For the past several years, Beaver County has had success at making the WPIAL 3A high school baseball championship game and this year is no different, with Ellwood City taking on South Park in the title game on Wednesday, May 27.
Here is what you need to know about the matchup between the two squads, with the 3A title game kicking off the second day of the WPIAL baseball championships.
When is the WPIAL 3A high school baseball championship?
The WPIAL 3A high school baseball championship is at EQT Park in Washington, Pa. on Wednesday, May 27 at 1 p.m.
Beaver County has had a stranglehold on the Class 3A championship game, sending a school to the championship game five of the last six seasons.
For the past three seasons, Riverside has reached the championship game, winning two of those games, most recently in 2025 when Zach Hare threw a perfect game in the 1-0 win over Quaker Valley.
But this season, it will be Ellwood City in the championship game, looking to win its first district championship since 2012 when it defeated Riverside 9-7 for the 2A title.
As for South Park, it is back in the championship game for the first time since 2022, when it won its second WPIAL title in program history with an 11-1 win over Mohawk.
Last season, it fell to Riverside in the WPIAL semifinals and again in the PIAA semifinals.
Throughout the WPIAL playoffs, Ellwood City has made itself known as the comeback kids, mounting a pair of comebacks in the quarterfinals and semifinals en route to the championship game.
After a strong showing against No. 14 Ligonier Valley in the opening round, Ellwood City came back twice against No. 11 Burrell in the quarterfinals, erasing a one-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, followed by a two-run deficit in the seventh.
Senior Jake Biskup sent Ellwood City to the semifinals with a single into center field to score Gino Biondi.
Then in the semifinals against rival Riverside, the Wolverines once again erased a pair of deficits, most notably a three-run hole in the sixth inning when the team stormed back to take a 6-5 lead. Gino Biondi hit a two-RBI single to drive in Geordon Bokor and Dom Hogue.
Nate Kennedy pitched a complete game for Ellwood City, allowing five runs on 10 hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
As for South Park, it has been another strong season for the program, with ace Cooper Hochendoner leading the charge.
The senior southpaw kicked off the team’s playoff run with a no-hitter against Keystone Oaks in the 3-0 win.
The team would then go on to handle business in the quarterfinals against Freeport 4-1, followed by an upset win over top-seeded Avonworth, 5-2 in the semifinals.
In that semifinal matchup against Avonworth, Hochendoner threw a complete game, allowing two runs on nine hits and struck out four.
Talan Glowa, CFCooper Hochendoner, PRyan Spitznagel, CAndrew Mittledier, 3BJohnny Parris, 2BJacob Raimondi, LFWilliam Hays, RFBrady Kennedy DHRobert Lenzi, SS
Gino Biondi, 2BJordan Keller, CAaron Lake, PCamerson Mills, 3BJake Biskup, LFNate Kennedy, PMaykel Cuevas, CFGeordon Bokor, DHMatt Kelly, 1B
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: WPIAL 3A baseball championship preview, South Park-Ellwood City
