A loss to Shaler yesterday would have dropped defending PIAA Class AAA baseball champion Seneca Valley out of first place in Section 1.

Instead, the Raiders (15-2, 9-1) defeated the host Titans (12-6, 8-3), 8-5, and clinched at least a tie of their third consecutive section title.

Senior Ryan Turner went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs for Seneca Valley, the Post-Gazette's No. 1 ranked WPIAL AAA team.

Senior pitcher Kyle Helisek, a Villanova recruit, pitched the first four innings to earn the win, and North Carolina State recruit Cory Mazzoni pitched the final three frames.

With two section games remaining, the Raiders have two fewer losses than Shaler and Butler (7-3) and are 2-0 against each team.

"I'm proud of them," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "There's a lot of pressure on them, but they continue to work hard."

• Hempfield (12-4, 8-2) downed Class AAAA No. 2 Franklin Regional (11-3, 7-3) for the second time, shutting out the visiting Panthers, 5-0, in Section 2. Senior pitcher Alex Naggy picked up the win for the Spartans, and Shane Meisner hit a two-run home run.

• Junior pitcher Bill Bendgen threw a complete-game three-hitter with 12 strikeouts to help Class AAA No. 4 West Mifflin (15-2, 12-0) clinch the Section 4 title with a 3-1 win against Elizabeth Forward (4-11, 2-9).

Better late than never

• Fort Cherry (1-12, 1-9) earned its first win, 9-7, as it shocked Class AA No. 4 Washington (8-5, 7-3) in Section 2. The victory leaves four winless teams in the WPIAL -- Kiski Area, Baldwin, Summit Academy and Wilkinsburg.

• The top seeds held serve in the WPIAL doubles championships at North Allegheny, with both No. 1 seeds claiming titles. In Class AAA, Josh Ferraccio and Chris Mengel of Shady Side Academy took top honors, while in Class AA it was Matt Kaye and Parth Sharma of Sewickley Academy.