They may have taken different paths during the 2014 season, but the Seneca Valley and Baldwin baseball teams have both ended up at a desirable destination.

The Raiders and Highlanders will square off at Consol Energy Field at 5 p.m. Wednesday with the WPIAL Class AAAA title on the line.

While Seneca (9-11) survived a sub-par regular season, Baldwin (16-2) basked in its most successful campaign in program history.

The Highlanders earned their first section title in eight years, then dispatched North Hills, Plum and Moon in the WPIAL playoffs. They will be participating in their first-ever district title contest.

It was a huge turnaround for a program that endured a 5-12 season in 2013, but Baldwin coach Dan Caponi had confidence in his players.

“It’s hard to get to the WPIAL championship game, but that was our goal from the start of the season,” he said.

Baldwin began the season with nine straight wins before losing back-to-back section games against Franklin Regional and Central Catholic.

“We beat ourselves in both of those games,” said Caponi. “Our guys were mad about losing and that was a good thing.”

The Highlanders quickly turned their displeasure into execution on the field and haven’t lost since their two-game skid, outscoring their opponents 71-13 in the past seven contests. Included in that span were six games in which Baldwin scored at least 10 runs. The great offensive run has pushed the team’s batting average to .380.

Though Caponi would not reveal his starting pitcher against the Raiders, it is sure to be either Alex Pantuso or Nick Bernick, both seniors. Pantuso, who has struck out 68 and walked just eight batters this season, moved his record to 6-1 with the semifinal win over Moon.

After missing the regular season with a back injury, SV senior pitcher Connor Coward returned to earn the win in the Raiders’ quarterfinal and semifinal victories over Shaler and Pine-Richland, respectively. He has struck out a combined eight batters and walked three.

SV has totaled 18 runs in its three postseason games. Vince Augustine leads the squad with eight playoff RBI.

The Raiders will look to add a fourth WPIAL title to their trophy case. They also won the championship in 1994, 2011 and 2012. They lost in last year’s final to rival North Allegheny.

“They have a great program and their players have a lot of experience,” said Caponi. “They are not strangers to playing on that field (Consol Energy Field) and that’s all that needs to be said.”

Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega could not be reached for comment.