High school baseball, softball teams in stretch run
With all due respect to the Kentucky Derby, the high school baseball and softball seasons are coming down the stretch. Teams face a Wednesday deadline for completing section games in both sports. The WPIAL issued a statement last Wednesday stating that 90 percent of its baseball and softball teams were on pace to complete section competition by this Wednesday’s deadline. The statement added that the situation would be re-evaluated Monday to determine if an extension is in order.
Baseball
Following is a breakdown of the area’s baseball teams as they enter the stretch run of the regular season:
In Section 2-AAAA, Connellsville (4-6) is a game off the playoff pace with two games to play. The Falcons trail Penn-Trafford (9-1), Norwin (6-3) and Franklin Regional (5-5) and are tied for fourth with Hempfield (5-5). Connellsville travels to Hempfield Monday before hosting Albert Gallatin Wednesday.
Speaking of AG, the Colonials (2-7) are still alive but would be eliminated with their next loss. AG hosts Franklin Regional Monday and Penn-Trafford Tuesday before traveling to Connellsville Wednesday. Even if AG wins its last three games, it might be shut out of the playoffs.
A key game for Connellsville is Tuesday’s Norwin at Franklin Regional game. Norwin faces a tough week by hosting Latrobe (4-6) Monday before closing the regular season with trips to Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford.
Laurel Highlands (8-2) has three full games and part of a fourth to play by Wednesday. The second-place Mustangs travel to Derry (5-5) Monday and host Mount Pleasant (1-10) Tuesday and Uniontown Wednesday. After the Mount Pleasant game, the Mustangs host Kittanning (5-6) to finish a suspended game. LH will clinch a playoff spot with its next win and can wrap up second place with two wins.
Uniontown (3-8) has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Red Raiders host Kittanning Monday and Derry Tuesday before visiting LH Wednesday.
In Section 4-AAA, Belle Vernon (6-6) has been eliminated. The Leopards host McGuffey Monday before finishing their season Wednesday at Ringgold.
Brownsville is in the driver’s seat in Section 2-AA. The Falcons (8-1) already have clinched a playoff berth with games at Burgettstown Monday, at Charleroi Tuesday and home to Beth-Center Wednesday. Brownsville’s next win assures it of no worse than a tie for the section title.
Waynesburg Central (6-3) is tied for second with Washington and would clinch a playoff berth with its next win. The Raiders host Fort Cherry Monday, Burgettstown Tuesday and travel to Washington Wednesday.
Beth-Center (2-6) has two games left with Charleroi, including Monday’s 6 p.m. match-up. The Bulldogs are at Brownsville Wednesday and face a make-up game against Washington as well. The Bulldogs would be eliminated with another loss.
Southmoreland (3-8) has been eliminated in Section 4-AA. The Scotties visit rival Mount Pleasant Tuesday before closing section play Wednesday at home to South Allegheny.
Section 1-A is still up for grabs with all teams except Frazier (4-8), Mapletown (2-10) and West Greene (0-11) eligible for the playoffs.
California (9-2) leads the pack now, ahead of Bentworth (9-3), Jefferson-Morgan (8-4), Carmichaels (7-4) and Geibel Catholic (7-4). The Trojans host West Greene Monday and Geibel Catholic Tuesday before closing out the section Wednesday at Bentworth.
Jefferson-Morgan hosts Carmichaels Monday and visits West Greene Wednesday. The Carmichaels-JM game could send the winner to the playoffs and eliminate the loser, based on what the Gators do. Geibel Catholic hosts Bentworth Monday, travels to California Tuesday and visits Frazier Wednesday.
It is possible for three teams to finish 10-4 and tied for the section crown.
Softball
Following is a breakdown of the area’s softball teams as they enter the home stretch of their regular season (Six-team section play each section opponent three times, so most ties can be broken. Therefore, it is likely each section will produce only three playoff teams):
Connellsville (6-8) has clinched a playoff berth based on its 2-1 record against Penn-Trafford (5-9). Even if the Lady Falcons lost to Albert Gallatin (4-10) and the Lady Warriors beat Norwin, Connellsville would qualify. Albert Gallatin has been eliminated.
Laurel Highlands (6-4) has a chance to reach the playoffs out of Section 2-AAA. If the Fillies sweep rival Uniontown (0-10) Monday and Tuesday and section champ Greensburg Salem beats Yough (7-4), the Fillies would qualify. Uniontown and Southmoreland (2-9) have been eliminated. The Lady Scots visit Derry Tuesday.
Belle Vernon has qualified for the playoffs out of Section 4-AAA. The Lady Leps (11-3) host section champ Elizabeth-Forward (13-1) Tuesday.
Waynesburg Central (7-5) has two games to play against Ringgold (4-8), including Monday’s scheduled game, and a game at McGuffey Tuesday. The Lady Raiders will qualify with their next win.
Beth-Center (10-4) has qualified out of Section 2-AA, while Brownsville (5-9) has been eliminated.
The second-place Lady Bulldogs ran their winning streak to six by defeating first-place Washington on Saturday. Beth-Center hosts the Lady Falcons on Tuesday.
California (5-8) was eliminated from playoff contention in Section 1-A after it was swept at Chartiers-Houston, 10-0 and 6-0. The first-place Lady Bucs improved to 14-0 in the section.
Carmichaels (12-1) is the Section 2-A champion and West Greene (10-4) has clinched second place. Jefferson-Morgan (7-5) wrapped up the third and final playoff spot in the section with a 7-5 victory over visiting Frazier on Saturday, which eliminated the Lady Commodores (5-9) from the postseason race.
Mapletown (5-8) and Geibel Catholic (0-12) have been knocked out of playoff contention as well. The Lady Maples could still tie J-M for third place, but would lose tiebreakers to the Lady Rockets.