What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 18, 2026: Class 6A baseball bracket finally gets going

By: Don Rebel


Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 9:18 PM

It’s a busy begin to an enormous week with WPIAL baseball and softball quarterfinals together with boys volleyball and lacrosse semifinals all on Monday.

The solely match that has not began finally gets underway with Class 6A baseball.

There are 4 quarterfinals, together with No. 5 Central Catholic taking on No. 4 Norwin at Gateway at 7 p.m.

Eleven years in the past, the Vikings earned their first district baseball championship with a shutout of the Knights, 2-0.

Jack Tumulty was the successful pitcher for Central Catholic, throwing a whole sport whereas permitting six hits and hanging out six.

This season, the Vikings received off to an important begin, successful 5 of their first six Section 1-6A video games.

However, six straight losses in part collection sweeps by North Allegheny and Butler dropped Central Catholic right into a third-place tie with Seneca Valley at 5-7 in the part and 9/11 total.

The Knights swept Section 2-6A collection from Hempfield and Woodland Hills whereas getting swept by Canon-McMillan. They completed in a tie for the part crown with the Big Macs at 8-4 after taking two out of three from Mt. Lebanon in their closing part collection. They are 12-8 for the season.

On March 21, in the second sport of the season for each groups, host Norwin defeated Central Catholic, 6-1.

Caden Sivrich was the successful pitcher for the Knights whereas Joshua McFadden suffered the lack of the Vikings.

Leading 3-1, Norwin put the sport away with three runs in the underside of the sixth inning.

In the three different Class 6A quarterfinals:

• Top-seeded Butler faces No. 8 Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny at 7 p.m.. The Section 1 champion Golden Tornado are 17-3 and have gained 10 straight whereas the Blue Devils are 13-7 and completed the season splitting their closing six video games.

• No. 2 Canon-McMillan goes up in opposition to No. 7 Seneca Valley at Boyce-Mayview Field in Upper St. Clair at 4 p.m. The Section 2-6A co-champion Big Macs are 15-5 with wins in three of their final 4 video games whereas the defending champion Raiders are 10-10 with 4 consecutive losses.

• No. 3 North Allegheny battles No. 6 Hempfield at Boyce-Mayview Field in Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. The Section 1-6A runner-up Tigers are 12-8 and had been 4-4 in their closing eight video games. The Spartans are 10-10 with wins in three of their closing 4 video games of the common season.

Section 3-4A robust

We are down to the elite eight in the district Class 4A baseball playoffs, and half the sector is from Section 3-4A.

It helps that the co-champions in the part, Indiana and Valley, loved a first-round bye whereas the third- and fourth-place groups, Knoch and Derry, had been winners into the quarterfinals.

Two of these groups collide in the second spherical Monday when top-seeded Indiana tangles with No. 8 Knoch at Gateway at 4 p.m.

The Little Indians are 15-4 the season after successful each the WPIAL and PIAA championships.

Indiana gained its first six video games and completed with victories in 4 of its final 5 contests.

The Knights are 13-8, however dropped their closing three video games this season.

In the opening spherical, Zane Pacek was the successful pitcher, permitting solely three hits because the Knights edged Blackhawk, 2-1.

Knoch and Indiana break up their two common season video games with every successful a low-scoring sport at house.

The Knights gained in Russleton, 2-1 on April 21, whereas the Little Indians returned the favor with a 1-0 victory at White Township Park.

A yr in the past, coming off a first-round bye, Indiana wanted 9 innings to edge Ambridge, 1-0.

There are three different Class 4A quarterfinals Monday:

• Following upset losses by No. 4 Beaver and No. 5 Belle Vernon, it will likely be No. 13 Derry taking purpose at No. 12 Hampton in the second spherical at Plum at 7 p.m. The Trojans are 8-9 following a 2-1 win over Beaver in which Max Doherty drove house two and picked up the win. The Talbots are 13-8 and coming off a 7-1 victory over Belle Vernon as Caleb Custer had two hits with a double and an RBI.

• No. 2 Elizabeth Forward comes off a bye to face No. 7 West Mifflin at Norwin at 4 p.m. The 2025 runner-up Warriors are 14-5 after successful the Section 2-4A crown whereas the Titans are 14-6 following a 3-1 win over Ambridge in which Derek Tudek had two hits and a double. EF swept the part collection from West Mifflin, successful 3-1 and 5-4.

• No. 3 Valley will take on No. 6 Hopewell at West Mifflin at 6:30 p.m. The Valley Vikings are 14-5 and had a first-round bye after incomes a share of the Section 3-4A title. The Hopewell Vikings are 15-5 after beating Ringgold, 5-3, behind starter Kington Krotec, who additionally was 2 for 4 on the plate with a double.

Going again vs. Cali

Fort Cherry took over sole possession of first place in Section 1-2A baseball in the final part collection in April by successful each video games in opposition to California.

Now the highest two groups in the part are set to meet in the quarterfinals because the Rangers face the Trojans at Joe Maize Field in Peterswood Park in Peters Township at 6:30 p.m.

Fort Cherry gained its first 16 video games of the season earlier than struggling its first loss in the common season finale in opposition to Burgettstown.

California is 12-6, and regardless of the late losses to Fort Cherry, has gained 4 straight together with a first-round win over defending Class 2A champion Freedom, 3-1. Weston Monticelli was the successful pitcher in the postseason opener, permitting solely 4 hits.

In their two video games performed three weeks in the past, the Rangers beat the Trojans, 9-0 and 12-7.

There are three different quarterfinals in Class 2A Monday:

• No. 4 Riverview will take on No. 5 Laurel at North Allegheny at 4 p.m. The Raiders are 13-6 following a first-round win in eight innings over Frazier, 5-4, in which Miles Duncan had two hits and two RBIs, together with the walk-off sport successful single. Laurel is 11-6 and blanked Burgettstown in the opening spherical, 7-0, with Luca Santini throwing a one-hitter and hanging out 13.

• No. 2 Neshannock is challenged by No. 7 Apollo-Ridge at Pullman Park in Butler at 7 p.m. The Lancers had a first-round bye as co-champs in Section 2-2A with a file of 16-3. The Vikings are 12-8 after beating Shenango in the primary spherical, 2-1, behind the pitching of Brody Henderson.

• No. 3 South Side performs No. 11 New Brighton in a battle of Beaver County groups at Pullman Park in Butler at 4 p.m. The Rams gained the Section 3-2A title outright with a file of 14-3. The Lions are 9-9 after upending OLSH in the primary spherical thanks to Carter Jackson, who was 3 for 3 with a double, triple and two RBIs.

Then there was one with none

With late common season losses by Freeport and Fort Cherry, Greensburg Central Catholic is the one district baseball crew with no losses.

The Centurions gained the Section 1-A title outright with a 12-0 file and completed 16-0 in the common season.

Following a first-round bye, No. 2 GCC opens the postseason in opposition to No. 7 Jefferson-Morgan at Ross Memorial Field on the W&J Sports Complex at 4 p.m.

The Centurions have been dominant this season, scoring 165 runs whereas permitting solely 31.

The solely margin of victory nearer than 4 runs for Greensburg Central Catholic was when it defeated Carmichaels, 5-3.

The Rockets are 12-8 following a first-round victory over Union, 6-2.

In that sport, Brayden Ellsworth was 4 for 4 with an RBI.

This would be the third assembly of the season between these part foes.

The Centurions swept the Rockets again in March by scores of 4-0 and 8-2.

There are three different quarterfinals in Class A Monday:

• Top-seeded Eden Christian Academy faces No. 8 Carmichaels at Ross Memorial Field on the W&J Sports Complex at 6:30 p.m. The Warriors captured the Section 3-A title with a 13-4 file and have gained 12 of their final 13 video games. The 2025 runner-up Mighty Mikes are 9-8 and coming off a playoff win over Sewickley Academy, 7-4, in which Dom Yazzoni was the successful pitcher and drove in two runs.

• No. 4 Western Beaver battles No. 12 Bishop Canevin at Joe Mize Field at Peterswood Park in Peters Township at 4 p.m. The Golden Beavers are Section 2-A winners with an 11-3 file with wins in 5 of their final six video games. The Crusaders improved to 7-10 once they shocked Leechburg in the primary spherical, 9-5, thanks in half to Nate Astor going 3 for 4 with a house run and three RBIs.

• No. 3 Serra Catholic takes on No. 11 Aquinas Academy at West Mifflin at 4 p.m. The defending champion Eagles had been the Section 3-A runners-up with a file of 12-6. The Crusaders are 10-5 after a first-round overcome Avella, 5-2, in which Patrick Richthammer had a double and drove house two runs.

Softball too?

Avonworth and South Park have turn out to be big-time rivals on the baseball discipline.

Perhaps these faculties are prepared to carry that rivalry over to the softball diamond.

For the second straight yr, the Antelopes and Eagles will battle in the district softball postseason once they collide at Gateway at 3 p.m.

No. 8 Avonworth is 11-8 after caring for Yough in the opening spherical, 3-2.

Ana Fowler was the successful pitcher for the ‘Lopes with 12 strikeouts, plus she had a double and an RBI.

South Park is the highest seed and loved a first-round bye.

The Eagles are 17-1 and winner of Section 3-3A. They had been victorious in their first 16 video games this season earlier than shedding in eight innings to the highest crew in Class 6A, Hempfield, by a rating of 7-6.

These groups performed in the WPIAL 3A semifinals a yr in the past with the Eagles defeating the Antelopes, 9-6.

Winning pitcher Sydney Sekely additionally had two hits for South Park. Emma Obersteiner and Abby Brooks every smacked two-run homers for Avonworth.

There are three different quarterfinals in Class 3A Monday:

• No. 4 Ellwood City clashes with No. 5 McGuffey at North Allegheny at 7 p.m. The Wolverines loved a first-round bye after a 9-5 common season and a second-place end to Mohawk in Section 2-3A. The Highlanders are 10-6 and superior to the quarters with a win over Hopewell, 7-3. Miley Main was the successful pitcher as she struck out 12 and drove in two runs.

• Defending champion Mohawk is the No. 2 seed because it prepares to face No. 7 Keystone Oaks at Seneca Valley at 6:30 p.m. The Warriors gained the Section 2-3A crown with a 14-5 file and earned a first-round bye. The Golden Eagles improved to 16-4 with a 6-0 win in the primary spherical over Deer Lakes. Kennadi Smith was the successful pitcher with 11 strikeouts and likewise was 3 for 4 on the plate with an RBI.

• No. 6 Burrell battles No. 3 Mt. Pleasant at Gateway at 5 p.m. The Buccaneers are 11-8 after eliminating Charleroi, 6-3. Christian Gural drove in three for the Bucs. The Vikings gained the Section 1-3A crown and had a first-round bye. Mt. Pleasant defeated Burrell twice this season by scores of 8-2 and 12-2.

Again and many times

For the third straight postseason in the WPIAL Class 2A softball bracket, there’s a quarterfinals ‘Cat struggle.

Once once more in the second spherical, it will likely be Bentworth in opposition to Shenango, this time at Montour at 5 p.m.

In the 2024 second spherical, No. 2 Bentworth beat No. 7 Shenango, 8-1.

Last spring, the No. 12 Bearcats as soon as once more eradicated the No. 13 Wildcats, 3-1.

Now Bentworth tries to make it three in a row, this time because the No. 3 seed.

The Bearcats gained the Section 4-2A title outright with a file of 18-2, together with a first-round victory over Burgettstown, 5-0.

Junior pitcher Sydney Gonglik put on a present, throwing a seven-inning no-hitter with 19 strikeouts.

She additionally was 3 for 3 on the plate with two doubles and a house run.

Shenango hopes the third time is a attraction as it’s the No. 6 seed.

The Wildcats had been tied for second in uber-tough Section 1-2A, one sport behind top-seeded Laurel.

Addison Downing was 3 for 3 with a double and 4 RBIs as Shenango improved to 15-5 with a first-round win over Apollo-Ridge, 11-1.

The different quarterfinals in Class 2A Monday:

• No. 1 Laurel will go up in opposition to No. 9 Frazier at North Allegheny at 5 p.m. The Spartans are 14-5 after defeating Shady Side Academy in three innings, 15-0, behind a no-hitter from Riley Balcolm with eight strikeouts. The Commodores improved to 12-9 by upending Seton LaSalle in the opening spherical, 6-3, thanks to a three-hit sport by Morgan Fisher.

• Four-time defending champion and No. 5 Neshannock will look to keep away from one other upset by No. 13 Brownsville at Montour at 3 p.m. The Lancers began off their newest title protection with a victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 11-1, as Gianna Paglia had three hits and 5 RBIs. The Falcons flew previous South Allegheny in the opener, 8-1. Winning pitcher Ava Clark had two hits and three RBIs.

• No. 2 Chartiers-Houston will take on No. 7 Riverside at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 4 p.m. The Buccaneers edged Washington in the opener, 2-1, to enhance to 17-2. Aubree Randolph tripled in the Bucs’ win. The Panthers beat Brentwood, 6-1, in Round 1 to transfer to 9-5 on the season. Both Saeryn Hoover and Addison Drake homered for Riverside.

‘A’ rematches

All eight groups that reached the quarterfinals in WPIAL Class A softball a yr in the past are again into the second spherical this spring.

Two of the 4 contests Monday are quarterfinal rematches.

Top-seeded Union will take on No. 8 Jeannette at North Allegheny at 3 p.m.

The Scotties are 16-2 this yr and captured the Section 1-A title outright. They had a first-round bye final week.

The Jayhawks moved to 11-3 on the season with a first-round win over Bishop Canevin, 10-0.

Grace Stein not solely threw a one-hitter for the ‘Hawks with 16 punchouts, she additionally smacked a 3-run homer.

Last yr in the quarters, Union wanted 5 innings to advance previous Jeannette, 10-0.

In the opposite rematch from a yr in the past, No. 3 West Greene battles No. 6 South Side at Trinity Middle School at 5 p.m.

The Pioneers are 12-7 and coming off a first-round bye after ending second to Carmichaels in Section 2-A.

The Rams at the moment are 10-8 following an in depth first-round win over Beth-Center, 4-3.

Brooke McNary was 3 for 3 with an RBI for the Rams.

Last yr’s assembly was a thriller as West Greene superior with an eight-inning win over South Side, 7-6.

In the opposite two Class A quarters:

• No. 4 Serra Catholic faces No. 5 Jefferson-Morgan at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township at 6 p.m. The Eagles claimed the Section 3-A crown with a file of 12-5 and are coming off a bye. Emilee Bazzoli was 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs to lead the Rockets previous Leechburg, 18-2, to enhance to 15-6.

• No. 2 Carmichaels might be challenged by No. 7 Sewickley Academy at Trinity MS at 7 p.m. The Mighty Mikes had a bye final week after successful the Section 2-A title with a file of 15-4. The Panthers at the moment are 10-3 after beating Monessen, 10-7. Sutton Rea had two doubles and two runs batted in for SA.

Volleyball as anticipated

The 2026 WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs have gone as deliberate when the steering committee arrange the brackets.

The high 4 seeds will sq. off Monday in the Class 3A closing 4 whereas the highest three seeds together with the No. 5 seed have reached the semifinals in Class 2A.

Here are the 4 matches that may set the stage for the 2 district championship matches Wednesday.

In Class 3A:

• It was 30 years in the past when Baldwin defeated Penn Hills to win its first and solely WPIAL boys volleyball Class 3A championship. Now the Highlanders are two wins away from a second gold, however they need to defeat high seed and defending champion North Allegheny. No. 4 Baldwin (15-3) and NA (11-0) meet at North Catholic at 6 p.m.

• What a turnaround season this has been for Butler. A yr in the past, the Golden Tornado missed the playoffs and completed 8-7. This spring, they’re the No. 2 seed with a file of 15-4. On Monday, they battle rival and 2025 district runner-up, No. 3 Seneca Valley (13-4) at North Catholic at 7:30 p.m.

In Class 2A:

• Top-seed Shaler (14-1) has its eye on a fourth consecutive WPIAL boys volleyball crown and a repeat of 2A gold. But they first should handle No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (10-7), contemporary off a win over No. 4 Deer Lakes in the quarterfinals. The Titans and Jaguars collide at Chartiers Valley at 6 p.m.

• Five years in the past, Seton LaSalle gained its first and solely WPIAL boys volleyball title in 2021. The Rebels are 20-1 and the No. 2 seed as they put together to take on undefeated and No. 3 seed South Fayette (17-0) at Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m.

Lacrosse closing 4

Last yr, Mt. Lebanon in Class 3A and Mars in 2A dominated the district lacrosse scene.

The Blue Devils and Fightin’ Planets swept gold in each the girls and boys brackets.

It marked the second straight yr each applications pulled off the sweep since Mt. Lebanon and Mars additionally gained girls and boys titles in 2024.

Those are the one two instances that two faculties gained the girls and boys 3A and 2A titles in the identical yr.

Shady Side Academy swept 3A gold in 2022 and Mars swept 2A championships in 2021 and in the final three years.

Heading into the semifinals, six faculties have an opportunity to win double gold with girls and boys lacrosse groups nonetheless alive, three in 3A and three in 2A.

Those faculties are Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel and Pine-Richland in 3A and Mars, Hampton and South Fayette in 2A.

Here are the 3A semifinals:

• On the boys facet, top-seeded Mt. Lebanon (15-1) will take on No. 5 Pine-Richland (10-7) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 8 p.m. and No. 2 Fox Chapel (15-2) faces No. 4 Shady Side Academy (9-5) at Avonworth at 8 p.m.

• For the ladies, No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (15-1) might be challenged by No. 4 Fox Chapel (12-2) at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 6 p.m. whereas No. 2 Pine-Richland (15-3) battles No. 3 Upper St. Clair (12-2) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m.

The 2A semis:

• For the boys, top-seeded Peters Township (15-2) goes up in opposition to No. 4 South Fayette (12-3) at North Allegheny at 6 p.m. and No. 2 Hampton (14-4) will take on No. 3 Mars (13-4) at Avonworth at 6 p.m.

• On the ladies facet, No. 1 Mars (17-1) is challenged by No. 4 South Fayette (11-6) at North Allegheny at 8 p.m. whereas No. 2 Hampton (13-4) battles No. 3 Quaker Valley (15-2) at Fox Chapel at 8 p.m.

Monday on Trib HSSN

There are 15 broadcasts and two podcasts you may watch or pay attention to at TribHSSN.TribReside.com on the 18th day of May.

Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Softball Player of the Week on the TribReside High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with the WPIAL Diamond Team of the Week on the TribReside High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Mt. Lebanon vs. Butler at 7 p.m. on the TribReside High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Central Catholic vs. Norwin at 7 p.m. on the TribReside High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Quarterfinals: Bishop Canevin vs. Western Beaver at 4 p.m. on the TribReside High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 6A Quarterfinals: Seneca Valley vs. Canon-McMillan at 4 p.m. on WJPA at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 4A Quarterfinals: Hampton vs. Derry at 7 p.m. on the Westmoreland Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Riverview vs. Laurel at 4 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Apollo-Ridge vs. Neshannock at 7 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Baseball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: California vs. Fort Cherry at 6:30 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: McGuffey vs. Ellwood City at 7 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Neshannock vs. Brownsville at 3 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Video Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Shenango vs. Bentworth at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Frazier vs. Laurel at 5 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 2A Quarterfinals: Riverside vs. Chartiers-Houston at 4 p.m. on WJPA-AM 1450 at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Softball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class A Quarterfinals: Jeannette vs. Union at 3 p.m. on Lawrence County Sports Net at TribHSSN.TribReside.com

WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs Audio Stream – Class 3A Semifinals: Baldwin vs. North Allegheny at 6 p.m. on the North Allegheny Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribReside.com