By: Don Rebel

Sunday, May 21, 2023 | 8:11 PM

Welcome to quarterfinals Monday within the WPIAL baseball playoffs, when 24 video games shall be performed to whittle every classification from eight to 4 groups.

For the eight groups in Class 6A, welcome to the WPIAL playoffs.

These groups have recognized for over per week who their opponents could be however needed to wait to start the three rounds-only postseason.

Defending champion Mt. Lebanon (10-10) had a bumpy begin to the 2023 season, dropping its first eight video games. But the Blue Devils turned issues round and gained 10 of their remaining 12 video games.

Their quarterfinals opponent had a distinct script to its common season. Seneca Valley (16-4) began the season 10-0, together with a 5-3 win over Mt. Lebanon in late March. In a 10-day span in late April, the Raiders misplaced 4 of six however rebounded to win their remaining 4 common season video games.

The two groups battle at North Allegheny at 4 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The different three 6A quarterfinals are:

* Top seed Pine-Richland (14-6) going through Hempfield (11-9) at Plum at 6:30 p.m. The Rams beat the Spartans, 10-1,

within the season opener. (HSSN)

* No. 2-seed North Allegheny (14-6) will battle Norwin (8-11) at Boyce-Mayview in Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. The Tigers beat the Knights, 10-3, within the season opener. (HSSN)

* Section 2-6A champion Canon-McMillan (15-5) will play Butler (12-8) at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. within the first assembly of the yr between the Big Macs and Golden Tornado. (HSSN)

Back in black

One of the good rivalries in WPIAL baseball was restored this season when Upper St. Clair (10-11) dropped from 6A to 5A and was positioned in the identical part with Bethel Park (15-4).

It’s the black and purple towards the black and orange.

After the 2 regular-season conferences, the USC offense was black and blue. The Black Hawks beat the Panthers twice, successful on the highway at Boyce-Mayview, 3-0, then defeating them at dwelling, 3-2.

The two-time defending PIAA 5A champions completed robust. Bethel Park gained its remaining eight video games.

The two faculties situated close to Route 19 will head on down the freeway to Peterswood Park in Peters Township to play at 3:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The different three 5A quarterfinals are:

* Top seed Shaler (16-4) taking over Fox Chapel (13-8) at Plum at 4 p.m. The Titans beat the Foxes, 3-1, within the season opener. (HSSN)

* No. 4 Plum (13-7) will go up towards No. 5 South Fayette (16-4) at Gateway at 6:30 p.m. The Mustangs have gained 10 of their final 11, and the Lions have been winners in 9 of their final 10. (HSSN)

* It shall be PT vs. P-T when Peters Township (14-6) performs Penn-Trafford (13-5) at West Mifflin at 2 p.m. The Indians eradicated the Warriors within the quarterfinals a yr in the past, 6-5. (HSSN)

Survive and advance

On paper, it was purported to be simple. Thank goodness they don’t play on paper.

Traditional energy Blackhawk completed as co-champ in Section 1-4A with Montour, and the 2 have been awarded the highest two seeds on this yr’s 4A playoffs with the Spartans No. 1 and the Cougars No. 2.

Blackhawk barely survived to advance previous the primary spherical.

Thomas Jefferson took Blackhawk to the restrict and past earlier than the Cougars prevailed 5-4 in 9 innings.

Now Blackhawk (15-2) faces an Indiana (14-7) staff that cruised previous Laurel Highlands, 12-4, within the postseason opener.

The Cougars and Little Indians sq. off at Seneca Valley at 6:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The different three 4A quarterfinals are:

* Top seed Montour (18-3) taking part in Hampton (9-9) at West Mifflin at 4:30 p.m. The Spartans beat the Talbots, 10-6, in a nonsection recreation a month in the past. (HSSN)

* No. 4 Chartiers Valley (14-6) towards Latrobe (15-6) at Gateway at 4 p.m. in a battle of part champions and two groups that misplaced to Thomas Jefferson within the 5A playoffs a yr in the past. (HSSN)

*Giant killers Hopewell (September 11) take purpose at North Catholic (10-10) at Seneca Valley at 4 p.m. The Vikings attempt to upset the Trojans after guaranteeing a brand new champ shall be topped after they beat 2022 4A champion West Mifflin within the opening spherical.

Returning to the scene of the upsets

All of the upper seeds within the WPIAL 3A baseball playoffs superior with opening-round wins besides for 2. No. 5 Greensburg Salem misplaced to No. 12 Mohawk, 9-3, in Shaler, proper after No. 10 Shenango eradicated the 2022 3A champion South Park, 6-3.

The Warriors and Wildcats return to the upset grounds of Matulevic Field Monday to try to once more advance by the hands of a better seeded staff.

Last season’s runner-up, Mohawk (13-7), will problem No. 4 East Allegheny (13-5) at 2 p.m., and 2021 champion Shenango (9-8) goes up towards Avonworth (16-5) at 4 p.m.

Both video games are on Trib HSSN.

The different two 3A quarterfinals are:

* Top-seed and undefeated Riverside (18-0) goes up towards Freeport (15-5) at Pullman Park in Butler at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers reached the semifinals a yr in the past, and the resurgent Yellowjackets didn’t even make the playoffs final spring.

* No. 3-seed Yough (16-5) battles Neshannock (16-4) at Highlands at 7 p.m. The Cougars are coming off back-to-back part titles for the primary time, and the Lancers hope to make it again to the finals once more after falling to Serra Catholic within the 2A title recreation final season. (HSSN)

Silver linings

In 2021, each Seton LaSalle and Riverview performed within the WPIAL championship recreation at Wild Things Park in Washington.

The favored Rebels have been shocked by Shenango within the 2A championship recreation, 2-1, whereas the wild postseason run by the underdog Raiders ended with a misplaced to Union, 3-0, within the Class A finals.

Fast ahead two years, and Seton LaSalle (14-4) and Riverview (10-7) are set to sq. off in a 2A quarterfinals recreation at Gateway at 1:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The Rebels have gained three straight video games and 10 of their final 12. The Raiders dropped three video games in a row to finish the common season earlier than beating Charleroi, 7-2, in Round 1.

The different three 2A quarterfinals are:

* Top seed and defending champion Serra Catholic (17-2) faces Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (13-8) at Norwin at 4 p.m. These groups performed at PNC Park in mid-April, with the Eagles beating the Chargers, 9-1. (HSSN)

* No. 4 Burgettstown (13-3) will battle No. 5 South Side (15-4) at Boyce-Mayview in Upper St. Clair at 1 p.m. These groups final met in 2021, with the Rams beating the Blue Devils, 12-3. (HSSN)

* No. 3 New Brighton (14-4) goes up towards the wearer of the 2A glass slipper, Ligonier Valley (12-7) at Fox Chapel at 3 p.m. While the Lions loved a first-round bye, the Rams earned their first WPIAL baseball playoff win with a stunner over Chartiers-Houston, 9-8, in eight innings.

Co-champs collide

California (12-7) and Carmichaels (15-3) completed as co-champions in Section 1-A, however as a result of the Trojans beat the Mighty Mikes twice by scores of 5-4, Cal obtained a first-round bye because the No. 4-seed, and Carmichaels was given the No. 5 seed.

The Mighty Mikes cruised previous Cornell, 11-0, of their first-round playoff recreation to arrange the third assembly between these two southern small-school powers.

Both groups have been a part of the Class 2A postseason a yr in the past, with Carmichaels dropping within the quarterfinals and California dropping within the first spherical. Meeting No. 3 of the season is at Peterswood Park in Peters Township at 6:30 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The different three A quarterfinals are:

* Top seed and two-time defending champion Union (12-4) will play Sewickley Academy (10-7) at Pullman Park in Butler at 2 p.m. The Scotties are 6-0 within the district playoffs because the wiped-out covid season in 2020. The Panthers are 2-2 this decade. (HSSN)

* No. 2 Eden Christian Academy (12-4) will tackle Rochester (9-7) at Boyce-Mayview in Upper St. Clair at 4 p.m. The Warriors and Rams are former part foes, final assembly on the diamond in 2019 after they break up their two common season video games. (HSSN)

* Section 2 and three second-place finishers collide when Leechburg (13-4) faces Bishop Canevin (12-3) at Highlands at 4 p.m. The Blue Devils and Crusaders have been ousted within the opening spherical of the playoffs final spring.

Three return to remaining 4

Three of the 4 semifinalists in Class 3A and 2A from the 2022 WPIAL ladies lacrosse semifinals have returned to this yr’s district remaining 4.

In 3A, final spring’s semifinals have been Shady Side Academy defeating Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon eliminating Pine-Richland.

On Monday, the top-seeded Rams battle the defending champion Bulldogs at North Allegheny, and final yr’s runner-up Blue Devils tackle Fox Chapel at Bethel Park.

In 2A a yr in the past, Chartiers Valley shocked top-seed Blackhawk, and Mars beat Hampton.

The 2023 2A remaining 4 characteristic defending champion Chartiers Valley going up towards top-seed Mars at Shaler in a rematch of the title recreation gained by the Colts, 17-6, final yr. The different semifinals matchup has Blackhawk battling Quaker Valley at Martorelli Stadium in West View.

All 4 ladies lacrosse semifinals matches are at 6 p.m.

Defending champs tackle the South Hills

Last yr, Shady Side Academy gained this system’s second boys lacrosse 3A district crown. Now the Bulldogs should get by two South Hills groups to win back-to-back gold.

Shady Side Academy faces high seed Peters Township at North Allegheny on Monday in a 3A semifinals match. The different remaining 4 contest in 3A boys lacrosse pits rivals Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair towards one another at close by Bethel Park.

In the 2A semifinals, six-time defending champion Mars performs Hampton at Shaler. No. 2 goes up towards No. 3 when South Fayette performs Penn-Trafford at Martorelli Stadium in West View.

All 4 boys lacrosse semifinals matches are at 7:45 p.m.

Tags: Avonworth, Bethel Park, Bishop Canevin, Blackhawk, Burgettstown, Butler, California, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Chartiers Valley, East Allegheny, Eden Christian, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Hampton, Hempfield, Hopewell, Indiana, Latrobe, Leechburg, Ligonier Valley, Mars, Mohawk, Montour, Mt. lebanon, Neshannock, New Brighton, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Norwin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Plum, Quaker Valley, Riverside, Riverview, Rochester, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, Seton La Salle, Sewickley Academy, Shaler, Shenango, South Fayette, South Side, Union, Upper St. Clair, Yough