Two years ago, rivals met on the district’s main stage, contending for WPIAL baseball gold.
When the schools meet for a nonsection contest on Thursday, it won't have the same stakes as before, but the competitiveness will be there as always for Mt. Lebanon against Upper St. Clair.
The visiting Blue Devils are 2-1 after triumphing in their Wednesday game against Seneca Valley, 1-0.
The Panthers have divided their first four games this season.
This will be the second encounter of the season between Class 6A Mt. Lebanon and Class 5A Upper St. Clair.
The two teams faced off on March 15 with the Blue Devils scoring two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh on a Nolan Smith walk-off single to win 4-3.
Senior Aiden Crochier hit a home run for USC.
In the 2022 Class 6A district title game, Mt. Lebanon narrowly defeated Upper St. Clair, 2-1.
Jack Smith of the Blue Devils allowed only two hits and struck out 14 Panthers in a remarkable championship game performance. A Derrick Shields sac fly scored Tyler Smith, who had tripled, for the game-winning run in the sixth inning for Lebo.
Exciting match-up — Take 2
Two days after rain postponed the second game of their section series, Washington will host Bentworth in a Section 1-2A game scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.
The game will take place at Wild Things Park, the home of the WPIAL baseball championships. This spring, it also serves as the regular season home for Wash High and McGuffey.
The Little Prexies were 2-1 after their section opener at Bentworth on Monday, following a season where they only won four games.
Washington won against Bentworth, 6-3, on Monday.
The Bearcats were in the playoffs last year but enter Thursday’s game with a 0-2 record.
6A playoff battles revisited
Last year, the final two playoff spots in WPIAL 6A softball came down to a three-team competition for two spots.
Pine-Richland and Canon-McMillan ended up tied for the final two postseason spots, one game ahead of Mt. Lebanon, which missed out on the playoffs.
On Thursday, Canon-McMillan hosts Mt. Lebanon.
The Big Macs are 0-1 after losing their 6A opener to Norwin on Monday.
The Blue Devils are seeking their first win of the season following two nonsection losses.
Pine-Richland visits Seneca Valley on Thursday in a rematch of a 6A quarterfinal game from last season.
The Raiders defeated the Rams, 7-2.
Bash at the beach
Three district softball teams continue their southern trip at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
All three WPIAL teams will face off against high schools from the Buckeye State.
Moon (0-1) will play against Columbiana (Ohio) at 1:30 p.m.
Beaver (1-1) will compete against Genoa (Ohio) at 8 a.m.
South Allegheny (2-1) will face Butler (Ohio) at 11 a.m.
