The sophomore Sircar defeated his first two opponents Wednesday by scores of 10-1 before needing three sets to vanquish Gateway senior Zidaan Hassan in the semifinals, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1.

The senior Memije cruised to two victories before a straight-set triumph over Franklin Regional sophomore Colin Stalnaker, 6-4, 6-0.

While Sircar and Memije fight for district gold, Hasaan and Stalnaker face off in the consolation match, although only two players from 3A qualify for the PIAA singles tournament.

Much like in 3A, the top two seeds reached the finals in Class 2A.

No. 1 Max Henson of Belle Vernon will take on No. 2 Justin Garvey of North Catholic in a battle between juniors for WPIAL gold.

Henson cruised to a pair of 10-0 wins before cruising past Montour senior John Rohrcaste in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-0.

It was a struggle for Garvey, who won in the first round, 11-9, in the quarterfinals, 10-8, then edged South Park junior Jonah Jasek in the semis, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6).

Rohrcaste will take on Jasek on Friday for a spot in the boys singles 2A state tournament as Henson battles Garvey for gold.

The WPIAL championship and consolation finals are set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bethel Park.