What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 21, 2025: Last batch of spots in WPIAL baseball, softball finals up for grabs

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 11:42 PM

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When it comes to district softball this spring in the three lowest classifications, the two most northern and most southern counties in the WPIAL are dominating.

Heading into the softball semifinals Wednesday, there are 12 teams still alive for gold in Class 3A, 2A and A.

More than half of those teams come from Lawrence or Greene counties.

The breakdown is four from Lawrence County (Mohawk, Ellwood City, Neshannock, Union), three from Greene County (Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, West Greene), two from Allegheny County (Avonworth, South Park), two from Washington County (Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston) and one from Beaver County (Riverside).

Those dandy dozen were all winners in the quarterfinals Monday and are now one victory away from playing for a district championship next week.

They also have now earned a safety net knowing that Wednesday (or Thursday if rain wins out) won’t be their last game of the season.

The six teams that come up short in the semifinals will have a chance to earn a spot in the PIAA playoffs in their classification’s consolation game. (Except for the Class 2A final four, which have all clinched a state postseason berth since the WPIAL sends four teams to the PIAA tournament in that class and only three in 3A and A.)

Here is the schedule for Wednesday if Mother Nature cooperates:

Class 3A

• No. 1 South Park (19-0) takes on No. 4 Avonworth (15-4) at Montour at 4 p.m. Both teams had first-round byes with the Eagles shutting out Deer Lakes in the quarterfinals, 10-0, and the Antelopes ousting Keystone Oaks, 7-1.

• No. 2 Mohawk (14-5) will face section rival No. 3 Ellwood City (11-8) at Neshannock at 4 p.m. Both teams enjoyed opening-round byes with the Warriors edging Southmoreland in the quarters, 8-6, and the Wolverines blanking McGuffey, 8-0. In the regular season, Mohawk swept Ellwood City, winning by scores of 6-5 and 6-2.

Class 2A

• No. 1 Neshannock (20-0) goes up against No. 12 Bentworth (10-9) at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. The Lancers have knocked off Burgettstown and Apollo-Ridge by a combined score of 29-2, while the Bearcats have upended South Allegheny and Shenango by scores of 9-1 and 3-1. This is a rematch of the 2024 WPIAL 2A title game when Neshannock shut out Bentworth, 3-0.

• No. 2 Chartiers-Houston (19-1) tries to avoid the upset when it takes on No. 11 Riverside (9-8) at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. The Buccaneers have outscored Brentwood and Seton LaSalle in the first two rounds, 21-1, while the Panthers have upset Waynesburg and Laurel by scores of 14-4 and 11-1.

Class A

• No. 1 Union (17-2) will battle No. 5 Jefferson-Morgan (10-6) at North Allegheny at 3 p.m. The Scotties had a first-round bye and then blanked Jeannette, 10-0. The Rockets first defeated Greensburg Central Catholic, 14-4, and shut out Sewickley Academy in the quarters, 5-0.

• No. 2 Carmichaels (15-0) will face a familiar foe when it takes on rival West Greene (15-3) at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 6 p.m. Both teams had first-round byes, then the Mighty Mikes pitched a shutout against Serra Catholic in the quarters, 9-0, while the Pioneers edged South Side, 7-6. Carmichaels beat West Greene twice in the regular season by scores of 9-1 and 6-1.

Baseball semifinals

It will be a double-edged challenge for district baseball teams headed to the final four.

First, the quick turnaround from Tuesday’s quarterfinals victory, then a very wet forecast with rain called for throughout the day.

Here is the semifinals lineup for 3A, 2A and A on Wednesday.

Class 3A

• No 1. Riverside (15-2) plays No. 5 South Park (13-6) at Plum at 4 p.m. On Tuesday, the Panthers blanked Burrell, 11-0, and the Eagles flew past Waynesburg, 11-1.

• No. 7 Quaker Valley (14-6) goes up against No. 11 Mohawk (12-9) at Seneca Valley at 6 p.m. The Quakers upset Avonworth on Tuesday, 1-0, and the Warriors stunned Ellwood City, 3-1.

Class 2A

• No. 8 Freedom (12-7) faces a familiar foe in No. 12 Laurel (10-10) at Mohawk at 4 p.m. Both team registered upsets Tuesday in the quarterfinals when the Bulldogs surprised top seed Neshannock, 3-0, and the Spartans shut out Shenango, 6-0.

• No. 2 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (14-7) goes up against section foe No. 6 Riverview (14-6) at Joe Maize Field in Peters Township at 4 p.m. The Chargers eliminated New Brighton in the quarters, 8-0, and the Raiders edged Burgettstown, 2-1.

Class A

• Top-seeded Serra Catholic (18-3) will clash with No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic (17-2) at West Mifflin at 4 p.m. The Eagles blew past Jefferson-Morgan, 11-1, and the Centurions crushed two-time defending champion Bishop Canevin, 16-1.

• No. 2 Eden Christian Academy (15-4) will battle No. 6 Carmichaels (13-4) at West Mifflin at 7 p.m. The Warriors blanked Avella, 6-0, and the Mighty Mikes bounced Leechburg, 6-3.

Golden sticks

While weather concerns could dampen the diamond action, the WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse championships are set for Panthers Stadium at Upper St. Clair on Wednesday and Thursday.

First on Wednesday, the most dominant Class 2A lacrosse programs are looking for a championship sweep for a third straight year.

Mars has won a combined 11 district crowns, eight for the boys and three for the girls.

Is eight enough?

In the boys Class 2A title match, No. 2 Mars (17-2) will battle No. 1 South Fayette (19-0) at 8 p.m.

The Fightin’ Planets are trying to keep alive one of the longest championship streaks in WPIAL history as a victory would give them a ninth consecutive district crown.

However, they are in the rare role of underdog against the undefeated and top-seeded Lions.

Mars had a first-round bye before shutting out Bethel Park in the quarterfinals, 18-0, followed by a win over Hampton in the semifinals, 13-6.

South Fayette also had a bye, rolled past Indiana in the quarters, 17-4, and then beat Peters Township in the semis on Monday, 12-5.

This is a clash between the two 2A section champions.

Mars’ only two losses this season were to 3A powers Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.

The rematch

In the girls Class 2A championship match, No. 1 Mars (18-1) goes up against No. 3 Chartiers Valley (15-3) at 6 p.m. in a rematch of the 2024 finals.

The two-time defending champion Fightin’ Planets enjoyed a first-round bye, ousted Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals, 7-1, and then defeated Blackhawk in the semifinals on Monday, 13-8.

The Colts also had an opening-round bye, knocked off South Fayette in the quarters, 9-3, and edged Quaker Valley in the final four, 10-8.

This is the second meeting of the year between these two Section 2-2A foes.

On April 17, Mars defeated Chartiers Valley, 12-8.

Last spring, the Fightin’ Planets knocked off the Colts in the championship match, 14-6.

Boys consolation

The first of four district consolation matches will take place Wednesday.

For the third and final PIAA Class 3A boys lacrosse playoff berth, Upper St. Clair (11-7) will host North Allegheny (10-9) at 4 p.m.

The match features the two teams that finished second in their 3A sections.

The two played in a nonsection match April 3 with the Panthers beating the Tigers, 10-7.