With the regular season over and the brackets revealed, it’s time for playoff softball. Six champions will be crowned on the road to Penn State, which begins today. Here’s a look at how every quarterfinal matchup could shake out.

Down near the tracks edge, the noise from the infield was constant. There was no rail to separate the action, just the boundary line where passionate coaches stood screaming out split times, urging their athletes to find another gear. But the real story of the day unfolded right at the finish line. Frame after frame on my camera screen captured the absolute truth of the afternoon: competitors wearing completely different school colors running stride-for-stride, actively pulling each other along. You could see these athletes completely emptying the tank to cross the tape, some throwing their heads back in pure exhaustion, others letting out bursts of joy, and many collapsing into the arms of teammates or rivals alike. Looking at those frozen expressions, there was no doubt about it: every single competitor left a piece of themselves on that track.

The opening day of the PIAA District 4 Track and Field Championships delivered fast times, record-breaking performances, and dramatic competition Thursday, May 14, as athletes across Classes AA and AAA battled for district medals and coveted spots at next week’s state championships.

The latest Sportzwire Athlete of the Week honor, presented by Envy Electrical, goes to Holy Redeemer junior Gillian Parsons after an incredible all-around performance that helped lead the Royals girls lacrosse team through a dominant stretch.

The 2026 Harvey’s Lake Run brought runners back to one of northeastern Pennsylvania’s most scenic road races on Saturday morning, as athletes circled the lake on an 8.2-mile course under clear conditions and calm weather.

The Dallas Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead Friday night, but a big third inning helped Williamsport pull away for an 8-2 victory in a late-season matchup.

No. 1 vs. No. 2. Championship atmosphere. Packed stands at Wilkes-Barre Area. Two of the District 2’s best meeting with a title on the line. Then Elijah Barr turned the stage into his own highlight reel. Barr launched two home runs, drove in four runs, and delivered a complete-game gem on the mound as Pittston Area took down top-ranked Hazleton Area 6-1 Friday night to capture the Wyoming Valley Conference championship.

Crestwood secured a 17-9 victory, fueled by Logan Lawson\'s 18 faceoff wins, 6 goals, and 1 assist, earning him Player of the Game honors.

Runs were flying, momentum kept swinging, and every inning seemed to bring another answer. But when the dust settled Thursday night, the Montrose Lady Meteors once again showed why they’ve become one of the toughest outs in the conference. Behind Alyse Legg’s four-RBI night and a relentless offensive attack that produced 16 runs, 13 hits, 18 walks, and seven stolen bases, Montrose pulled away late to defeat Carbondale Area 16-8 in a wild showdown packed with offense from start to finish.

For a few innings, Dallas looked ready to land a statement punch in the Back Mountain rivalry showdown. Then Lake-Lehman answered. Behind another electric outing from JMU commit Hannah Chipego and a relentless offensive response, the Knights erased an early five-run deficit to stun Dallas 8-6 Thursday night in a rivalry matchup that felt every bit like postseason softball. With 12 more strikeouts added to her career total, Chipego now sits just three away from the Wyoming Valley Conference all-time strikeout record.

Scranton Prep overwhelmed Tunkhannock 25-4 in a dominant offensive display. Braedon McPartland\'s 9 points led Prep\'s relentless attack.

Delaware Valley beat Northampton 7-5 in a tight lacrosse quarterfinal. Colin McGarvey (2G, 1A) and Riley Smith (13 saves) led DV to the DII AAA semifinals vs. Parkland.

West Scranton Invaders defeated Scranton 7-2, led by Kaleiah Connor\'s 10-strikeout pitching and Mckenna Brudnicki\'s 3 RBI, securing a road victory.

Scranton Prep is starting to look more and more like a team nobody wants to see down the stretch. After recent statement wins over Scranton and Abington Heights, the Cavaliers added another big result Wednesday night taking down No. 3 Riverside in a high-energy 11-6 battle.

Wallenpaupack Area edged Wyoming Area 2-1 in a tight, pitching-dominated contest. Thomas Kiersted pitched 6 strong innings, allowing his team to rally for two runs in the fourth and secure the narrow victory.