What to watch for in WPIAL sports on June 10, 2025: North Allegheny, Shaler set for boys volleyball state semifinals

By: Don Rebel
Monday, June 9, 2025 | 8:46 PM

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From 2011-2022, the North Allegheny boys volleyball program reached the PIAA championship match in every season but three.

The Tigers did not qualify for the 2012, 2015 and 2016 Class 3A state finals.

The Tigers also missed out the last two years but are one victory away from returning to the PIAA title match.

On Tuesday, North Allegheny (17-1) will battle District 3 runner-up Central York (17-2) at 5 p.m. at Bald Eagle with audio on Trib HSSN.

The Tigers’ only loss this season was a section setback to District 7 runner-up Seneca Valley.

The Panthers lost to Northeastern York in the regular season and fell to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 finals.

In the PIAA postseason, North Allegheny has ousted Palmyra and Penn-Trafford while Central York has knocked off Seneca Valley and Spring-Ford.

In the other 3A boys volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Governor Mifflin (19-1) from District 3 takes on D-3 champion Cumberland Valley (20-0) at 7 p.m. at Penn Manor.

Looking for a third return

The reason North Allegheny has missed out on the PIAA 3A championship match the last two years is because Shaler has become a district power.

The Titans won the WPIAL 3A title in 2023 and 2024 and played for state gold both years, losing to Parkland in 2023 and upending the Trojans in a 2024 rematch.

This season, Shaler continued its dominance on the spring hardcourt, but the damage was caused in Class 2A after moving down in classification in the offseason.

The Titans won a third straight district crown last month and are now a win away from returning to the PIAA finals at Penn State.

WPIAL champ Shaler (18-1) will challenge undefeated District 10 winner Meadville (17-0) at 6 p.m. at Sharon.

The Titans knocked off Saegertown and Brandywine Heights in the state playoffs this season while the Bulldogs have been winners over South Fayette and Ambridge.

In the other 2A state semifinal, District 11 champion Manheim Central (21-0) will face District 3 runner-up in a D-3 title rematch at 5 p.m. at Penn Manor.

And then there was one

The WPIAL had four boys and three girls lacrosse teams win in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs; however, the lucky seven from District 7 were not as fortunate in the state quarterfinals.

Six district teams saw their seasons come to an end, leaving only one.

WPIAL Class 3A boys lacrosse runner-up Shady Side Academy (14-9) goes up against District 1 runner-up Radnor (19-4) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Mechanicsburg.

The Bulldogs have stunned a pair of district champions to reach the PIAA final four.

Shady Side Academy first won at District 6 champ State College, 11-9, then upended District 3 winner Manheim Township in the quarterfinals, 11-8.

Radnor is coming off an 11-2 quarterfinal victory over WPIAL 3A boys champion Mt. Lebanon.

In the other boys 3A semifinal, District 1 champion Springfield-Delco (22-1) goes up against District 12 champ LaSalle College (18-5) at 6 p.m. at West Chester Henderson.

Baseball rematch

When these baseball teams met in the WPIAL semifinals, it was a pitching-rich marathon classic that lasted 12 innings before a run was finally posted.

Now the rematch is set for the PIAA semis Tuesday.

Twenty-four hours later than originally scheduled, WPIAL champion Riverside (19-2) once again squares off against WPIAL No. 3 South Park (17-7) at 2 p.m. at Seneca Valley with a spot in a championship game at stake.

In the first meeting, the Eagles only managed two hits in 12 innings against Panthers pitching.

Of course, Zach Hare did what he now does on a regular basis: throw a no-hitter for seven innings with 10 strikeouts. Hunter Garvin relieved and allowed only two hits in five innings to pick up the win. He also had 10 strikeouts.

The great pitching has continued for Riverside in the state playoffs.

Christian Lucarelli allowed three hits in shutting out Huntingdon, 9-0, and Hare tossed another no-no to increase his hitless run to 31⅓ innings in a 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Mohawk.

Cooper Hochendoner picked up the win in the opener, plus chipped in an RBI as the Eagles beat Forest Hills, 5-3.

In the quarterfinals, A.C. Miller finished off a four-run seventh inning with a two-run double as South Park edged Quaker Valley, 6-5.

In their history of state semifinals, Riverside is 5-2 while South Park is 1-0 with the lone win coming eight years ago in 2017.

The winner will meet District 4 champion Mount Carmel (20-4) in the state title game Thursday.

Meanwhile, in the Class 4A semifinals, Indiana (24-1) and East Pennsboro (23-0) will finish the game they started Monday at 12:30 p.m. at Governor’s Park in Bellefonte.

The teams were tied 5-5 after 13 innings when the game was suspended due to rain and darkness.

The winner will meet District 4 champ Montoursville (20-4) on Friday.

Sparty strong

The recipe in the state playoffs for the WPIAL 6A softball champions has been the same through two rounds: jump out on top then nervously hold on to win and advance.

On Tuesday in the PIAA 6A semifinals, Hempfield (23-1) looks for a similar result when it faces District 11 runner-up Nazareth (21-6) at the Norlo Park Softball Complex in Fayetteville at 4 p.m. after Monday’s game was postponed.

Junior Laurel Howard has played a big part in both Hempfield wins.

She was 2 for 3 with an RBI on Monday as the Spartans broke a scoreless tie by scoring twice in the sixth inning, then holding on for a 2-1 win over State College.

Howard was 2 for 3 again Thursday with a pair of doubles as Hempfield jumped out to a 4-0 lead, then held on to beat Chambersburg, 4-3.

The Blue Eagles have wins over North Penn and Cumberland Valley to reach the final four.

Hempfield is 5-5 in state semifinals games while Nazareth is only 0-2.

One of those Blue Streaks losses came against the Spartans in 2018, 2-0.

The winner advances to play Central Dauphin (20-3) in the PIAA 6A finals Thursday.