What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 4, 2025: Boys lacrosse powers to square off

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 9:04 PM

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With the baseball and softball schedule in jeopardy with wet weather expected Friday, the spotlight shines on district lacrosse.

Last year, Mars won the boys lacrosse Section 2-2A regular season crown by one game over Hampton after defeating the Talbots in their only regular season meeting.

The two then clashed in the WPIAL semifinals with the Fightin’ Planets blanking the Talbots, 13-0, on their way to a seventh straight district championship a round later.

In the only regular season meeting this spring between the boys lacrosse powers, Hampton (4-2) visits Mars (6-0) at 7:15 p.m.

The Talbots and Fightin’ Planets are both 2-0 in Section 2-2A, tied for first place with Sewickley Academy and Shaler.

Turf wars

While an all-dirt infield is not ideal with the rain we received Thursday and with more slated for Friday, a busy day of district softball section action might not be a total washout.

Teams that play on turf might have a chance to hit the diamonds.

One such game is a key battle in Section 1-5A when Plum hosts Shaler at 4 p.m.

The Mustangs have come out of the gates flying this season with an overall record of 6-1.

Plum won its first three games of the season and its three most recent contests with a loss to Franklin Regional in between.

The Mustangs are 2-0 in the section and have outscored Fox Chapel and Mars in those two wins, 29-10.

The Titans are 3-2 this season with both losses coming to 6A and 5A powers in Hempfield and Penn-Trafford.

Shaler is 1-0 in the section after blanking Fox Chapel in its opener Monday.

Haves and have nots

The six teams in Section 2-2A have had to wait until Friday to open up section play and with a shaky forecast, might be waiting longer.

Two things the six teams in the section showed based on their nonsection results to this point is half of the teams have had success getting their games in, and there appears to be a line of separation between the teams set to battle for first place and those in the chase for fourth place and the final playoff spot.

Apollo-Ridge, Northgate and South Allegheny are a combined 14-3 heading into their section openers Friday while Brentwood, Shady Side Academy and Springdale are a combined 0-4.

The schedule for Friday:

• Apollo-Ridge (5-1) at Springdale (0-1) at 3:45 p.m.

• South Allegheny (4-1) is home to Brentwood (0-2) at 4 p.m.

• Northgate (5-1) visits Shady Side Academy (0-1) at 4:15 p.m.