Mars lacrosse and the WPIAL championship games just seem to go together.

The Planet boys advanced to the Class 2A final for the seventh consecutive season Monday night, defeating Hampton 18-4. The Lady Planets reached the final as well, knocking off Chartiers Valley, 13-9.

Both Mars teams entered the WPIAL playoffs as No. 1 seeds. The boys improved to 17-2 while the girls moved to 18-1.

Mars boys held only a 7-4 lead at halftime before outscoring the Talbots 11-0 in the second half.

The WPIAL championship games will be played at Robert Morris University’s Joe Walton Stadium later this week. Dates and times will be released.

Softball

Karns City (7-9) took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning at defending District 9 2A champion Johnsonburg, only to give up six ruins in the frame and fall to a 7-3 defeat in their 2A playoff game.

“It was just one of those things,” KC coach Mike Stitt said. “One thing led to another ... I’m proud of our girls. We have a young team, a lot of ups and downs, but we battled all year and we battled today.”

Lyrik Reed hade three singles for the Gremlins. Nicole Taylor had a double and two RBI, Jess Dunn a pair of singles.

J.Jones was the winning pitcher for Johnsonburg (11-8), which faces top-seeded Curwensbville in the semifinals.

Forest 7, Union/A-C Valley 0 — Mackenzie Parks struck out three in a route-going effort in the circle, but Union/A-C Valley dropped this decision to Forest in a District 9 1A playoff game.

Maddie Dehart and Rylan Strausser singled for the Falcon Knights’ only hits. Izzy Falick was the winning pitcher and benefited from a 13-hit attack.

The Falcon Knights end the season at 11-8.

Baseball

North Catholic ended its season at 10-11 with a 6-2 WPIAL Class 4A tournament loss to Hopewell at Seneca Valley. Hopewell advances with a 10-11 record.