What to watch in WPIAL sports for April 14, 2025: Section 2-5A showdowns to break 5-way tie

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 9:26 PM

Another week of diamond action begins with another day with rain in the forecast as the midway point of district baseball and softball nears.

The chase for first place in WPIAL Section 2-5A baseball is a crowded one with five teams tied for the top in the loss column and the section’s other two teams only two games back.

Bethel Park and South Fayette are both 4-2 in the section, while Moon, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair are 2-2 in section play.

Even the two teams not in the five-way tie for first are in the mix as both Chartiers Valley and Trinity check in with 2-4 section records.

On Monday, Upper St. Clair visits South Fayette at 4 p.m., and Moon hosts Chartiers Valley at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game of their section series.

Line of demarcation

There are two separate races going on in Section 3-2A baseball.

Riverview (5-0), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (4-0) and South Side (4-0) are all in good shape for the playoffs with a section crown on their minds.

The first section series between the three begins Monday when the Raiders host the Rams.

The other four teams in the section are fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot.

Apollo-Ridge, Brentwood and Springdale are all 1-4 and Carlynton is 0-4.

On Monday, OLSH hosts Apollo-Ridge and Brentwood visits Carlynton.

Lucky 7 in softball

Two Westmoreland County rivals are set to collide for the first time this softball regular season with first place up for grabs in Section 2-5A when Franklin Regional hosts Penn-Trafford.

The Panthers have won all five of their section games and are 8-2 overall with seven straight victories following losses to two Florida teams in their trip south to Vero Beach.

The Warriors are also perfect in the section at 4-0 and 7-1 overall. They are also riding a seven-game winning streak since an opening loss to 6A power Hempfield.

Offense has been a big part of the 2025 success story for both teams as Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford are each averaging 9.1 runs per game.

The Warriors swept the season series from the Panthers last spring, winning big at home in early April, 14-1, and then squeaking by on the road in late April, 8-7.

The two teams are two games up in the section on both Latrobe (3-2) and Kiski Area (2-2).

More fights for first

Monday is a big day in WPIAL softball.

Besides the Penn-Trafford at Franklin Regional showdown in Section 2-5A, there are seven other games with first place or a share of the section top spot are at stake.

• In Section 3-5A, West Allegheny (2-0) visits Chartiers Valley (2-0)

• In Section 2-4A, West Mifflin (5-0) travels to Elizabeth Forward (2-1)

• In Section 2-3A, Mohawk (4-0) makes a trip to Avonworth (2-1)

• In Section 2-2A, Apollo-Ridge (3-0) hosts South Allegheny (2-0)

• In Section 4-2A, Frazier (2-0) is home to Waynesburg Central (1-0)

• In Section 1-A, Sewickley Academy (4-0) welcomes Union (2-0)

• In Section 2-A, West Greene (2-1) makes the short tip to Jefferson-Morgan (2-0)

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Avonworth, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Carlynton, Chartiers Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Jefferson-Morgan, Mohawk, Moon, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Riverview, Sewickley Academy, South Allegheny, South Fayette, South Side, Springdale, Trinity, Union, Upper St. Clair, Waynesburg, West Allegheny, West Greene, West Mifflin