WJPA Sports

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.

Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston and Trinity continue to lead their softball sections heading into the final days of the regular season, though Trinity dropped into a four-way tie with a mid-week loss last week. The top six teams in Class 6A, along with the top four teams in every other section will qualify for the playoffs along with any unbreakable ties. The WPIAL Softball Committee is scheduled to meet on May 9 to set the pairings for this year’s tournaments. Here’s a snapshot for each team in the Washington-Greene County area:

Softball: 6A Canon-McMillan (4-7) is currently in 6th place, just a half-game up on resurgent Baldwin. The two will meet for the second time on Wednesday possibly deciding the final playoff spot. The Big Macs have four games this week including a home-and-home set with unbeaten Seneca Valley.

5A Trinity (6-3) visits Bethel Pak (5-4) Monday. A win by the Hillers or a Connellsville (6-3) loss at Peters Township (1-7) clinches at least a share of the section championship. Peters Township has been eliminated from the playoff race.

4A Ringgold (2-7) lost twice to Laurel Highlands last week. The Rams have been eliminated.

3A McGuffey (4-2) split a pair of section games last week, falling to South Park, then beating Waynesburg. McGuffey clinches a playoff spot with any win or with a loss by either Brownsville (2-5) or Seton-La Salle (2-5). Waynesburg (4-4) also clinches with a win or losses by either Brownsville or Seton. We’ll have the Keystone Oaks at McGuffey game for you live Monday afternoon on WJPA-AM (1450) and online.

2A Bentworth (9-0) finally allowed a run in a section game but still run-ruled Burgettstown (4-5) The Bearcats visit Beth-Center Monday, then are off for a week before facing second place OLSH with a chance to clinch the outright section title. Charleroi (6-3) plays OLSH Monday, then closes the regular season against the two eliminated teams: Wash High (1-6) and Fort Cherry (0-10). Burgettstown and Beth-Center meet next Monday, perhaps to decide the final spot. The Blue Devils won the first meeting, 5-2, last Wednesday. The Bulldogs have five games left, including Bentworth twice, plus OLSH, Wash High and Burgettstown.

1A Chartiers-Houston (8-0), Carmichaels (7-1) and West Greene (6-3) lead the way with Jeff-Morgan (5-4) and Mapletown (4-5) each a step further back. Avella (1-8) and California (0-10) have both been eliminated. Chartiers-Houston and Carmichaels have clinched playoff berths. West Greene needs just one win in its final three games to qualify. Jeff-Morgan and Mapletown play Tuesday, the Rockets looking to sweep the season series and clinch, the Maples hoping to pull even in the standings. Each has a game with Carmichaels left to close the season.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning, and rookie right-hander Keaton Winn delivered another strong start to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 victory and a series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rookie shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald added three hits for the Giants, who took two of three from the Pirates and finished their longest homestand of the season 6-4. Pittsburgh lost for the 10th time in its past 13 games. Winn (3-3) held the Pirates to one run over six innings, his line over the past three starts, all victories.