In a little over two weeks, the WPIAL Softball & Baseball regular seasons will be over with playoff pairings due late the week of May 4. The top four teams in each section quality in each class except for 6A softball where the top six teams will enter the playoffs. All softball sections involving teams from Washington/Greene Counties end section play by May 2. Most baseball teams play their final section games May 5. We’ll open our Stretch Drive coverage with a pair of games Monday: Bentworth at Wash High softball at 2:45 pm, South Fayette at Trinity baseball at 6:45 pm. Both games will be live on WJPA-AM (1450) and online Watch/Listen Here! Following is a rundown of playoff races for teams from the two-county area (section records).
Softball
6A Canon-McMillan (4-6) has lost 6 straight but currently hold the final playoff spot. The Big Macs have a game with last place Butler, then play three of the top four teams in the section.
5A Trinity (6-3) has clinched a playoff spot. Peters Township (4-7) has one game left. The Indians must beat Connellsville (4-5) Wednesday and see the Falcons lose one other game to qualify.
4A Ringgold (0-10) can not qualify.
3A McGuffey (5-2) has clinched with three games left. Charleroi (2-5) sits in fourth place and clinches with any win. The Cougars play first place South Park, then twice against winless East Allegheny.
2A-Sect. 3 Chartiers-Houston (7-0), Burgettstown (6-2) have both clinched. Fort Cherry (1-7) can not qualify.
2A-Sect. 4 Bentworth (5-0) is in first place, followed by Wash High (5-2). The two play Monday on WJPA-AM (3:45 pm). The winner clinches a playoff spot. Waynesburg (3-4) is currently a half-game back of Frazier for the final playoff spot. The two play Monday in Perryopolis. California (0-8) can not qualify.
1A Jeff-Morgan (7-1), Carmichaels (6-1), West Greene (6-2), Beth-Center (3-5) have all clinched playoff spots. Mapletown (1-8) and Avella (0-6) can not qualify.
Baseball
6A Canon-McMillan (7-2) has clinched a playoff spot and can wrap up at least a share of the section title with two wins against Hempfield this week.
5A Peters Township (3-3), Trinity (2-4) are part of a 5-team logjam separated by 2 games. Peters has two-game series with Upper St. Clair (2-4), Trinity and South Fayette (6-2). The Hillers take on section leader South Fayette Monday (WJPA-AM 6:4 5pm) & Tuesday, then play Peters Township and Moon Area (4-2), likely needing to win at least 4 of their last 6 games.
4A Ringgold (3-5) sits in 4th place at the moment and has series with Uniontown and Laurel Highlands, both 2-4. The Rams are one game up on both, having split with Belle Vernon (6-2) while the Red Raiders and Mustangs were swept by the Leopards.
3A Charleroi (4-4), Wash High (3-3) and Waynesburg (3-3) are tied for second. McGuffey (2-4) is a game back of the tie. Wash High takes on first-place Seton-La Salle (7-1) while Waynesburg & McGuffey play their two-game set this week. The Little Prexies and Highlanders meet next week. Charleroi is off this week, then closes with two-game sets against Brownsville (3-5) and Waynesburg.
2A Fort Cherry and California are both 6-0 and meet next week. The Rangers play third-place Chartiers-Houston (5-2) this week while the Trojans take on Frazier (2-3). Burgettstown (2-4) is a game outside the playoff picture and will play Frazier next week after taking on Bentworth (1-7) twice this week. Beth-Center (1-7) is off this week before facing Bentworth and Frazier to close the season.
1A Avella (7-1) needs just one win to clinch a playoff spot. The Eagles are a game back of first place Greensburg Central Catholic (5-0). The two play their two-game set this week, then the Centurions play a make-up game with third-place Carmichaels (4-3). The Mikes and Avella play next week. Jeff-Morgan (4-4) plays winless Mapletown this week while West Greene (2-4) takes on Jeannette (1-5). J-M swept West Greene and holds the tie-breaker for the final playoff spot at the moment.