By: Don Rebel

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | 11:46 PM

The diamond last 4 switches from baseball to softball Wednesday with eight WPIAL semifinals.

Two district softball groups have but to play a postseason sport, but they’re one win from the finals.

Due to the dimensions of Class 6A softball in District 7, solely six groups made the playoffs. The high two groups acquired byes whereas the opposite 4 battled in two quarterfinals.

Thus, high seed Seneca Valley and No. 2 seed Hempfield make their playoff debuts within the last 4.

The defending champion Raiders (16-1) open up towards Pine-Richland (7-14) at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

Seneca Valley beat Pine-Richland twice within the common season by scores of 10-0 and 11-0.

In the opposite semifinal, Hempfield (16-3) opens up the postseason towards rival Norwin (15-5) at Gateway at 2 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The Knights gained the primary assembly of the 12 months with loads of offense, 10-8, whereas the Spartans took the second sport that was pitching heavy, 2-1.

Young Lions on the prowl

The Class 5A softball semifinals area consists of three part champions in Armstrong, Shaler and Trinity, together with a younger No. 12 seed that refuses to assume they’re constructed for the longer term.

The future is now for a South Fayette workforce that begins 5 freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors.

The Lions stunned No. 5 North Hills within the opening spherical, 6-5, after which shocked No. 4 West Allegheny within the quarterfinals, 4-3.

South Fayette (12-9) now goes up towards the highest seed and defending champion Armstrong (18-1) at Gateway at 4 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

The different semifinal can be at Gateway at 6 p.m. as No. 2 Shaler (18-0) squares off with No. 3 Trinity (17-2) on Trib HSSN.

Bye now, advance later

There have been 4 byes in a WPIAL 4A softball playoff area with 12 groups.

The 4 groups that didn’t need to play a first-round sport are actually getting ready for a semifinals doubleheader at West Mifflin.

The two video games pit part rivals towards one another.

No. 1 Elizabeth Forward (17-0) takes on Belle Vernon (16-4) at 3 p.m. on Trib HSSN for a 3rd time this season.

The Warriors try to brush the Leopards and the season sequence between these Section 2-4A foes. EF gained the primary sport, 5-2, after which cruised to victory within the rematch, 11-1.

The second sport pits No. 2 Montour (14-3) towards No. 3 Chartiers Valley (17-2) at 5 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

These two groups we co-champions in Section 3-4A and cut up throughout the common season. The Colts gained the primary sport, 5-3, after which the Spartans prevailed within the second assembly, 6-2.

Final 4 flashback

Three of the 4 softball semifinalists in Class 2A additionally have been members within the 2A last 4 final spring.

A 12 months in the past, eventual champion Neshannock, Laurel, Frazier and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart performed within the semifinals.

The two groups that got here up in need of the finals have been Laurel and OLSH. The two then met within the WPIAL comfort sport and the Spartans defeated the Chargers, 6-0.

Those two groups meet Wednesday within the 2023 semifinals at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

Laurel is 15-2 and the winner of seven straight whereas OLSH is 14-3 and has gained eight of its final 9 video games.

The different semifinal has top-seeded Neshannock (18-0) taking over Greensburg Central Catholic (13-2) at North Allegheny at 3 p.m. on Trib HSSN.

Search for the golden planets

Two years in the past, the WPIAL 2A lacrosse champions have been out of this world.

On Wednesday, the Mars girls and boys lacrosse groups hope to brush up gold once more.

The Fightin’ Planets ladies lacrosse workforce faces Blackhawk within the 2A ladies finals at 6 p.m.

The Mars boys workforce appears to be like to succeed in seventh heaven when it battles South Fayette at 8 p.m.

Both title matches at Joe Walton Stadium at Robert Morris could be seen on Trib HSSN.

Mars and Blackhawk are in quest of their second district ladies lacrosse championships. The Cougars gained all of it in 2016.

The Fightin’ Planets boys workforce is making an attempt to win a seventh straight WPIAL crown whereas the Lions are taking pictures for his or her first title.

Also Wednesday, the 2A boys comfort match pits Penn-Trafford towards Hampton at 4 p.m. for a berth within the state playoffs.