What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 16, 2025: Thomas Jefferson, Baldwin to slug it out

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | 11:40 PM

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Last spring, the Thomas Jefferson softball team made an unexpected run to the WPIAL Class 5A finals before falling to Armstrong in the title game.

The Jaguars kept their postseason magic going though in the PIAA playoffs and ended up beating Pittston Area to win the 5A state championship.

Meanwhile, Baldwin was a spectator for the district and state playoffs after finishing tied for the sixth and final playoff spot in Class 6A but losing the tiebreaker to Canon-McMillan.

This season, both the Jaguars and Highlanders are Section 4-5A foes and battle for the second time this season at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Baldwin.

Coming into the game, Baldwin is tied for first place with Trinity at 5-1 in the section.

The Highlanders are 9-2 overall after seeing their seven-game winning streak snapped by the Hillers on Monday, 7-3.

Thomas Jefferson is one game back in the loss column and tied with Bethel Park with 3-2 section records.

The Jaguars are now 5-3 for the season after their three-game win streak ended Monday with a loss to the Black Hawks.

These teams played at TJ on April 1 with Baldwin shutting out Thomas Jefferson, 3-0.

Freshman pitcher Camryn Temme threw a one hitter and got the win while senior Ryley Shaw had a two-run homer for the Highlanders.

Sophomore Aubrey Shaffer was the tough-luck loser and had the only hit for the Jaguars.

Softball section series

It’s not WPIAL baseball, but the top two district Section 1-3A teams will play their own section series starting Wednesday.

Mt. Pleasant visits Ligonier Valley in a battle of section unbeaten teams at Donaldson Softball Fields in Ligonier Valley at 5:30 p.m.

The Vikings are 4-0 in the section while the Rams check in at 2-0.

Mt. Pleasant has won four straight games and is 6-3 for the season.

Following a 0-5 start, Ligonier Valley has won its last two games, both section victories.

The teams will meet again Thursday at Mt. Pleasant in a makeup contest for a game that was postponed April 4.

Sectional doubles

Wednesday marks the second and final day of the WPIAL boys tennis doubles sectional tournaments.

The top four duos from each sectional tournament will move on to participate in the WPIAL boys tennis doubles championships next week.

The results from the championship and consolation finals in each section will help determine the order of seeding for the district doubles bracket.

Here are the sites for each sectional:

Section 1-3A at Franklin Regional

Section 2-3A at North Allegheny

Section 3-3A at Fox Chapel

Section 4-3A at Bethel Park

Section 1-2A at Valley

Section 2-2A at Keystone Oaks

Section 3-2A at Nichols Courts at Sewickley Academy

Section 4-2A at Beaver

The district doubles tournament in both 3A and 2A is slated to begin Tuesday, April 22.

The 3A first round, quarterfinals and semifinals will be at North Allegheny while the 2A doubles will be at Bethel Park.

Northern jam

There are only five teams in WPIAL Section 3-3A boys volleyball , but four of them are log-jammed at the top of the section.

Heading into Tuesday, North Allegheny and Seneca Valley are both 3-1 in section play while Pine-Richland and Butler were only one game back at 2-2.

On Wednesday, Butler hosts Seneca Valley, and then on Thursday, Pine-Richland visits last-place Moon.