The Pine-Richland Spring Sports team had a successful first week of postseason. The softball and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams all won their first playoff games. In men’s lacrosse, the No. 5-seeded Rams beat No. 12-seeded Norwin 17-3 to open the WPIAL Class 3A Playoffs, getting revenge for a first-round loss at home the previous year. The Rams advanced to the quarterfinals against fourth-placed Shady Side Academy, with junior attacker Cooper Zankoski scoring four goals and three assists.
In women’s lacrosse, the top-seeded Rams defeated rivals North Allegheny 18-6 in the WPIAL Class 3A Quarterfinals on May 17 after taking a bye in the first round. Caroline Gentile surpassed Pine Richland with five goals and three assists, and the Rams advanced to face fifth-ranked Shadyside Academy in the semifinals. It was the first playoff victory for first-year head coach Shannen Drennon.
Softball’s Pine Richland defeated rival North Allegheny 5-1 in the Class 6A quarterfinals on May 17, with Izzy Suleski pitching a complete game and Mackenzie Gillis hitting a two-run double in the fifth inning to give the Rams a 3-1 lead. Pine-Richland will face No. 1-seeded Seneca Valley in the semifinals.
The Baseball Rams earned the top seed for their WPIAL Class 6A playoffs and were scheduled to face No. 8 Hempfield in the quarterfinals on May 22, followed by the semifinals the following day. Pine-Richland coach Kurt Wolf received the Section 1-6A Coach of the Year Award from the Big 56 Conference.
Overall, it was a successful week for Pine-Richland’s Spring Sports teams, with multiple victories and standout performances from individual players.