With quick turnaround, rivals Hempfield, Norwin to meet in WPIAL 6A baseball semifinals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, May 19, 2025 | 11:16 PM

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A surprise semifinal matchup Tuesday night will mark the fourth meeting of the season between a pair of Westmoreland County baseball teams.

No. 4 seed Norwin (13-8) will take on No. 8 Hempfield (9-12) at 7 p.m. at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair for a spot in the WPIAL 6A championship game May 27 or 28 at EQT Park in Washington.

It will be a rematch of the teams’ last semifinal appearances — in 2021 when Hempfield won 12-2.

Both teams will have a short turnaround.

Norwin walked off No. 5 Butler for a 5-4 victory in Monday’s quarterfinals, with Jake Sincak scoring on an error with runners at second and third in the bottom of the ninth at North Allegheny.

Ryan Helphenstine doubled and drove in two runs, while Tristyn Tavares, who returned from an injury, had two hits, including a triple, for the Knights, who broke a five-game playoff losing streak.

Norwin coach Craig Spisak isn’t so much concerned with his team’s next opponent as he is getting into the semis.

“We’re just happy to be here,” he said.

Also on Monday, Hempfield stunned No. 1 North Allegheny, 3-1, as Josh Cayer won a pitchers’ duel against Nicolas Varlotta. Both allowed two hits, with Cayer striking out eight at Boyce-Mayview Park.

Drew Jones had two hits and Owen Shuglie knocked in two runs for the Spartans.

“North Allegheny has a great program and I am super-proud of our players,” Hempfield coach Tim Buzzard said. “They have really battled through adversity and came ready to play. We have a lot of respect for (Norwin) and the rivalry we have with them. It will be fun.”

Hempfield has been playing without standout Dylan Firmstone, a shortstop and pitcher who is a Penn State commit.

Spisak has no issue with playing on back-to-back days.

“It’s the playoffs,” he said. “The kids don’t mind the quick turnaround. I’m sure I speak for both teams.”

Hempfield won twice against Norwin in the teams’ three-game Section 2 series, by scores of 7-3 and 5-2.

Norwin won the middle game, 12-2.

Evan Dunlap blasted two home runs and drove in three runs, and Chase Sikorski, Colin Polechko and Max Bowin all had two hits for the Spartans in the series opener.

In the second game, Ian Kovalcik had two hits, Evan Dunlap doubled and Quinn Wilkins had two hits for the Spartans.

In the rubber match, Brayden Wardzinski pitched a complete game with six Ks, while Nate Silberman and Colton Gounder each went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for Norwin.

Leopards in semis

Belle Vernon also had less than 24 hours to get ready for its semifinal matchup with Indiana.

The Leopards haven’t made it this far since 2012, when they advanced to the final four for the first time.

On the strength of Parker Lind’s arm, fifth-seeded Belle Vernon blanked No. 4 Beaver, 5-0, to draw a matchup with No. 1 Indiana, a 1-0 winner of No 9 Ambridge.

Lind struck out 11 and gave up three hits, reaching 100 career strikeouts in the process.

Belle Vernon (15-6) and Indiana (20-1) will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway for a spot in the finals May 27 or 28 at EQT Park.

Indiana pitcher Greg Minnick struck out 17 in 7⅔ innings and combined with Ryan Okopal on a one-hitter in the Indians’ playoff opener.

Ambridge struck out 19 times against the Indians, who made the final last year and lost to North Catholic, 7-5.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Hempfield, Norwin