WPIAL Class 1A Championship

#2 Greensburg Central Catholic (17-0) vs. #1 Eden Christian (15-4) – Tuesday 1 p.m. at EQT Park in Washington, PA

Pregame at 12:45 p.m. on WSN Audio - LISTEN LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Dan Flickinger & Sean Meyers

Despite a strong showing in 2025, Greensburg Central Catholic entered this campaign with plenty of uncertainty. The Centurions graduated a talented group of players, lost two impact players to transfer, and had another opt not to play.

After sweeping Jefferson-Morgan and Jeannette in the first two series of the Class 1A Section 1 slate, however, GCC head coach John Boyle started to realize he had a special group. To that point, Greensburg Central Catholic finished the regular season undefeated, and then notched playoff wins against the Rockets and perennial powerhouse Serra Catholic to reach the WPIAL Class 1A Championship.

The No. 2 Centurions seek their second district crown in program history on Tuesday, as they face top seed Eden Christian Academy at 1 p.m. at EQT Park in Washington.

“We have a perfect season going so far, but we’re far from a perfect team, and our players know that,” Boyle said, referencing his team’s 17-0 record.

Rarely tested in the regular season, GCC has been pushed in its two playoff contests. In a third matchup against Jefferson-Morgan, the Centurions prevailed 4-1 in the quarterfinals last Monday at Ross Memorial Park in Washington. In that contest, pitcher Tyler Samide tossed a two-hitter, allowing just an unearned run while striking out 17, and he also smacked a three-run homer. Anthony Grippo opened the scoring for GCC, as he launched a solo home run.

Two days later, Greensburg Central Catholic edged the No. 3 Eagles 2-1 at Norwin High School, redeeming a loss to Serra Catholic last year in the semifinals. Alec Martin worked into the sixth inning, permitting just four hits while compiling nine strikeouts. Grippo again was at the forefront offensively, as he produced the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning.

“They really wanted that one win. They kind of got the monkey off their back after those many losses,” Boyle revealed. “I’ve never seen intensity among some of those players in that game like ever before.”

Grippo, a Penn State University signee, has been the anchor for GCC as the catcher, while Samide and Martin, who have pledged to Chatham University and Fairmont State University, respectively, have carried the pitching staff.

“When you have pitchers like Tyler Samide and Alec Martin, and you have a catcher like Anthony Grippo, that’s just a tough, tough combination for hitters to beat consistently,” Boyle noted.

Senior Nolan Sopko, who did not play the past two seasons, as well as junior Stephen Kochis and freshman Carson Kramer have also been instrumental in the team’s success.

Eden Christian Academy will likely be the toughest challenge the Centurions have faced all season, however. The Warriors went 8-0 from Section 3, and enter Tuesday’s tilt with an overall mark of 15-4. After earning the top seed in the bracket, they cruised past Carmichaels 12-2 in five innings in the quarterfinals last Monday at Ross Memorial Park, and followed with a 7-0 triumph against No. 4 Western Beaver at Burkett Park in Robinson Township in the semifinals.

The Warriors, who have finished as the state runner-up in each of the past two campaigns, are led by a formidable duo. Noah Emswiler, a Lipscomb University pledge, and Brady Hull, a Slippery Rock University commit, have both excelled in 2026.

Emswiler is likely to get the start on the mound Tuesday, and the hard-throwing southpaw has also drawn praise for off-speed offerings.

“He doesn’t hurt himself on the mound, ever,” said Boyle.

Hull, meanwhile, is likely to patrol first base and will be the most feared bat in the Warriors’ lineup.

“He’s an all-world hitter. You make a mistake to him, he’ll make you pay for it,” Boyle added.

While both programs have been consistent contenders for more than a decade, they have combined for just one WPIAL crown, as GCC stood atop the mountain in 2015.

Although the Centurions have their sights set on ending that drought and finishing WPIAL play unblemished, they also plan to embrace their moment on the big stage, regardless of outcome.

“I think everybody’s going to take a lot of pride in the accomplishment when we walk on that field, and have a lot of gratitude for all the folks who helped get us here,” Boyle said.