What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 10, 2024: Softball powers Hempfield, Seneca Valley to meet again

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 11:51 PM

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There are 54 WPIAL softball section games slated for Wednesday, but the big one is a clash for early bragging rights and first place in Class 6A when Hempfield visits Seneca Valley at 4 p.m.

The Spartans are a combined 7-0 in the 6A standings and 11-0 overall.

The two have outscored their opponents by a margin of 63 runs.

Hempfield has outscored its four foes by an average of 7.5-1 by blanking half of their opponents.

In seven wins, Seneca Valley has an average score of 6.1-0.8 with five shutouts.

This budding rivalry is picking up from last year when they played three times.

In the two regular season meetings, Hempfield won the first game, 3-2, before Seneca Valley won the rematch, 3-0.

The two squared off in the 6A WPIAL title game at Cal (Pa.) with the Spartans defeating the Raiders in eight innings, 2-1.

One other section showdown between undefeated teams features Yough visiting Southmoreland.

Both teams are 1-0 atop Section 3-3A with the Cougars at 2-0 overall while the Scotties are a perfect 6-0 this season.

Eclipse fallout

It is a busier-than-usual Wednesday of section baseball in the WPIAL.

That is because of the rescheduling of many games due to the mid-afternoon solar eclipse Monday.

The problem is the forecast is calling for some wet weather throughout the district.

If the weather cooperates, one interesting matchup has Eden Christian Academy facing defending district Class A champion Bishop Canevin at Meyer-Middleton Field in Crafton.

The Warriors will be bringing their brooms after they pounded the 2023 champion Crusaders on Tuesday, 9-1, to take over first place in Section 3-A.

Defending 4A champion Hopewell will also try to avoid being swept when it faces Blackhawk at Chippewa Park Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Vikings were blanked at home by the Cougars, 4-0.

Tennis titles

The first champions of the spring high school sports season will be crowned Wednesday with the finals of the 2024 WPIAL boys singles tennis championships.

The top two seeds in Class 3A will collide when No. 1 Adam Memije, a junior from Gateway faces No. 2 Advaita Sircar, a freshman from North Allegheny.

Both players cruised to the semifinals Tuesday, only losing a combined three games in first round and quarterfinal victories.

Memije defeated junior Ari Plutko of Upper St. Clair, 6-1, 6-3, in the semis while Sircar knocked off Zidaan Hassan, a junior from Gateway, in the final four, 7-5, 6-2.

The 3A consolation and championship matches are scheduled for 1 p.m. at North Allegheny.

The Class 2A championship match also pits the top two seeds as Sewickley Academy junior Severin Harmon battles Aquinas Academy senior Jackson Gillespie.

Harmon defeated Jonah Jasek of South Park in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-0.

Gillespie ousted No. 11 seed Vitaliy Pikalo of Hampton, 6-1, 6-0.

All four 2A participants in the consolation and championship matches at North Allegheny at 1 p.m. have already clinched berths in the PIAA boys singles championship tournament in May.

Only the top two finishers in 3A qualify for the state playoffs.