Championship Preview
The WPIAL Class 2A baseball championship will pit two powerhouse teams against each other on Tuesday, with Fort Cherry and Neshannock battling for the top spot at EQT Park in Washington at 4 p.m.
Fort Cherry arrives with an impressive 18‑1 record under the guidance of coach Bob Sawhill. The team’s standout performers include Colton Temple, who is batting .500 with 33 RBIs and 17 extra‑base hits, as well as Ryan Huey and Blake Sweder, who add depth to a lineup that is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its 1986 championship.
Neshannock, sitting at 18‑3, is led by coach John Quahliero and features a potent bat in Nathan Rickel, who is hitting .548 with 20 RBIs and 16 extra‑base hits. Other key contributors such as Dennis Joseph and Cole Hutchinson round out a squad that shares the record of six WPIAL titles with three other programs.
The championship game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., and the stakes are heightened by the historic context: Fort Cherry is chasing its second WPIAL crown while Neshannock looks to extend its legacy. The matchup promises a clash of pitching talent and offensive firepower that could define the next chapter for both programs.