WPIAL Class 5A baseball consolation game capsule: Franklin Regional vs. West Allegheny

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | 5:24 PM

Purchase Photo Options

WPIAL baseball playoffs

Class 5A

Third-place game

Franklin Regional (19-2) vs. West Allegheny (18-6)

6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ross Memorial Park, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington

Winner: Clinches third place in the WPIAL and a berth into the PIAA playoffs. The loser is eliminated.

Players to watch: Darren DeRiggi, Franklin Regional; Brody Malatak, West Allegheny

Extra bases: An elimination game awaits a pair of WPIAL semifinalists, No. 6 Franklin Regional and No. 1 West Allegheny. Franklin Regional couldn’t defeat rival Penn-Trafford for a third time this season and fell to the Warriors, 10-3. Penn-Trafford scored six unearned runs in the third inning to break the game open. The Panthers, who have eight seniors, last played in the state tournament in 2021 when they won a WPIAL title. … West Allegheny is looking to rebound after falling to No. 4 Bethel Park, 7-6. Malatak tripled, and Brady Miller had an RBI double in the loss. Bethel Park scored four runs on six pitches in the third inning. The Indians reached the PIAA quarterfinals two years ago after winning the WPIAL championship.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, West Allegheny