Playoff Roundup: Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse and Volleyball in Action
The latest round of WPIAL playoffs delivered a cascade of decisive results across four sports, as teams jockeyed for position in the upcoming semifinals.
In baseball, No. 3 North Allegheny rolled past No. 6 Hempfield 2-0 behind a complete-game three-hitter from Liam Cooper, who recorded four strikeouts without issuing a walk. Christian Simons contributed two hits and an RBI, while Ryan Evanish added two hits and a run scored for the Tigers.
Butler, the top seed, edged Mt. Lebanon 3-2, with Karsten Lenyk drawing a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to seal the win. The team also saw Nico Patragas go 2 for 3 with a grand slam and M. J. Maruschak collect a single and four RBIs in a 16-1 victory over Seneca Valley.
Eden Christian advanced thanks to Noah Emswiler’s double, triple and three RBIs, while Brady Hull homered to highlight the offense. Elizabeth Forward’s Kameron Little went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs, and Tyler Wolfe’s three-hit, two-run performance helped Fort Cherry defeat California 11-7.
Indiana’s pitching duo of Brady Oakes and Charlie Manzi combined for a two-hit shutout, preserving a 1-0 win over Knoch. Neshannock’s Anthony Eakin went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and Nathan Rickel added a home run in a 10-0 triumph over Apollo-Ridge.
Serra Catholic’s Max Black and Jake Jellison each delivered multi-hit outings, guiding the team to a 13-3 victory over Aquinas Academy. South Side’s Dawson Frasier and Jake Ziegler each drove in runs, helping the squad edge New Brighton 5-4 in a tight Class 2A contest.
Bentworth’s Makayla Gonglik homered and drove in two runs, while Alexa Babirad added a home run and three RBIs in a 6-1 win over Shenango. Carmichaels’ Bailey Barnyak threw a complete-game one-hitter with 19 strikeouts, leading a 1-0 victory over Sewickley Academy.
Chartiers-Houston’s Taryne Drilak delivered a one-hitter with eight strikeouts, supporting a 4-0 shutout of Riverside. Ellwood City’s Amber McQuiston tossed a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, preserving a 3-0 win over McGuffey.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Ava Wood tripled and drove in a run, while Emilee Bazzoli added a single that plated a run in a 2-1 upset of Serra Catholic. Keystone Oaks’ Kennadi Smith threw a one-hitter, securing a 2-0 win over Mohawk.
Laurel’s Haley Balcom singled and drove in two runs, and Ivy Pancher added a double and RBI in a 4-2 victory over Frazier. Union’s Irelyn Fisher was a one-woman show, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs in a 7-1 win over Jeannette.
West Greene’s Samantha Zimmerman tripled and drove in two runs, while Kendra Tharp and Emmaline Beazell each added RBI singles in a 15-1 rout of South Side. The upcoming semifinals promise further excitement as teams prepare to clash, with coaches and players alike looking to build on the momentum generated by these standout performances.
In lacrosse, Mars surged past Hampton 15-9 in the Class 2A semifinals, with Grant Weaver contributing three goals and two assists, and Jack Tirch and Reed Fuller each adding three goals. Pine-Richland’s Mallory Boivin exploded for five goals and two assists, while Claire Mill added five goals and an assist in a 13-8 semifinal triumph over Upper St. Clair.
North Allegheny’s Brendan Moore recorded 11 kills and Will Robertson added nine kills and five blocks, leading the team to a 3-0 sweep of Baldwin in the Class 3A semifinals.