WPIAL baseball schedules are set to end this week for nearly all 6A-5A-4A teams with the three smaller classes set to end May 7. The top four teams in each section will qualify for the playoffs along with any unbreakable ties. The WPIAL Baseball Committee is scheduled to meet on May 10 to set the pairings for this year’s tournaments. Here’s a snapshot for each team in the Washington-Greene County area:
Baseball: 6A Canon-McMillan (7-5) is in third place, a half-game ahead of Norwin, three games up on Central Catholic. The Big Macs face Central Catholic in a three-game series this week, needing one win to clinch. C-M can finish anywhere from tied for first to out of the playoffs.
5A Trinity (5-3) clinched a playoff spot with a sweep of South Fayette last week. Now, the Hillers can claim a share of the section title with one win against Bethel Park. With a sweep, Trinity wins the title outright. Peters Township (3-5) plays a two-game set with Connellsville (4-4) needing a sweep to make the playoffs.
4A Ringgold (3-5) moved into playoff position with a two-game sweep of Laurel Highlands, eliminating the Mustangs. The Rams are tied with Uniontown and Albert Gallatin for the final two spots. Ringgold & AG play twice this week, each clinching a playoff spot with any win. Uniontown plays Laurel Highlands and will take a playoff spot with any win or if Ringgold & Albert Gallatin split their series.
3A Waynesburg (8-0) leads the way, one game up on Mount Pleasant (7-1) with the two playing their two-game series this week. Both teams have already clinched playoff spots. McGuffey (5-3) is third and battles Yough (4-4) this week. Waynesburg & McGuffey play their home-and-home series next week. Greensburg Salem (4-4) is also in the running for a playoff spot.
2A Burgettstown (6-1) took over first place with a wild win at Chartiers-Houston (6-2) in a make-up game. Charleroi (6-3), Wash High (4-4) and Beth-Center (3-5) follow. Bentworth (2-8) is in last place and has been eliminated. Burgettstown has Wash High twice Charleroi in a make-up game, then a pair with Frazier next week. Chartiers-Houston takes on Frazier twice this week, then closes with a series against Charleroi next week. After the Burgettstown series, Wash High has a home-and-home with Beth-Center, possibly deciding the final playoff spot. The Bulldogs play Bentworth home-and-home this week.
1A Fort Cherry (6-2) and Carmichaels (6-2) lead the way, one game up on Avella (5-3). The Rangers split a pair with West Greene (5-3) while Carmichaels swept Avella. Jeff-Morgan (4-6) and California (2-6) are still alive but sit three games back in the loss column with four to play. Mapletown (0-8) has been eliminated. Series this week include Fort Cherry vs. Mapletown, Carmichaels vs. West Greene and Avella vs. California.