SOFTBALL–CLICK for WPIAL Brackets— Bethel Park’s Sandra Soltes homered twice, including a first-inning grand slam, and drove in eight runs leading the Blackhawks to their first-ever WPIAL softball championship, downing Canon-McMillan, 9-2, in Thursday’s title game. Canon-McMillan hadn’t been to the finals since losing the 2014 title tilt. Bethel Park had lost its three previous championship game appearances (1981, 1987, 1994). Both teams had already qualified for the state playoffs which begin Monday.
West Greene (1A) pounded Union, 17-2, in four innings, winning their fifth straight WPIAL title. The Pioneers join Sto-Rox (2000-2004) and Hempfield (2015-2019) as the only teams to win five consecutive WPIAL softball championships.
BASEBALL–CLICK for WPIAL Brackets— Brock Wallace scored twice, Jake Orr and Austin Beattie combined on a five-hitter as McGuffey downed Avonworth, 2-1, taking third place in WPIAL Class 3A. With the win, the Highlanders secured their first-ever PIAA playoff berth. McGuffey will travel into District 10 to play Hickory, the D10 champion.
Jack Lutte scored one run and drove in the other as Peters Township edged West Allegheny, 2-1, taking third place in Class 5A. Sam Miller got the win, holding WA to one run and three hits in five innings. Tucker Ferris threw two shutout innings to pick up the save. Both have already clinched PIAA berths. Carmichaels lost to Serra, 7-2, Tuesday evening but the Mikes already had their state berth in hand. Jeff-Morgan lost to Eden Christian, 9-2, ending the Mikes’ season.
WPIAL Championships at California University’s Lilley Field
Thursday, June 3
Bethel Park, 9, Canon-McMillan 2
PIAA First Round
Monday, June 7 (broadcasts, sites & times to be announced)
5A Peters Township vs. D6 champion Central Mountain, likely at Bald Eagle High School
3A McGuffey vs. D10 champion Hickory, likely at Slippery Rock University
2A Carmichaels vs. D9 champion Johnsonburg
6A Canon-McMillan vs. D6 champion Mifflin County, likely at Penn State University
1A West Greene vs. District 5 runner-up (Meyersdale/Shade loser)