A-K Valley baseball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 20, 2025

By: Bill Hartlep
Monday, May 19, 2025 | 3:25 PM

Purchase Photo Options

WPIAL baseball playoffs

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

1-Riverside (14-2) vs. 8-Burrell (13-8)

7 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 4-Waynesburg Central (16-3)/5-South Park (13-6) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Christian Lucarelli, Riverside; Ryan Wass, Burrell

Extra bases: The Panthers were WPIAL runners-up last season and returned a loaded lineup and rotation to earn the top seed in the Class 3A playoffs. Riverside edged No. 16 Shady Side Academy, 4-3, in the first round. Logan Young had the game-winning RBI on a bunt. Senior pitchers Zach Hare (6-0, 1.41 ERA) and Christian Lucarelli (4-1, 1.41) are headed to Slippery Rock and Duke, respectively. Coach Dan Oliastro is chasing his seventh WPIAL title at agate 81. … Burrell topped No. 9 Charleroi, 10-9, in the opening round Thursday. Ryan Wass was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, and David Kleckner, Parker Logut and Brayden Mell also knocked in runs. Stephen Hasson earned the win on the mound. The Bucs reached the WPIAL semifinals last season before falling to Avonworth. Burrell’s lone WPIAL title came in 1974.

Class 2A

Quarterfinals

6-Riverview (13-6) vs. 3-Burgettstown (12-4)

4:30 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny

Winner plays: Winner of 2-OLSH (13-7)/10-New Brighton (10-8) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Johnny Bertucci, Riverview; Matthew Bredel, Burgettstown

Extra bases: Riverview rolled past No. 11 California in the opening round 6-2. Johnny Bertucci, a Point Park commit, pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and also went 2 for 3 with an RBI. The Raiders, who lost to OLSH in the quarterfinals last season, are seeking their first WPIAL title. … Burgettstown is coming off a first-round bye after sharing the Section 1 title with Fort Cherry at 10-2. Burgettstown was a PIAA qualifier last season after beating OLSH in the third-place consolation game. Ace Matthew Brendel was 7-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 55 strikeouts in the regular season. Sam Elich is batting .432 with 15 RBIs. Brian Charles has knocked in 22 runs.

Class A

Quarterfinals

6-Carmichaels (13-4) vs. 3-Leechburg (14-3)

7 p.m. Tuesday at West Mifflin

Winner plays: Winner of 2-Eden Christian Academy (14-4)/10-Avella (11-7) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Players to watch: Robbie Wilson-Jones, Carmichaels; Jake Cummings, Leechburg

Extra bases: After finishing tied for second in Section 1, Carmichaels rolled to a 9-1 victory over No. 11 Union in the first round. Robbie Wilson-Jones was 2 for 3 with four RBIs, Brayden Andrews had three hits and Jordan Davis knocked in two runs. Colin Andrews threw a complete-game two-hitter with eight strikeouts. The Mighty Mikes, who lost to Bishop Canevin in the WPIAL semifinals last season, have won three WPIAL titles (2003, ‘05, ‘08). … Section 2 champion Leechburg had a first-round bye after going 14-0 in section play. Jake Cummings batted .537 in the regular season, and Mason Bertino hit .509 with 25 RBIs. Chase Henry, Bertino, Steven Senjan and Garrett Jones have bolstered the rotation. The Blue Devils, who are seeking their first WPIAL title, lost in the first round last season.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Burgettstown, Burrell, Carmichaels, Leechburg, Riverside, Riverview