What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 26, 2024: 4 teams tied for section softball lead square off

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 25, 2024 | 11:53 PM

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Currently there are four, soon there will be two.

The amount of teams claiming a share of first place in Section 4-5A softball in the WPIAL will be cut in half by the end of Friday.

As of now, defending WPIAL champion Trinity (9-4), along with Connellsville (9-5), Thomas Jefferson (7-5) and Bethel Park (7-6) are all tied for first place with a section record of 5-3 with two section games remaining.

All four will square off in two big showdown battles for first place Friday.

Trinity hosts Thomas Jefferson. The Hillers are looking to sweep the season series after rolling past the Jaguars earlier this season, 14-6.

Connellsville will be home to Bethel Park. The Falcons are also bringing the brooms to the diamond after they beat the Black Hawks last week, 6-1.

All four teams have already clinched a WPIAL playoff berth.

Stopping the Bucs here … again?

Over the last two springs, the Burrell softball program has enjoyed great success with 22 total wins and a trip to the district final four last year.

However, the one obstacle that has forced the Bucs to stop four times in four meetings is Avonworth.

A year ago, the Antelopes won all three meetings over the Buccaneers.

The ‘Lopes beat them twice in the regular season by scores of 4-1 and 2-1.

Then the Section 1-3A rivals met in the district semifinals with Avonworth eliminating Burrell, 3-0.

On Friday, Burrell (8-4) and Avonworth (7-3) meet for a second time this season with first place at stake.

When the two teams squared off last week, offense ruled the day as Avonworth held on to beat Burrell, 8-6.

Coming into the rematch at Burrell, the Antelopes are 5-1 in the section, one game up in the loss column over the Buccaneers, who are 6-2.

Next in line

Defending WPIAL Class 2A baseball champion Seton LaSalle sits alone in first place in Section 2-2A with a perfect section record of 10-0.

Two teams are behind them fighting to improve their not yet clinched playoff spot as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (9-4) hosts Freedom (8-5) on Friday.

The Chargers can stay in the section title hunt with a home win as they are 7-1 in the section.

The Bulldogs are two games behind OLSH at 6-3, but they are also two games in front of Laurel, New Brighton and South Side in the fight for third place.

This is a makeup game from a series schedule in late March.

In the first game played on March 25, OLSH defeated Freedom, 10-5.