WPIAL clinched: Softball playoff qualifiers through May 1, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 | 11:23 PM

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The WPIAL softball playoff field is filling up as the regular season winds down.

Coverage of the 2024 WPIAL softball playoffs here on Trib HSSN starts with the brackets being unveiled during the Playoff Pairings Show on Thursday, May 9.

The top four teams in each section qualify for the postseason. In 6A, the top six teams qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

Here are the teams that will battle for diamond gold, plus the latest playoff scenarios updated through Wednesday.

Class 6A

4 of at least 6 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Seneca Valley Raiders

Hempfield Spartans

North Allegheny Tigers

Pine-Richland Rams

• Norwin (6-8) can clinch with a win over Mt. Lebanon on Friday OR at Hempfield on Monday. Canon-McMillan (5-8) can clinch with a win over Baldwin on Thursday OR with wins over Seneca Valley on Friday and Pine-Richland on Monday. Baldwin (4-9) must win at Canon-McMillan on Thursday and defeat Butler on Tuesday and Wednesday and get some help.

Class 5A

Set with 16 playoff teams – no byes, no preliminary round games

Section 1

*North Hills Indians

Shaler Titans

Plum Mustangs

Fox Chapel Foxes

Section 2

*Armstrong River Hawks

Penn-Trafford Warriors

Latrobe Wildcats

Franklin Regional Panthers

Section 3

*West Allegheny Indians

South Fayette Lions

Mars Fightin’ Planets

Western Beaver Golden Beavers

Section 4

*Trinity Hillers

*Connellsville Falcons

Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

Bethel Park Black Hawks

Class 4A

11 of 13 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

*Indiana Little Indians

Knoch Knights

West Mifflin Titans

McKeesport Tigers

Highlands Golden Rams

Section 2

*Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Uniontown Red Raiders

Belle Vernon Leopards

• Laurel Highlands (5-6) can clinch with a win at Albert Gallatin on Thursday OR a Greensburg Salem loss. Greensburg Salem (4-7) can clinch with a win over Ringgold Thursday AND a Laurel Highlands loss. Greensburg Salem owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Section 3

*Hampton Talbots

Chartiers Valley Colts

Montour Spartans

• Blackhawk (5-6) can clinch with a win over Ambridge on Thursday. North Catholic (5-6) can clinch with a win over Hampton on Thursday AND a Blackhawk loss. Blackhawk owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Class 3A

15 of a possible 17 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

*Avonworth Antelopes

Burrell Buccaneers

Deer Lakes Lancers

Freeport Yellowjackets

Section 2

*Mohawk Warriors

Central Valley Warriors

Ellwood City Wolverines

Hopewell Vikings

Section 3

*Ligonier Valley Rams

Southmoreland Scotties

Yough Cougars

Mt. Pleasant Vikings

Section 4

*South Park Eagles

McGuffey Highlanders

Waynesburg Central Raiders

• Seton LaSalle (3-6) can clinch with a win over South Park on Friday. Brownsville (2-6) can clinch with wins over Keystone Oaks on Thursday and McGuffey on Friday. Keystone Oaks (2-7) can clinch with a win at Brownsville on Thursday AND a Seton LaSalle loss to South Park. Keystone Oaks would win the tiebreaker in the case of a three-way tie.

Class 2A

11 of at least 12 teams have clinched a playoff spot

Section 1

*Neshannock Lancers

Laurel Spartans

Shenango Wildcats

Riverside Panthers

Section 2

*Serra Catholic Eagles

Apollo-Ridge Vikings

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

Steel Valley Ironmen

Section 3

Bentworth Bearcats

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

Charleroi Cougars

Class A

Set with 12 playoff teams – four first round byes

Section 1

*Union Scotties

South Side Rams

Carlynton Cougars

Northgate Flames

Section 2

*Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Carmichaels Mighty Mikes

West Greene Pioneers

Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Section 3

Frazier Commodores

Jeannette Jayhawks

Monessen Greyhounds

Leechburg Blue Devils

*Section champion