What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 24, 2025: Softball rivalry to write another chapter

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 12:09 AM

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One WPIAL softball team is trying to maintain its spot atop the classification while the other school is fighting to get back into the playoffs.

They may end up in vastly different places in the standings, but they have the same goal Thursday: Beat your biggest rival.

With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, this is the first meeting of the season as Class 6A top-ranked Hempfield hosts Norwin at 4 p.m.

The Spartans are alone on top at 9-0 in 6A and a perfect 13-0 for the season.

The Knights sit in fifth place in the classification with a 5-5 record as they look to maintain their spot in the top six to secure a postseason berth. They have lost two straight and are 5-8 overall.

Speaking of playoffs, these two last met in a WPIAL Class 6A softball stunner a year ago.

After beating Norwin twice in the 2024 regular season by scores of 6-0 and 9-1, top-seeded Hempfield was eliminated in the semifinals.

Josey Michalski smacked a two-run homer as the Knights shocked the Spartans, 5-2, to advance to the WPIAL finals.

There, Norwin lost in eight innings to Seneca Valley, 3-2.

More Westmoreland softball

Another big district softball makeup contest set for Thursday involves the No. 1 Class 5A team.

Penn-Trafford looks to remain perfect in Section 2-5A when it hosts Latrobe at 4 p.m.

The Warriors are 13-1 for the season and have won 13 in a row since their season-opening loss to Hempfield.

Their win streak includes all 10 section games they have played.

The visiting Wildcats aren’t going to catch P-T in the chase for the section title as they sit at 5-4 in the section, but a surprise win would move them one step closer to clinching and help their resume when it comes to seeding the 5A tournament.

Latrobe is 8-6 overall and has lost two straight, including being shut out by Armstrong on Wednesday.

Volleys for first

Thursday marks a busy night of WPIAL boys volleyball section play, including two matches for first place in their respective sections.

In Section 1-3A, Mt. Lebanon hosts Canon-McMillan.

The Blue Devils are in first place with 5-0 section record, one game in front of the Big Macs at 4-1.

The first meeting between the two went the distance before Mt. Lebanon pulled out a big win over host Canon-McMillan, 3-2.

In Section 2-2A, Shaler is home to North Catholic.

The Titans are 4-0 and alone in first place in the section, one game ahead of both the Trojans at 3-1 and Mars at 2-1.

Shaler swept North Catholic earlier this month in their first meeting of the season, 3-0.

South Hills showdown

First place in Section 1-3A boys lacrosse is up for grabs when two old South Hills rivals collide Thursday.

The section crown could be at stake when Mt. Lebanon visits Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. in a match you can watch here on Trib HSSN.

The defending district champion Blue Devils are 2-0 in the section and 6-1 overall.

The Panthers enter the match also at 2-0 in the section and with an overall record of 4-3.