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Fox Chapel to induct 7 new members into Sports Hall of Fame
Fox Chapel’s Miles Dieffenbach competes in a game Friday, September 4, 2009.
Fox Chapel’s Nadia Luttner tees off on 17 at the WPIAL team golf championship on October 14, 2010 at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Belle Vernon.
The Fox Chapel Area School District Sports Hall of Fame will induct seven new members at its 25th induction banquet, June 4 at the Harmar House.
Here is a sketch of the 2022 inductees listed alphabetically with their graduation years in parentheses:
Jeff Armor (1981)
A two-time all-WPIAL selection in soccer, Armor earned three varsity letters with the Foxes and was a team captain in 1980 and ‘81. While at Fox Chapel, his career included 38 goals and 30 assists.
At Lehigh, he was a four-year letter winner, team captain and MVP his senior season where he was also all-East Coast Conference. In 1985 while playing sweeper and defense, he tallied 12 goals and 14 assists.
Armor continued his playing career after graduating from Lehigh, playing for a variety of amateur teams.
Armor was also an assistant coach with the Foxes from 2008-16 under head coach Erik Ingram. The Foxes made the WPIAL playoffs all nine seasons and reached the championship game twice and qualified for the PIAA playoffs three times.
Reed Clarke
A familiar face at the basketball scorers’ table at Fox Chapel games for 19 seasons, Clarke was an educator in the health and physical education departments from 1966-96.
He began his coaching tenure at the school as cross country coach from 1967-73. But Clarke is best remembered for his time as golf coach with the girls from 1980-88 and the boys from 1988-96.
During that time, Michelle Michanowicz won back-to-back PIAA golf titles in 1980 and ’81, and Calay Jaynes brought home the state title in 1988.
Clarke was a PIAA swimming official for 30 years and earned a distinguished service award from the Tri-State Professional Golf Association and is in the association’s hall of fame.
Amanda Zambrano Daquelente (2002)
A letter-winner in all four seasons with the Fox Chapel girls soccer team, she scored 74 goals in her Foxes career and was named all-WPIAL and all-section multiple times by the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.
She was named to the all-state team in 2001.
Continuing her excellence at Franklin & Marshall with an academic scholarship, Zambrano Daquelente scored 40 goals in her career with the Diplomats. She was named all-Centennial Conference four times and finished sixth in all-time career goals.
Following her playing career, she graduated from Duquesne’s School of Law in 2010 and is a partner in the law firm of Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP.
Miles Dieffenbach (2010)
Rated the No. 1 center in his senior season by ESPN, Dieffenbach lettered in four seasons with the Foxes and was named to the 2009 all-state first team as an offensive lineman.
To cap his high school career, he played in the 2010 Under Armour All-American game in Orlando, Fla.
Dieffenbach sifted through 10 Division I college offers before settling on Penn State. While with the Nittany Lions, he earned three letters and started 27 games, winning the Ridge Riley Award as Best Teammate and was a three-time member of the Big 10 Conference’s All-Academic team. After a brief stint with the Steelers in the 2015 preseason schedule, he is now an investment manager at Carnegie Mellon.
Patrick Frank (1998)
Winner of eight varsity letters while at Fox Chapel — two each in cross country and baseball, along with four in wrestling — Frank was the winningest wrestler in school history when he graduated.
He was a Valley News Dispatch wrestling all-star in 1998.
After his playing days, Frank has become successful in officiating. He has been selected to officiate at five national collegiate wrestling championships — three in Division I and two in Division II.
The Syracuse grad has also officiated at three PIAA wrestling championships and numerous WPIAL playoff contests in football, wrestling and baseball.
Nadia Luttner (2011)
One of the most successful golfers in Fox Chapel’s 61-year history, Luttner was a four-year starter and letter winner.
She finished second in both the WPIAL and PIAA individual tournaments as a freshman. As a sophomore, she finished third at states and the team was WPIAL runner-up
Luttner and the team were both second in the WPIAL championships. As a senior, the Foxes won the WPIAL title and Nadia won the silver medal in the individual tourney.
In college, Luttner competed at Kansas and earned a bachelor’s degree at Coastal Carolina near Myrtle Beach, S.C.
She is now director of business development at Luttner Financial Group in Stuart, Fla.
Matt Rudzki (2004)
Now known as Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki from the Fox Chapel area, he was one of the most decorated distance runners in school history.
In cross country, he was a four-time letter winner, a three-time state qualifier and a two-time WPIAL medalist.
In track, he lettered three times, was a WPIAL medalist in the 3,200-meter run and was part of the team that set a school distance medley relay record.
He later attended Washington & Jefferson, graduating in 2008 after a stellar career as a rare, two-sport collegiate athlete.
Among his honors in college, Rudzki bested a 96-runner field to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference 8,000-meter run with a time of 26:32.
The judge and his family now live in Sharpsburg. | 2022-04-30T17:29:30Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Fox Chapel to induct 7 new members into Sports Hall of Fame | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/fox-chapel-to-induct-7-new-members-into-sports-hall-of-fame/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/fox-chapel-to-induct-7-new-members-into-sports-hall-of-fame/ |
Franklin Regional boys tennis looking for WPIAL gold
Franklin Regional sophomore Dhruv Kulkarni serves in the WPIAL Class 3A doubles championship April 27, 2022, at North Allegheny.
Despite graduating a big chunk of its starting lineup that finished second in the 2021 WPIAL Class 3A boys tennis tournament, Franklin Regional is looking to make another run at the title.
The Panthers entered the team tournament, which began May 3 seeded No. 1. Franklin Regional was scheduled to face No. 16 Moon in the opening round. A win would put them in the quarterfinals May 5 against the winner of the match between No. 8 Central Catholic and No. 9 Kiski Area.
“I guess we’ll see if the tennis committee was right in seeding us No. 1,” Franklin Regional coach Howard Fisher said. “There are a lot of very good teams in the tournament. We’ll have to play well.
“I believe we’re prepared. There is a lot of pressure on us. Hopefully, we can complete the job.”
Franklin Regional has played well this season. The Allen brothers, Andrew and Aaron, competed in the WPIAL singles tournament, and Andrew placed fourth.
The Allens and the team’s first doubles squad of Dhruv Kulkarni and Prerit Yadav competed in the WPIAL doubles tournament, with Yadav and Kulkarni placing second and earning a trip to Hershey for the PIAA tournament May 27-28. The Allens placed third.
Kulkarni and Yadav fell to the top two singles players from Shady Side Academy — David Mnuskin and Sam Bitzer. The Allens also fell to the Shady Side duo in the semifinals.
While the cold and windy weather conditions affected Kulkarni and Yadav, the duo is looking forward to their trip to Hershey.
“It was very difficult to play in the wind,” Kulkarni said. “We struggled a lot in the first set. We got used to it in the second set and battled back.
“We’re looking forward to states. We have to cover the alleys better and have better serves.”
Kulkarni said: “It was very difficult to play in the wind. We struggled a lot in the first set. We got used to it in the second set and battled back. It was a lot harder to serve in the wind. We’ve already talked about where we need to improve.”
They’re also excited to compete in the team tournament.
“We reached the finals and lost,” Yadav said. “It’s the second year in a row that we’re the first seed. We want to win it this year and go further in the state tournament. I’m looking forward to it.
“I feel everyone has been playing well. We just have to continue to play our game.”
Kulkarni added: “We have high expectations and want to repeat last year’s success. I’m looking forward to it.” | 2022-04-30T17:29:36Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Franklin Regional boys tennis looking for WPIAL gold | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/franklin-regional-boys-tennis-looking-for-wpial-gold/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/franklin-regional-boys-tennis-looking-for-wpial-gold/ |
Hampton soccer standout thrives in return to diamond
Hampton left fielder Luke Staggers makes a lunging catch against Fox Chapel during the second game of a doubleheader on April 20.
Submitted by Laura Carr
Hampton’s Luke Staggers competes during the 2022 season.
When Luke Staggers picked up a baseball bat for the first time in five years, what happened was just about what anyone would expect.
Not much of anything.
“I don’t think I touched a ball at all in the first workout,” the Hampton senior said. “I was worried after my first couple of swings because I wasn’t sure if it ever was going to come back.”
But he finally is back in the swing of things.
Staggers, an all-section forward for Hampton’s WPIAL and PIAA champion boys soccer team, has returned to baseball for the first time since seventh grade and is making an immediate impact.
Through eight games as of April 24, the left fielder was batting .591 with 11 stolen bases for the Talbots (6-0 in Section 2-5A, 6-3 overall), who were off to their best start in section play since 2014.
“I was not expecting what I’ve seen so far,” coach Kellen Wheeler said. “He has worked as hard as he possibly can. For him to come in and do what he’s done is completely amazing.”
Said Staggers, “It’s going a lot better than I thought it was going to.”
Staggers started the sport at age 3 — “I really loved playing baseball,” he said — but he quit in seventh grade to focus on his other athletic passion, soccer.
It proved to be a winning choice. He helped lead Hampton to a 23-1 record this past fall. The Talbots defeated West Allegheny, 1-0, for the program’s first WPIAL title since 2011, and Staggers assisted on the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Archbishop Wood on Nov. 20 at Hersheypark Stadium for the PIAA Class 3A crown.
“It was a dream come true,” said Staggers, who is leaning toward Delaware and may walk onto the men’s soccer team.
But as the months passed — Staggers didn’t play a winter sport — he realized how much he missed the competitiveness and benefits of team sports. So when his good friend Cam Marshalwitz, the Talbots’ ace left-hander, suggested Staggers return to baseball while on vacation in Hilton Head, S.C., over the summer, Staggers agreed.
“He’s tried (to get me to play) before,” Staggers said. “But this time it actually made a lot of sense because I’m not playing Cup soccer anymore, so I have the time.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed the feeling of being on the field and playing a high school sport. That definitely had an effect on my decision.”
Wheeler was glad to see Staggers return. With his speed and athleticism, Staggers immediately earned a starting job in left field, where he has played error-free ball. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter also has become more comfortable at the plate, batting from the No. 9 position.
“I think he could be the best No. 9 hitter that I could ever imagine,” Wheeler said. “And he’s done a fantastic job in the field.”
The highlight of the season so far came in a 17-3 victory at Woodland Hills on March 30, when Staggers went 2 for 3 with his first home run since middle school.
“It was just pure disbelief,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going over the fence, so I was sprinting as hard as I could. I looked up and I saw the left fielder stop running and I was like, ‘No way that went over the fence.’ I didn’t believe it until I got back into the dugout.”
Wheeler said Staggers’ hustle out of the box was the most impressive part of the home run.
“He was standing on second base by the time the ball landed,” Wheeler said. “He looked out to the umpire, and the umpire was giving him the home run sign. The smile on his face was just priceless.”
Despite being a first-year varsity baseball player, Staggers is trying to impart to his teammates the experience of playing on a PIAA championship team and what that involves. He also has provided motivation for the Talbots with his success despite being away from the diamond for five years.
“Every time he gets a hit, every time he makes a nice play in the field, basically everybody on the team is saying, ‘That’s unbelievable,’ ” Wheeler said. “He hasn’t played in this long, and he’s going out there and just doing it.”
• High school roundup for April 29, 2022: Seneca Valley, West Allegheny knock off unbeaten foes | 2022-04-30T17:29:48Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hampton soccer standout thrives in return to diamond | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-soccer-standout-thrives-in-return-to-diamond/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-soccer-standout-thrives-in-return-to-diamond/ |
Hobbled Hampton senior stays positive, hopes to return for lacrosse playoffs
Hampton’s Rachel Dolan rode a stationary bike on the track at Fridley Field during girls lacrosse practice in mid-April.
Wearing a large black walking boot on her left foot, she wasn’t moving anywhere, but she is hoping to get somewhere soon.
“I’m just trying to stay positive that I will be able to play again eventually,” she said. “I’m going to do my best.”
Dolan, a senior midfielder, is recovering from a stress fracture in her left foot that has put her final season of lacrosse in jeopardy.
One of four team captains, Dolan “started to feel a little bit of pain” in late March-early April, about two weeks into the season. She tried to push through as “it got worse and worse,” but she couldn’t hide the discomfort from her coach, Kelsey Burke.
“It’s been bothering her, but she was worried about getting it looked at because she knew it was probably something that would take her off the field,” Burke said following the team’s April 14 workout. “But at practice last week, I saw that she was in pain. I sent her to the trainer and I told her to take it easy and get evaluated and we would take it from there.”
Dolan was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her third metatarsal, the second-longest metatarsal in the foot. Typical recovery time is six to 12 weeks, with the most important treatment being rest. Dolan is hoping to return in time for the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, which are slated to begin May 16, about six weeks after the injury.
The Talbots (6-0 in section, 7-4 overall as of April 25) are virtually assured of reaching the postseason. They went undefeated in section play last season and, as of mid-April, have won 20 straight Section 1-2A games dating to 2019. The top six finishers in the 11-team section advance to the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs.
“My heart breaks when girls get injured, regardless of what grade they are in,” Burke said. “For seniors, it is especially disappointing because I know how much they want it. It’s really tough.
“The silver lining is hopefully it’s not a season-ending injury and we can get her in there whether it’s toward the end of the regular season and we have our eyes on playoffs.
“We’ll get her in the playoffs.”
Dolan, who missed her sophomore season when the covid pandemic canceled all spring sports in 2020, is keeping upbeat during the process.
“I try to stay positive for the team and be hopeful,” she said. “I don’t like to stay negative for too long. I try to make the best of the situation.”
Dolan, who ran cross country in the fall after playing volleyball for her first three seasons, doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Over the years, she has also competed in gymnastics, basketball, soccer and swimming. Much of her incentive is derived from home, where her mother, Bethann, provides a steady source of motivation.
In March 2006 — when Rachel was 2 — Bethann Dolan suddenly lost feeling in her arms. Within 30 minutes, she was paralyzed below the neck. She was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare sudden-onset neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. But with the use of a motorized wheelchair, she continues to teach.
“I think looking at everything that she’s overcome in her life gives me motivation that I, too, can overcome a lot despite what it is,” Rachel Dolan said. “And just seeing how many lives that she has touched gives me motivation to try to be as good as I can.”
Dolan, whose older sister Elizabeth played lacrosse at Hampton, has taken over various duties at home, including doing much of the cooking. Rachel also is active with her church, Elfinwild United Presbyterian.
“She is probably one of the highest achievers of volunteer service hours on our team, and she’s a phenomenal student in the classroom,” Burke said. “She has an incredible amount of maturity. … She’s able to see what’s really important.”
At home, Dolan said cooking has become a passion. Her chicken parmesan, especially, is a big hit.
“I just like to adventure out and test new recipes and see what works and see what doesn’t,” she said. “I will cook dinner a lot. My parents have done a lot for me throughout my life. This is another way I can give back to them because of everything they’ve done and sacrificed for me.”
Dolan, who will study interior design at the University of Cincinnati, has stayed active with the Talbots. She attends every practice and game, providing support in her captain role.
“She’s determined to be here,” Burke said. “Even if she’s not on the field active in drills, she’s a leader on the sideline.” | 2022-04-30T17:29:54Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hobbled Hampton senior stays positive, hopes to return for lacrosse playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hobbled-hampton-senior-stays-positive-hopes-to-return-for-lacrosse-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hobbled-hampton-senior-stays-positive-hopes-to-return-for-lacrosse-playoffs/ |
There’s a new high school football league in Western Pennsylvania sponsored by the Pittsburgh Steelers and created entirely for girls.
North Allegheny was one of six WPIAL schools to field a team this spring for a flag football pilot program for girls in grades 9-12, with Ambridge, Ellis School, Moon, Shaler and West Allegheny also taking part.
The league played its first games April 24, and NA coach Michelle Ruiz is already hoping that success this spring will lead to more seasons and even more teams.
“The hope is to turn it into a sanctioned high school sport,” Ruiz said. “I’d love for that to happen. I’ve waited half a lifetime for something like this, so I’m super excited about it.”
This year’s five-week season culminates with games May 22 at Heinz Field.
The contests are held on Sunday afternoons with all teams playing at the same host site. Ambridge served as the Week 1 host and North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium was chosen for Week 2 on May 1.
The football field is divided into thirds, allowing three games to be played simultaneously. The teams play widthwise across the 53 1/3-yard field, turning the sidelines into end zones. The games use a five-on-five format with a center, a quarterback and a combination of wide receivers and running backs.
“We have some pretty athletic girls who can run and cut and turn and catch and throw,” Ruiz said. “It’s really awesome.”
North Allegheny has a playbook that Ruiz continues to expand. The team had only five practices to get ready, so the girls have learned the game on the go.
“They’re really excited and they really want to prove themselves,” Ruiz said. “I think their fear is that it will go away, that it will be here and gone. They’re having so much fun with it that they want to see it stay.”
Ruiz said the team received money from the Steelers for their uniforms, the footballs, the flags and officials.
Since 2016, the NFL has worked to increase girls flag football participation nationwide. According to the NFL, 14 franchises have committed to sponsor pilot programs and seven states have already sanctioned the game as a varsity sport: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New York and Nevada.
Ruiz, a middle school teacher, has organized annual flag football games for eighth grade girls for five years. Earlier in her teaching career, Ruiz worked at schools in Virginia and North Carolina, where flag football was common for girls.
Since returning to Western Pennsylvania, she’s made it her mission to expand the sport here.
“It was really odd to me when I got back here that it hadn’t grown this far,” Ruiz said. “It’s kind of like lacrosse. It took a while for lacrosse to build up and now it’s one of the fastest growing sports. That’s kind of what’s happening with girls flag football.”
North Allegheny has 19 girls on its roster.
More than half also play another sport such as soccer, volleyball, basketball or lacrosse, Ruiz said, but for some, this was their first time playing a school-sponsored sport.
“There are a lot of different personalities with a lot of different girls from a lot of different sports,” she said. “The cool part about it is that everybody is there for a common goal and everybody is supportive of one another.”
Her daughter Ally, a sophomore, caught the first touchdown in North Allegheny girls football history on a Week 1 pass thrown by sophomore quarterback Addy Celender. Yet, Moon celebrated a 2-1 win in the opener, creating an instant rivalry.
“I keep telling them I really don’t think you’re going to see flag football go away,” Ruiz said. “Too many girls are interested. Too many of us are having so much fun. I think you’re going to see more WPIAL schools getting on board.” | 2022-04-30T17:30:00Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | North Allegheny, 5 other schools join Steelers-sponsored girls flag football league | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-allegheny-5-other-schools-join-steelers-sponsored-girls-flag-football-league/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-allegheny-5-other-schools-join-steelers-sponsored-girls-flag-football-league/ |
Courtesy of A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame
Former Oakmont athlete Terry Preece will be inducted into the A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame on May 21, 2022.
For Terry Preece, there was nothing better than growing up in a small town in the 1960s, not far from the big city.
Preece excelled in athletics for that small-town school — Oakmont High School — serving as a team captain in football, basketball and track.
In football, he set Oakmont records in single-season yardage, gaining 1,579 yards in 1967, leading the Oaks to a 9-1 record. Preece also set the school standard with 22 touchdowns and 143 overall points that same season.
“As a guy being part of a small school like Oakmont, it was excellent,” Preece said. “You got to participate in a lot more athletics. You got to make a lot of lifelong friends, all the way through high school.”
He also captained the basketball team for two years and lettered three times in track, garnering plaudits in the 100-meter dash, long jump and triple jump.
For his accomplishments on the athletic venues and the respect earned from teammates being a captain in three sports, Preece will be one of 10 inductees at his year’s Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet on May 21.
Preece will be joined by Chris Como, Jeff Cortileso, Harry “Shorty” Crytzer, Robert Foster, Dianne Haney, Frank Phelps, Lizzie Suwala Sheaffer, Bob White and posthumous inductee Rich Kriston in this year’s class.
Preece got to perform under the guidance of hall of fame coach Chuck Wagner both in football and track.
“He was known to be a stickler for details,” Preece said. “He was just an outstanding individual and coach. He cared a lot about his players and would have many one-on-one conversations.”
Preece also performed in an era where there will still a number of community high schools in WPIAL Class B, then the division for the smallest schools.
Said Preece: “We had great Class B schools to compete against. I never thought of playing bigger schools nearby since we had East Deer and Verona, among others. Especially East Deer. In those days, Chuck and coach (Don) Boulton were friends.”
Much of his youth was spent at Riverside Park, considered a jewel of Oakmont by many. Opened in 1961, the facility has hosted WPIAL football, baseball, softball, track and soccer over six decades.
Daylight football then, as now, was the tradition.
“It did not have lights,” Preece said. “I have good memories of getting up on a Saturday morning for a game and it was a better process than Friday nights. I was just a great community to live in.”
The Oaks compiled a 25-4-1 record during Preece’s three varsity seasons, starting with the 10-0 WPIAL Class B champs in 1965, followed by a 6-3-1 mark in ’66, leading up to the 9-1 mark in ’67. Only a loss at Coraopolis prevented Oakmont from receiving WPIAL title consideration.
As a senior in 1968, Preece won the Allegheny Interscholastic Conference track meet in the long jump and the triple jump.
His first year in college at Grand Rapids College, the team went 9-1 and played in the Wool Bowl in Roswell, N.M., defeating Henderson (Tex.) College, 24-0.
Now retired from the home improvement service business, Preece divides his time between Springdale Township and Delray Beach, Fla.
What: 51st induction banquet | 2022-05-01T02:45:49Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame inductee Terry Preece was 3-sport standout at Oakmont | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-sports-hall-of-fame-inductee-terry-preece-was-3-sport-standout-at-oakmont/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-sports-hall-of-fame-inductee-terry-preece-was-3-sport-standout-at-oakmont/ |
Kiski Prep’s Galand Okeugo finishes sixth in the boys long jump during the Westmoreland County Track and Field championships Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.
Kiski Area’s Avery Celo finishes fourth in the girls triple jump during the Westmoreland County Track and Field championships Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.
Kiski Area sophomore Eliza Miller was a repeat winner at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association meet.
She won the 3,200-meter run.
But Miller is fond of the long distance run, so she’s switched to running the 1,600 and 800.
Miller won the 1,600 on Saturday at the 99th Annual meet, 42nd for the girls, at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. She finished second in the 800.
She wasn’t the only Kiski Area runner to win. Antonio Giordano won the 800, and the 3,200 and 1,600 relay teams won titles.
“That’s my main race. It was a last minute decision to run it. I just was going to run the 800.”
Miller said she probably will run the 1,600 in the WPIALs. She was enjoying the 3,200.
“It was a lot of fun,” Giordano said. “I had a good time. I knew I could win it; it was just a matter of race strategy. I went out and did what I could. I’m hoping to go sub-2:00 at Pine-Richland. We won the 3,200, and a freshman (Justin Gross) on the team did really well. We PR’d by 12 seconds.”
Giordano teamed up with Gross, Phil Miller and Paul Roberts to run a 8:27.15.
The 1,600 relay team won with a time of 3:34.58. No names were available.
Other Kiski place winners included:
Jack Coleman was fourth in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles. Justin Tucker took fifth in the 1,600. Kyle Guido placed third in the 400, and Miller was fifth.
Ryan Klingensmith was sixth in the 300 hurdles. Payton Sullivan placed sixth in the 800. Roberts was sixth in the 800. James Pearson was sixth in the 200. Campbell Curry was fourth in the triple jump.
Sophia Hranica placed fifth in the 400. Tatiana Holt was sixth in the 3,200.
Alyssa Mydock was fourth, and Avery Celo was sixth in the long jump. Celo was fourth in the triple jump.
Burrell’s Gia Hornack tied for fifth in the pole vault clearing 8 feet, 1 inch, and teammate Rex Rayburg placed fifth in the pole vault, clearing 11-1.
• 9 athletes repeat as WCCA champions | 2022-05-01T02:46:13Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Miller, Giordano win WCCA titles | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/miller-giordano-win-wcca-titles/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/miller-giordano-win-wcca-titles/ |
Jon Rahm putts on the sixth hole during the third round of the Mexico Open on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
Rahm, whose last victory was the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last summer, pumped his fist Saturday when he holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 3-under-par 68.
From just right of the 18th in two, Champ’s chip came up some 15 feet short, and he had to settle for par and a 67.
Rahm had two eagle chances on the par-5 sixth (20 feet) and the reachable par-4 seventh (15 feet) and settled for birdies. He drove into the water on the tough 10th and made bogey, and Champ pulled ahead with a birdie on the par-5 12th then briefly stretched his lead to two shots with a long up-and-down from right of the green on the par-5 14th.
Rahm wasted a birdie chance on No. 12 when he missed a short putt. But on the 14th, he got up-and-down for birdie and then played solidly the rest of the way, closing out his round with a birdie.
It will be the seventh time Rahm has at least a share of the lead going into the final round. He has converted only one of the previous six chances on the PGA Tour, though that doesn’t account for his withdrawal from the Memorial last year when he had a six-shot lead and couldn’t play the final round because of a positive covid-19 test result.
This figures to be a little tougher with only at two-shot margin and with five players within three shots of the lead.
Riley, the PGA Tour rookie out of Alabama, lost in a playoff at Innisbrook this year. Rodgers is part of that high school graduating class with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. He was a prolific winner at Stanford but has yet to win on tour.
Rodgers sounded patient about his approach to playing Vidanta Vallarta and about winning. He hopes to use some advice he received from Jack Nicklaus, whom he first met in 2014 when Rodgers won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation’s top NCAA player, and in recent times at the Bear’s Club in south Florida.
• Hempfield grads, lifelong friends chase Olympic dreams together | 2022-05-01T02:46:25Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Rahm closes with birdie to build 2-shot lead in Mexico Open | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/rahm-closes-with-birdie-to-build-2-shot-lead-in-mexico-open/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/rahm-closes-with-birdie-to-build-2-shot-lead-in-mexico-open/ |
The Butler Invitational is the largest regular season track meet in the district and is often a good judge of who will be a threat at the WPIAL championships.
Pine-Richland junior Natalie McLean certainly made her presence known at this year’s meet, which was held April 22-23.
McLean won the 1,600-meter final with a time of 5:03.55, nearly two seconds ahead of Hampton’s Ava Vitiello.
She also finished third in the 3,200.
Other highlights for the Rams girls included a runner-up finish in the 3,200 and a fifth-place result in the 1,600 for Meredith Price, a sixth-place finish in the shot put by Delaney Allen and a 10th-place finish in the 800 for Angelina Hunkele.
For the boys, the 400 relay team of Brad Gelly, Nick Hartwick, Joey Dudkowski and Alex Gochis led the way with a runner-up finish. Connor Lenz (third, shot put), Nick Hartwick (fourth, 200), Dudkowski (fourth, high jump), Nate Skirpac (fifth, javelin), Jack Mill (seventh, pole vault), Ben McLean (eighth, 800) and Brad Gelly (eighth, 300 hurdles) recorded top 10 finishes in individual events.
Tennis team makes playoffs
The WPIAL released the boys tennis brackets April 27 and Pine-Richland received the No. 13 seed and was matched up against No. 4 Shady Side Academy in the first round.
A duo of Pine-Richland seniors, Braiden Smalley and Ethan Silipo, qualified for the WPIAL doubles tournament, which was held April 27. Smalley and Silipo fell to twin brothers Jack and Luke Wilke of Mt. Lebanon, 10-3, in the first round.
Pine-Richland represented on ice
A pair of Pine-Richland students are participating in the inaugural PIHL girls hockey league.
Abigail Dille, a sophomore, and Sophia Scatena, a freshman, are rostered on the Central team. Dille is listed as a defender and Scatena is a forward. They had one assist each in three games. Dille’s assist came on the game-winning goal of a 5-3 win over the East team in the first game of the season.
The Central team was off to a 1-2 start.
Each team in the league plays 10 regular season games. The regular season runs through the end of May.
Johnson walks it off
Pine-Richland grad Josh Johnson provided a clutch hit for Kent State, lining a walk-off RBI single in a 10-9 win in 10 innings over Miami (Ohio) on April 23.
Johnson, a sophomore, has been an anchor in the Golden Flashes lineup in his first season as a starter. He carried a .337 batting average with four homers, a pair of doubles and had 24 RBIs through 35 games. | 2022-05-01T14:42:05Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Pine-Richland notebook: Junior among top 1,600 runners in WPIAL | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-notebook-junior-among-top-1600-runners-in-wpial/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-notebook-junior-among-top-1600-runners-in-wpial/ |
Plum pitcher Makenzie Lang delivers against Kiski during a game on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Kiski Area High School.
Plum pitcher Makenzie Lang delivers against Kiski Area on April 27.
Despite a sometimes-rocky trip through the Section 1-5A schedule this spring, the Plum softball team still was alive for a WPIAL playoff spot as it entered its home stretch of games.
“It’s been a progression throughout the season, and the girls have dealt with a lot, from injuries to a number of younger players getting up to speed on varsity for the first time and players moving around to different positions,” said coach Phil DiLonardo, whose Mustangs were 3-6 in section play and 3-9 overall through a tough 6-1 loss at section rival Kiski Area last week.
“In one of the games against Indiana, seven of the nine players on defense weren’t starters last year.”
Plum swept Indiana and routed Woodland Hills in section play and was on the cusp of topping Kiski Area when the teams met for the first time April 6.
The Mustangs led 4-1 heading to the seventh, but the Cavaliers scored four times in the top of the seventh to pull out the dramatic victory.
“That was a tough loss,” DiLonardo said. “That would’ve gone a long way in putting us in a better position, but I told the girls that they had to fight through that and look forward to what was ahead.”
Plum was to travel to Penn Hills on Wednesday in a crucial must-win scenario as the teams found themselves in a fight for the fourth playoff spot in the section standings.
The Mustangs were scheduled to face winless Woodland Hills on Thursday and hoped to pull an upset at home Friday as it matched up with section leader Armstrong.
“Armstrong and Franklin Regional at the top is a pretty good 1-2 punch,” DiLonardo said.
Penn Hills fell to 3-5 in the section after forfeiting its second game to Kiski Area. Before the season, the Penn Hills School District stated it would not play Kiski Area teams this spring, and the decision was borne out of what it said was racial taunts allegedly made by Cavaliers fans during a middle school volleyball game in early March.
Junior Makenzie Lang, DiLonardo said, has battled through shoulder issues and has received physical therapy.
Lang exclusively was at first base last year and hit .348 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs and earned Valley News Dispatch first-team all-star honors.
She has taken on pitching duties this spring, and because of her shoulder, she has shared the circle with freshman Dani Pici.
“Makenzie’s issues kind of started back in the first scrimmage, and it’s been an ongoing thing, but she’s battled as best she can and has given us a lot on the field and through her leadership,” DiLonardo said.
Pici also is the No. 1 catcher in her first varsity campaign.
“Like Makenzie, Dani is not really a pitcher, but they’re both doing a job we needed them to do,” DiLonardo said.
“We’ve had Maura Marston pitch a little, too. She’s a senior, but she hasn’t pitched since seventh grade.”
Lang had one of her better outings in the pitching circle at Kiski Area last week as she struck out six, allowed six hits and walked six while surrendering four earned runs in the 6-1 loss.
She allowed just one run on two hits over the first four innings before the Cavaliers broke through for a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and the final three runs in the sixth.
Lang and Pici led the team in hitting at .423 and .412, respectively, after the loss to Kiski Area.
Lang singled in her first at-bat against the Cavaliers and then walked three times, while Pici went 2 for 4 with her team’s lone RBI.
Experienced senior Ashley Polakovic started her final varsity season strong at shortstop and at the plate before suffering a thumb injury that ended her season after three games. She batted .417 with five hits in 12 at-bats before being sidelined.
“Because of her injury, we had been scrambling to put people in positions they don’t normally play, and it’s a ripple effect of sorts,” DiLonardo said. “We’ve missed Ashley’s glove and her bat.”
Freshman Bella Tavella moved from left field to shortstop. With Pici pitching, senior Jaralyn Kincaid, who played third last year and is there this year, is also catching. Lang has served as the designated player on a couple of occasions.
“A lot of us are in new positions or playing varsity for the first time, but we’re all in this together and have been bonding throughout the season,” Lang said. “No matter what has happened, we’re still fighting.” | 2022-05-01T14:42:11Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Plum softball team making final playoff push | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/plum-softball-team-making-final-playoff-push/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/plum-softball-team-making-final-playoff-push/ |
Penn Hills’ Angelo Allen set a school outdoor record in the shot put at Slippery Rock on April 23.
A long day at Slippery Rock University’s high school invitational wasn’t something Penn Hills track coach Lee Zelkowitz was hoping for.
While the meet stretched from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., the Indians were able to get a few things from the trip. First, Penn Hills was able to get work in for all of its athletes. Secondly, it was a chance for Angelo Allen to shine.
Allen won the shot put with a throw of 59 feet, 8.5 inches to set a Penn Hills outdoor record that had stood since 1969. Allen now owns both the indoor and outdoor school record in the shot put. In the discus, Allen placed second with a throw of 149-6.
“The kids adjusted well,” Zelkowitz said. “The meet started at 9:30 a.m., and we didn’t get out of there until 9 p.m. at night. It was ridiculous. That’s a tough situation to be in to be warming up and warming up and having to wait forever for your heat.”
The Indians’ 1,600 relay team also had a strong performance with two substitutes in the lineup. Jayah Golden and Mackenzie McIntyre joined Larissa Lockridge and Mylah Falk to finish in 4:13.38 to placed second. Zelkowitz was happy because he now feels he has six contenders to run in the race.
Penn Hills is still working on finalizing the relay teams on the boys side.
“We’re still playing with it,” Zelkowitz said. “It’s tough because some of the guys who play football are out sometimes when they go to 7-on-7s. They weren’t there at SRU last weekend, so it’s hard to practice.”
Other notable finishes included Kali Booker (fourth, 200), Faulk (fifth, 400), Chase Barney (sixth, 200) and Supreme Saunders (sixth, 300 hurdles).
Richardson leads Lincoln
Irlynn Richardson, a 2021 Penn Hills graduate, is leading the Lincoln (Pa.) University softball team in batting average, hitting .382 in 36 appearances. She has smashed seven doubles, stolen 23 bases on 25 attempts and driven in six runs.
The Lions are 6-31 overall this season and 5-11 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
Sciulli contributes at Chatham
Chatham freshman Anthony Sciulli, a 2021 Penn Hills graduate, has been a solid contributor for the Cougars. Sciulli has appeared in 19 games and is hitting .364. He also has driven in eight runs and has one double.
Chatham is 11-19 overall and 3-16 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play. | 2022-05-01T18:51:18Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Penn Hills notebook: Allen shatters school outdoor shot put record | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-notebook-allen-shatters-school-outdoor-shot-put-record/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-notebook-allen-shatters-school-outdoor-shot-put-record/ |
Penn Hills’ Maura Wade throws against Plum last season.
Maura Wade won’t pout in the circle or outside of it.
When it comes to Wade’s time with the Penn Hills softball team, she wants to show the Indians aren’t ready to revert to old habits.
While Penn Hills isn’t always technically perfect, the Indians are never boring. Through April 27, Penn Hills won four of six games, outsourcing opponents 63-9. In two of the Indians’ setbacks this season, Penn Hills has lost 8-7 and 10-9 slugfests to Section 1-5A opponents Indiana and Franklin Regional.
“We never let the negative show,” said Wade, who pitches and plays third base. “We don’t let them see us when we’re down. We want to encourage each other to keep trying and focus on the next play.”
Being resilient and unwilling to fold when games take unexpected turns has Penn Hills in the playoff race. The Indians (4-4, 3-4) are in a position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Penn Hills had a one-game lead over Plum (3-9, 3-6) with four section games left to play.
The Indians scored their first victory over the Mustangs in 13 years, 18-8, during the first meeting between the schools this season.
One challenge for Penn Hills is one of the four remaining section games it has left will be lost due to forfeit. The Indians, who already forfeited one game to Kiski Area early in the season, will see the second forfeit added to their overall and section record.
The forfeit against the Cavaliers is an administrative decision because of a dispute between the two schools following an alleged incident earlier this spring over racist taunts at a volleyball match at Kiski.
But Penn Hills will have three more opportunities to win its way in.
While the Indians’ games can be wild, coach Ashley Banner and her coaching staff are constantly working on improving the team through teaching. What is most important is identifying what the issue is, not who caused it.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable,” Banner said. “We just want to see how to move forward. We want to recognize the problem, fix it and move forward.”
Catcher Lauren Sipple noticed a change in the team during the preseason. When practice started, she had a feeling the collective group would be able to push Penn Hills in the right direction.
“Everyone contributes,” said Sipple, who is hitting .526. “It’s not like it’s just the top half of the lineup hitting. I knew in the preseason that we would have a better record this year. Everyone wants to be here and has the desire to win.”
Kiera Mack leads the team with a .778 batting average. Abella Gray is hitting .522 and Wade is at .440.
Wade is happy Penn Hills has more depth in the circle this season. Isabella DeCarlo has been pitching as well and has taken some of the workload away from Wade, allowing her to play in the field more.
Having the ability to produce big numbers on offense has the Indians believing they can rally from a deficit.
“We try to tell them to take it one inning at a time,” Banner said. “We want to win each inning. The team needs to hit the ball well and get the ball in to make sure we don’t give up extra bases. That’s about communicating.”
What Wade would like to communicate is announcing to her classmates Penn Hills is going back to the postseason.
It’s been a long time since the Indians made back-to-back appearances in 2006-07.
“It’s great. It’s fun,” Wade said. “I can say I’m proud to be on the team. I have pride wearing a Penn Hills uniform and have a smile on my face.” | 2022-05-01T18:51:30Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Resurgent Penn Hills softball team proud to be part of playoff race | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/resurgent-penn-hills-softball-team-proud-to-be-part-of-playoff-race/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/resurgent-penn-hills-softball-team-proud-to-be-part-of-playoff-race/ |
Courtesy of SA tennis
Above: The 2022 Sewickley Academy boys tennis team ended the regular season with a 6-1 section record. Left: Team co-captains are, from left, junior Jonathan Varghese and senior Rohan Shah.
photos: Courtesy of SA tennis
Sewickley Academy’s 2022 boys tennis co-captains are, from left, junior Jonathan Varghese and senior Rohan Shah.
talking about playoffs
Sewickley Academy’s singles tennis players in 2022 include, from left, Jonathan Varghese, Rohan Shah and Severin Harmon. Sewickley Academy has its sights set on winning a WPIAL championship. For more coverage, page 18.
Sewickley Academy coach Whitney Snyder had not met freshman Severin Harmon before this season.
Snyder did not know Harmon and would not have recognized him. And he surely had not seen him in competition on a tennis court.
Well, Harmon made a great first impression on the Panthers’ veteran coach.
Harmon quickly established himself at the No. 1 singles position on the SA team and played well enough to advance to the WPIAL 3A singles tournament.
“Severin’s an outstanding tennis player and an outstanding golfer,” Snyder said. “For him to play No. 1 singles as a freshman is impressive. He’s very mature, way beyond his years. And he’s humble. He has no ego. He’s just a joy to coach.”
SA’s second and third singles spots are held by junior Jonathan Varghese and Rohan Shah, the only senior on the team. Shah and Varghese are co-captains.
“Rohan has moved up in the lineup this year,” Snyder said. “He is one of our captains and is class president. He will be attending the University of Pennsylvania.
“Jonathan is our other co-captain. He played at No. 1 singles last year.”
Varghese has a 4.12 GPA and plays tennis year-round, training four or five days per week. He volunteers at his church and at a local hospital.
“I’ve also done some work with non-profits in the medial setting,” he said.
Varghese, like Shah, takes his role as a team captain seriously.
“As co-captain, it’s my responsibility to be a leader, and to encourage the guys to stay motivated and focused,” Varghese said. “It’s my job to push them to be the best they can be every day, whether it’s a practice or a match.
“My season has certainly been quite challenging but also a blast. I absolutely love competing alongside the guys, especially during the couple of marathon matches I’ve played this year. I had long matches against Mt. Lebanon and North Hills. It was certainly tough because I was playing good opponents who were competing just as hard as I was. I just tried to find a way to stay in the present and keep my confidence up. I love those matches because they test you the most. I hope my game continues to go forward and I can keep contributing to the team.”
Shah has a 4.16 GPA and plans to major in bioengineering at Penn. Like Varghese, Shah plays tennis year-round.
“We had pretty high expectations for the year,” Shah said. “We had an early exit in the playoffs last year and were hoping to rebound this year with a stronger and more grounded team, and we’ve been very successful so far. The team has played very well and we are looking very strong going into the playoffs.
“The year for me personally has been extremely valuable serving as a team captain. I’ve acted as a mentor to a lot of the new players on the team and have done my best to ensure we always have the right mindset going into tennis practices and matches day in and day out. Whether it is helping them strategize or improve technique, I do what I can to ensure we all are getting better not only individually but as a team.”
Rounding out the Panthers’ starting lineup are Spencer Kryzinski and Tejas Mitra at No. 1 doubles, and Alexander Quigley and Jayden Garcha at No. 2. Kryzinski and Quigley are juniors; Mitra and Garcha are sophomores.
The Kryzinski/Mitra tandem advanced to the quarterfinal round of the WPIAL doubles tournament this year.
Two sophomores, Logan Carlson and Jackson Quigley, Alexander’s younger brother, round out the squad.
“I knew the teams in our section would be very competitive,” Snyder said. “We wanted to try to get better as the season went on and play our best tennis at the end of the year. Our doubles teams hadn’t played together until this year.
“I think the team has gotten better. We want to be able to gain experience in the next couple of matches; we don’t want to be caught off-guard in the playoffs. Hopefully, the kids will gain that experience and embrace the moment in the playoffs.”
Embracing the moment is exactly what the Panthers are looking forward to achieving.
“My expectations coming into this season were pretty high,” Varghese said. “I knew we had a good group of guys that was not only hungry to win but also hungry to get better each day.
“So far, we’ve grown closer as the season has gone on and we’ve battled and played well. I think we are really coming together as a team and I hope we can stay motivated and hungry. We want to keep this positive energy going into the playoffs and hopefully make a good run.”
The WPIAL team championships will be held May 11 at the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center on the Washington & Jefferson campus.
First round matches through the quarterfinals will take place at home sites. Semifinal matches will be held at neutral sites.
“I still have high expectations for the team,” Varghese said. “We know that every (playoff) match is ‘win or go home’ so the mentality is to fight no matter who we play. I’m confident that we can go far this year.”
Sewickley ended the regular season with a 6-1 record in the section, won by North Allegheny with a 7-0 mark.
The Panthers, who in recent years have moved from 2A to 3A, defeated North Hills, Butler, Seneca Valley, Moon, West Allegheny and Pine-Richland in section action.
“I am expecting us to be a very competitive team going into the playoffs,” Shah said, “and hope we can turn some heads and upset big-name schools. We have a super deep team that I think can surprise some people.”
Snyder, who is in his 31st season as SA’s coach, has set the bar high for tennis excellence while building one of the great dynasties in WPIAL history.
He has led the Panthers to 25 section titles and 23 WPIAL championships since 1993. SA also has advanced to the PIAA finals eight times under Snyder, a SA graduate, and won three titles (2006, 2016, 2017).
The Panthers captured 16 consecutive section crowns from 2003-18 and were WPIAL champions 15 years in a row from 2004-18. The run of consecutive team championships is the second-longest streak in any sport in WPIAL history. | 2022-05-01T18:51:36Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Sewickley Academy boys tennis looks forward to WPIAL playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/sewickley-academy-boys-tennis-looks-forward-to-wpial-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/sewickley-academy-boys-tennis-looks-forward-to-wpial-playoffs/ |
Gateway’s Will Kromka
The Gateway Gators have adopted many of the principles of the “Kromka-way.”
Will Kromka, a 6-foot-4 senior outside/middle hitter on the Gateway boys volleyball team, led the Gators to a 4-0 section record at the halfway point of their schedule.
“As the season plays out, I expect Will to do Kromka-like things for us because that’s what the kid does; he transforms people, places, practices and, in the near future, playoffs,” said Phil Randolph, Gateway’s fourth-year coach.
“Will has an infectious personality that is built properly from the ground up. His parents, Joe and Suzanne, are two of the most selfless, inspiring people I’ve ever met. They have sent eight amazing children through the Gateway School District, and the Kromka legacy — in the classroom and on the court — at Gateway High School sadly comes to an end with Will’s graduation.
“Will was raised with many great ‘teachers’ in the Kromka household, and these lessons have shaped him into a young man who is wise beyond his years.”
Kromka, whose siblings are Joe, Kate, Mike, Tom, Jim, John Paul and Mary, is a two-sport standout.
He would have been a four-year starter in volleyball if not for the covid-wracked 2020 season, and was a four-year starter in basketball for the Gators.
Gateway’s boys basketball team finished second in Section 3-5A this year, went 18-7 overall, and advanced to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals.
Kromka averaged 16 points the past two seasons. Off the court, he has a 4.3 GPA, is president of the senior class, and is a member of the National Honor Society, interact club, book club and AIM program. He also competes for a local swim team in the summer and in AAU basketball.
The 18-year-old Kromka was cited as a 2022 “preseason player to watch” in volleyball by Trib HSSN.
At the end of April, Gateway was ranked sixth in Class 2A by the WPVCA, behind North Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Seton LaSalle, Montour and Ambridge.
“I have pretty high expectations for the team, especially with how our season is going,” Kromka said. “I don’t like to look too far ahead though, and prefer to take it one game at a time, one task at a time.
“I am very thankful for my experience at Gateway. It has the academics, athletics and diversity that make it a unique school. It has molded me into who I am. I hope the legacy my family has left at Gateway has been nothing but positive and has set an example for others to follow.”
Volleyball and basketball are team sports, which is one of the reasons Kromka excels at both.
He began playing basketball — on an organized level — in third grade and volleyball in seventh grade.
“Will is just built differently in every way,” Randolph said.
“Will can adjust and stretch to any set, can splinter the court on balls that are well placed and well timed, and can play back row in as nimble of a manner as any of the smaller guys. He can put up an enormous wall with his blocks, and can move seamlessly to any front or back row spot where we might be able to best utilize him.
“Perhaps more importantly though, I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on what Will brings to our team outside of his athletic talents. Will leads by example not only with his play on the court and in practice but also in the manner in which he verbally and non-verbally leads with his words and his demeanor.
“Often times, in working with young athletes, you encounter guys who are eager to tell you what they can do but who come up a bit short when it comes to actually manifesting those results. Will is the absolute opposite. He is the increasingly rare young athlete who is eager to let his play and work ethic do the talking so that he earns the respect of those around him by always striving to be the hardest working yet humblest guy in the room. Fortunately, this attitude is infectious, and our entire program is stronger mentally, physically and emotionally.
Kromka, a Pitt-Johnstown basketball commit who will join his brother John Paul at UPJ, has earned all-section honors in both sports as well as an All-WPIAL second-team accolade in volleyball.
“I feel UPJ is a good fit for me academically, athletically, and I love the campus,” Kromka said. “It’s a pleasant addition that I will be able to play ball with John, and I am really looking forward to it.”
Bozicevic and Lewis landed second-team all-section honors last season, and Lewis was an All-WPIAL third-team selection.
Lewis and Kromka were lauded as players of the week in April by the WPVCA.
“While Will would be honored for the praise here, I imagine he’d want to share this spotlight with the other boys on the varsity squad,” Randolph said. ”Volleyball is truly a team sport, and I am sure Will would want to give a shout-out to his brothers on the court. Without them beside him, we’re not having this conversation right now.
“We are a close-knit group, and we’re having a blast playing a game that we love and challenging ourselves to prove we belong at the top. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to be surrounded by on this adventure, and that positive energy makes me feel like a kid again on some of these long days and nights. This is a special group here, and we’re going to make sure those around us in the WPIAL know that.”
Gateway (5-1, 4-0) stood in first place in the section midway through the season, ahead of Derry (3-1), Plum (3-2), Deer Lakes (1-4) and Mars (0-4).
The Gators’ lone loss as of April 25 was a 3-2 decision to Seton LaSalle, the defending WPIAL Class 2A champion.
Gateway last won section titles in boys volleyball in 1985 and 1986. They are the only section titles in the history of the program. | 2022-05-01T18:51:42Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Will Kromka aims to cap family’s legacy at Gateway with volleyball success | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/will-kromka-aims-to-cap-familys-legacy-at-gateway-with-volleyball-success/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/will-kromka-aims-to-cap-familys-legacy-at-gateway-with-volleyball-success/ |
High school sports schedules for May 2, 2022
Allderdice at Central Catholic, 3:30 p.m.
North Allegheny at Pine-Richland, 4 p.m.
Canon-McMillan at Baldwin, 4 p.m.
Mt. Lebanon at Upper St. Clair, 7 p.m.
Norwin at Hempfield, 4:15 p.m.
Gateway at McKeesport, 4 p.m.
Fox Chapel at Armstrong, 3:45 p.m.
Hampton at Plum, 4 p.m.
Penn Hills at Mars, 3:45 p.m.
Moon at West Allegheny, 4:30 p.m.
Shaler at North Hills, 4 p.m.
South Fayette at Chartiers Valley, 4:15 p.m.
Connellsville at Albert Gallatin, 4 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson at Bethel Park, 4 p.m.
Freeport at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Burrell, 4 p.m.
North Catholic at Knoch, 4 p.m.
Ambridge at Montour, 7 p.m.
Beaver at Quaker Valley, 4:15 p.m.
Blackhawk at Central Valley, 4 p.m.
Belle Vernon at Greensburg Salem, 4 p.m.
Laurel Highlands at Elizabeth Forward, 4 p.m.
Ringgold at Uniontown, 4 p.m.
Ellwood City at Mohawk, 4 p.m.
Freedom at Hopewell, 4 p.m.
South Allegheny at Steel Valley, 4 p.m.
South Park at Keystone Oaks, 4:30 p.m.
Derry at East Allegheny, 4 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant at Ligonier Valley , 4 p.m.
Valley at Deer Lakes, 4 p.m.
Charleroi at Brownsville, 4 p.m.
McGuffey at Waynesburg Central, 4 p.m.
Beth-Center at Carmichaels, 4:30 p.m.
Frazier at California, 4 p.m.
Aliquippa at Summit Academy, 4 p.m.
Neshannock at South Side, 4:30 p.m.
Jeannette at Serra Catholic, 4 p.m.
Sto-Rox at Northgate, 4 p.m.
Brentwood at Clairton, 4 p.m.
Burgettstown at Seton LaSalle, 4 p.m.
Carlynton at Fort Cherry, 4 p.m.
Rochester at Avella, 7 p.m.
Union at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.
Western Beaver at Cornell, 4 p.m.
Monessen at Bishop Canevin, 4 p.m.
Leechburg at St. Joseph, 3:30 p.m.
Sewickley Academy at Eden Christian, 4 p.m.
Springdale at Riverview, 3:45 p.m.
New Castle at Shenango, 4 p.m.
Peters Township at Canon-McMillan, 4:30 p.m.
Norwin at Hempfield, 4 p.m.
Seneca Valley at Butler, 4 p.m.
Franklin Regional at Woodland Hills, 4 p.m.
Indiana at Kiski Area, 4 p.m.
Penn Hills at Armstrong, 3:45 p.m.
Gateway at Thomas Jefferson, 5 p.m.
Penn-Trafford at Latrobe, 4 p.m.
Hampton at Mars, 3:45 p.m.
Oakland Catholic at Fox Chapel, DH, 3:45 p.m.
Moon at Western Beaver, DH, 4 p.m.
South Fayette at West Allegheny, 4 p.m.
Trinity at Chartiers Valley, 3:45 p.m.
Freeport at Knoch, 4 p.m.
Highlands at Burrell, 6:30 p.m.
McKeesport at Greensburg Salem, 4:15 p.m.
Belle Vernon at Uniontown, DH, 4 p.m.
Elizabeth Forward at West Mifflin, 4 p.m.
Laurel Highlands at Ringgold, 4 p.m.
Ambridge at Beaver, DH, 4 p.m.
Blackhawk at New Castle, 4 p.m.
Hopewell at Central Valley, 4:15 p.m.
North Catholic at Deer Lakes, 4 p.m.
Valley at Shady Side Academy, 4:15 p.m.
Beaver Falls at Ellwood City, 5 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant at Southmoreland, 4 p.m.
South Allegheny at Brownsville, 4 p.m.
Waynesburg at McGuffey, 4:15 p.m.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Chartiers-Houston, 4:15 p.m.
Brentwood at Apollo-Ridge, 3:45 p.m.
Jeannette at Seton LaSalle, 4 p.m.
Serra Catholic at Ligonier Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Bentworth at Washington, 4:15 p.m.
Beth-Center at Frazier, 4:15 p.m.
Laurel at New Brighton, 3:45 p.m.
Mohawk at Neshannock, 4:15 p.m.
Riverside at Freedom, 7 p.m.
Bishop Canevin at Rochester, 4 p.m.
Cornell at South Side, 4 p.m.
Jefferson-Morgan at Monessen, 4 p.m.
Mapletown at Greensburg Central Catholic, 4 p.m.
West Greene at Avella, 4 p.m.
Leechburg at St. Joseph, 4 p.m.
Northgate at Ellis School, 4 p.m.
Plum at Yough, 4 p.m.
Shady Side Academy at West Greene, 5 p.m.
Ringgold at Quaker Valley, 4 p.m.; Beaver at South Park, 3 p.m.; Indiana at Central Valley, 3 p.m.; Highlands at Thomas Jefferson, 3 p.m.; Carlynton at Mars, 3 p.m.; Hampton at Valley, 3 p.m.; Mt. Pleasant vs. Montour at Bethel Park, 3 p.m.; Blackhawk vs. North Catholic at Cranberry Township Park, 3 p.m.
Fox Chapel at Butler, 7:30 p.m.
North Catholic at Beaver County Christian, 7 p.m.
Derry at Mars, 7:30 p.m.
Canon-McMillan at Seneca Valley, 6 p.m.
Gateway at Norwin, 7 p.m.
North Hills at Moon, 7:15 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson at South Park, 6 p.m.
Trinity at Peters Township, 7 p.m.
All schedules are subject to change. To report scores or schedule changes, email ptrsports@triblive.com. Visit TribHSSN.triblive.com/scores for results, stats, standings and box scores from around Western Pa.
More High School Scores Schedule
• High school sports scores, schedules for April 24, 2022
• High school sports schedules for April 18, 2022
• High school scores, schedules for April 9, 2022
• High school schedules for April 4, 2022 | 2022-05-02T04:38:03Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | High school sports schedules for May 2, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/high-school-sports-schedules-for-may-2-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/high-school-sports-schedules-for-may-2-2022/ |
Bill Hartlep | Tribune-Review
Springdale’s Colton Gent trains at practice April 21, 2022, at Springdale.
Colton Gent joined the Springdale track and field team to stay in shape and to continue training for football season.
The freshman made an immediate contribution last fall as a running back, wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist for the Dynamos but wanted to improve his speed.
Gent sprinted into Springdale’s record book earlier this spring, clocking a time of 11.3 seconds in the 100-meter dash to surpass the mark of Andy Armour, who set the previous record of 11.56 in 2016.
“I never thought I was going to be this serious until I got a decent time,” he said. “Now, it’s just give it all I got.”
Gent started the season running a 12.7 in the 100 but quickly dropped time as he honed his start and technique.
“I’ve definitely improved a lot,” he said. “I feel like my technique has gotten better. That’s helped a lot.
“It’s all about the start, 100%. It’s also about technique. You have to keep your head down when launching off, then halfway you just pick up and give it all you’ve got.”
A mark of 11.3 would have been good enough for third place at the 2021 WPIAL Class 2A championships and likely will earn him a spot at this year’s WPIAL meet, which is scheduled for May 18 at Slippery Rock.
Athletes who post the top 16 times/distances in each Class 2A event during the regular season qualify for WPIALs. He also has posted a time of 24.3 seconds in the 200.
“He’s been very competitive in our section meets,” first-year coach Nicole Tryon said. “He’s a ninth-grader, so there’s a lot of time for him to improve, too. He’s going against a lot of senior kids.”
Another Springdale sprinter is making a run at qualifying for the WPIAL meet. Sophomore Dashanae Beard has been leading the way on the girls team, regularly finishing first or second in section meets in the 100 and 200.
“Just keep my head up, keep my knees up high and just breathe,” she said. “I need to work on my breathing and go straight for it.”
Beard also runs in the 400-meter relay with Ahlainna Lang, Tara Overly and Mackenzie Greenawalt.
Other top performers for Springdale include freshman Caleb Lehey in the 800 and 1,600; senior Andrew Haus in the javelin; and the jumping group of seniors Gage Howard and Brianna Thompson and junior Bella Burrell.
“This group that we have has been very, very good,” said Tryon, whose teams swept Clairton and South Allegheny in section meets. “Very competitive, wanting to succeed, listening to the coaches, taking our advice.
“We have a smaller group than we have before because covid really hurt our numbers. We were at 60 kids before covid. Now we’re at like 25. The year right after covid were at 14. We’ve made an uptick, but we’d still like to get more kids involved.”
The Dynamos will cap the regular season — and make a final push for WPIAL qualifying times — at the Section 4-2A invitational Thursday at Shady Side Academy.
Gent hopes it will be another step toward reaching his goals.
“I’d like to run a state time (11.3),” he said.
“I’d love to go WPIALs. I’m pushing for states.” | 2022-05-02T21:55:01Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | After sprinting to school record, Springdale’s Gent sets sights on WPIAL, PIAA success | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/after-sprinting-to-school-record-springdales-gent-sets-sights-on-wpial-piaa-success/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/after-sprinting-to-school-record-springdales-gent-sets-sights-on-wpial-piaa-success/ |
Men’s and women’s U.S. Open qualifiers begin
Local qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open begins Tuesday in Western Pennsylvania at Shannopin Country Club.
That’s where 50 women will compete for three spots for this year’s tournament June 2-5 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
Heading the list is LPGA pro Rachel Rohanna, a Waynesburg High School grad. Other local entries include the Rugola sisters (Adena and Danae) of Uniontown, Paige Scott of Butler, Caroline Wrigley of North Allegheny, Christina Lewis of North Allegheny, Caroline McConnell of South Fayette and Lindsey Powanda of Mt. Lebanon.
The mens’ qualifier will be May 11 at Butler Country Club with 78 golfers will compete for five spots. That same day, the West Virginia Golf Association will host a qualifier at Stonewall Jackson Resort near Roanoke, W.Va.
The senior mens’ qualifier will be May 18 at Indiana Country Club. There are 84 golfers competing for two spots. Among the group is former PGA player Joey Sindelar. Sean Knapp and David Brown are also in the field.
Smith named Walker Cup captain
The USGA picked Mike McCoy, of Des Moines, Iowa, to captain the USA Team for the 2023 Walker Cup Match on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, and Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh as the captain of the USA Team for the 2025 Walker Cup Match at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif.
“Both Mike and Nathan has long, exceptional histories with the USGA and outstanding amateur golf resumes,” said Stu Francis, USGA president.
“Given the historic nature of the next two matches being staged at St. Andrews and Cypress Point, we wanted to give both of them the time to enjoy this leadership opportunity and plan their next few years accordingly. We congratulate each of them on an honor well deserved and look forward to watching them lead two talented USA Teams.”
McCoy, 59, won the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, becoming the second-oldest champion in the event’s history at age 50.
He has competed in 65 USGA championships, including 20 U.S. Amateurs, and was a member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team at Royal Latham & St Annes Golf Club in England.
Smith, 43, has won four U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships (2003, ‘09, ‘10, ‘12) as well as the inaugural 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, with partner Todd White. His four U.S. Mid-Amateur victories are a championship record, one more than Jay Sigel, a fellow Pennsylvanian who competed in a USA-record nine Walker Cups.
He has competed in 48 USGA championships and played on three consecutive Walker Cup Teams (2009, 2011, 2013), earning the clinching point in the 2013 USA victory at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.
His first Mid-Amateur win in 2003 at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club made him the youngest champion at age 25.
“Historically, I understand that there is no greater honor than being named captain of the USA Walker Cup Team,” Smith said. “I am ecstatic at the opportunity to lead this team at such a historic and storied venue. Providing the winning point for the USA during the 2013 match is a memory I will never forget, and that accomplished feeling is something I’m focused on providing for the team in 2025.”
In the USA’s 2009 Walker Cup victory at Merion Golf Club, Smith won two foursomes matches with partner Peter Uihlein. His singles victory over GB&I’s Nathan Kimsey provided the winning point in the USA’s 17-9 triumph in 2013. Smith amassed a 3-4-1 record in his three Walker Cup Matches. Smith was a Division III All-America player at Allegheny College and is one of the most decorated mid-amateurs in the country.
Smith won consecutive Mid-Amateurs in 2009 at The Kiawah Island (S.C.) Club, and in 2010 at Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, N.Y., before making history with his fourth win in 2012 at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill., becoming only the 15th person to win the same USGA championship at least four times.
The Brookville native teamed up with 2013 Walker Cup teammate Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C., for a victory in the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, capturing the inaugural title with a 7-and-5 victory over Greg Earnhardt and Sherrill Britt on The Olympic Club’s Lake Course in San Francisco, Calif.
The Walker Cup Match is a 10-man amateur team competition between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. The 49th Match will be contested Sept. 2-3, 2023, at St. Andrews. The birthplace of golf has hosted eight previous Walker Cups, more than any other venue, most recently in 1975, when the USA defeated GB&I, 15½-8½, led by future U.S. Open champions Jerry Pate and Curtis Strange.
The 50th Match will be contested Sept. 6-7, 2025, at Cypress Point Club, which has hosted only one USGA competition, the 1981 Walker Cup, won by the USA, 15-9. The USA leads the all-time series, 38-9-1.
Pa. Golf
The 2022 Pennsylvania State Golf Association’s 2022 schedule began with the 81st George Dressler Memorial Championship (April 26-27 at Berkshire Country Club) and concludes with the third Women’s Four-Ball Championship (Sept. 26-27 at Westmoreland Country Club).
The 109th Pennsylvania Amateur Championship will take place July 25-27 at Llanerch Country Club. This year’s 106th Open Championship heads to Longue Vue Club on Aug. 8-10.
The 29th Middle-Amateur Championship rounds out the major slate Sept. 19-20 at Country Club of Scranton.
For Seniors, the second Senior Open Championship is scheduled for May 2 and 3 at Valley Brook Country Club, and the 63rd Senior Amateur Championship tees off Aug. 1-2 at Schuylkill Country Club.
In the Junior ranks, the boys and girl’s championships again are set for Hershey Country Club on June 27-28.
The women’s championships also will be held at some premier venues. The 86th Women’s Amateur Championship gets going Aug. 1-3 at Lancaster Country Club, also the site of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open.
For Seniors, the second Women’s Senior Match Play tees off May 9 and 10 at Carlisle Country Club.
Local key tournament dates
WPGA: 62nd WPGA Boys Championship is June 6 at Latrobe Elks; 119th WPGA Open Championship is June 20-22 at The Club at Nevillewood; 102nd WPGA Junior Championship is July 7 at Windber CC; 122nd WPGA Amateur Championship is July 18-19 at Butler CC; 15th WPGA Women’s Amateur at July 20-21 at Allegheny CC; and 2022 C.R. Miller Match Play is Aug 3-4 at Latrobe CC
TRI-STATE PGA: Tri-State Amateur at Indiana CC May 26; Tri-State Open at Southpointe GC July 6-7; Frank B Fuhrer Jr. Invitational at Pittsburgh Field Club June 27-29; Women’s Tri-State Amateur July 14 at Green Oaks; and Pittsburgh Open Aug. 1-2 at St. Clair CC.
• WPIAL golfers to face true test next fall as championships expand to 2 rounds
• Mt. Pleasant girls golf team pleased but not satisfied with solid season
• Greensburg Central Catholic girls golf team looks to regain PIAA title
• What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Oct. 25, 2021: PIAA team golf champs to be crowned
• Fox Chapel, Penn-Trafford golfers tie for 4th at state tournament | 2022-05-02T21:55:13Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Men’s and women’s U.S. Open qualifiers begin | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/mens-and-womens-u-s-open-qualifiers-begin/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/mens-and-womens-u-s-open-qualifiers-begin/ |
North Hills was cruising out of the gates this spring in defense of its WPIAL Class 5A softball section crown, winning its first three games by a combined score of 37-5.
However, the vaunted Indians offense was shut down in the team’s second Section 3-5A contest, losing at Fox Chapel, 7-0.
Thanks in part to the play of Akron recruit Abby Scheller, among other Indians, North Hills hasn’t lost since and is now alone in first place with an 11-1 overall record.
“It is always great to win a section game at home,” North Hills coach Libby Gasior said. “The early season loss wasn’t weighing on our minds too much. We knew we underperformed and we weren’t concerned about things that were outside of our control. We were focused on the moment and were looking forward to showing how we had improved.”
The Indians began last week by avenging their only loss of the season, beating the Foxes in the rematch, 11-3, as Scheller went 3 for 3 with a home run.
“The team came into that game with focus and intent to hit the ball and Abby was no exception,” Gasior said. “Abby went 1 for 3 when we played them at their place and she knew she could do more to help the team in the rematch. When she came to bat in the third with two runners on and us down 3-1, that was a big moment. Her teammates were screaming and you could feel the electricity. We just knew Abby was going to deliver. She put us up 4-3 with a monster shot to deep center and we didn’t look back.”
The hits kept coming for Scheller and the Indians on Wednesday in a wild, 13-10 section win over Hampton. The senior hit for the cycle, all on senior night at North Hills.
“I am beyond grateful I got to witness it and I know how big it was for Abby and her family on that night,” Gasior said. “If you know Abby as a hitter, the most impressive part of her hitting for the cycle is her hitting a single. That’s when you know Abby is seeing the ball well and is focused thru the zone. Home runs, doubles — that’s what she does regularly and can be taken for granted, but you don’t always get to see Abby driving the ball on the ground for contact.”
On a team with plenty of experience, Gasior says Abby is the captain for plenty of reasons.
“Abby brings a strong competitive desire to everything she does,” Gasior said. “Abby has stepped up to the challenge we gave her at the start of the season to be a positive influence on this team. She has a great sense of humor and keeps things light in moments when others might feel pressured. She has been a very rewarding kid to coach over the years and to see her develop and buy in to our approach has been integral to our success.”
Once she graduates from North Hills and makes a run at another title before her scholastic career ends next month, Scheller has proven she has what it takes to compete on the Division I level next year at Akron.
“Abby’s athleticism has always been one of her biggest strengths,” Gasior said. “She has a lot of raw talent, including strength and quickness. She understands the game well and is always willing to learn something new. Over her career with us, she has improved her patience and discipline and is looking to get stronger with mechanics.” | 2022-05-03T05:49:45Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week for May 2, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-2-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-2-2022/ |
His most financially rewarding year was in 2014, when he earned $261,901 on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour. Alker has been around so long he played the developmental circuit under five names, starting with the Nike Tour.
His most consistent golf? That would have been on the Canadian tour in 2000, when he finished in the top 12 in seven out of eight tournaments.
Houston was his second win this year — he also has two playoff losses — and he took over the lead in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Throw in the end of last year, and Alker has three wins and three runner-up finishes in his last nine tournaments.
In just 17 starts since he turned 50 last summer, Alker has earned $2,202,168. Now consider he made $2,318,866 in his 390 starts combined on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
Alker still has no answers for this stark turnaround except that he’s never had this much fun, and he never lost his love for the game.
Those last three decades are fading from memory. If there was a nervous moment, it was deciding to move back to the U.S. after two years in Europe. A year after he won the New Zealand PGA — co-sanctioned by the Buy.com Tour — Alker missed the cut in all 21 tournaments he played in 2010. It took four more years to get his PGA Tour card.
Except for a ball in the water in a playoff two weeks ago in Dallas, Alker very easily could be sitting on three straight wins. He is taking off this week as his son prepares for high school graduation. Next week is his first senior major in Alabama. | 2022-05-03T21:55:47Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Column: Steven Alker cashing in on golf’s greatest mulligan | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/column-steven-alker-cashing-in-on-golfs-greatest-mulligan/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/column-steven-alker-cashing-in-on-golfs-greatest-mulligan/ |
WNBA to honor Brittney Griner with league-wide floor decals as she languishes in Russia
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner is the most prominent American citizen known to be jailed by a foreign government. As a crucial hearing approaches next month, the case against her remains shrouded in mystery, with little clarity from the Russian prosecutors.
The All-Star center remains in Russia after being detained following her arrival at a Moscow airport Feb. 17. Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges that allegedly contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. She has a hearing set for May 19.
The Biden administration determined Griner is being wrongfully detained in Russia, meaning the United States will more aggressively work to secure her release even as the legal case against her plays out, the State Department said Tuesday.
“We just want her home. I’m glad that they are trying to do something,” said New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, who previously coached Griner in Phoenix. “They had that prisoner release last week that gave me hope that BG would be one of the next ones out. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. Hopefully, she’ll be out sooner than later.”
“There’s not a day I don’t think about BG. I was trying to message with her family yesterday. She’s in everyone’s mind,” she said. “She can’t be forgotten. She means so much to so many people. I coached her for a long time, and she’s like family. I think it’s a great step.”
The league also approved giving the Mercury roster and salary cap relief so they can carry a replacement player until Griner returns home. Griner will be paid her full salary of nearly $228,000.
Griner had one of her best seasons last year. She was the league’s second-leading scorer and finished sixth in rebounds. She helped the Mercury reach the WNBA Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Sky. | 2022-05-03T21:56:11Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | WNBA to honor Brittney Griner with league-wide floor decals as she languishes in Russia | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wnba-to-honor-brittney-griner-with-league-wide-floor-decals-as-she-languishes-in-russia/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wnba-to-honor-brittney-griner-with-league-wide-floor-decals-as-she-languishes-in-russia/ |
Flyers goalie Martin Jones blocks a shot by Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk during the first period of an April 29 game.
Fletcher’s offseason rebuild that was supposed to send the Flyers into the playoffs this season was a flop, and they won only 25 games. The Flyers fired coach Alain Vigneault in December, and interim coach Mike Yeo isn’t coming back after the Flyers closed the season with nine losses in 11 games.
Flyers chairman David Scott said in January that he didn’t think the franchise needed a three- to five-year plan, and there was enough of a proven core to turn the team into a winner. Scott said he would give Fletcher “a blank check” to fix the Flyers.
“It is being aggressive in all phases. Certainly, part of it is we need to get younger. We have to get more talented,” Fletcher said. “We have to get faster. We have to aggressively look at trades, free agency, and can we add a couple players to supplement what we have here and make this team better. Another element will, obviously, be the return to health of certain players.”
Once a team with one of the more ferocious home-ice advantages in the NHL, the Flyers routinely played to crowds of fewer than 10,000 in Wells Fargo Center. The atmosphere was as dreary as the play on the ice and sharing the building with the 76ers, who pack the arena and have made it a place to be in the NBA, doesn’t help the Flyers’ standing as the No. 4 team in Philly.
“Of course, the revenue is a concern, but the bigger concern is getting the club to be more competitive,” Fletcher said. “Revenues will follow as we get better. Our focus is on getting the best hockey team possible so fans do want to come back. The pressure is about winning and not necessarily on revenues.”
• Hempfield’s Blahovec and Tapper continue to improve | 2022-05-04T01:12:24Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Flyers GM Fletcher wants to find right fit in new coach | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/flyers-gm-fletcher-wants-to-find-right-fit-in-new-coach/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/flyers-gm-fletcher-wants-to-find-right-fit-in-new-coach/ |
Hempfield’s Cydney Blahovec (right) finishes ahead of Kiski Area’s Eliza Miller and Penn-Trafford’s Amelia Barilla in the girls 800 during the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Track and Field Championships.
Hempfield track and field coach Ron Colland has been pleasantly surprised with some of the performances his athletes this season, especially juniors Cydney Blahovec and Liz Tapper.
Blahovec is coming off a strong performance at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association track and field championships, where she won the 800-meter run and bettered her time from the PIAA championships.
She ran a personal record of 2 minutes, 18.53 seconds. She ran a 2:18.82 in the 2021 WPIAL finals and a 2:20 at the PIAAs.
Blahovec also placed third in the 400 and anchored the 3,200 and 1,600 relay teams. The 3,200 relay won, and the 1,600 team finished second.
“I’m pleased with some of the individual times I’m seeing,” Colland said. “She did look good. Maybe Cydney was a little pumped and determined to do well at counties.”
Blahovec said she was able to match her PR from a year ago.
“I was a little nervous because I ran the 400 right before the 800,” Blahovec said. “But I kept with the second girls for the first lap, but I went out on the second lap and ended up winning it.”
Blahovec said she doesn’t train for the 400, but it was nice to get third. She was pleased with her time.
She teamed up with Lily Murphy, Alicia Weimer and Julia Snider in the 3,200 and with Snider, Murphy and Alexa Gray in the 1,600.
“We ran a good time,” Blahovec said. “But with the heat, it could have been better.”
Blahovec’s goal is to break 2:18 and continue to improve her times.
Latrobe track coach Andy Wnek joked with Tapper and asked her if she was going to graduate early.
He knows that Tapper is an automatic 15 points in a dual meet. Tapper, who holds school records in the shot put and discus, also competes in the pole vault.
She played along with the joke, saying she’s thinking about adding a fourth event her second year.
“I jumped 5 feet in the high jump when I was in middle school,” Tapper said.
Tapper set a meet and school record in winning the shot put with a throw of 47 feet, 1½ inches. She won the discus with a throw of 150-7.
“It was a pretty good day,” Tapper said. “Overall, I’m pleased.”
Her best throw is 164-4 as she closes in on the state record of 168-11 held by Greensburg Central Catholic’s Colleen Rosensteel, set in 1984.
Tapper ranks No. 1 in the state and No. 3 in the country in the discus with a throw of 164-4 this season.
She placed second in the pole vault 11-1. She cleared 12-2 early in the season.
“It’s amazing what she’s been able to do,” Colland said. “I heard her (say) she may add the high jump. She’s pretty good.”
Tapper was in Philadelphia competing in the pole vault at the Penn Relays. She plans to compete there as a senior but in the throws.
Hempfield throwing coach Dave Murray said Michigan and Penn State were the recent colleges to inquire about Tapper.
“When the season began, I was just hoping to throw 150,” Tapper said. “Now I’m hoping to throw 170 and 50 in the shot. I’d like the school record in the pole vault. I just got on new poles, and I’m excited about the rest of the season.” | 2022-05-04T01:12:36Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hempfield’s Blahovec and Tapper continue to improve | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hempfields-blahovec-and-tapper-continue-to-improve/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hempfields-blahovec-and-tapper-continue-to-improve/ |
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | 10:11 PM
Mt. Pleasant’s Dayton Pitzer (left) and Greensburg Central Catholic’s Corinn Brewer pose with Judge John Driscoll on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at the Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet.
Former Jeannette football coach Roy Hall received the Michael and John Ferrante Memorial Award from Ferrante’s Cindy Henderson (left) and Suzie Dombasky on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at the Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet.
It takes a special person to find a way to mix academics and athletics.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Corinn Brewer and Mt. Pleasant Dayton Pitzer did just that.
The seniors not only are outstanding athletes, they are exceptional students. That’s why they were chosen as the Judge John J. Driscoll Excellence Award winners at the 66th Annual Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet Wednesday at Ferrante’s Lakeview.
Brewer and Pitzer were selected as this year’s winners by a committee of the 18 county school athletic directors. The committee selected 13 finalists, and from that group they picked the male and female winner.
The other finals were Penn-Trafford’s Cade Yacamelli and Gwendolyn Hershberger, Greensburg Salem’s Billy McChesney and Abigail Mankins, Derry’s Tiana Moracco, Southmoreland’s Grace Spadaro, Franklin Regional’s Anthony DiFalco, Belle Vernon’s Morgan Elizabeth Einodshofer, Ligonier Valley’s Maddie Griffin, Latrobe’s Tyler Lynch and Hempfield’s Katelyn Ross.
Last year’s winners were Haylie Brunson of Mt. Pleasant and Ian Oswalt of Burrell.
Pitzer was a three-time WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A wrestling champion. He had 100 career pins and a 4.0 GPA. He’ll attend Pitt.
“Winning this means a lot,” Pitzer said. “I’m so grateful. There were a lot of great people here. To be picked is special.”
Brewer is one of the top track and field athletes in the state. She carried a 4.36 GPA. She competes in numerous events and will pole vault and compete in the heptathlon at Notre Dame.
“I wasn’t expecting to win, but I knew I was going against a lot of good girls,” Brewer said. “I knew I had a good resume. I thought there was a chance I’d win. It’s very exciting to know that all my hard work paid off. And it’s being shown and seen.”
Mt. Lebanon football Bob Palko was the guest speaker. He spoke about how graduation is just the beginning to your next stage in life.
Palko started his high school coaching career at Jeannette.
Retired Jeannette football coach Roy Hall was honored as the Michael and John Ferrante Memorial Award for his contributions to high school athletics.
Hall said he was honored to be selected to this prestigious award following in the footsteps of past Jeannette coaches: the late Joe Mucci, Art Tragesser and Bob Murphy.
This is Judge Driscoll’s final year sponsoring the event. Michael Stewart will take over in 2023.
The banquet is sponsored by Ferrante’s Lakeview, Drs. Geoffrey and Greg Bisignani and Excela Health.
Tags: Greensburg C.C., Mt. Pleasant | 2022-05-04T04:00:39Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer, Greensburg Central Catholic’s Brewer win Driscoll awards | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/mt-pleasants-pitzer-greensburg-central-catholics-brewer-win-driscoll-awards/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/mt-pleasants-pitzer-greensburg-central-catholics-brewer-win-driscoll-awards/ |
Hampton’s Matt DeMatteo competes in the triple jump finals at the 2021 WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships at Slippery Rock University.
Hampton three-sport athlete Matt DeMatteo has committed to attend Duquesne on a track scholarship.
The senior was also considering Penn State (track) and James Madison (football).
DeMatteo is a two-time all-conference selection in football and a two-time all-section pick in basketball, but his best offers were for track and field.
“It’s close to home. It’s a nice school. They have a really good educational program,” he said of Duquesne. “It came down to a financial decision. They offered me a scholarship for track, so it was kind of hard to pass up.”
DeMatteo, who will run the 400 hurdles at the Atlantic 10 program, won the 300 hurdles at the Butler Invitational last month with a personal-best time of 39.15 seconds, the fastest time of any WPIAL runner this spring, according to PA MileSplit.
He finished fifth in the 300 hurdles at the WPIAL Class 3A championships and ninth in the PIAA finals last year and qualified for states in three events (triple jump and 1,600 relay).
DeMatteo will punt for Team Pennsylvania in the Big 33 game May 30 in Harrisburg, two days after the PIAA track and field championships.
“That will be a busy weekend,” he said. | 2022-05-04T06:41:35Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hampton 3-sport star Matt DeMatteo to run track at Duquesne | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-3-sport-star-matt-dematteo-to-run-track-at-duquesne/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-3-sport-star-matt-dematteo-to-run-track-at-duquesne/ |
Power surge on Cougar Mountain boosts Yough softball team
Yough sophomore Maria Lindich takes a cut during a scrimmage against Latrobe on March 22.
Yough plays its home games on Cougar Mountain in Sewickley Township.
But softball coach Dutch Harvey is lobbying to rename his team’s home address.
“It’s become Dinger City here,” Harvey said.
Yough isn’t traditionally a leave-the-yard kind of team, but the Cougars are developing a reputation that says otherwise as they push through a tough Section 2-4A schedule.
The Cougars (10-1, 8-1), ranked No. 2 in WPIAL Class 4A, No. 4 in the state and winners of seven in a row, had 12 home runs in 11 games as they prepared to take on Elizabeth Forward in a first-place clash earlier this week.
(That game was suspended in the fourth inning and will be made up Tuesday.)
Twelve may not seem like a big number, but it is to Yough.
“We’re hitting them out all over the place,” Harvey said. “Our No. 8 and 9 hitters are hitting dingers.”
Yough hit eight homers all of last season, in 17 games.
“It’s fun when we hit homers,” senior pitcher Emma Augustine said. “It gets everyone excited in the dugout.”
The sudden surge can be attributed to a number of things, the Cougars say.
“I don’t know, we never really hit dingers like this,” Harvey said. “We haven’t really changed anything. We work on approach angles and exit velocity, things like that. But our girls aren’t thinking about that when they’re at the plate and hit one out.”
Junior McKenzie Pritts said losing a year in 2020 because of the covid pandemic set the team back in offseason work. But the resurgence of normal activities this year has helped the Cougars’ overall hitting.
“We couldn’t prepare like we did before,” Pritts said. “That might have something to do with us hitting the way we are now.”
Harvey points out a number of blasts have sailed out of the park at Yough, which measures 210 feet to center field. He wonders if having three pitchers this season has helped to drive up homer totals.
“With three pitchers, they’re seeing more live pitching in practice,” Harvey said. “I am a big believer in tee work. We do a crossfire drill, too. It’s the little things.”
Augustine had not hit a home run — in high school or travel ball — until this season. But she has three on the year, while Pritts and Kaylin Ritenour had two each.
Freshman Adoria Waldier, who has made a splash in the lineup, also has three round-trippers.
Makayla Spoonhoward and Abbey Zuraw have one apiece.
Augustine, who has decided to attend cosmetology school in lieu of playing Division II college softball, went 5 for 5 with a homer, three doubles and a school-record eight RBIs in a 20-2 win over Ringgold.
“We have worked on our hitting more, even on our own,” she said. “Just hitting in general has been better. And it helps me when I am on the mound.
“I don’t know why I am hitting home runs all of the sudden. I used to be P.O. — pitcher only.”
In 10 games, Augustine had a 9-1 record with a 2.16 ERA, 100 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Yough is headed to the playoffs for the seventh straight time. Harvey has been to the WPIAL postseason enough to know that home runs become scarcer as teams move across the bracket. Small ball is often a team’s only way around the bases against top pitchers and air-tight defenses that are playing their best, in tandem, at the best times.
“When we used to play (Belle Vernon star) Bailey (Parshall), it was choke-and-poke,” Harvey said. “You’re just trying to make contact. You have to be disciplined. Big-hitting teams always run into good pitchers and they have to find ways to score runs. We’ll play smallies if we have to.”
Smallies at a neutral-site playoff game is one thing. But in Dinger City? You must have made a wrong turn.
Tags: Yough | 2022-05-04T17:56:43Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Power surge on Cougar Mountain boosts Yough softball team | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/power-surge-on-cougar-mountain-boosts-yough-softball-team/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/power-surge-on-cougar-mountain-boosts-yough-softball-team/ |
Ligonier Valley senior pitcher Maddie Griffin delivers a pitch in a scrimmage March 16 at Hempfield.
The owner of a 21-strikeout perfect game and three no-hitters this season, Ligonier Valley senior pitcher Maddie Griffin has all the physical tools to dominate in the circle.
She has proven that beyond a doubt over the last season-plus of WPIAL and PIAA softball.
But the Youngstown State commit, who has 28 wins, 479 strikeouts and an ERA under 0.40 in her career, is focusing more on the mental approach this season as she tries to lead the Rams to WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2A.
That has led to a less conservative approach.
“Recently, I have learned that pitching is mostly your mindset,” she said. “I have been taking the ‘fake it till you make it’ approach. It’s hard when you aren’t performing your best to step up against a team and think, ‘I’m going to strike all of you out because I’m a good pitcher.’ So right now, I’m taking an attack approach to every batter I face.
“I’m trying to get away from the defensive pitcher I was at the beginning of this season.”
Griffin clearly regrets losing in the PIAA championship last season, 1-0, to Line Mountain, to end the team’s season at 22-3.
She wants a WPIAL title and another shot at a state title but isn’t getting too far ahead of herself.
“We have a lot to work on before I’d consider us ready for Penn State,” she said. “With practice and more experience, for sure. We only have three upperclassman who start, so we have a young team. With a young team, we are bound to make mistakes. Having each other’s backs and getting to know each other more will help with that.”
The Rams had six upperclassmen last season.
Playoffs, anyone?
The local WPIAL playoff picture is nearly clear as the final week of the regular season dances through the raindrops and winds to a close.
Westmoreland qualifiers are Hempfield in Class 6A; Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford, Latrobe and Kiski Area in 5A; Burrell and Yough in 4A; Southmoreland, Mt. Pleasant and Valley in 3A; Ligonier Valley in 2A; and Greensburg Central Catholic in A.
Hempfield, Penn-Trafford and Ligonier Valley are section champions.
Playing pairings are expected to be announced next Thursday.
Yough and Elizabeth Forward have to wait a week to resume their suspended game from Tuesday — a game that will decide the Section 2-4A champion.
Elizabeth Forward was up 2-0 and batting in the bottom of the fourth inning when a tornado warning sounded, forcing everyone to leave the field.
A damaging thunderstorm rolled through and the game was suspended. It will be finished starting at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in Elizabeth.
P-T No. 1
Penn-Trafford (12-1) has surged to No. 1 in the TribLive HSSN WPIAL Class 5A rankings, leap-frogging four teams after sitting at No. 5 last week.
That makes two No. 1 teams in the area.
Hempfield remained No. 1 in 6A, despite a loss to Seneca Valley.
Will the WPIAL give them both No. 1 seeds when the playoff seedings come out next Thursday?
State ranks
Westmoreland County has a strong presence this week in the TribLive HSSN state rankings.
Penn-Trafford and Yough made appearances for the first time this season. Penn-Trafford is No. 5 in Class 5A, while Yough is No. 4 in 4A.
Hempfield dropped one spot in 6A to No. 5.
The top-ranked teams are Pennsbury (6A), West Scranton (5A), Beaver (4A), Avonworth (3A), Union City (2A), and Tri-Valley (A).
A Little awkward
Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little couldn’t believe it when the PSAC softball playoff bracket came out last week. He thought the Division II conference was playing a trick on him.
A first-round matchup in the double-elimination tournament pitted Seton Hill against Bloomsburg.
Little is a part-time hitting coach for Seton Hill, while his daughter, Emma, is a freshman catcher/outfielder for Bloomsburg.
“I didn’t sleep well (last) Saturday night. My head almost blew up,” Little said with a laugh. “She is not a nice girl. She said, ‘We want to kill you guys.’”
Little knew his team could hit, and he knew what he had in senior pitching ace Mia Smith, but he likes what he sees from his players on the basepaths.
“This is the fastest team we’ve had,” Little said. “We have seven, eight girls who can fly. The track team wishes it had these girls.”
Mt. Pleasant senior Katie Hutter is one of the most talented players in the WPIAL, proven and championship seasoned, and she is showing it. She hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in a 16-3 win over McGuffey.
Belle Vernon also has a rising talent — among several — in junior Maren Metikosh. Just 5-foot-4, she packs power. She went 3 for 3 with a triple, home run and five RBIs in a 12-8 victory over West Mifflin. She is hitting over .600 for the season.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Yough | 2022-05-04T17:56:49Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Westmoreland County softball notebook: Ligonier Valley’s Griffin gets aggressive | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-county-softball-notebook-ligonier-valleys-griffin-gets-aggressive/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-county-softball-notebook-ligonier-valleys-griffin-gets-aggressive/ |
Valley head coach Carol Perroz coaches against Deer Lakes during a game on April 28, 2022, at Valley High School.
Morgan Dunkel was ready to take the ball, toe the rubber in the pitching circle and have a breakout freshman season for the Valley softball team.
But the early stages of the growing covid pandemic snuffed out the 2020 spring campaign.
“It was difficult. I was looking forward to the season,” Dunkel said.
“Coach was working hard with us to get us ready. Then we got the call that we wouldn’t have a season. But we just had to move past it and rededicate ourselves to winning. We ended up doing really well last season and even better this season.”
With Dunkel helping lead the way for Valley in the circle and at the plate as a sophomore — she pitched the Vikings to a 5-5 mark in Section 1-3A and led the team in batting (.513), runs batted in (18) and home runs (five) — the team earned a spot in the WPIAL playoffs last season for the first time since 2012.
She is again a part of a productive Valley lineup which has a 9-4 record through a 19-1, five-inning victory over Shady Side Academy in the Section 1 finale Monday afternoon.
Valley has two games left in the regular season: Thursday at Obama and Tuesday at Chartiers-Houston. The softball playoff pairings are to be released next Thursday.
“The girls have worked so hard since the beginning of the season, and they’ve improved so much,” veteran Valley coach Carrol Perroz said.
“With the playoffs, everybody has a clean slate, and it’s one-and-done. You want to continue to grow off of what you’ve done all season. You have to play your best and leave it all out there, and these girls are willing to do that.”
The Vikings finished 6-2 in section play with its only two losses coming against undefeated section champion Deer Lakes. Valley scored a section sweep against North Catholic, last year’s section champion, with wins of 10-7 and 3-2.
“Teamwork and communication has been the key,” said Dunkel, who said though she has found success again this year, it’s a team-wide effort. Fellow captains juniors Leah Taliani and Haley Demharter help move the needle in the right direction.
“We had a couple new players come in, and they fit in nicely with everyone who returned. The bats are working really well. We’re hitting with power. We worked a lot on our hitting, so I knew we had some power in our bats. And the defense has improved so much. I like where this team is right now. We got a taste of the playoffs last year, and we want more this year.”
In the first meeting with North Catholic on April 8, the Vikings trailed 5-0 after the first inning and rallied to tie the score in the top of the fourth. When the Trojans took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth, Valley rallied again with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
“That game really showed what this team is made of as we are not going to give up on any game,” Taliani said.
“We’re going to keep fighting for each other. Deer Lakes is a powerhouse, and we battled them tough, especially in the second game. If we play our best game, I think we can do some big things in the playoffs.”
Freshman first baseman Gabby Campana-Chambers helped the cause in the first game with North Catholic with her first varsity home run, and veteran coach Carrol Perroz said she has really grown with more and more game experience.
“Freshmen coming in and producing, that’s something you don’t always count on, but she’s been able to contribute and contribute a lot,” Perroz said.
Perroz said sophomore Jessica Staraniec has solidified the catcher position since moving in from the outfield.
“She was thrown into it and has done a fantastic job,” Perroz said. “There were some mistakes early on, but she’s been tested by fire and she’s answered the call.”
Dunkel, who leads the team with a .471 average and 28 RBIs, said she appreciated a number of competitive section games this season, including a key 12-8 victory over Derry on April 22.
She finished the game with five RBIs and hit a grand slam. It was her first game since her grandmother, Patricia, passed away five days earlier on Easter Sunday.
“That (grand slam) was definitely for my grandmother. It felt really good,” said Dunkel, who has a team-best four home runs this season.
“She really supported me and was at all my games. I know she still is there. My teammates were a big support. They did whatever they could to put a smile on my face during a pretty emotional time.”
Perroz said a pair of nonsection games — with Class 4A Highlands, a WPIAL finalist and PIAA semifinalist last year, and Class 5A Kiski Area — were beneficial despite the losses.
“It was great because we got to see that caliber of ball,” Perroz said. “The girls wanted to compete against that. I know we lost both games (11-3 to Highlands and 4-0 to Kiski), but they were eye-openers, and we got to see some stuff that will help us prepare for the playoffs.” | 2022-05-05T02:23:52Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Valley softball enjoying continued renaissance | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/valley-softball-enjoying-continued-renaissance/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/valley-softball-enjoying-continued-renaissance/ |
Norwin’s Ty Stecko bats against Upper St. Clair on April 26 , 2022, at Norwin.
Norwin’s Ty Stecko bats against Upper St. Clair on April 26, 2022.
Ty Stecko remembers when his baseball bat seemed to weigh more than he did.
“I was always tall, but I was really skinny,” the Norwin slugger said about his stature in youth baseball. “I had to put some weight on.”
Once a scrawny lamp post, Stecko has grown into a brawny pillar with the power to mash a baseball into orbit.
He went from 6-foot, 170 pounds in eighth grade to now a 6-3, 210-pound senior.
“I am trying to be a gap-to-gap hitter,” Stecko said. “I want to be able to hit for average as well. But I think I have sort of become that home run guy.”
That’s OK, too, says Norwin.
Stecko was leading the team with four homers and a WPIAL-best 20 RBIs through a dozen games.
Stecko, a Mount St. Mary’s commit and second-year starter, belted a two-run homer in a 7-3 win over Upper St. Clair that gave the Knights a section sweep and evened their record.
The Knights (9-6, 6-4) went on to clinch a spot in the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs. They have won five straight.
“The thing with Stecko is he is so good to right center,” Norwin coach Mike Liebdzinski said. “A lot of our guys are. That’s where I want him to hit it.”
Stecko certainly does not compare himself to Norwin great JJ Matijevic, who recently was called up from the minor leagues to play for the Houston Astros. But he respects Matijevic’s game and his impact on local baseball and has enormous pride in the former home run bomber’s rise.
“I have met him before and have seen him play at Arizona,” Stecko said. “I know he is a power-hitting lefty with a smooth swing. He also grinds out at-bats. I think it is huge that he is from Norwin and is getting the opportunity to play in the show. That is one day where I would like to end up. It shows that anything can be done if you put in the time, and JJ carved the path for the rest of us at Norwin.”
The Knights’ No. 2 hitter and third baseman, Stecko likes the right-center power alley at Norwin, where the fence ranges from 345 to 335 to 325 feet as it bends into the right-field corner.
“It’s a short porch,” Liebdzinski said. “But our guys like it. I don’t think we go up there swinging for the fences. Base hits are better.”
The players agree with that school of thought.
“Home runs are great but we’re not always looking to hit the ball out,” said senior shortstop Jake Kendro, a Tennessee commit. “We want to be a good all-around hitting team, to be able to hit for contact and power.”
Kendro was second on the team with three homers. One of his blasts banged off the scoreboard at Norwin when the Knights hosted Upper St. Clair.
Conditioning has Stecko looking the part as a Knights’ deep threat.
“I am strength training six days a week,” he said. “It’s tough during basketball season. I do a lot of stretching.”
Back to Matijevic, arguably the most feared home run hitter to come out of Norwin, Stecko has someone to measure himself against.
It’s a case of WWJJD: What would JJ do?
“I would not say I am there yet. He obviously plays at a higher level,” he said. “But that is something that I am working to in the batting cage and in the weight room.” | 2022-05-05T15:49:49Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Stecko taps power potential for Norwin baseball team | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/stecko-taps-power-potential-for-norwin-baseball-team/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/stecko-taps-power-potential-for-norwin-baseball-team/ |
Jason Day hits off the 18th tee during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday, May 6, 2022, at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm golf club in Potomac, Md.
Day expected a grind and got one, shooting a 3-under-par 67 in steady rain Friday to expand his lead to three shots. Going for his first victory in four years, the former No. 1 player was at 10-under 130 through two rounds and relishing the chance to relax and watch the rest of the field try to stay dry.
“I mean, not many times you see this hair, but, hopefully, this weather can kind of go away, and we can have hats on for the weekend,” he said.
Day and Homa were grouped with Rickie Fowler, all past Wells Fargo champions at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. The tournament is making a one-and-done appearance at TPC Potomac because its usual venue is hosting the Presidents Cup in September.
Denny McCarthy, from nearby Rockville, was the only player in the afternoon to challenge the top of the leaderboard. He had six straight one-putt greens around the turn, four of them to save par, and shot 69 to finish at 6-under, joining Luke List (66), James Hahn (68) and Kurt Kitayama (67). Keegan Bradley had the low round of the day, a 65 that left him five shots back.
A day after he told a rules official he “can’t wait to leave this tour,” Sergio Garcia was 5-under at the turn but bogeyed two of his final three holes for a 71. He was eight shots back and declined to speak to reporters for the second straight day.
Morgan Hoffmann, making a longshot bid to keep his tour card after two years away from golf because of muscular dystrophy, missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 80. He has one start remaining on a major medical extension and needs a tie for second to earn full status for the rest of the season. | 2022-05-07T10:42:19Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Jason Day handles rain, expands lead at Wells Fargo | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/jason-day-handles-rain-expands-lead-at-wells-fargo/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/jason-day-handles-rain-expands-lead-at-wells-fargo/ |
Quaker Valley’s Nora Johns wins the girls 300-meter hurdles during the Baldwin Invitational on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Baldwin High School.
Moon’s Jacob Puhalla stuns South Fayett’s Jake Borgesi as Puhalla comes from behind to win the McKinney Mile on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Baldwin High School.
Peters Township’s Lexi Pirosko wins the girls high jump with a jump of 5-foot-2 at the Baldwin Invitational on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Baldwin High School.
A cold rain drenched everyone at the Baldwin Invitational, but Quaker Valley hurdler Nora Johns was among those not too bothered by the wet weather.
“Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought,” she said. “There was a nice breeze. It wasn’t too warm. And the rain wasn’t too hard, so it didn’t get into my eyes. It actually was quite nice.”
The junior’s positive attitude — far sunnier than some of her counterparts — surely played a part in Johns running her fastest time of the season Friday to win the 300-meter hurdles, an event that gets dicey on a wet track.
She seemed to barely notice.
“Weather hasn’t bothered me unless it’s really pouring down snow or something,” said Johns, a defending state hurdles champion. “Once you’re running, you’re just running. You’re not worried about anything else. … I run my best in the worst weather. It’s so strange.”
Not everyone was so calm.
As longtime coaches insisted again Friday, running track in Western Pennsylvania is about more than outracing the person in the next lane. Often, it’s about overcoming the unpredictable elements, a battle waged at Baldwin with varying degrees of success.
“You can’t control the weather,” Baldwin coach Ed Helbig said. “We’re going to go from this to 90 degrees, I just know it. There’s not going to be any springtime. This is one of those things you’ve just got to get used to.
“The kids that didn’t let the weather defeat them did very well. But there were other kids I heard saying, ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’ I’m sure they didn’t do well.”
The weather certainly didn’t affect two of the WPIAL’s top sprinters. Upper St. Clair’s Dani Prunzik won the girls 100 meters in 12.21 seconds, and North Catholic’s Trevor Paschall won the boys race in 11.09. The USC girls also won the 400-meter relay with Prunzik running anchor.
The wet track didn’t scare them away.
“It’s Western Pennsylvania — you’re used to running in some rain or with some wind or with some other conditions,” said USC assistant coach Matt Cosgrove, who works with the sprinters. “It’s just part of where we’re at. I’d like to wish our spring was a little bit nicer, but it’s not, so we deal with it.”
One of the day’s closest finishes featured Moon’s Jacob Puhalla and South Fayette’s Jake Borgesi in the McKinney Mile, a celebrated event at the Baldwin Invite. Borgesi had the lead down the stretch, but top-seeded Puhalla caught him and won by less than two-tenths of a second.
Borgesi later won the 3,200.
Reigning state 1,600-meters champion Carson McCoy of Deer Lakes won the boys 800 meters and later helped his team place second in the 1,600-meter relay.
“I was definitely happy with my race in these conditions,” said McCoy, who won the 800 in one minute, 53.20 seconds. “The weather is nothing close to ideal, so I wasn’t really trying to shoot for a time too much.”
McKeesport sprinter Kanye Thompson also left with two medals after taking first in the boys 200 meters (23.06) and second in the 100 (11.13).
Meet organizers made some schedule changes because of the rain. Traditionally, the finals don’t begin until 6 p.m. and finish under the lights, but this time the finals started much earlier.
The pole vault was moved indoors, where Waynesburg’s Andrew Layton cleared 14 feet, 10 inches to win the boys event. South Fayette’s Melana Schumaker won the girls event with a vault of 11-10.
The field events were streamlined to one flight with contestants each receiving four attempts.
A number of teams backed out of the meet after seeing a weather forecast that predicted rain all day and a high temperature near 60. Helbig said there was no way to reschedule the meet, especially with Mother’s Day on Sunday.
“The weather Saturday was just as bad,” Helbig said. “In fact, Saturday is actually going to be worse during the morning. … We had no options. I said, ‘If you can’t come, I understand.’ But that’s just the way it is. An invitational of this size, you can’t move it. We have very little leeway at this time of the year.”
Besides, he said, learning to run in the rain can help come championship time.
“I don’t know what the weather will be like (for WPIALs) on the 18th,” Helbig said. “I don’t know what the weather will be like at states. Last year, states was miserable. It rained all day. It was cold. It was nasty. You have to run in it. They’re not going to cancel that.”
Johns was ready to run the hurdles in the heavy rain when she learned from her dad that there might be a short afternoon window with little precipitation. There was, and it matched up perfectly with her 300-meter race.
“It was the universe telling me it’s all good,” she said with a laugh.
Johns won in 46.03 seconds, her fastest time of the season, as she ramps up for the WPIAL championships in two weeks. She finished more than a second ahead of Oakland Catholic’s Emily Cooper, who’d earlier won the 100 hurdles.
A year ago, Johns was a newcomer to the event and surprisingly ran her way to a state title. This year, no one is surprised to see her win.
“A part of me says, ‘Oh no, there’s a target on my back,’” Johns said. “But another part of me says it’s a new year. Last year is in the past. Everyone is stronger, faster, better this year. I just need to focus on the future and not so much the past.”
Johns has tried to balance the demands of track with basketball. Her father Ken is the girls basketball coach at Quaker Valley.
“We’re trying to do a spring league for school and I also play AAU basketball,” she said. “But I’m starting to get my priorities straight where track come first. … I just need to focus here now.”
Her times are about a second slower than last year’s state championship mark of 45.07, but she’s hoping to be back in the 45s at the WPIAL meet May 18.
“I’m the reigning champ,” she said. “I’ve got to show up.”
Tags: Baldwin, McKeesport, Moon, Quaker Valley, South Fayette, Waynesburg
• WPIAL lands 3 players on Class 5A all-state boys basketball team
• Running to honor their father’s memory, Latrobe twins finish among leaders at Pittsburgh Marathon | 2022-05-07T10:42:25Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Rain soaks Baldwin Invitational but doesn’t dim Quaker Valley hurdler’s sunny outlook | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/rain-soaks-baldwin-invitational-but-doesnt-dim-quaker-valley-hurdlers-sunny-outlook/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/rain-soaks-baldwin-invitational-but-doesnt-dim-quaker-valley-hurdlers-sunny-outlook/ |
Courtesy of Albert Vitiello
Hampton’s Ava Vitiello competes during the 2022 season.
Qualifying for the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships this spring won’t be enough for Ava Vitiello.
The Hampton junior is in the running for much more than just an invitation.
“I’m hoping that it goes really well,” she said, “and I think it will.”
Vitiello was content to merely reach the 2021 WPIAL championships last spring, when a variety of ailments kept her from achieving her best as a sophomore cross country and track runner.
Finally healthy, Vitiello will enter the WPIAL track finals May 18 at Slippery Rock University as one of the district’s top runners in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs.
“I think she definitely understands that she does belong,” Hampton track coach Heather Dietz said. “Last year, there wasn’t any expectations. She was just really excited. Now, it’s like, ‘OK, I’m here. I’ve earned it.’ “
Vitiello has trimmed nearly 20 seconds off her personal-best time in the 1,600 set during last year’s 11th-place finish at the WPIAL championships. Her time has dropped from 5 minutes, 24.67 seconds to a 5:05.10, which she posted during a second-place finish at the Butler Invitational on April 22.
She followed that eight days later with a personal-best time in the 800 while winning the race at the Mars Invitational in 2:20.85. This is Vitiello’s first season running the 800 after competing in the 3,200 last year.
“I definitely see her hopefully shaving off some more time,” Dietz said. “I’d like to see that mile (1,600) time get a little bit closer to the five-minute mark. I know it’s only five seconds, but that’s a hard thing to do.”
Vitiello faced a lot of obstacles during her sophomore season. Her cross country campaign was cut short because of an iron deficiency that caused fatigue, and she developed tendinitis in her ankle during track season.
“My running seasons last year were shorter than they could have been,” she said.
But Vitiello, who had become a vegetarian the previous year, reintroduced meat into her diet and began taking supplements to build iron. The added nutrition worked, and she flourished this past fall for the Hampton cross country team, placing 11th in the WPIAL Class 3A championships.
“I think for my body, personally, (being a vegetarian) just didn’t work the best for me,” she said. “That was a main contributing factor to me getting the iron deficiency. I needed to fix that a little bit.”
Dietz said Vitiello is “doing all the right things” to ensure her diet and strength stay where they need to be.
“Iron is so important to the athlete,” Dietz said. “Her doing the little things, like making sure she is getting the nutrition that she needs and doing the strength exercises, has definitely helped her become a stronger runner.
“A lot of athletes that want to be a vegetarian don’t necessarily understand the importance of good protein and don’t always get the good protein. Even if they choose not to go the meat route for their protein, they still need that.”
This spring, Vitiello is feasting on opposing runners. She is undefeated in the 800 and the 1,600 in dual meets. She also placed fourth in the 800 at the Butler Invitational and second in the 1,600 at the Mars Invitational.
As of May 1, she was ranked third in the 800 and sixth in the 1,600 among Class 3A girls, according to the WPIAL Top 24 track list.
Other Hampton girls pointed toward the WPIAL Class 3A championships are sophomore Kathleen Milon (400), freshman Kevyn Fish (3,200) and the girls 1,600 relay team (Milon, Sara Kenst, Morgan Killian, Maddy Fitzgerald).
On the boys side, senior Matt DeMatteo (300 hurdles, triple jump) and sophomores Nathan Garrett (1,600) and Dale Hall (1,600) are headed for WPIALs.
Vitiello will skip the final WPIAL tuneup — the Pine-Richland Invitational on May 6 — because it conflicts with the Hampton prom, a long-anticipated event following the prolonged covid shutdowns.
Vitiello began running track in grade school while living in New Jersey. She also played field hockey for three years. But when her family moved to Hampton during her eighth-grade year — the school doesn’t offer field hockey — Vitiello’s mom suggested she try cross country for the first time.
“I joined my freshman year, and that’s kind of what started my love for running,” she said. “If my mom hadn’t told me to join cross country my freshman year, I don’t know if I would be here now.” | 2022-05-07T19:41:50Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hampton junior strides toward WPIAL track championships | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-junior-strides-toward-wpial-track-championships/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hampton-junior-strides-toward-wpial-track-championships/ |
Ligonier Valley softball pitcher Maddie Griffin
Ligonier Valley senior softball pitcher Maddie Griffin will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Pittsburgh Pirates play the St. Louis Cardinals May 22 at PNC Park.
The Sunday game starts at 11:35 a.m.
Griffin recently threw a 21-strikeout perfect game which turned heads around the state. The feat even caught the Pirates’ attention.
The Pirates contacted Ligonier Valley athletic director Joe Skura to inquire about Griffin and to extend the Youngstown State commit an invitation to the game.
“Our entire team and families, as well as many from our school, will be going to the game to support Maddie and the Pirates,” Skura said. “We couldn’t be more excited for Maddie to have such an awesome opportunity and John Leonard (Pirates manager for youth softball and baseball) has been really great to work with and provide such an experience.”
It remains to be seen if she will try to deliver the pitch underhanded.
“It’s really cool and I am very excited,” Griffin said. “I’m not sure how they will want me to deliver the pitch. All I know is I can’t throw a baseball very well, so this has the potential to get interesting.” | 2022-05-07T19:41:56Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Ligonier Valley ace Maddie Griffin to throw out 1st pitch at Pirates game | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ligonier-valley-ace-maddie-griffin-to-throw-out-1st-pitch-at-pirates-game/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ligonier-valley-ace-maddie-griffin-to-throw-out-1st-pitch-at-pirates-game/ |
Penn Hills volleyball player Angel Calloway committed to Carlow University.
Penn Hills’ athletes were able to leave a lasting impression at the South Fayette Invitational. The Indians, who are still trying to see athletes qualify for the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championship meet May 18, were able to take another step forward in their progress.
Achan Green won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.12 seconds. Seeing Green pick up the win was a mild upset, as Green had qualified for the finals with the third-fastest seed time behind Allderdice’s Elijah White and South Fayette’s Michael Gimigliano.
Green also finished fifth in the 300 hurdles.
While Green was able to pull off an upset, Angelo Allen continued business as usual. The Penn Hills senior thrower won the discus with a throw of 155 feet, 3 inches. Allen also won the shot put with a throw of 53-0 ½.
On the girls’ side, Mylah Faulk collected the top individual finish, placing second in the 400-meter dash with a run of 1:10.09.
The Indians’ softball team had to await its fate to see if it qualified for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. Penn Hills was scheduled to play Plum in a crucial Section 1 matchup May 4, but the game was postponed by bad weather. The results of the game, which will be rescheduled, were too late for this edition.
The Indians, who snapped a 13-year streak of futility against the Mustangs with an 18-8 win earlier in the season, lost three straight games heading into the key matchup, two of which were on the field. During that stretch, Penn Hills (5-7, 4-7) forfeited to Kiski Area.
With a win over Plum, the Indians would secure their first playoff berth since 2007.
Calloway commits to Carlow
Penn Hills senior volleyball player Angel Calloway committed to play volleyball at Carlow University.
Calloway, a libero/defensive specialist, played varsity volleyball for three years at Penn Hills. She earned first and second team all-section honors during her career.
Penn Hills baseball out of playoffs
The Indians have had a tough time so far this season getting anything going on offense. Penn Hills is 1-13 overall and 0-10 in Section 2-5A play. The Indians’ lone victory came in a 14-0 win over St. Joseph on April 22 on the road.
Penn Hills coach Rodney Stubbs didn’t return calls seeking comment. The Indians will have several opportunities to add to their win total before the season ends. Woodland Hills, which is 0-13 and 0-10 in section, was scheduled to play a home-and-home with the Indians on May 9-10. Each team hoped to close out the season by gaining positive vibes with a victory. | 2022-05-07T19:42:14Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Penn Hills notebook: Track team makes headlines at South Fayette Invitational | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-notebook-track-team-makes-headlines-at-south-fayette-invitational/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-notebook-track-team-makes-headlines-at-south-fayette-invitational/ |
Courtesy of Shawn Annarelli
Hampton sophomore Mackenzie Reese was looking for an inside pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning against Seneca Valley on April 22.
She got it, and with one swing of the bat, she did something Ron Fedell had never experienced in 24 seasons as Hampton softball coach.
Reese drove Seneca Valley freshman Lexie Hames’ two-strike pitch over the wall at Hampton Community Park to give the Talbots a come-from-behind 5-4 walk-off nonsection victory.
Fedell said it was the first walk-off home run in his nearly quarter-century as coach.
“It was amazing,” Reese said. “(Hames) is one of my good friends. I grew up playing against her since we were younger. She usually pitches me inside, so I was ready for an inside pitch.”
Fedell said he realized the significance of the home run as Reese rounded third base, where he was standing as coach.
“It was special for me, and it just lifted the team up so much,” he said. “We’ve had (walk-off) RBIs and things like that, but never a walk-off home run. … It was just surreal for me.”
Reese, who plays first base and bats clean up, had also homered in the second inning. The Talbots overcame a 4-1 deficit and forced extra innings when senior catcher Bella Henzler tripled and scored on a throwing error on the play with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Reese’s dramatic home run came during a late April surge in which she hit four home runs in a three-game span. She also went deep in a 5-2 victory over Shaler on April 25 and in a 13-10 loss to North Hills on April 27.
She credits her power display to some recent work with Henzler’s dad, Kurt, a former Shaler baseball standout.
“He’s helping me get with my bottom half better and with my stepping,” said Reese, who is batting around .400. “It’s helping with my timing and seeing the ball better. It is definitely having more power in my swing.”
Reese typically plays catcher for her travel teams. But when she arrived on Hampton varsity last spring as a freshman, she realized one thing with James Madison-bound Henzler behind the plate.
“I knew … that I will definitely have to find a different position to play,” Reese said.
She began playing first base for the first time and did well enough to earn the starting job as a ninth-grader. She has become more comfortable in the field, while improving at the plate after a solid freshman season.
“She showed flashes of power last year,” Fedell said. “She was a freshman. She’s a year older and even when she makes outs, she’s hitting the ball hard.”
Reese has helped Hampton (4-6 overall, 3-6 in section as of May 2) move to the verge of clinching a fourth straight postseason berth for the first time in program history.
For certain, her walk-off home run against Seneca Valley came during an emotional week for the Talbots.
The Talbots lost to Fox Chapel, 15-0, in four innings on Senior Day on April 29. Fedell estimated the Talbots had nine errors in their most lopsided defeat since a 20-3 loss to West Allegheny in May 2017 and their most lopsided shutout loss in at least 18 years.
But that loss meant nothing compared to what one of their teammates was going through.
Henzler was coping with the loss of Lauren Bernett, a former South Fayette star and sophomore catcher at James Madison who died of an apparent suicide in late April. The Talbots and North Hills players posed for a photo together prior to their April 27 game to honor Bernett and wore purple ribbons — JMU’s color — in their hair. Henzler, one of the WPIAL’s top catchers, will attend JMU in the fall on a Division I softball scholarship.
“It was definitely a very emotional week,” Reese said. “Bella was really upset. We tried to pick her up.”
Said Fedell, “We were very concerned with Bella. She is a happy-go-lucky kid and I’ve never seen her upset except when this happened. … She is still dealing with it and getting over it. We are there for her. But it’s a tough thing right now.” | 2022-05-07T19:42:20Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Reese’s walk-off home run highlights emotional week for Hampton softball | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/reeses-walk-off-home-run-highlights-emotional-week-for-hampton-softball/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/reeses-walk-off-home-run-highlights-emotional-week-for-hampton-softball/ |
Ford City grad Lizzie Suwala-Sheaffer drives to the basket during a game against Leechburg as a freshman in 2002. Her 2,266 career points are the most for a girls basketball player from the Alle-Kiski Valley.
Lizzie Suwala-Sheaffer could hit a shot from anywhere on the basketball court.
With a layup, a mid-range jumper or a 3-pointer, the Ford City and Clarion University graduate often frustrated opposing defenses while energizing her teammates, coaches and fans of the teams she represented.
Suwala-Sheaffer probably is best known for owning the record for the most points in the history of girls basketball in the Alle-Kiski Valley — 2,266 — while leading her Sabers teams to four WPIAL playoff appearances and numerous victories during her memorable varsity run from 2002-05.
Her long list of accomplishments and contributions to basketball will be recognized and celebrated alongside nine others — Chris Como, Jeff Cortileso, Harry ‘Shorty’ Crytzer, Robert Foster, Dianne Haney, Rich Kriston, Terry Preece, Frank Phelps and Bobby White — at the 51st A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet May 21 at the New Kensington Quality Inn.
“I am just absolutely honored,” Suwala-Sheaffer said from her home in Carlisle.
“I’ve always just considered myself to be a small-town girl who worked hard to do her best and make her parents proud. I never saw something like this in my younger years. That sure feels like a different time than right now. But it’s been great to be able to look back and remember all of the fun times with my teammates and the great memories we made.
“I am just so thankful for basketball. Growing up, it challenged me, motivated me and it ultimately shaped me into the person I am today.”
Suwala-Sheaffer said she is excited to share the hall of fame experience with a large group of friends and family who will attend the banquet.
“That is what I am looking forward to the most,” she said. “Looking back in my album from high school, one of the pictures that sticks with me is one taken on senior night with my family and friends, my fan section in the bleachers. When I think of them coming to the banquet, my thoughts quickly go back to moments like that. They all supported me through everything, the good and not so good, and it is special to have them there with me.”
Early in her basketball experience, Suwala-Sheaffer followed the exploits of Michael Jordan.
“I was a ’90s kid, and watching him, you were struck by his will to win by any way, shape, or form. That’s what I loved about him the most. He would take the game in his hands if he had to in order to get that win. That same will to win was just innate in me.”
Suwala-Sheaffer also expressed an affinity for Ford City and Saint Vincent College basketball great and cousin Kelly Morda, who held the previous A-K Valley girls scoring record — 2,084 points — in a four-year high school tenure that ended with her 1998 graduation.
“I idolized her and looked up to her,” Suwala-Sheaffer said. “She was such an influence for me growing up, for sure.”
The record-breaking points for Suwala-Sheaffer came on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter of a game against East Allegheny on Dec. 16, 2004. Morda, an assistant coach for Ford City at the time, had a front-row seat to history.
“I always said that records are made to be broken, and she was determined to do so,” Morda said.
“There was a lot of hard work on her part, because it is not easy to get that many points. From when she was a little girl all the way through junior high to high school when I coached her, she just had the biggest drive to succeed. She was always focused and willing to put in the hours to get that positive outcome.”
A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain, Suwala-Sheaffer helped guide Ford City to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals and PIAA round of 16 as a freshman in 2002. The Sabers also made the WPIAL playoffs in her three other seasons.
She earned Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year honors in 2002, ’04 and ’05. She led the WPIAL in scoring in 2004 at 29.3 points per game.
Other all-star honors and awards followed. Included in that was the 2004 Pat Blayden “Spirit of Sport Award,” which honored the longtime contributor to Chatham College athletics who worked toward achieving greater awareness and recognition of women in athletics.
The award recognized academic and athletic achievement, as well as qualities such as competitive spirit, sportsmanship and community involvement.
“Out of every award I’ve earned in high school, I think that was the one that stuck out to me the most because that award not only represented the success I found in basketball but also the success I found in the classroom and the community,” she said. “It was a very special award, and I remember to this day how I felt when I received it.”
Suwala-Sheaffer was a hot commodity to college coaches, and she signed with IUP.
A coaching change after one season there prompted her to transfer to Clarion, where eventually she earned first-team All-PSAC West honors as a senior in 2010 and also ranked nationally in free-throw and 3-point shooting. She finished her collegiate career with 1,017 points.
Clarion also is where she met her future husband, Brett Sheaffer, a graduate assistant at the time for the Golden Eagles men’s basketball team.
Brett is the current girls basketball coach at Boiling Springs High School in Cumberland County.
Suwala-Sheaffer, a former special education teacher for seven years and also a girls varsity assistant at Boiling Springs for three years, currently is a stay-at-home mom, taking care of Nathan, 4, and Emerson, 1.
Coaching, she said, gave her a new perspective on the sport.
“When I called my coaches to invite them to the hall of fame banquet, I think the first thing I said to them was, ‘I’m sorry,’ ’’ Suwala-Sheaffer said.
“I was pretty competitive and sometimes was a little hard-headed. They showed a lot of patience with me at different times. In the trenches, we had our challenges with each other. But I have nothing but good things to say about all of them.”
51st induction banquet
Tickets: $30; final day to purchase tickets: May 11
Tags: Armstrong | 2022-05-08T03:08:27Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Ford City grad Lizzie Suwala-Sheaffer ‘honored’ to take spot in A-K Valley HOF | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ford-city-grad-lizzie-suwala-sheaffer-honored-to-take-spot-in-a-k-valley-hof/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ford-city-grad-lizzie-suwala-sheaffer-honored-to-take-spot-in-a-k-valley-hof/ |
Hempfield junior Liz Tapper
Submitted by James Shoman
Yough’s James Shoman is a member of the 2022 baseball team.
Liz Tapper
Claim to fame: Tapper puts on a show when she throws the discus — and often other events, too. She holds the No. 1 distance in the event in the state (164 feet, 4 inches), a mark that also ranks third in the country this spring.
Tapper also is proficient throwing the shot put and also competes in the pole vault. She holds school records in the shot and discus, following in the footsteps of many Hempfield greats.
She won MVP in the field events at the 99th Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships at Latrobe. Her winning marks were 47-1.5 (shot) and 150-7 (discus). The shot mark broke a meet and stadium record.
She was second in the pole vault.
Tapper competed in the pole vault at the recent Penn Relays in Philadelphia, clearing 11 feet, 1 inch.
She believes 170 feet is attainable in the discus.
The state record is held by Greensburg Central Catholic’s Colleen Rosensteel, who threw 168-11 in 1984.
Michigan and Penn State have inquired about Tapper.
When and why did you take up throwing?
I began throwing indoor season of my freshman year. I had pole vaulted three years prior, in middle school, and when I got to the high school, two events were required. I decided to pick up throwing and give it a chance.
Did anyone inspire you or recruit you to throw?
Coach (Dave) Murray gave me the opportunity to throw. He encouraged me along with coach (Melissa) White, my pole vault coach, to push boundaries in both the throws and jumps. Even though it had not been done ever before, they believed in me from the beginning.
What is more attractive to you, a personal record distance or WPIAL and PIAA gold medals?
Definitely a personal record distance. Improvement has always been the goal. As frustrating and slow as this can be, the feeling of getting a new PR will always be the best feeling for any athlete.
So a WPIAL and state title is a bonus?
WPIAL and PIAA titles would be amazing. That definitely has always been dream of mine to be in position where it has become attainable.
Is a Division I scholarship in your future?
I definitely hope so. I have been contacted by schools all over the country and have been given great opportunities for my future.
How far can you throw a football?
I honestly have no clue. I’ve always had a good arm since I was young.
Do you play other sports?
I play volleyball.
Who is your favorite pro athlete?
Valarie Allman. She is the Olympic women’s discus champion.
What is your can’t miss TV show or series?
100%, Grey’s Anatomy.
What concerts will you see this summer?
I’ve never been to a concert and probably won’t attend any this summer. My summer is always jam-packed with my job, training, and volleyball, but this year, I will also have to fit in unofficial visits.
Where is your favorite place to throw?
Definitely Hempfield.
Chemistry and biology. I want to continue and study them in college.
Have you ever tried track events?
No, I have only ever tried pole vault, shot and discus. I only compete in field events making time management very hard, so adding anything more would be too much to handle.
Even just for fun?
I ran and high-jumped in middle school, along with pole vaulting, but decided to switch to throwing when I got to the high school. I never competed in them since.
How do you pass the time on a rainy day at a track invitational?
At most track meets, there never is any time to sit down, especially invitationals. I’m usually running back and forth from the throwing pits to jumping areas. If I ever find any time, I always spend it talking with my teammates.
Any hidden talents?
Not that I know of.
James Shoman
School: Yough
Claim to fame: When Yough (8-6, 7-2) clinched the Section 4-3A title this week by sweeping second-place Southmoreland, the winning pitcher in both games was Shoman. He threw 10 pitches and recorded four outs Monday in relief of Al Novacek as the Cougars walked off with a 3-2 victory. On Tuesday, he started and tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts as the Cougars recorded a 7-1 victory. He also plays basketball and football.
Talk about being the winning pitcher in the clinching first-place in the section? I came in after Al Novacek pitched a great game and only (threw) 10 pitches. Then I threw 94 pitches the next day in seven, which helped the team win the section title.
What was working for you during both games? My curveball has really come along. Last year, it was not as good as this year. I’m striking out a lot of people. I’m very good at placing the pitch.
How big was it for you guys to defeat Southmoreland? It was very big for the team, and I was happy I could help the team out and winning the section. But I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and teammates.
What are the team goals now that you clinched a spot in the playoffs? Last year’s playoff loss left a bad taste in our mouths. We weren’t happy with a loss in the first round of the playoffs. We plan on making it a lot further and hopefully winning.
You were on the team a few years ago that made a run in the playoffs. What did you take away from that experience? It really helped me to watch the upper classmen, and I talked to them and it helped me a lot mindset wise.
Even though you’re a junior, do you plan on playing baseball in college? I’d like to. Hopefully, there is an opportunity for me. But right now, I’m working on getting better and being the best that I can be.
When you’re not pitching, you play center field. What is your mindset playing that position? I happen to be the fastest player on the team, and I’m very good at tracking balls down. I can make up a lot of ground. My mindset is to make sure nothing drops and do whatever I can to make that play.
Is it a thrill to gun down a runner trying to take an extra base on you? This year, I haven’t got an outfield assist because I haven’t gotten the opportunity to do it, but years prior I have and it’s a good feeling. I want people to test my arm. I love it. I love challenges.
Yough has a new football coach, your third in four seasons, are you excited about the change? I’m very excited. I think we’re going to do a lot better than we have, and I’m excited about the new coach (Ben Hoffer). He happens to be our JV baseball coach, and he’s a very good guy.
What’s your biggest thrill at Yough? Probably playing baseball and being with this team. We’re having a run like this year’s (run), and it’s probably my biggest thrill so far my high school career.
What’s your favorite pizza in the school district, and what’s your favorite topping? I like a plain cheese pizza from West Newton Pizza House.
What’s your favorite dish that you mom makes? I love her stuff shells.
Tags: Hempfield, Yough | 2022-05-08T03:08:57Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Westmoreland High School Athletes of the Week: Hempfield’s Liz Tapper, Yough’s James Shoman | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-high-school-athletes-of-the-week-hempfields-liz-tapper-youghs-james-shoman/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-high-school-athletes-of-the-week-hempfields-liz-tapper-youghs-james-shoman/ |
WPGAL founder Ruth Ann Burke will be inducted into the WPIAL hall of fame as part of the Class of 2022. It was announced Jan. 19, 2022, at the Sen. John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in the Strip District.
The WPIAL has been around for more than 100 years, but the organization was exclusively for boys until Ruth Ann Burke and some like-minded colleagues insisted that must change.
It was the late 1960s, and interscholastic girls sports still were an afterthought in high schools, with limited opportunities arranged by the individual coaches. So, seeing a need for change, the women approached WPIAL leaders and asked them to sanction girls sports.
“They said, ‘No, but if you want to do it, go ahead,’ ” said Burke, then a teacher at Peters Township. “They turned us down. So that made us work all the harder.”
The Western Pennsylvania Girls Athletic League was born in 1970, bringing to life a groundbreaking sister organization to the WPIAL that provided athletic opportunities for countless female athletes.
Within five years, the two leagues aligned, with the WPGAL becoming the “WPIAL Girls Division,” a historic step toward equality for boys and girls sports.
Burke, a pioneer behind the WPGAL and one of its first administrators, will be inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame on May 27.
“I appreciate the honor, but there were so many people involved who could be in the hall of fame,” Burke said. “It wasn’t me. The women really worked hard together.”
Her induction comes at a poignant moment as schools nationwide commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools.
Donna Shaver of Mt. Lebanon was the first WPGAL president with Burke also a league officer. But Shaver handed the reins to Burke within two years, and she became a leading voice for progress. She spent a decade on the WPIAL board and served as a district representative on PIAA steering committees.
“Ruth Ann Burke is as special as she is charming, and her legacy is long-lasting,” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said. “In the 50-year reflection of the inception of Title IX, pioneers like Ruth Ann are so important to remember and recognize for their contributions in the advancement of women in sports.
“Her initiatives with the Girls Athletic League and giving females a chance to compete was the first step in allowing them to be integrated into the then ‘all male’ WPIAL.”
The WPGAL offered track, tennis and softball in its first spring season, according to league records. Yet, in its first full school year, the WPGAL sponsored nine sports. Basketball was most popular with 41 teams, but the league also offered volleyball, field hockey, track and field, gymnastics and cross country.
“It was fun to do, really,” Burke said of building the WPGAL. “The girls were ready. They wanted something. The way in which it has grown in the area, I think, is wonderful.”
High school girls today probably couldn’t imagine life without organized sports, Burke said, but she remembers that time quite clearly. In the late 1950s, some gym teachers started organizing interschool meets for girls called “play days.”
“Once a year, somebody would have a ‘play day’ where the girls could come and play volleyball or basketball,” she said. “They’d go as a group. It’s interesting now to contrast.
“When the girls started to play basketball, they were not supposed to overexert themselves. So you can see there’s been a big change.”
Burke started her teaching career in Riverside, Calif., and took up tennis on the West Coast. After returning home, she began playing golf, but her appreciation for sports started earlier — with or without a team.
“When I was growing up, I’d be shooting baskets,” she said. “Down in our basement, there was a pole in between the beams and I would shoot through there.”
Burke graduated from Pitt with a master’s degree and also taught at her alma mater. In 1952, she traveled to Helsinki, Finland, with a New York University group to study the Olympic Games.
She taught at Peters Township for 28 years and became the chair of the health and physical education department before retiring in 1988. She coached golf, track, basketball, volleyball and tennis at the school.
Burke still laughs about a time when one of her first-time golfers lost a shot in the weeds.
“I said, ‘That’s OK. Throw another one down and go from there,’ ” Burke said. “Well, she got in her bag, got a ball out and she threw that thing as far as she could. This was the type of thing you sometimes had to work with.”
The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce recognized her in 1989 with its Women in Sports Lifetime Achievement Award.
Burke said she remains proud that the WPGAL laid the groundwork for today’s WPIAL, which now sponsors 14 girls sports.
“We kept the thing rolling, and sports became more important to the girls,” Burke said. “Once they found out that they could do it as well as a lot of the boys, that made a difference.” | 2022-05-08T03:09:03Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | WPIAL Hall of Fame inductee Burke blazed trail for women’s sports in Western Pennsylvania | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-hall-of-fame-inductee-burke-blazed-trail-for-womens-sports-in-western-pennsylvania/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-hall-of-fame-inductee-burke-blazed-trail-for-womens-sports-in-western-pennsylvania/ |
This Legend keeps growing.
A multi-sport senior at Springdale, Legend Ausk added to an already decorated resume of athletic success for the Dynamos last week when he helped throw a no-hitter in a 4-2 win over St. Joseph.
Ausk tossed 51⁄3 no-hit innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 11. After Ausk reached the PIAA’s 100-pitch limit, teammate Emmett Jaronski finished off the no-hitter by throwing the final 12⁄3 innings in relief.
“Good command of both fastball and off-speed pitches,” coach Dante Mahlmeister said of Ausk. “He’s a leader on and off the field.”
On Wednesday, Ausk was 2 for 4 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored in an 11-2 win over St. Joseph, helping Springdale improve to 3-6 overall and 2-6 in Section 3-A. The Dynamos are in a logjam in the battle for third and fourth place with Leechburg (2-4) and Riverview (2-4) with two games against the Raiders set for May 2-3.
Ausk, who also excelled in football, basketball and track and field during his time at Springdale, took a few minutes last week for an A-K Valley senior spotlight Q&A:
How did the team play the past two games against St. Joseph?
We really performed well. We’re not the perfect team. We have our errors. The biggest thing we’ve been focusing on is bouncing back from those. There was good energy all around, including the coaches (against St. Joseph). We’ve been putting the bats on the ball better the past two (games).
What were you doing well on the mound on Tuesday?
Everything did go well. John Hughes was catching for me, a very talented kid. He really knows where to place (the glove) at. The field behind me really helped me get the no-hitter.
How did Emmett pitch after you?
Emmett pitched just as well, if not better. He helped me wrap up that game. Also, thanks to the field backing him up and keeping everything clean.
Have you ever been part of a no-hitter before?
Not in my high school career. I took a few years’ break for tournaments.
What is your role on this team?
To be a motivator and pitcher most importantly. I believe we have gifted kids when it comes to the sport. John Hughes, Colin O’Day are really great players. We have a lot of players who are good at their positions. I try to be morally supportive of the team.
Looking at playoffs now. My personal goal is to beat Riverview, one of our rivals. We have a chance to beat them. We’ll take it one step at a time, beat Riverview first and playoffs second.
How did you get started in baseball?
My family has been involved in it. My dad was a baseball player for most of his life. My (sixth-grade) brother (Wyatt Warywoda) is involved in it. He’s much better than me, probably will go to a big college.
I do have an upcoming surgery on my shoulder so (how that goes) will depend if I play sports at the next level.
Which sport do you prefer, football or baseball?
I love both. If I had to pick one, I’d say football. But baseball is just a step down.
Is there a story behind your first name?
It’s from “Legends of the Fall,” a movie I’ve never seen.
I have a shoulder injury that I’ve been fighting through for my whole senior season. I played quarterback throughout the fall and pitched through it. I’ve been able to be successful despite the circumstances. | 2022-05-09T19:37:19Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | A-K Valley senior spotlight: Springdale’s Legend Ausk | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-senior-spotlight-springdales-legend-ausk/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-senior-spotlight-springdales-legend-ausk/ |
Kiski Area’s Jack Crider takes seventh during the boys shot put during the Westmoreland County Track and Field Championships April 30 at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.
The Kiski Area boys and girls track and field teams will be competing in the WPIAL Class 3A team semifinals at North Allegheny on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers boys won the Section 4 title with a 6-0 record, and the girls tied Knoch for the title, both finishing 5-1, but the Cavaliers girls were awarded first place because they defeated Knoch head-to-head.
The teams competed Saturday at the 99th Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association championships (42nd annual for the girls), and sophomore Eliza Miller and senior Antonio Giordano walked away with individual titles.
The Kiski Area 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams also won gold medals.
Miller captured her second WCCA title by winning the 1,600. She won the 3,200 as a freshman.
She also earned a second-place finish in the 800, had a personal record in the pole vault and ran the anchor leg for the 3,200-relay team that finished third. She ran with Ellie Hecker, Payton Sullivan and Lizeth Sesmas.
Miller isn’t fond of the long distance run so she’s switched to running the 1,600 and 800.
“That’s my main race. It was a last-minute decision to run it. I just was going to run the 800.”
Miller said she probably will run the 1,600 at the WPIAL championship meet, which is set for May 18 at Slippery Rock. She wasn’t enjoying the 3,200.
She also cleared 8 foot, 1 inch in the pole vault and finished seventh.
“It was a PR, so I’m happy,” Miller said. “Now I’m focusing on my next race at Pine-Richland Invitational (Friday) and start to get ready for states and WPIALs.”
Miller also is a two-time PIAA qualifier in cross country.
“It was a lot of fun,” Giordano said. “I had a good time. I knew I could win it. It was just a matter of race strategy. I went out and did what I could. I’m hoping to go sub 2:00 at Pine-Richland.
“We won the 3,200, and a freshman (Justin Gross) on the team did really well. We PR’d by 12 seconds.”
Giordano teamed up with Gross, Phil Miller and Paul Roberts to run an 8:27.15.
He also was part of the winning 1,600-meter relay team, which edged Latrobe in a thrilling race. They ran a 3:34.58. Running with Giordano were Kyle Guido, Phil Miller and James Pearson.
Giordano said the relay teams look to continue to improve their times the next few weeks.
Kiski Area also had numerous other placewinners at the WCCA meet.
Jack Coleman placed fourth in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles. Justin Tucker placed fifth in the 1,600. Guido placed third in the 400 and Phil Miller was fifth.
Ryan Klingensmith was sixth in the 300 hurdles. Payton Sullivan placed sixth in the 800. Roberts was sixth in the 800. Pearson was sixth in the 200. Campbell Curry was fourth in the triple jump.
Sophia Hranica placed fifth in the 400. Tatiana Holt was sixth in the 3200.
Alyssa Mydock was fourth and Avery Celo was sixth in the long jump. Celo was fourth in the triple jump.
Tags: Kiski Area | 2022-05-09T19:37:25Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Kiski Area track and field teams celebrate section titles | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/kiski-area-track-and-field-teams-celebrate-section-titles/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/kiski-area-track-and-field-teams-celebrate-section-titles/ |
Deer Lakes’ McCoy riding high after Baldwin win
Deer Lakes senior Carson McCoy runs the track during a workout May 9, 2022, at Lancers Stadum.
Carson McCoy just missed out on gold in the 800-meter run at last year’s Baldwin Invitational.
The Deer Lakes senior returned to the track at Baldwin High School in the wind and rain Friday and didn’t let the 800 title slip from his grasp.
He ran a personal-best time of 1 minute, 53.20 seconds, beating the rest of the 58-runner field by more than three seconds and cutting more than 4 seconds from his 2021 Baldwin time.
For McCoy, it was another affirming step in his goals to make his mark in his final trip to the WPIAL championships next week at Slippery Rock University.
“The weather (at Baldwin) was a little annoying, but I train in whatever conditions are going on at the time, so I am pretty much ready for anything. I’ve seen it all,” McCoy said. “It wasn’t going to be really fast times because of the wind and rain, but I just wanted to race, do my best, and try to get the win. I hung in the pack and stuck on the leader until about 150 (meters) to go, and I just kicked it in from there.”
McCoy said Baldwin is in a sweet spot of the season with WPIALs right around the corner.
“It’s a nice tune-up for me and for a lot of others,” McCoy said. “After you’re done there, you can start your taper and really work on fine-tuning what you need to do to be ready for WPIALs. I was able to test myself against some of the best 800 runners in the entire WPIAL. It was a nice feeling to know that I am progressing well and could bring home a win from a meet of this level against the guys I was going against.”
McCoy is the top-ranked boys runner in the 800 and 1,600 in Class 2A.
It was feast and famine all wrapped into one day for McCoy at last year’s WPIAL championships.
In the 1,600 run, he placed second overall, and his performance boosted him to bigger things a week later as he captured the PIAA championship in the event at Shippensburg University.
McCoy fought through painful blisters on his feet at WPIALs, and he struggled through the 800 run — contested after the 1,600 — finishing in last place.
A first big test of McCoy’s mettle this spring came April 23 at the Butler Invitational, and he passed with flying colors.
He captured the 1,600 in a time of 4:13.19 and edged Sage Vavro from Class 3A Butler at the finish. Vavro clocked a time of 4:13.64.
“Butler was my first really big race this year,” McCoy said.
“It was nice to get a win like that under my belt at that point. I was able to close the race pretty fast. It also was the first hot day of the season. So that was a pretty big confidence booster for me and helped me keep building momentum.”
McCoy came into the spring outdoor season with a great deal of momentum as he finished the indoor season with a third-place finish (1:55.08) in the 800 at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association State Championships on Feb. 27 at Penn State University.
It won’t be all solo performances for McCoy at WPIALs as he also is prepping for the 1,600 relay alongside fellow senior Fletcher Hammond and juniors Aiden Herman and Nathan Buechel.
The quartet served notice it will be a force to be reckoned with at WPIALs with a second-place finish at Baldwin in a time of 3:32.13.
Only Riverside was better than the Lancers on Friday as it took the title in a time of 3:29.78.
“All four of us are pretty good friends, and that bond really translates on the track because we want to work hard to be the best for each other,” said McCoy, who anchors the relay.
“I really like where we are right now. We’re working on some little things to be best prepared for WPIALs.”
The Deer Lakes 1,600 relay, with Buechel, Herman and McCoy and graduate Colton Spence, just missed a WPIAL medal last year as it finished ninth in a time of 3:38.95.
It ended up only 17 one-hundredths of a second away from eighth-place Greensburg Central Catholic.
“I am just excited for WPIALs,” McCoy said. “The competition is some of the best in the state. I want to be right there for a chance to win (the 800 and 1,600) and also have a lot left to help the 4×400 get to states.” | 2022-05-10T02:41:30Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Deer Lakes’ McCoy riding high after Baldwin win | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-mccoy-riding-high-after-baldwin-win/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-mccoy-riding-high-after-baldwin-win/ |
The Frye family is doing its part for a golden spring at Neshannock.
Junior Andrew Frye is one of the top power hitters in the WPIAL. He has five home runs heading into the final days of the regular season as the Neshannock baseball team preps for the postseason.
His sister, freshman Addy Frye, has opened up many eyes in her first season, with great success at the plate and in the circle as the Lancers softball team remains perfect through 15 games.
“I definitely expected big performances from Addy on the mound, and this expectation was simply based on what I could see about her work ethic in the offseason,” Neshannock coach Jackie Lash said. “We began team strength and conditioning workouts in November. Addy was a standout when it came to work ethic and the willingness to put in extra time. She schedules time on her own with her personal trainer, goes to school all day and then participates in team workouts as well. She is committed to working with her pitching coach and is constantly striving to get better.”
Last week, the Lancers enjoyed wins over the three other playoff-bound teams in Section 4-2A.
It started Monday when she was 3 for 3 with a double, triple and home run with two RBI, plus she allowed one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game 10-1 win over Mohawk.
“Addy played a leading role in our win against Mohawk,” Lash said. “Addy’s pitching performance was exceptional as she threw minimal pitches during the game and struck out 10 batters. She was consistent with hitting her spots. Offensively, Addy came up with timely hits that enabled us to maintain a good lead in that game. Addy was seeing the ball well and was hitting the pitch where it was pitched. Addy approaches her plate appearances with focus and a plan.”
On Wednesday, with first place up for grabs, the freshman was fabulous again. Frye allowed only two earned runs in eight innings of work with one walk and 14 strikeouts. Plus she ended the game with her bat in spectacular walk-off style.
“Addy had a phenomenal game against Laurel,” Lash said. “I’ve been around the game for many years, and this was one of the most intense games I’ve ever seen. There were lead changes, tied-up innings, multiple home runs by both teams and an extra inning played. Through all of these moments, Addy remained calm and in control.
“Offensively, Addy was aware that the early part of the game was not her best performance. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with both Neleh Nogay and Aaralyn Nogay on base with one out, she swung at the first pitch with a smooth and easy swing and easily cleared the left field fence. It was clear that Addy had confidence in herself and knew she could score at least one of her teammates and end this intense game. Addy proved that she can perform under pressure both as a pitcher and as a hitter.”
Frye did not pitch the next day for the Lancers. She was the DP and delivered a two-run single as Neshannock blanked Riverside, 7-0.
The win concluded a perfect section record as the Lancers finished 12-0.
So what has allowed the rookie Frye to join a playoff team from a year ago and play such a big role in the team’s great success thus far?
“What always stands out to me is that she is calm and confident in any situation,” Lash said. “She doesn’t get rattled easily. Addy is comfortable playing with her teammates. As we’ve played more and more games this season, Addy has quickly gained confidence in her teammates and believes that they will make the play when a ball is hit to any fielder.
“Addy’s offensive performances have been the icing on the cake. Not only did we gain a skilled pitcher, but we also added a strong offensive player to our lineup. Addy’s hard work and patience are paying off as she leads our team in home runs with five and in RBIs with 28.
“Working with Addy is a joy. She has a clear understanding of our goals for each game, and she focuses on achieving those goals. She may only be a freshman, but she displays so much maturity as our pitcher.”
Now that Neshannock has won its section, the Lancers’ focus now becomes winning a WPIAL softball championship for the first time since 2014.
“Overall, I feel confident that this group of players will approach the playoffs with a winning mindset,” Lash said. “They are prepared and confident, and their support of each other is awesome. The girls are very aware that a successful playoff run takes hard work, focus and determination. This group consistently shows us that they have a purpose and a vision, and they have the discipline to work at achieving their goals. My coaching staff and I are blessed to be able to work with a team like this one.”
Tags: Neshannock | 2022-05-10T08:39:36Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week for May 9, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-9-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-9-2022/ |
West Allegheny’s Brown celebrates progress in cancer battle with ‘great moment’ on baseball field
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown (15) smiles as he joins his teammates before their game against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown smiles next to Nate Nolan after pinch-running during their game against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown talks with teammates during a game against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown (15) pinch runs for pitcher Anthony Pass during their game against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown pinch runs against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown watches a game against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown takes the field to pinch run against Hopewell on Monday.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown pinch runs during the seventh inning against Hopewell on Monday at Hopewell.
West Allegheny’s Parker Brown stands with his teammates during a game against Hopewell on Monday.
Parker Brown sauntered serenely to the plate, wanting to make an impact. He tightened his Bruce Bolt batting gloves, dug his cleats into the batter’s box and stood with confidence. He focused on winning the battle against Hopewell pitcher Zachary Muzy at Wild Things Park.
With a runner on first, Muzy went out of the stretch and threw to Brown. With his West Allegheny teammates cheering him on and realizing the significance of the moment, Brown swung and lined the pitch into center field for a base hit.
On the surface, the hit was just a single in a nonsection game, but for Brown and the team, it was much more.
It was his next step toward recovery.
Hours earlier, Brown finished his last rounds of intense chemotherapy for T-cell lymphoma/leukemia.
The single signified he was winning the battle on and off the field. The line drive proved he was back on the field, and it cemented his legacy at West Allegheny.
Brown said there was no pressure when he stood up to the plate, and he treated it like any other at-bat.
“I’m just like, ‘I just got to see the ball and hit. There’s no pressure. I’m having fun. There’s nothing on my back that’s gonna pull me down,’ ” Brown said. “So I get up there and then I swing on the ball and it ended up being a hit, and it felt amazing. It felt great seeing all the coaches and players as they’re coming up to me after and showing me their support.”
In July 2021, Brown had symptoms of Bell’s palsy, but as his condition declined, he went to the hospital and doctors found a mass in his chest. Brown was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma/leukemia — a rare and aggressive form of cancer that can be found in the blood, lymph nodes, skin or other areas of the body — and was told two to three years of chemotherapy were ahead of him.
The news sent shockwaves around the West Allegheny community, but Brown was most concerned that he wasn’t going to be able to play baseball. His No. 1 goal was to get back on the field.
“My mindset was just how quickly can I get this over with and how am I going to return? Because at the time I had no clue how long this was going to go on for and what kind of effects this would have on me and how it affects baseball,” Brown said.
When word of his diagnosis reached the community, Amanda Rubis launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the treatment. Rubis is Abigayle Brown’s best friend. Abigayle is Parker’s sister.
“We’ve known her family since I’ve been 4, and she really was there for me firsthand, just because I was moving to school,” Abigayle Brown said. “I was in complete shock, as well as everybody else, that she actually had started that page up for us. That was just also such a blessing with his treatments and his medications and that really did cover that.”
The GoFundMe page was just the beginning. Harry Psaros started a fundraiser that sold green T-shirts and hoodies that said “Team Parker” on the front. The fundraiser raised more than $18,000, which led to a green-out for a West Allegheny football game.
Brown saw the support and realized everyone in the community was on his side. The support helped him keep his confidence during treatments.
“They all strung together as one to come out and support. Whether it be just green outs, gifts, baskets or coming to my house to see me,” Brown said. “It all meant so much to me that it just told me that I can’t quit now.”
Brown’s chemotherapy continued into March and into baseball season. Despite the challenges, he made the West Allegheny roster, and on April 22, he was well enough to play and had a plate appearance against Montour.
The senior outfielder entered the game with the bases loaded and drew a walk, his first RBI of the season. He produced for his team for the first time since last season, when he started in numerous games.
Brown admitted he was a little nervous to begin the at-bat, but he had a boost of confidence when he realized he was finally playing again.
Throughout Brown’s senior season, he and coach Bryan Cornell had a difficult time finding times for him to play. Cornell said it was a touch-and-go thing all year. Some days, Brown’s treatment prevented him from playing.
Brown found out Thursday that he was winning his fight and the last intense sessions of chemotherapy were done. Only low-maintenance treatments remain.
On that same day, Cornell knew Brown was able to play and the team had a plan to get him on the field.
“With senior night, I knew what I wanted to do with with Parker and I wanted to try to have him be the last senior recognized,” said Cornell. “It was something that our kids knew about it and we’re all excited.”
Brown pinch-hit and drove one into the outfield for a base hit. He was overwhelmed with joy.
Cornell was proud, too. He thought it was a great moment for Brown and his family as he had a huge hit on senior day.
“I teared up at third base because I knew it was a great moment for him,” Cornell said. “I thought of his parents and it’s just great to see Parker be able to, to come out and not only just play on a single day, but to come out and to get a hit.”
Brown appreciates everyone who has supported him. He said his coaches, his teammates and friends have meant so much to him throughout his journey.
He also said West Allegheny and athletic director Dave McBain were understanding and supportive throughout the process, and he can’t thank them enough.
Brown’s family supported him the most and has been with him for every step. He said they are his biggest supporters.
“They’re always telling me, ‘Hey, you got this. Keep going. Don’t quit,’ ” said Brown. “They always are willing to help me. If I’m feeling really sick, they run out and grab something for me.”
Abigayle, who is graduating from Gannon as an exercise science major, admires Parker’s courage and she sees how much he inspired the community. His courage inspired her, and she was amazed to see him take the field after finishing chemotherapy that day.
“When he came home from treatment, he was a completely different person than he was on the field hours later. He was sick and he wasn’t feeling well at all. He was laying down all day,” she said. “To see him just get up and get out, it was like a completely different person on the field compared to hours earlier, so that’s just been super awesome to be able to not only see the good times, but it makes you appreciate it more because you also saw the bad times too.”
Brown hopes that his story can inspire others. He knows that when someone puts their heart into something, it can turn out better than expected.
“I’d say the base hit just shows that you can be as strong your heart desires,” Brown said. “Put your heart toward it and always be prepared.”
Earlier this year, Brown committed to Allegheny and will study biochemistry. He hopes to work in labs and help find cures to certain cancers. He said his expereince inspired him to help others.
Cornell is excited to see him take on the next level, and he knows that he will be a huge help in the playoffs.
“Parker is an exceptional young man. He’s a very good baseball player. He’s a small, little lefty that plays a great outfield and he’s just an incredible kid,” said Cornell. “Even before he was diagnosed with cancer, I had him in (youth baseball) coming up whenever he was 6, 7 years old and you just knew that Parker was going to be a good baseball player and just a really, really good kid.”
Brown looks forward to his time after high school, but for now, he aims to help his team make a run in the playoffs.
“Hopefully, I can just rebuild the strength that I lost back through in the last nine months,” he said, “and help the team even more on our playoff run.” | 2022-05-10T08:39:48Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | West Allegheny’s Brown celebrates progress in cancer battle with ‘great moment’ on baseball field | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/west-alleghenys-brown-celebrates-progress-in-cancer-battle-with-great-moment-on-baseball-field/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/west-alleghenys-brown-celebrates-progress-in-cancer-battle-with-great-moment-on-baseball-field/ |
Chartiers Valley head coach Tim McConnell yells from the bench during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game against Cardinal O’Hara on Friday, March 25, 2022, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Tim McConnell has walked into Chartiers Valley’s gym countless times, but the longtime basketball coach felt somewhat sentimental when he entered Tuesday morning.
He knew it would be his last visit as Colts coach.
“When I went to meet with my team and I walked through the doors and I walked in the gym, it sort of hit me a little bit,” McConnell said, “like, wow, I’ve been doing this for 29 years and I’m not going to do this in this gym anymore. It was breathtaking. I got a little emotional to be honest with you.”
McConnell, 57, resigned Tuesday as Chartiers Valley’s girls basketball coach, a job he held for four seasons after 25 as the school’s boys coach. Combined, he won nine WPIAL titles and more than 600 games.
His career record is 662-153.
But his resignation maybe isn’t a retirement. Instead, he hopes to be hired Wednesday as boys coach at Bishop Canevin. He’s already interviewed twice for the Crusaders job, which came open late last month.
“I decided to retire from Char Valley because I wanted to pursue a boys job,” McConnell said. “If I don’t get the Canevin job, then I’ll still be OK because then I’ll then have more time to go see T.J. and my daughter Megan play a little bit more. But I was interested in getting back to coaching boys.”
His son, T.J., plays for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. Megan finished her second season at Duquesne.
McConnell coached both, along with son Matty, in his years at Chartiers Valley. He went 552-146 as the boys coach with six WPIAL title and then switched over to coach the girls.
His girls teams went 110-7 over the past four seasons with three WPIAL titles, a state championship and two state runner-up finishes. They also finished second in the WPIAL once.
“I loved my time at Char Valley,” McConnell said. “I loved the people at Char Valley. They’ve been so good to me. I’m indebted to Char Valley, but with the Canevin job opening, I thought it was a good opportunity for me to get back on the boys side.”
He’ll keep his job as director of transportation at Chartiers Valley.
At Canevin, he’d be taking over a basketball program that went 25-4 this winter and won WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles. Crusaders coach Gino Palmosina resigned in late April to become boys coach at Moon.
McConnell said the location in Carnegie and the Catholic school experience were factors that drew him to the job.
“I went to a Catholic grade school and I went to Seton LaSalle High School,” he said. “It intrigues me. It’s somewhere I’ll really be able to fit in and understand what these kids are dealing with and what they’re doing.” | 2022-05-11T09:01:11Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Tim McConnell resigns as Chartiers Valley basketball coach to pursue Bishop Canevin job | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/tim-mcconnell-resigns-as-chartiers-valley-basketball-coach-to-pursue-bishop-canevin-job/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/tim-mcconnell-resigns-as-chartiers-valley-basketball-coach-to-pursue-bishop-canevin-job/ |
Seton LaSalle’s Brian Vogel Jr. celebrates a home run during a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal against Serra Catholic on Monday, May 25, 2021.
With time running out on the 2022 regular season, the elite baseball teams across the state are trying to put their foot down against wholesale changes to the Trib HSSN state baseball rankings.
After a couple of weeks of chaos, things appear to have settled down for a second straight week with the district postseason on the horizon.
Only five teams lost their grip on a Top 5 spot in the weekly state rankings during the first full week of May.
Only one of those changes affected the top of the mountain in each class.
While Bethlehem Liberty in 6A, Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast in 4A, Martinsburg Central in 3A, Serra Catholic in 2A and Eden Christian Academy in A remain No. 1, Archbishop Wood moves up two to take over the top spot in 5A. | 2022-05-11T09:01:17Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN State Baseball Rankings for May 10, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-state-baseball-rankings-for-may-10-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-state-baseball-rankings-for-may-10-2022/ |
Hitting from left side has turned out all right for Mt. Pleasant leadoff hitter Katie Hutter
Mt Pleasant’s Katie Hutter pulls in a ball hit by Mid Valley’s Kaylee Terranella during the PIAA Class 3A Girls Softball Championship on Friday, June18, 2021 at Beard Field in University Park Pa.
When Katie Hutter was small, she picked up a softball bat for the first time and immediately squared up like a left-handed hitter.
“I was told right away that wasn’t the way to bat,” Hutter said. “But I don’t know, maybe it was meant to be.”
Before she became the senior softball standout at Mt. Pleasant she is today, an 11-year-old Hutter had some guidance from her coach that provided reassurance: Her lefty instincts were on point.
“The first time I met coach Chris (Brunson) and started working with him, he asked, are you right-handed or left-handed?” Hutter said. “I told him right. He said, we’re going to make you a left-handed hitter.”
So, the rest is history? Sort of.
Hutter, a fixture in the Vikings’ lineup since she was a freshman, has been one of the WPIAL’s best hitters over the course of her career. This year is no different.
A WPIAL and PIAA champion last season, Hutter was hitting .593 with a .651 on-base percentage, 32 hits, nine doubles, four triples, four home runs, 28 runs scored and 17 RBIs.
The Vikings won four in a row to even their record at 7-7 and secure a WPIAL playoff spot out of Section 3-3A.
The team started 2-6.
She hit for the cycle in a 16-3 victory over McGuffey. Mt. Pleasant has scored double-digit runs seven times.
Hutter, operating from her normal leadoff spot — Brunson wanted her “in front of the hammers” — has been a key to leading the team back to the contending block. She also is providing leadership for a young team that lists only four seniors on the roster.
A slap-hitter in the beginning, Hutter is now a swing-away threat to go gap to gap.
“I knew she was going to be long (tall), and has great hand-eye coordination,” Brunson said. “And she had good speed. I knew she could bat left-handed and be good at it. Every other kid in the universe is righty-righty.
“Katie hoped to see the field as a freshman and worked hard to do her part. 2020 was the covid year. Last year, she gravitated toward our seniors and learned from them. She has become a leader now. When teams play us, they know she can beat them.”
Players like Haylie Brunson, Mary Smithnosky and Courtney Poulich inspired Hutter.
“I learned from them; all six (seniors) were my idols,” she said.
A seasoned travel ball player, Hutter had planned to play at Akron, committing there in the fall of 2020. But a coaching change prompted her to decommit and open her recruiting.
Bowling Green, George Mason and Cal U are now in play as possible suitors.
Brunson has toyed with his lineup and defensive positions, and it is producing results.
“We’re clicking again,” the coach said. “I am excited for what lies ahead and to see how we do.”
Compromise and sacrifice have triggered the late-season run. Hutter moved from center field, where she covered plenty of ground during last year’s title runs, to shortstop.
Junior Sophia Smithnosky moved into the pitching circle, and junior Krista Brunson has bounced around from outfield to infield spots.
“Sophia found herself,” Hutter said. “You gotta do what you gotta do to help the team.”
Brunson said Hutter clearly prefers to play the outfield but is making plays at short like she has played the position all her life.
“She bit the bullet,” he said. “She hates it, but she does it.”
They said the same thing about her hitting from the left side. | 2022-05-11T20:30:16Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Hitting from left side has turned out all right for Mt. Pleasant leadoff hitter Katie Hutter | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hitting-from-left-side-has-turned-out-all-right-for-mt-pleasant-leadoff-hitter-katie-hutter/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/hitting-from-left-side-has-turned-out-all-right-for-mt-pleasant-leadoff-hitter-katie-hutter/ |
Apollo-Ridge’s April Earnest hits against Seton LaSalle on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
Eric Kowalczyk saw promise in his young Apollo-Ridge softball team when the season started in late March.
Despite just one senior, several freshman getting their first taste of the varsity game and other returnees continuing to grow, the first-year Vikings coach has seen growth in his team through a playoff-qualifying season with its share of ups and downs.
“For the season that was given to us, with the rain and a couple of doubleheaders back-to-back in one week and then playing four games in five days, those types of things were a challenge to this group,” he said. “Then you factor in a couple of injuries that have also tested them. But they’ve grown around each other and have supported each other.”
Apollo-Ridge clinched a return trip to the WPIAL playoffs with a stretch of victories over Jeannette, Brentwood and Steel Valley from April 29 through May 3.
Apollo-Ridge is one of 11 softball teams in the Alle-Kiski Valley to punch its tickets to the WPIAL playoffs. The Vikings join Burrell, Highlands, Freeport, Deer Lakes, Valley, Springdale, Leechburg, Plum, Kiski Area and St. Joseph.
The brackets and pairings are scheduled to be released at 4 p.m. Thursday on Trib HSSN.
The Vikings, who finished fourth in Section 2-2A at 6-6, enter the playoffs hoping to stop a three-game losing skid.
They also might head into the postseason without their captain, Bailey Zidek.
The slick-fielding senior shortstop, also the team’s cleanup hitter, suffered a jaw injury in Tuesday’s section loss to Seton LaSalle when she was struck in the face with the ball on a bad hop while attempting to field a sharply hit grounder.
She left the game and was taken to a medical facility. Kowalczyk said Wednesday her status for the playoffs is to be determined.
“We’re going to see who might have to fill that shortstop spot,” Kowalczyk said. “That’s a tough spot to fill, and you’re also replacing her bat in the lineup.”
The injury occurred in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game. Right before, Apollo-Ridge felt it had an inning-ending double play on a catch and double up of a runner.
The umpires, however, credited the Vikings with just one out, and the inning continued.
Apollo-Ridge led 5-2 after the fourth, but Seton La Salle scored six runs in the fifth to take a lead it would not relinquish.
“Bailey’s injury would’ve never happened if the umpire would’ve gotten the call right,” Kowalczyk said. “Bailey left the game, and it kind of took the wind out of our sails. We got down, and it was tough to come back from that.”
Junior pitcher April Earnest and sophomore Jaden Mull each had two hits Tuesday against Seton LaSalle, which has won five of six and defeated Class 3A No. 1 Avonworth, 4-2, on Monday.
“We just had too many errors (Tuesday) that stacked up against us,” Kowalczyk said.
Apollo-Ridge opened its season with a win over Class 3A Derry and added section sweeps of Steel Valley and Jeannette and a split with Brentwood.
The Vikings defeated Seton LaSalle, 7-6, in eight innings April 22. Sophomore Marly Koleno singled in the winning run, and freshman Madison Butler hit her first home run and drove in a pair of runs.
Butler hit for the cycle in a 16-7 win over Steel Valley on May 3. She finished with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Butler missed games early in the season after a concussion suffered in a scrimmage against Shady Side Academy.
“I can’t imagine if she was in for the full season what she could’ve done with the stick she has,” he said.
Kowalczyk hopes his players can regroup and refocus for what he expects to be a challenging first-round playoff opponent.
Apollo-Ridge heads into the playoffs with several players who experienced the postseason last season when the Vikings went 7-5-1 overall and 7-4 in Section 2.
The Vikings hope for a better fate after suffering a 12-2 loss to Chartiers-Houston in last year’s first round.
“I told the girls that there is a new season coming, and there are some who might have to step up into new positions,” Kowalzyk said. “It’s a do-or-die situation, and I think they are willing to step up. But it will be a challenge with what we have in front of us.” | 2022-05-12T02:17:55Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Apollo-Ridge overcomes obstacles, eager for WPIAL Class 2A playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/apollo-ridge-overcomes-obstacles-eager-for-wpial-class-2a-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/apollo-ridge-overcomes-obstacles-eager-for-wpial-class-2a-playoffs/ |
By: Joe Rutter
Olivia Miller celebrates her Pitt Blue-Gold Award during a ceremony on Pitt’s Varsity Walk on May 2, 2022, in Oakland. From left are Pitt athletes Demetrius Thomas (wrestling), Miller, Chinaza Ndee (women’s volleyball), Amy Read (women’s swimming and diving), Felix Wolter (men’s track and field) and Cal Adomitis (football).
Olivia Miller went from misfortune to good fortune this spring as her collegiate academic and athletic tenure at the University of Pittsburgh came to a close.
The Gateway graduate saw her 17-year gymnastics career come to a sudden end at the Eastern Atlantic Gymnastics League championships March 19 at George Washington University when she tore her ACL during a warm-up on the uneven bars.
“I was working on my dismount and landing, and when I landed, it seemed perfectly fine, but my knee also felt like it dislocated a little bit,” said Miller, a four-time EAGL all-conference honoree.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to compete at the conference championships. That was tough, but all in all, it wasn’t the end of the world. If this was going to happen, at least it happened at the last meet ever as opposed to the first meet of my senior year.”
Tests confirmed the extent of the injury, and Miller soon was on a course of treatment and rehab. But in the midst of her injury frustration, she was reminded of just how much of an impact she made during her time at Pitt.
At the Panthers Choice Awards on April 10, Miller won the women’s gymnastics Gold Standard Award for her inspiration to her team through commitment, composure and integrity.
“A lot of my teammates could’ve received that award because it’s just a great group, but I was honored to think that I have made an impact on a lot of people on my team,” she said.
Miller also was presented one of Pitt’s Blue-Gold Awards for representing Pitt in the areas of athletic and academic achievement, leadership and citizenship.
The honor will be forever recognized with her name engraved on a paver stone on Pitt’s Varsity Walk between Heinz Chapel and The Cathedral of Learning on the Oakland campus.
Most recently, Miller, who graduated from Pitt the weekend of May 1 with a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and a certificate in Pathokinesiology in Rehabilitation, was presented the George I. Carson Graduate Fellowship award to continue her education at Pitt toward a graduate degree in Pitt’s Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program.
She was selected as the winner by a committee of Pitt sports administrators, academic counselors and staff through her success in athletics and academics.
“The Carson Scholarship is huge,” Miller said. “To have my entire graduate school paid for is incredible. There were many deserving candidates, and I am blessed and honored that they chose me. I am excited to have that continued connection to Pitt and to know that I’ve made a difference and hope to continue to make an impact.”
Miller begins classes toward her graduate degree in January. Until then, she will be rehabbing her injury, working in rehab services at UPMC and also taking some time to travel with a trip to Singapore planned for August.
“I am ready to enjoy life and whatever it brings me over the next couple of months until graduate school starts,” Miller said.
On the competition floor, Miller earned first-team recognition in the all-around (2019, 2021) and second-team honors on floor exercise (2020, 2021).
She garnered EAGL All-Tournament selection five times on four events – all-around, vault, bars, and floor – during her four-year career and was a two-time EAGL Rookie of the Week pick in 2019.
Miller also received all-scholastic honors from the EAGL in each year of her career.
“I am thankful for every experience that I’ve had as a Pitt gymnast,” she said. “My experience at Pitt has been even more than just a student-athlete. I was able to grow as a leader, grow as an individual and create connections and friendships which will last a lifetime. My teammates did so much to make this experience unforgettable. It all has given me so many opportunities, and I am so thankful for that.”
More Gymnastics
• Trio from Ultimate Gymnastics compete in regionals
• Gold medal performance ‘complete surprise’ for Deer Lakes’ Elizabeth Orosz
• Plum’s Kvortek celebrates PA Classic all-around title
• Baldwin’s Abby Rexrode follows up WPIAL gold with PA Classic all-around title
• Hard work pays off for Baldwin freshman at WPIAL gymnastics championships | 2022-05-12T18:28:43Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Former Gateway gymnast Olivia Miller sets high bar athletically, academically at Pitt | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-gateway-gymnast-olivia-miller-sets-high-bar-athletically-academically-at-pitt/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-gateway-gymnast-olivia-miller-sets-high-bar-athletically-academically-at-pitt/ |
Franklin Regional’s Jordan Suvak celebrates his two-run homer during the ninth inning against Kiski on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at Kiski Area High School.
Franklin Regional won’t get the No. 1 seed like it did last year, but the Panthers have something most of the other teams in the WPIAL Class 5A playoff field don’t have: championship experience.
The defending champions, who ran their winning streak to six with a 10-3 win over Kiski Area on Monday at Haymaker Park — their mascot, “Rafael,” a life-sized coyote statue was perched at the edge of the infield after the game to ward off geese like the team defending its title — hope to use what they learned last year to make another run.
Six starters came back with playoff experience.
“It’s about determination,” senior designated hitter Jack Bridges said. “We know we have room to get better.”
Franklin Regional finished second to Latrobe in Section 1, but the Panthers are playing well at the right time.
“We have to play as a team and rely on each other,” said Anthony Alesi, who is playing first base after serving as the DH last year. “Nobody needs to take anything personal. We need to pick each other up.”
Coach Bobby Saddler hopes to lean on players who went through the title run, such as seniors Caden Smith, Jordan Suvak, Thomas Nicely, Alesi, Ryan DalCanton and others.
“We can’t let ourselves get too high or low. There are ebbs and flows,” Saddler said. “It’s not about one guy trying to do too much. They have to play for each other. That is how you win (in the playoffs).”
DalCanton on a tear
DalCanton, a lefty-swinging outfielder, was riding a hot streak heading into a couple of nonsection tune-ups for the postseason.
The Mount Union commit was hitting .404 with 13 RBIs, six doubles, and a triple.
In section games, he had a .471 average (16 for 34) with 10 RBIs. He had a hit in nine of 10 games.
The WPIAL is scheduled to release playoff brackets about 2 p.m. Friday virtually though the TribLive High School Sports Network.
The local field looks like this: Norwin (10-7) and Hempfield (7-12) in Class 6A; Latrobe (11-6), Penn-Trafford (13-5) and Franklin Regional (10-4) in 5A; Derry (10-5), Mt. Pleasant (9-7), Yough (10-6) and Southmoreland (6-6) in 3A; and Greensburg Central Catholic (8-5) in A.
Games are expected to be played at neutral sites with the finals set for May 31 and June 1 at Wild Things Park in Washington.
Latrobe and Yough could get the best local draw because they are section champions.
Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford tied for second in Section 1-5A.
The pre-slotted PIAA tournament brackets are out. The first round is set to begin June 6, with the finals as follows at Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park: Class 6A: 4:30 p.m. June 16; 5A: 4:30 p.m. June 17; 4A: 1:30 p.m. June 16; 3A: 1:30 p.m. June 17; 2A: 10:30 a.m. June 16; A: 10:30 a.m. June 17.
Ochs to Thiel
Belle Vernon senior infielder Aidan Ochs will continue his playing career at Thiel, a Division III progam in Greenville.
Ochs plays shortstop for the Leopards.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Norwin, Southmoreland, Yough | 2022-05-13T02:28:41Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Westmoreland baseball notebook: Franklin Regional playing well at right time | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-baseball-notebook-franklin-regional-playing-well-at-right-time/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-baseball-notebook-franklin-regional-playing-well-at-right-time/ |
Seneca Valley and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are the No. 1 seeds in Class 3A and 2A for the WPIAL playoffs as both brackets were revealed Friday afternoon.
The Raiders and North Allegheny, the No. 2 seed, finished tied at the top of the Section 2 standings and split their season series. Seneca Valley gets the nod at No. 1 after beating North Allegheny, 3-1, in their section clash on Tuesday.
Seneca Valley is seeking its first WPIAL boys volleyball title, while North Allegheny, the four-time defending champ, seeks its 22nd WPIAL title overall since its first in 1985.
Only the Raiders and Tigers received first-round byes as two of the three sections had five teams qualify, giving the Class 3A field 14 teams.
Hempfield, co-champions of Section 3 with Norwin at 11-1, is the No. 3 seed. Shaler, the third-place team from Section 2, is seeded fourth.
Norwin is seeded fifth, while Penn-Trafford, last year’s third-place finisher, is the sixth seed.
The Warriors were the most recent Class 3A champion before North Allegheny began its current run. They won it all in 2016.
Five of the six first-round matches in Class 3A are Tuesday at the home of the higher seed. The only one at a neutral site is the 8-9 matchup between Canon-McMillan and Butler, which will be played at Upper St. Clair.
The four quarterfinal matchups are set for Thursday.
In Class 2A, Section 1’s talent level was recognized by the committee as the top three in the section are the top three in the bracket.
OLSH, which won Section 1 with a 9-1 record, is the No. 1 seed. North Catholic, which split with OLSH and finished runner up in the section, is the No. 2 seed. Montour was No. 3 in the section and is No. 3 in the bracket.
The Chargers, Trojans and Spartans each receive byes to Thursday’s quarterfinals. The Class 2A bracket features 13 teams as Section 2 had five teams qualify.
Ambridge, the fourth-place team from Section 1, is the No. 5 seed and will face perennial playoff qualifier Deer Lakes in the first round Tuesday at Shaler. The Bridgers have won nine WPIAL titles since the WPIAL went to two classifications in 2007, and they captured an additional title in 2002.
Gateway, the champions of Section 2 with an 8-0 record, crashed the Section 1 seeding party and is slotted at No. 4. The Gators will face No. 13 Keystone Oaks.
Defending Class 2A champion Seton LaSalle, the winner of Section 3 at 10-0, is seeded sixth, and will take on No. 11 Mars on Tuesday at Gateway.
All five Class 2A first-round matchups will be Tuesday evening, and four of the five will be at neutral sites. Gateway will host Keystone Oaks.
The WPIAL championship matches for Class 3A and Class 2A will be at 6 and 8 p.m. May 25 at the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris.
No. 1 Seneca Valley – bye
No. 8 Canon-McMIllan vs. No. 9 Butler, 6 p.m., Upper St. Clair
No. 13 Moon at No. 4 Shaler, 7:30 p.m.
No. 12 Fox Chapel at No. 5 Norwin, 7:30 p.m.
No. 10 Latrobe at No. 7 Upper St. Clair, 7:30 p.m.
No. 14 Bethel Park at No. 3 Hempfield, 7:30 p.m.
No. 11 Peters Township at No. 6 Penn-Trafford
No. 1 OLSH – bye
No. 8 Plum vs. No. 9 Thomas Jefferson, 6 p.m., Norwin
No. 13 Keystone Oaks at No. 4 Gateway, 7:30 p.m.
No. 5 Ambridge vs. No. 12 Deer Lakes, 6 p.m., Shaler
No. 7 Trinity vs. No. 10 Derry, 6 p.m., Hempfield
No. 6 Seton LaSalle vs. No. 11 Mars, 6 p.m., Gateway | 2022-05-13T21:44:59Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Seneca Valley, North Allegheny take top 2 seeds in Class 3A WPIAL volleyball bracket | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/seneca-valley-north-allegheny-take-top-2-seeds-in-class-3a-wpial-volleyball-bracket/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/seneca-valley-north-allegheny-take-top-2-seeds-in-class-3a-wpial-volleyball-bracket/ |
Plum third baseman Caden Norcutt looks to make a play during the first inning of a Section 2-5A game at Woodland Hills on April 20. The Mustangs defeated the Wolverines, 11-0.
The Riverview Raiders, a WPIAL Class A baseball finalist last season, will first try to prevent Bishop Canevin from making WPIAL history this season.
No school ever has won WPIAL titles in football, basketball and baseball in the same academic year. The Crusaders already have nailed the football and basketball portion of the triumvirate.
Now, Bishop Canevin (7-5) will start its drive for baseball gold against Riverview (6-9) at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Shaler’s Matuleveic Field.
The Alle-Kiski Valley’s steadiest baseball playoff participant thus far this century is Plum. The Mustangs are back again, this time as the No. 11 seed. Plum will open the Class 5A playoffs against No. 6 Shaler (14-5) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny.
“We used to play them every year, and there were some very good games,” Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. “There were a few years we saw them in the playoffs multiple times.”
The Mustangs last played Shaler in the WPIAL quarterfinals May 18, 2015, losing to the Titans, 1-0.
The Mustangs (12-6) were rolling along, winning eight in a row in one stretch before their bats went cold. Plum has scored just eight runs in its last four games, losing three times.
“We’ve seen some good pitching lately,” Vollmer said. “That might have hurt us, seeding-wise, but we’re really looking forward to the playoff atmosphere under the lights. It’s a beautiful facility where you have that special feel.”
Playoff seeding sometimes doesn’t mean much. Last year, Plum was No. 6, and Latrobe was No. 11. The Mustangs fell in a hole early, and a late rally fell short in an 8-7 loss.
No. 13 Apollo-Ridge (9-7) will play No. 4 Carmichaels (12-1) for the second straight season in the opening round, this time at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Latrobe. The Mikes were mighty last year, posting a 12-1 victory.
But the Vikings have the big bats this year, scoring in double figures seven times.
Brandon Butler’s batting average is hovering around the .700 mark, and Bradey Schrock and Nathan Kavulic are both hitting over .500.
“We’ve really become more consistent hitters,” coach Jason Mamros said. “Our lineup is strong top to bottom, and there are no easy outs anymore.”
But this is the playoffs, and Apollo-Ridge has become stronger defensively.
“I think we were making four or five errors a game early,” Mamros said. “But now, there hasn’t been four or five errors over the last five games.”
The Vikings won four of five Section 3-2A games in a late stretch.
Highlands (12-6) has returned to the playoffs for the third straight season, and the No. 8 Golden Rams face No. 9 Quaker Valley (8-9) under the lights at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Plum.
“I think at this point, we’ll take that,” coach Jeff Campbell said of his team’s seed. “We’ve got a strong pitching staff, and I understand they have some solid arms.”
Campbell was able to keep his team together after the 2020 covid cancellation, playing in the short-lived Western Pennsylvania Baseball League.
“No doubt that’s helped us,” Campbell said. “We had a young team then, and we were fortunate to play, and that has benefited our program immensely.”
In other first-round games, Leechburg (7-5) faced Greensburg Central Catholic (8-6) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Plum, and Deer Lakes (9-11) is back in the postseason as the Lancers will face McGuffey (7-8) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Peterswood Park in Peters Township.
In 2017, Pine-Richland won basketball, baseball and football WPIAL titles, but the football win was in the succeeding school year. | 2022-05-14T00:49:00Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Alle-Kiski Valley baseball teams eye WPIAL playoff runs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/alle-kiski-valley-baseball-teams-eye-wpial-playoff-runs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/alle-kiski-valley-baseball-teams-eye-wpial-playoff-runs/ |
Deer Lakes, Plum expect tough matches in 1st round of WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs
Deer Lakes’ Evan Rothrauff hits against Derry’s Cameron McNichol during their match on April 5.
Last year, the Plum boys volleyball team was the No. 9 seed for the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, and it defeated No. 8 Trinity in the first round before a matchup with eventual champion Seton LaSalle in the quarterfinals.
The Mustangs hope for a similar first-round outcome as they again are situated in the same 8-9 matchup.
The bracket and pairings for both the Class 3A and Class 2A tournaments were revealed Friday afternoon. Plum drew the No. 8 seed and will take on No. 9 Thomas Jefferson in the first round Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Norwin High School.
The winner between Plum and TJ will face No. 1 OLSH in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“I definitely think it will be a competitive match,” said Mustangs coach Fisher Bagiatis, whose team finished second to Gateway in Section 2 with a 5-3 record.
“(TJ) has a nice mix of a couple guys who came back from last year and a couple of younger guys who have stepped up to fill spots. I think that seeding, at this point, means very little. We’re going to have to show up with our best game if we want to win.”
Plum is in the playoffs for the second season in a row. The Mustangs missed out on the postseason in 2019, their final one in Class 3A before moving down to Class 2A.
Thomas Jefferson finished third overall in Section 3 behind defending WPIAL champion Seton LaSalle and Trinity.
The Jaguars, as the No. 11 seed last year, upset Deer Lakes in the first round before falling to Ambridge in the quarterfinals.
Deer Lakes and Ambridge, two perennial playoff qualifiers, will meet in the first round Tuesday.
The No. 5 Bridgers will take on the No. 12 Lancers at 6 p.m. at Shaler. The winner will face the winner of No. 4 Gateway and No. 13 Keystone Oaks in the quarterfinals.
Deer Lakes, which has won four WPIAL titles in its history, the most recent one in 2011, finished in a tie for fourth place with Mars (both 1-7) in Section 2. The Lancers and Planets split their season series.
Deer Lakes came into the season with no starters returning from last year.
“The guys are definitely excited for this opportunity to go up against a team like Ambridge who is solid every year,” first-year Lancers coach Kody Putirka said. “It’s going to be a tough match, and we will have to be at our best. The guys have grown throughout the season.”
Putirka pointed to a battle with Mars from Tuesday where the teams went five sets before the Planets pulled out the 3-2 win to punch their playoff tickets.
“It was such a close match,” Putirka said. “We lost, but the guys still were in good spirits. Now, we have to continue to work hard to be ready for Ambridge.”
The Bridgers, the fourth-place team from Section 1, have won nine WPIAL titles since the WPIAL went to two classifications in 2007,and they captured an additional title in 2002.
The semifinals for both Class 3A and Class 2A are May 23 at neutral sites, while the title matches for both will be at 6 and 8 p.m. May 25 at Robert Morris University’s UPMC Events Center.
• Seneca Valley, North Allegheny take top 2 seeds in Class 3A WPIAL volleyball bracket | 2022-05-14T00:49:06Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Deer Lakes, Plum expect tough matches in 1st round of WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-plum-expect-tough-matches-in-1st-round-of-wpial-boys-volleyball-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-plum-expect-tough-matches-in-1st-round-of-wpial-boys-volleyball-playoffs/ |
North Allegheny’s Cole Young bats against Central Catholic on April 22.
Norwin’s Jake Kendro rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Upper St. Clair on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at Norwin High School.
Norwin’s Jake Kendro
Montour’s Mason Sike smiles after driving in a run with a sacrifice fly against Beaver on Monday, April 25, 2022, at Burkett Park in Robinson.
Montour’s Mason Sike
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review Mike Darnay | Mon Valley Independent
Serra Catholic’s Zach Black
West Allegheny’s Anthony Raineri
Hopewell’s Lucas Arington
Union’s Mike Gunn
Contenders: North Allegheny is the defending WPIAL champion, state runner-up and has a senior SS projected to be an MLB first-round pick. Cole Young has done his part with a .463 average, 14 XBHs and 15 RBIs. Senior RHP Connor Smith, a Cal (Pa.) recruit, is 3-0 with a 0.56 ERA. … Pine-Richland finished 4-6 in nonsection play but tied North Allegheny atop Section 1. The Rams got there in dramatic fashion by going 7-2 in games decided by two runs or less … Norwin has a senior-heavy lineup led by SS Jake Kendro (Tennessee) and C Ty Stecko (Mount St. Mary’s). The Knights won the WPIAL title in 2016 as a No. 14 seed. … Central Catholic RHP Nick Robertson is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 68 Ks in 41 innings.
Don’t overlook: Butler finished fourth in Section 1, but the team hit 12 home runs.
Prediction: Mt. Lebanon over North Allegheny
Favorite: Perennial power Peters Township has lost once this season, a stunning 7-6 setback to 1-14 Albert Gallatin. But the Indians have dominated the rest of the schedule. Offensively, Sam Miller leads the way with a .446 batting average, 29 hits, seven doubles, five home runs and 31 RBIs. He’s also 4-0 on the mound. Nick Sampson is hitting .459, Drew Ripepi is batting .431 with 24 runs scored and 25 hits, and Jack Kail has scored 21 runs and has 27 hits including seven doubles. Tucker Farris is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.82 and Luke Markowski is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA.
Contenders: Bethel Park, which lost to Peters Township twice, and West Allegheny are seeded No. 2 and No. 3. Mars is another team capable of upsetting the apple cart. Jake Johnson is hitting .418 with 20 runs scored and 23 hits and Trey Wagner is hitting .455. Thomas McLaren is 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA and Matt Mroz is 5-0 with a 2.30 ERA.
Don’t overlook: Latrobe lost consecutive section games to Penn-Trafford late in the season, but that was after wrapping up the section. Don’t sleep on the Wildcats.
Prediction: Peters Township over West Allegheny
Favorite: Could Montour’s 50-year wait end this season? The Spartans, who lost in last year’s finals, haven’t won a WPIAL title since 1972. They have a strong pitching staff with seniors Dylan Mathiesen and Mason Sike. Mathiesen, a Cal (Pa.) recruit, has struck out 74 batters in 46 innings. Sike, a St. Bonaventure recruit, has 44 Ks in 30 innings. Combined, they’re 7-1. Sike also has 25 RBIs. Montour owned a 15-game winning streak before ending its schedule with four straight losses.
Contenders: West Mifflin has never won a WPIAL title, but like Montour, the Titans have a solid pitching staff, led by junior Pierson Buck (5-0, 1.83 ERA) and senior Ryan Lang (3-1, 1.60 ERA). Three hitters in the Titans’ lineup are batting above .400. … Laurel Highlands, which finished second to West Mifflin in Section 3, reached the semifinals a year ago. Senior Carson D’Amico is batting .433 with 16 RBIs. … North Catholic seeks its second title in five years after winning Class 2A in 2018. Sophomore Tommy Koroly leads the Trojans with 15 RBIs. … Beaver pitcher Jack Ray is 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 53 Ks in 37 2/3 innings.
Don’t overlook: Blackhawk lost six games by two runs or less, including both matchups with Montour.
Prediction: Montour over West Mifflin
Favorite: Hopewell, the returning Class 3A champion, is back on top and looking for another title. The Vikings are loaded with talent led by junior Lucas Arrington, who is batting .446 with 35 hits, 28 RBIs, seven doubles and three home runs. He’s also 5-0 on the hill with a 3.03 ERA. Chris Mullins is hitting .356 with 21 hits, including eight doubles and 23 RBIs, and Anthony LaSala scored a team-high 32 runs and batted .364. He also was 4-2 with an ERA of 0.36.
Contenders: South Park, which lost 6-5 to Hopewell in the 2021 finals, looks to average the loss. Drew Lafferty batted .458, with 27 hits and 35 RBIs. He had seven doubles and three home runs. He was 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA and struck out 57. Austin Lafferty batted .535 with 32 hits, including 17 doubles and 24 RBIs. Brandon Clifford was 6-0 with an ERA of 1.53. Avonworth is led by Jon Bodnar, who hit .500 with 17 RBIs. Mason Horwat was 3-0 on the hill with an 0.93 ERA.
Don’t overlook: No. 4 Mohawk along with section champions Yough and East Allegheny are capable of making a run.
Prediction: Hopewell over South Park
Favorite: Serra Catholic is typically one of the highest-scoring teams in the WPIAL. That was true again this spring, led by sophomore Zach Black, who batted .543 with 30 runs and 26 RBIs. The Eagles averaged more than 12 runs per game and had six players with at least 15 RBIs. Junior Joe DeMoss drove in a team-best 32 runs. Serra seeks its fourth WPIAL title and first since 2016.
Contenders: Seton LaSalle also averages better than 12 runs per game. The Rebels have five batters with an average above .475 and three with two dozen RBIs: Brian Reed (28), Brian Vogel (27) and Gio LoNero (24). Their only loss was to Upper St. Clair, 1-0. The 2019 WPIAL champions were runners-up last year. … Shenango is the defending WPIAL champion and looks like a contender again with a nine-game winning streak. Senior Tyler Kamerer, a Chipola College commit, is batting .611 with 28 RBIs and 19 XBHs. The Wildcats’ top three pitchers are 11-3 with 123 Ks in 87 innings combined. … Carmichaels won the Section 1 title but faced a limited out-of-section schedule … Riverside tied Shenango atop the Section 2 standings, yet lost to the Wildcats, 2-1 and 2-1, on May 9-10.
Don’t overlook: Neshannock and Laurel tied for third in Section 2, but they’re still capable of making a run.
Prediction: Shenango over Serra Catholic
Favorite: Eden Christian is the only undefeated team left in Class A and it has unfinished business. Union defeated the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL semifinals last year and then the Warriors lost to Halifax, 3-2, in the PIAA finals. Senior Jared Bees leads the way at the plate with a .455 batting average, 14 stolen bases and 20 hits including four triples. He is 7-0 on the hill with a 0.53 ERA. Pitcher Caleb Emswiler is 4-0 with an 0.95 ERA. Eli Szenyeri is hitting .447 with six doubles and Brian Feldman hit .404 with 19 hits and 21 RBIs.
Contenders: Union is seeded No. 2 and is led by Tyler Staub and Mark Stanley. The Scotties defeated Riverview in the 2021 finals. Rochester is the No. 3 seed and West Greene is seeded No. 4. Its five losses were all to playoff teams.
Don’t overlook: Bishop Canevin has strong pitching and solid hitting and Greensburg Central Catholic, which defeated West Greene, has a strong hitting attack at the top of the order.
Prediction: Eden Christian Academy over Union. | 2022-05-14T00:49:12Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | WPIAL baseball playoff bracket breakdown | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-baseball-playoff-bracket-breakdown/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-baseball-playoff-bracket-breakdown/ |
Kaden Bizzozero (left) and his Yough teammates face Mt. Pleasant in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Yough pitcher James Shoman delivers against Southmoreland on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Yough High School.
When two second-place section teams received better seeds than his section-winning one, Yough baseball coach Craig Spisak didn’t kick up dust.
After winning its second section title in four years, Yough was branded with a No. 5 seed in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A baseball playoffs, which begin next week.
Avonworth and Mohawk, runners-up in their sections, were awarded 3 and 4 seeds, a likely nod to stronger competition in those divisions. Yough was, after all, the only team in Section 4 with a winning record.
Spisak took it in stride.
“I don’t worry too much about seeding,” Spisak said. “You can’t control where they put you. You have to go out and play, wherever they put you. I understand why the WPIAL did what they did.”
The Cougars (10-7) will take on another local team, No. 12 Mt. Pleasant (9-7), in the first round at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hempfield.
Yough played Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday and edged the Vikings, 8-7, on a walk-off single.
“We may have to squeeze one out again,” Spisak said. “And it doesn’t get any easier if we move on.”
Another area team will be on display Tuesday at Hempfield.
Latrobe (12-7) grabbed a No. 5 seed in Class 5A after winning Section 1. The Wildcats, who clinched their section weeks ago, will face No. 12 Thomas Jefferson (13-6) in the first round at 4:30 p.m.
“This is the fun part of the season,” Latrobe coach Matt Basciano said. “For weeks, you’re driving yourself nuts trying to figure out where you might be. You can’t worry about things you can’t control. We have to get ready to go after TJ. They have a quality program.”
Basciano was not upset — far from it, in fact — that Bethel Park, a second-place team, got the No. 2 seed in the 5A bracket.
“Defending state champions, I get it,” he said. “They deserve a reward for that. A 4 would’ve been great for us, but I am happy we’re not a 6.”
Penn-Trafford (13-6), which played a rugged schedule that impressed the WPIAL committee, was tabbed the No. 8 seed in the same class and gets No. 9 Hampton (10-9) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at West Mifflin.
Franklin Regional (11-5), which battled Latrobe and Penn-Trafford in a tough Section 1 — the Panthers tied Penn-Trafford for second place — is No. 10 and will play No. 7 South Fayette (14-3) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township.
Norwin (10-8) received the lowest seed among area teams. The Knights are No. 4 in Class 6A and will open play in the quarterfinals of the eight-team bracket May 23 at a neutral site against No. 5 Central Catholic (10-9).
Other local matchups:
• Hempfield (8-12) will open against Seneca Valley (13-7) in the Class 6A bracket as the No. 8 seed. The Spartans will play 5 p.m. Wednesday at Plum.
• Derry (11-5) and Southmoreland (7-7) also are in the 3A bracket. No. 10 Derry plays No. 7 New Brighton (9-9) in a first-round rematch from a year ago, and No. 14 Southmoreland faces No. 3 Avonworth at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Highlands.
Derry beat New Brighton, 10-0, last year at Latrobe.
• In Class A, Greensburg Central Catholic (8-6) is the No. 8 seed and will meet No. 9 Leechburg (7-5) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Plum.
The top seeds are Mt. Lebanon (6A), Peters Township (5A), Montour (4A), Hopewell (3A), Serra Catholic (2A) and Eden Christian (A).
The WPIAL finals will be May 31 and June 1 at Wild Things Park in Washington.
Tags: Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough | 2022-05-14T00:49:19Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | WPIAL baseball seedings set up local clashes in 1st round | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-baseball-seedings-set-up-local-clashes-in-1st-round/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-baseball-seedings-set-up-local-clashes-in-1st-round/ |
Jef Helsel | Mon Valley Independent
Frazier first baseman Delaney Warnick stretches to get Mt. Pleasant’s Emma Scanlon on a ground out to third base Friday, May 13, 2022.
As coaches schedule playoff “tune-up” games, they’re looking to put their team in some situations that they’ll face in the playoffs.
Frazier head coach Don Hartman got just that Friday.
The Commodores fell behind early but were able to rally for a 3-2 win over visiting Mt. Pleasant in the “exact type of game” Hartman was looking for to clinch an unbeaten regular season.
“It’s exactly what we were looking for. That’s what I wanted to see,” Hartman said. “We faced some adversity, we made some mistakes that I’m glad we made today and not in a playoff game, and now I know what kind of things we’re going to work on in practice.”
The Commodores (15-0) fell behind early in the first inning as the Vikings’ Katie Hutter led off the game with an inside-the-park home run on a hard line drive to right. Frazier right fielder Maria Felsher made a diving attempt at it, but the ball skipped past her and rolled to the fence.
Abby Swank followed and reached on an error on second baseman Gracen Hartman, and Sophia Smithnosky made it on base with a fielder’s choice.
Two batters later, Krista Brunson delivered an RBI double to right-center to give the Vikings (8-9) a 2-0 lead. It was the first time this season Frazier trailed in a game.
“It was a game full of mistakes, especially in that first inning,” Hartman said. “But we rebounded. We made the routines. Our infield, we have a bunch of girls with really quick hands out there. They got a lot of attempts today. That’s the beauty of playing a team like Mt. Pleasant. Their top five hitters, they’re five of the top hitters in the WPIAL. They’re going to put the ball in play. They’re all fast. They have a lot of lefty hitters. It was a great challenge for us. I’m glad we were able to clean things up.”
Frazier starter Nicole Palmer was hit around pretty good in that first inning, throwing almost 30 pitches. That’s something that hasn’t happened this season.
“I’m glad it did. We talked before the game and I challenged her. I told her, ‘They’re going to hit. You need to hit your spots and you need to stay off the plate.’ She recovered nicely and I thought she pitched a great game,” Hartman said of the sophomore.
Palmer finished with a four-hitter, allowing only one earned run and striking out eight.
The Commodores backed their pitcher up and finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
Tori Washinski, who finished with two hits, led off the inning with a single before Delaney Warnick brought the boom on an 0-2 count right behind her. Warnick send a screaming line drive deep over the right-center field fence to tie things up. It was her fifth homer of the year and gave her a team-leading 30 RBIs.
“The girl has so much power. But I think the difference this year is just her mental maturity,” Hartman said of the junior. “She knows she has great power, but she’s not out there trying to kill the ball like she did at times last year. She knows with the power she has, she just needs to make good contact. I think it’s a testament to her mental maturity and her approach hitting with two strikes. She’s adjusted to the fact that as the clean-up hitter, she’s not going to see fastballs.”
Warnick struck again in the bottom of the sixth, ripping a double deep over the head and off the glove of Brunson in center field. It set the table for a great display of situational hitting for the Commodores.
Grace Vaughn put the ball in play and hit a grounder to shortstop to move Warnick to third. Emi Bednar followed with a ground out to short, this time picking up the RBI and scoring Warnick with what would be the game-winning run.
Mt. Pleasant head coach Chris Brunson knows his team had chances, including in the fifth inning with they were in the same position with a runner on third and one out.
“When we didn’t execute that run, I thought it was going to be pretty hard to hold them a couple more innings without them scoring a run,” Brunson said. “And that’s kind of the advantage of playing at home.
“With the double in the sixth, a fly ball to center field and our kid is running back. If the ball sticks in her glove, that’s a different story, too,” Brunson said. “There were a couple of different things, but I just thought it was a really well-played game. This is why we do this going into the playoffs.”
The Vikings are the No. 8 seed in the Class 3A bracket. They’ll face No. 9 North Catholic on Tuesday. The Commodores, the No. 2 seed in 2A, will face No. 15 Apollo-Ridge Wednesday at Penn-Trafford at 5 p.m.
“Games like this are why Chris and I try to get together once or twice a year,” Hartman said. “We know they’re going to be close, competitive games. We’re good friends and love getting the best out of our teams.”
Tags: Frazier, Mt. Pleasant | 2022-05-14T06:05:51Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Frazier passes stern test from Mt. Pleasant with playoffs around corner | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/frazier-passes-stern-test-from-mt-pleasant-with-playoffs-around-corner/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/frazier-passes-stern-test-from-mt-pleasant-with-playoffs-around-corner/ |
Shady Side Academy overcomes injuries to make WPIAL baseball playoffs
Some baseball teams get bit by the injury bug. For the Shady Side Academy baseball team, it’s more like the injury tarantula.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season without some of their top players who were felled with injuries. This didn’t stop Shady Side from finishing with a 7-3 mark in Section 3-2A, 9-5 overall.
The Bulldogs, however, lost their last two regular season games, 15-0 to Knoch and 10-0 to Apollo-Ridge, respectively.
“We hope a couple of guys can come back to help us in the playoffs,” coach Sean Wilson said.
“I’m happy, though, with the way the team has played throughout the season.”
The top pitcher is junior Bryce Trischler, who has missed time with an injury.
“We have a strong staff of pitchers, and right now Bryce is our ace,” Wilson said. “He gives us a great chance every time he’s on the mound. I’m really happy with his progress this year.”
Juniors Henry Fried and James DelVecchio also have pitched some quality innings. Trischler has a 2.30 earned run average, while DeVecchio checks in at 3.27 and Fried at 3.60.
There’s bad news, however, for sophomore Caden Green, who’s expected to miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated shoulder. Green had come along well with his bat, hitting .370 and leading the team in runs batted in with 16.
The top hitter is senior first baseman Bobby O’Brien, batting .486 at the close of the regular season with eight stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .556.
Wilson also is happy with the progress of sophomore Jonah Sackrowitz.
Said Wilson: “Jonah can play all over the place for us, kind of a utility player, he’s had a good year for us. Sam Luketich has had some good spots for us.”
Expected back for the playoffs is shortstop and team leader Josh Chu, who has battled an elbow injury for about a month.
In section play, Shady Side did compete with Serra Catholic, the top-ranked Class 2A team through much of the season by TribHSSN.
“We split with Apollo-Ridge, and with Serra, we just weren’t able to get that timely hit to pull us through,” Wilson said. “It was tough to come back from an extra-inning loss, but we played them very hard. I think we proved we can play anybody in Class 2. When we’re healthy, we’re tough.”
The Bulldogs went without their on-campus home field this season. The facility is being renovated, and Shady Side played its home games at No Off-Season in West Deer.
The Bulldogs made the playoffs last season, losing to California in the opening round, 4-2, at Hempfield High School. | 2022-05-14T15:32:42Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Shady Side Academy overcomes injuries to make WPIAL baseball playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/shady-side-academy-overcomes-injuries-to-make-wpial-baseball-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/shady-side-academy-overcomes-injuries-to-make-wpial-baseball-playoffs/ |
Steve Sciullo, a 1998 Shaler Area High School graduate and lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX presented the district with a commemorative Golden Football produced by Wilson to mark the district’s membership in the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.
Then-Deer Lakes coach Steve Sciullo works with his varsity team during a 2017 practice at Deer Lakes High School.
Hampton first-year football coach Steve Sciullo likes what he sees from his new view atop the program.
“We’re rolling right now,” he said. “We’re pretty happy with how things are looking.”
With offseason weightlifting and conditioning in high gear and his staff of assistants in place, Sciullo has settled in as the Talbots undergo a coaching change for the first time since 2008.
Sciullo was promoted in February to replace Jacque DeMatteo, who stepped down after 14 seasons, the final one highlighted by an 11-1 record and the Greater Allegheny Conference title.
Sciullo, 41, worked as the Talbots’ offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, and previously served as head coach at Deer Lakes before joining DeMatteo’s staff, so he is well aware of the demands of being in the top chair.
“It’s business as usual, really,” Sciullo said. “I’m still doing a lot of the things I used to help Jacque with. But now I’m doing the things he did. That’s a lot of work. It’s normal. But it is what it is. It’s a little bit different being an assistant than it is as a head coach. It’s a lot more dealing with people on a day-to-day basis.”
Sciullo has met the head coaching challenge before. During his four-year stay at Deer Lakes from 2014-17, he guided the Lancers to the first 4-0 start in school history and only its second-ever WPIAL playoff berth.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Sciullo, who works at Hampton as a safety and security specialist, is around the students all day, allowing him to search for potential football players at the Class 4A-sized school.
“We’re just trying to get more people out to play,” he said. “There are a lot of athletes in our building. We just want to get as many as we can out to play.”
He already has found his seven-man coaching staff. Everyone from last season’s staff is returning, and two new faces — both former Hampton football players — are joining the coaches’ room.
The newcomers are Joe Cangilla, a 2007 Hampton graduate who played wide receiver at Duquesne, and Sam Flowers, a 2011 Hampton graduate who played linebacker at Allegheny.
Cangilla, who was an assistant at Hampton from 2013-17 before leaving to take the head basketball coaching job at Northgate, will coach the wide receivers and will work from the booth Friday nights. Flowers will coach the linebackers.
“I will be running the offense,” Sciullo said, “but (Cangilla) will be the guy I lean on in the booth. He is a humongous addition to us. He’s just one of the most organized people you will ever meet, and I think it’s helped him in his coaching career. … I’m just excited about him helping our kids work.”
Having former Talbots on the staff was important to Sciullo. Last year’s coaching staff didn’t have anyone who played at Hampton. The majority were Shaler products, where DeMatteo coached before arriving at Hampton and where Sciullo played before going to Marshall and eventually the NFL and a spot in Super Bowl XXXIX with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I think it’s great,” Cangilla said of his return to coaching football at his alma mater. “Obviously, Sam and I went through Hampton. We went through the program. There is an expectation that we want to compete and also knowing the work ethic that is involved in playing in a program like this.”
Said Sciullo, “We’ve got two awesome people who want to help out. I’m excited for them to be involved and be in the district and be former players. That’s one of the things I’m most excited about.”
The returning staff members are Ron Budziszewski (offensive line), Scott Breen (QBs), defensive coordinator Ryan Budziszewski (OLB/safeties), Dave Interthal (secondary) and Ron Gooden (defensive line), who is back as a volunteer coach.
They are overseeing an offseason weightlifting program that runs five days a week at the high school as the Talbots look to build on one of their best seasons in program history.
“It’s going very well,” Sciullo said. “We have a decent amount of kids. We have a lot of kids playing spring sports right now, so we are missing some of our top guys. But we have good group of kids coming in there.”
The top returning players for the Talbots are WR/DB Benny Haselrig and QB/DB Joey Mayer, who will both be seniors in the fall, and rising junior RB Brock Borgo.
They will contend as part of a new-look Greater Allegheny Conference, which added Kiski Area and North Catholic while losing Greensburg Salem, Knoch and Plum during the WPIAL offseason realignment.
“We have a tough league coming up,” Sciullo said. “Obviously, with Mars hiring (former Pine-Richland coach) Eric Kasperowicz, it’s going to be competitive. North Catholic, Mars, ourselves. There’s a potential for a good little three-way rivalry developing there. So it’s a fun thing.
“Highlands (Chandler Thimons) and Armstrong (Cadin Olsen) are back with their quarterbacks. Kiski is coming down to 4A. We have a league that’s pretty loaded this year. It will be very competitive, and it will be a fun league to watch on Friday night.”
• Quaker Valley football hires former Riverview coach Jason Cappa | 2022-05-14T15:32:48Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Steve Sciullo settles into top spot at Hampton | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/steve-sciullo-settles-into-top-spot-at-hampton/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/steve-sciullo-settles-into-top-spot-at-hampton/ |
Hampton goalie Kaden Hoolahan plays against Fox Chapel on April 6 at Fridley Field in Hampton.
Hampton defenseman Sean Donlan plays against Fox Chapel on April 6 at Fridley Field in Hampton.
The Hampton boys lacrosse team expected to take some lumps this season as it tried to replace 13 seniors.
“Look at every article, every person who follows Hampton lacrosse,” first-year coach Andy DeMichiei said. “Everyone is talking about how this team doesn’t have it, and it’s going to be a down year.”
But the Talbots are trying to prove everyone wrong. Hampton rebounded from a 1-4 start, which included losses by scores of 19-1, 15-2 and 15-5, to clinch a spot in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs.
Hampton, which brought back only three starters, defeated Freeport, 15-4, on May 9 to secure a top-six finish in Section 2-AA and reach the WPIAL postseason for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
“We are not necessarily the skilled Hampton team that we’ve seen in the past,” DeMichiei said. “I think everyone on our team knows that, and I think everyone in the WPIAL knows that.
“But whenever these guys play with a little bit of grit and a little bit of passion, they can play against anyone in the WPIAL and make it a competitive game.”
After their slow start, the Talbots (5-3 in section, 6-7 overall as of May 9) recorded section victories over Moon, Knoch and Shaler on the way to the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin in the third week in May.
One of the key contributors to the Talbots’ recent success is a player who wasn’t even on the roster to start the season. Freshman defender Ray Kirsopp, who had played lacrosse through eighth grade but planned to sit out this season after competing in football and basketball, was convinced by some of the Talbots players to join their effort. He watched their opener, an 11-8 section win over North Hills, from the sideline and told DeMichiei he wanted to play.
“My friends got me back into it, and I joined the team right then and there,” Kirsopp said. “They asked me to join and I was like, ‘OK.’ I just wanted to be with those guys again. I liked playing the sport with them, especially.”
Kirsopp, who played lacrosse for the past five seasons, quickly became a physical, athletic defender for the youthful Talbots.
“Ray is a great athlete, and he has just been developing at an exponential rate,” DeMichiei said. “He’s a super passionate kid. He’s a tough kid. He’s been playing a lot of minutes for us on defense.
“Whenever I look at a kid like him, that’s what I see the future of the program looking like. A lot of dual-sport athletes. You don’t have to be the best lacrosse player, but if you are playing with that passion and energy and not really afraid to be a little bit physical, that’s kind of what I’m looking for.
“There is a ton of potential with him.”
Hampton wasn’t sure what to expect after losing to rival Mars, 19-1, on April 14 for its fourth straight loss. Only an outstanding effort from junior goalie Kaden Hoolahan prevented the final score from being even more lopsided.
“Believe it or not,” DeMichiei said, “it should have been like 35-1.”
The loss was the final insult to a four-game skid that included a 15-2 loss to Peters Township and a 15-5 loss to Fox Chapel.
But Hampton, a proud program with four WPIAL title-game appearances since 2015, turned the Mars rout into a motivating factor. They followed the disappointing loss with more energetic practices and went 3-1 in their next four section games.
“We took it pretty hard,” Kirsopp said. “Mars is our biggest competitor. We hated losing to them. We just wanted to make the playoffs this year. Losing by that bad angered us.
“We just got our momentum going back. Practice used to be really slow. They have gotten more upbeat, and that really just reflected into our games.”
The Talbots have also received consistent play from senior midfielder Dylan Beranek, junior midfielder Luke Hartle and sophomore defender Gabe Gannelli. The balance of the roster is learning on the fly.
“We’re a young team,” DeMichiei said. “With that inexperience, there is going to be blunders and your record is not going to be where you want it to be. But I think this season is a great learning experience for these guys. … I think this group of guys is going to be a pretty dangerous team next year.” | 2022-05-14T15:32:54Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Youthful Hampton lacrosse team shrugs off slow start | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/youthful-hampton-lacrosse-team-shrugs-off-slow-start/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/youthful-hampton-lacrosse-team-shrugs-off-slow-start/ |
Ligonier Valley pitcher Maddie Griffin delivers during a game against Apollo-Ridge on Monday, April 26, 2021, in Ligonier.
Ligonier Valley ace softball pitcher Maddie Griffin could miss Wednesday’s WPIAL playoff opener, and possibly be out longer, because of an injury to her throwing hand.
The senior right-hander, who tossed a 21-strikeout perfect game earlier this season, was hurt Monday during a game at Apollo-Ridge.
Griffin hit a grounder and was running to first base. On a close play, the first baseman’s glove slammed into Griffin’s hand and bend it backward.
She has not played since.
The fluke incident has Griffin resting and icing the hand as she holds out hope for a comeback.
“She’s on the shelf,” Rams coach Mark Zimmerman said. “We’re taking it day by day. Having a little time (between games) helps. It’s tough, but there’s nothing you can do about injuries. They can happen at any time.”
Said Griffin: “It’s game-to-game on when I will be coming back.”
Ligonier Valley (14-3), the returning PIAA runner-up and the No. 3 seed in this year’s Class 2A tournament, is set to take on Bentworth (4-9) in the first round at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Norwin.
“I feel terrible for Maddie, but we are proud of her for handling it as well as she has,” Ligonier Valley athletic director Joe Skura said. “She was helping coach the ladies from the sideline (last) week.”
Fortunately for the Rams, sophomore Cheyenne Piper has developed her pitching skills.
Griffin (8-2) has pitched a lot less this year, essentially splitting time with Piper (7-1).
The heir apparent to Griffin, Piper also threw a perfect game this year, and she and Griffin have thrown multiple no-hitters.
“That was the plan all along to get Pipe in there,” Zimmerman said. “She has been very good. The thing is, when she pitches, you have to move some girls around to different positions. And if we don’t have Maddie … We’re not a very big team to begin with.”
Griffin has 134 strikeouts and a 0.23 ERA, and she has given up just 15 hits and two earned runs in about 62 innings. She has 14 career no-hitters and five perfect games.
Last year, she finished a dominating run with a 19-3 mark, 316 strikeouts and an 0.39 ERA in 143.1 innings.
Piper has a 1.37 ERA with 81 Ks and two walks in 46 innings. | 2022-05-14T22:21:52Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Ligonier Valley ace Maddie Griffin dealing with hand injury, could miss time in playoffs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ligonier-valley-ace-maddie-griffin-dealing-with-hand-injury-could-miss-time-in-playoffs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/ligonier-valley-ace-maddie-griffin-dealing-with-hand-injury-could-miss-time-in-playoffs/ |
Penn Hills’ Richardson makes all-rookie team
Penn Hills grad Irlynn Richardson competes for the 2022 Lincoln softball team.
Irlynn Richardson wanted to be sharp while she was on the diamond.
The Lincoln (Pa.) University freshman spent more time as a collegian getting to know her opponents.
“I wanted to have a higher IQ,” said Richardson, who is a 2021 Penn Hills graduate. “The girls at this level are smarter on base when they get to this level and are better players. I always want to know how fast each player can throw or what kind of arm each fielder has.”
Developing a knack for details has served Richardson well. Richardson, along with fellow freshman MacKienzee Rasheed, became the first two players in school history selected to the Division II’s Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association All-Rookie team.
Richardson finished with 39 hits, which is a record since the program moved to Division II. She also put up the school’s second-best mark in stolen bases with 23, third-best in run scored with 23 and fifth in batting average with .382.
“It’s fun to look up where the records are at, and I would like to keep moving up the list,” Richardson said. “I would like to break my own records next year. I would like to see everyone break their own records and see improvement.”
None of Richardson’s production shocked first-year coach Renee Clarke. When she was assembling her first recruiting class, Clarke received an e-mail from Richardson expressing her interest to play there.
Richardson wanted to continue playing softball but hadn’t found a landing spot yet.
The Lions provided a good opportunity. Lincoln, which opted out of the 2021 season and played five games in 2020 before the pandemic shut down the season, needed players who could come in and contribute.
Clarke, after meeting Richardson, had high expectations.
“We are in the midst of rebuilding the program,” Clarke said. “We weren’t surprised with how well we played. We expected Irlynn to be a centerpiece of the rebuild. She was able to forge a solid foundation for the future.”
Richardson did not shy away from a coach with high expectations.
“It was nice she thought that,” Richardson said. “It was a new program that was starting fresh and trying to build something. It’s been a lot of fun and a good experience.”
While the team’s record won’t jump off the page, Clarke stressed it wasn’t reflective of Lincoln’s progress. The Lions finished 6-31 overall and 5-11 in CIAA play.
Lincoln’s five wins in CIAA competition tied a school record.
“It is a process,” Clarke said. “If you just looked at our schedule and saw our results, you would draw erroneous conclusions about our program’s performance. If you saw us play, you’d be surprised we finished the season (6-31). We broke the seasons into three sections and tried to focus on building for the future.”
Richardson, who plays shortstop, believes this was a strong step forward for Lincoln’s program. She enjoys the atmosphere of attending an HBCU and believes the Lions have developed a strong chemistry.
“We want to be mentally strong,” Richardson said. “We want to be confident and keep going.” | 2022-05-15T17:19:10Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Penn Hills’ Richardson makes all-rookie team | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-richardson-makes-all-rookie-team/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-richardson-makes-all-rookie-team/ |
Penn Hills softball shows marked improvement in ‘exciting’ season
Things were difficult down the stretch for the Penn Hills softball team, but the Indians still had a strong opportunity in front of them.
If Penn Hills had found a way to beat Plum on May 10 at home, the Indians could have made the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs for the first time in 15 years. However, the Mustangs bounced back from a loss earlier in the season to knock Penn Hills out of contention.
The 6-0 loss didn’t dampen the Indians’ spirit. One year after finishing 2-12 overall and losing all 12 of its section games, Penn Hills had shown tangible process this season.
The Indians wrapped up this season under first-year coach Ashley Banner with a 5-9 overall record and 4-8 mark in Section 1-5A play. Penn Hills wasn’t fazed by the five-game losing streak to close the year.
“(Playing Plum for a spot in the playoffs) was an exciting time for them,” Banner said. “It showed that it was possible for these girls to make the playoffs. It’s also possible for us to have success when we get there.”
The Indians last made the playoffs in 2007. Penn Hills had three seniors — Kiera Mack, Jali Ransom and Aaliyah Heasley. Mack hit .545 with three doubles and three home runs and drove in 11 runs.
“Kiera played all four seasons. That’s exciting for her,” Banner said. “Have success was exciting for three of them. Jali came back and played for the first time since her freshman year. Aaliyah had also missed a year, but that’s not a concern. We want everyone to know there is an opportunity there.”
Penn Hils’ most notable win came in an 18-8 victory April 13 at Plum. The victory halted a 13-year losing streak to the Mustangs. Penn Hills also swept rival Woodland Hills and toppled Indiana in a wild, 11-10 thriller for its other section wins.
Abella Gray led the team with a .553 batting average and also drove in 18 runs. Maura Wade tied Mack for a team-high three home runs. Lauren Sipple hit two home runs, drove in eight runs and batted .371.
Banner said she is looking forward to returning most of her roster for a second season. Penn Hills is hoping this year is the start of building a foundation. | 2022-05-15T17:19:10Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Penn Hills softball shows marked improvement in ‘exciting’ season | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-softball-shows-marked-improvement-in-exciting-season/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-softball-shows-marked-improvement-in-exciting-season/ |
Pine-Richland grad Johnson leads Kent State batters
Kent State Athletics
Kent State’s Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson sticks to the same regimen before every game.
He starts by drinking an energy drink. Then he puts his gloves and cleats on the exact same way every time.
After that he takes four rounds in the batting cage before taking batting practice every day.
Some would call what he does superstitious. He prefers the word routine.
One thing he admits he’s superstitious about, though, is that he doesn’t want to know his statistics.
“Any time somebody looks at my batting average I tell them not to tell me,” Johnson said.
Johnson may want to skip over the next sentence.
He led Kent State in batting average at .352 and had six doubles, one triple, six homers and 30 RBIs entering a four-game weekend series at Western Michigan, which began Friday.
It’s been a breakout campaign for the 2019 Pine-Richland grad. Prior to this season he had only 12 collegiate at-bats.
“I’ve stuck to the process and grinded through the season,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have the greatest start. I struck out a lot during the first couple series, but I kept with it and here we are. I kept believing in myself, and my teammates backed me up the entire way.”
Johnson did not play in Kent State’s abbreviated 2020 season that eventually was cancelled along with all of college baseball because of the pandemic. He mainly was used as a pinch hitter in 2021.
There were no guarantees on a starting spot coming into 2022, but Johnson earned one.
His breakout started with a homer against Bowling Green on April 9. He was 3 for 5 that game with three RBIs. Since then he’s recorded a hit in all but four games with eight multi-hit games.
Johnson drove in eight runs over a four-game set against Miami (Ohio), which included a walk-off single in a 10-9 win April 23.
While he’s been hitting a good clip, Johnson also has cut down significantly on his strikeouts. He struck out nine times over his first six games. Over the next 31 games he only struck out 16 times.
Johnson has a text chain going with former Pine-Richland teammates and best friends Matt Wood (Penn State) and Troy LaNeve (Vanderbilt). The trio grew up playing together and collectively chasing the dream of playing Division I college baseball.
It’s part of a strong support system he says has helped him flourish.
“(Kent State coaches) (Jeff) Duncan and (Barrett) Serrato have always had my back,” Johnson said. “They pushed me in the right direction with my swing and overall attitude towards the game. My teammates, my dad and my coaches have been my biggest supporters. They always push me upward and not down. It’s awesome to have a support system like that. You know they will always be there for you.”
Kent State had nine games remaining in the regular season prior to the series with Western Michigan. The Golden Flashes were seventh in the Mid-American Conference standings and would need to get into the top four to qualify for the MAC postseason tournament. The winner of the MAC Tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Once the season at Kent State ends, Johnson will play summer ball for the Johnstown Mill Rats of the Prospect League. He also played in the Prospect League last season for the Alton (Ill.) River Dragons. | 2022-05-15T17:19:16Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Pine-Richland grad Johnson leads Kent State batters | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-grad-johnson-leads-kent-state-batters/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-grad-johnson-leads-kent-state-batters/ |
Sewickley Academy baseball meets lofty expectations with solid season
Sewickley Academy’s Adin Zorn bumps fists with coach Andrew Petruska during a game last season.
The Sewickley Academy baseball team had a firm foundation to build upon this season.
Junior shortstop Adin Zorn, senior third baseman Sajen Schuchert, sophomore first baseman Jordan Smith and juniors Nick Straka (catcher), Bennett Spencer (infield) and Nick Madison (outfield) were returning starters. Zorn, Schuchert, Smith and Spencer bolstered the pitching staff.
Top newcomers included Hudson Colletti, a junior outfielder, and three freshman outfielders — Laurence Topper, Nolan Donnelly and Andrew Colletti. Donnelly also joined the SA pitching staff.
The Panthers rang up an 8-2 record in Section 3-A, which was won by Eden Christian at 10-0.
“We had expectations for this season,” SA sixth-year coach Andrew Petruska said, “but I still think that we exceeded those expectations. We are getting better every day. Every guy on this team comes to practice getting better for this team and for themselves and that’s what makes this team special. Coach G (Anthony Garofalo) and I see the work they’ve put in, and we are very proud of them.”
The Panthers’ talent was on display throughout the spring months. After suffering a one-run loss in the season opener at Steel Valley, SA won eight of its next nine to move in contention for a section title.
SA won four close games and four blowouts during that span. At the end of April, the Panthers were averaging 8.7 runs per game.
Petruska lauded the efforts of underclassmen Straka, Smith and Madison.
“Nick Straka and Jordan Smith have had bounce-back seasons at the plate,” said Petruska, who is assisted by Garofalo. “They have helped not only with their bats but their leadership as well. Along with those two, Nick Madison has been a great leader for some of the younger guys in the outfield.”
Straka logged a .982 fielding percentage behind the plate and ranked among the team leaders in several offensive categories. He batted .378 with a .521 on-base percentage and .513 slugging percentage. He ranked first on the club in stolen bases with 11, clicked for 14 hits, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored and struck out only twice in a team-leading 48 plate appearances.
“We’ve had a great season so far,” Straka said. “We are a young team, so we have gotten much better with experience. Our strength is our resiliency. We always play our hardest until the last inning, no matter what the score is.
“I’m very happy about my season. To me, it’s important to focus on helping the team and personal success will follow. I’m just very happy with how the team has developed as a whole.”
Straka also is a member of the SA boys golf team and plans to compete in some tournaments this summer. His current unweighted GPA is 3.9.
“I’m taking three AP classes and an honors class. I’m not quite sure what my weighted GPA is,” he said.
Smith hit .553 with a .646 on-base percentage and .578 slugging percentage this season. He led the squad in RBIs with 16 and also accounted for 21 hits, 15 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage at first base.
Much like last year’s playoff season, Zorn, a Penn State recruit, led the team offensively with a .650 batting average, .708 on-base percentage and 1.125 slugging percentage along with 11 doubles, two home runs, 20 runs scored and 26 hits. He also drove in 13 runs and stole eight bases.
“Adin’s knowledge of the game is unreal,” Petruska said. “His IQ, his understanding of the strike zone, everything is just a step above the rest. The kid lives baseball and is always wanting to learn more.
“He is actually a center fielder and that’s where he plays for the Diamond Dawgs, one of the most elite travel baseball programs in Western Pennsylvania. He looks to play center field at Penn State, too.”
Two valuable reserves on the SA squad are sophomore Michael Woo and freshman William Straka, both outfielders.
“Mikey and Will are great assets off the bench,” Petruska said. “Both have come off the bench for us in pinch-hitting roles and designated hitter roles.”
Sewickley approached the playoffs with a “one at a time” attitude.
“We take each game,” Petruska said, “one pitch, one at-bat and one inning at a time and focus on that specific game we are in. We never want to look too far ahead. In the game of baseball, it is so critical to focus on the task at hand.
“We will continue to play as team and win as a team. We can only do so much as individuals, but as a team, the sky is the limit. One player will not win it for us. All 12 players will help lead us to victory.”
Petruska said he had a group of pitchers ready to make a splash in the postseason.
“We have four strong arms that we look to use throughout the playoffs,” he said. “Jordan (Smith) has been the workhorse for us, but Bennett (Spencer), Sajen (Schuchert) and Nolan (Donnelly) are always up for the task when their number is called.”
Straka, as presumed, was looking forward to the start of the WPIAL playoffs.
“I expect us to make a good run,” he said. “We’ll take it one game at a time.” | 2022-05-15T17:19:51Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Sewickley Academy baseball meets lofty expectations with solid season | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/sewickley-academy-baseball-meets-lofty-expectations-with-solid-season/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/sewickley-academy-baseball-meets-lofty-expectations-with-solid-season/ |
Olivia Navari (right) and Plum take a 13-3 record into the WPIAL playoffs.
Heading into this season, the Plum girls lacrosse team already had experienced the WPIAL playoffs three times in its young history.
The first trip came in 2018 in only its second full season in the WPIAL. As the No. 10 seed for the Class 2A playoffs, the Mustangs lost to Quaker Valley, 13-3, in the first round.
A year later, as the No. 12 seed, Plum lost to Mars, 18-6, in the opening round.
The Mustangs moved up to the seventh seed last year, but again they were denied a first playoff victory with a 15-8 loss to Quaker Valley in the first round.
But the Plum players feel an air of optimism this time around.
With 13 wins in 16 regular-season games, a third-place finish (8-2) in Section 1-2A behind Hampton and Indiana and a great deal of momentum with five straight victories, the Mustangs hope the fourth time is the charm.
They will put their skill and optimism to the test Monday at home as the No. 6 seed in the Class 2A first round against No. 11 Seton LaSalle.
“It’s is heartwarming to know that I am going to play one more game on my home field with all the girls I’ve grown up playing with,” senior attacker Olivia Navari said. “It’s a great feeling to know we’ve worked hard to be able to achieve a home-field advantage (for the playoffs) two years in a row.”
Monday’s first-round matchup is set for 8 p.m. at Mustangs Stadium.
“Everyone is really hyped up and ready for this game,” senior goalkeeper Abagail Hayward said. “The first step was winning all of those games to get to this point. That goal was achieved, and now we’re on to the next goal, which is beating Seton LaSalle.”
Hayward, Navari and fellow senior Caroline Hunter were celebrated Thursday at home before an 18-9 victory over Hempfield.
But they knew before they arrived that it wouldn’t be their last home game as the playoff pairings were announced earlier in the day.
If Plum is able to get past Seton LaSalle, it will get another crack at Section 1 champion Hampton in the quarterfinals. The No. 3 Talbots, who received a bye past the first round, handled Plum, 17-6 ,in Allison Park on May 2.
“We can’t look ahead,” Hunter said. “All season, we’ve focused on the game right in front of us. We’d love to play Hampton again, but right now, all we’re focused on is Seton.”
Seton LaSalle (4-10) finished as the sixth-place team from Section 2.
“We’re in a really good place right now, and we’re working really well as a team,” junior attacker Kylie Fischer said. “We’ve built off of each other. We’ve had a lot of good wins, Aquinas (8-7) and Franklin Regional (11-8). I think that we can go far in the playoffs if we play our best.”
Plum went 3-0 this past week as it capped section play with a 15-2 win over Greensburg Central Catholic on Monday and topped Knoch, 10-6, in a nonsection game Wednesday before Thursday’s triumph over Hempfield.
“It was a busy week of games, so there wasn’t much time to get practice in,” Hunter said. “With these games, it was nice to work on everything we need to be ready for the playoffs. … Everyone is excited, especially the freshman and other new players this season who have never played in a playoff game before, to have this opportunity with home-field advantage.”
Plum is averaging 13.2 goals a game.
Against Hempfield, the Mustangs got six goals apiece from Fischer and sophomore attacker Rayla Smith. Junior defender Dannika Susko tallied a pair of goals in the victory, while junior Maddie Bevacqua, sophomore Allie Venanzi, and freshmen Emma Varner and Taylor Knisely each scored once.
Smith reached a milestone in Monday’s win over GCC. She scored five goals in the game, and the first was the 100th of her varsity career.
“Going into it, I just wanted to win the game, and I wasn’t concentrating too much on what I needed to get,” said Smith, who now has 114 career goals after the Hempfield victory.
“I got the goal, and we went onto the next play. I celebrated a little bit after. It’s nice to say that I have that many goals so far, but it’s even better to know that I can do that and help my team win. We’re all super excited for this playoff game.” | 2022-05-15T23:11:48Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Optimistic Plum girls lacrosse team seeks 1st playoff victory | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/optimistic-plum-girls-lacrosse-team-seeks-1st-playoff-victory/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/optimistic-plum-girls-lacrosse-team-seeks-1st-playoff-victory/ |
Knoch pitcher Angelo DeLeonardis throws to first base for an out against Highlands on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at No Offseason Sports complex in Russellton.
Following an 8-2 start to the 2022 baseball season, Knoch hit a rut as April turned to May.
A four-game losing streak killed the Knights’ chances at a Section 1-4A title and saw them slipping toward the middle of the pack in Class 4A.
Winning three of four games last week, though, has lifted the team’s spirits on the eve of this year’s playoffs.
“We played good baseball and gave our starters some time off the field,” Knoch coach Bill Stoops said. “After losing two games to North Catholic, I said to the team, ‘We are going to end the regular season on a winning streak starting with Shady Side Academy,’ knowing the seniors did not want to lose to on their senior night.”
Thanks to senior Angelo DeLeonardis, the Knights were perfect.
The Chatham recruit was 3 for 3 with a double, triple, three runs scored and three RBIs.
DeLeonardis was even better on the mound, retiring all 15 Bulldogs batters he faced for a five-inning perfect game in the Knights’ 14-0 victory.
“What a way to go out,” Stoopes said. “Chatham is getting a great athlete and baseball player to help their program. I know he will succeed in any endeavor he undertakes.”
The next night, Knoch stepped up in class and lost to 6A Butler, 11-1. Despite the loss, DeLeonardis continued his hot streak at the plate with two more hits, a double and his team’s lone RBI.
“Being ready for any challenge,” Stoopes said. “The thing that stuck out the most is the double. There was a bad throw from the outfield, and nobody covered third base, so he took advantage by running to third and sliding to the home plate side of third. At the time, Angelo said, ‘I saw nobody was at third, so I took off.’ That is the type of player he exudes.”
After another hit and walk in two at-bats with two runs scored and two stolen bases on Wednesday in a 10-4 win over Kiski Area, DeLeonardis was ready to shine at the plate and on the mound Thursday.
DeLeonardis was 3 for 4 with two runs scored, plus he threw the final three innings, allowing only two hits and striking out two for another win in Knoch’s 7-4 triumph over Penn Hills.
“He knew that he had to set the team up for success by getting on base, stealing two bases, priming the rest of the team up to win and scoring two runs,” Stoopes said. “When I went out to the mound to take Cody Stull out, I gave Angelo the ball knowing he had what it took to win the game, and he did not disappoint.”
For the season, DeLeonardis is hitting .415 with six doubles, two triples, 17 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
“At the plate, he looks to get on base no matter what it takes,” Stoopes said. “He works on hitting the ball to all fields, and even if we ask him to bunt, he is willing to do that. In addition, he has a good two-strike approach and rarely strikes out.
“On the field, we moved him to second and third to save his arm. He works hard to field ground balls and we even moved him to right field. He can play anywhere. Consequently, at Chatham, I think he is going to catch.”
His numbers on the mound this season have been impressive. He is 4-1 with a 1.45 ERA.
“We used him in relief against Highlands,” Stoops said. “He kept us in the game and after 100 pitches, we had to take him out. The win against Highlands was a big lift for the team. Against Shady Side, we planned to pitch him only two or three innings, but after three, (the coaching staff) said to me, ‘You can’t take him out. Let him finish the game.’ Against Penn Hills, before the game, Angelo said, ‘I am ready to pitch if you need me.’ We needed him to finish the game and he got the win.”
Knoch has drawn the No. 6 seed in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs and will face Uniontown in the first round Wednesday.
“We will have two days of good practice to prepare for Uniontown,” Stoops said. “I have seniors who have been to the playoffs in the past and know what it takes. I have good senior leadership, a good coaching staff and will provide good input. I feel the seniors and team worked hard to get us to where we are today and we will honor the baseball program players during our banquet on Sunday and turn our attention to Uniontown.”
Tags: Knoch | 2022-05-15T23:11:54Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN Baseball Player of the Week for May 15, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-baseball-player-of-the-week-for-may-15-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-baseball-player-of-the-week-for-may-15-2022/ |
Norwin’s Kira Phipps scores behind North Allegheny catcher Sydni Junker Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Norwin Middle School .
Welcome to opening day of the 2022 WPIAL baseball, softball and lacrosse playoffs.
Of course for the diamond sports, it is weather permitting.
Perhaps with an eye on the forecast, the WPIAL did schedule all four games for turf fields, including the lone district baseball preliminary round game.
McKeesport faces Connellsville for the No. 16 seed in the 5A playoffs and the chance to play top seed Peters Township in the first round on Tuesday.
McKeesport is one of three teams in the 5A field with sub-.500 records as the Tigers finished the regular season at 7-9.
McKeesport split with Gateway in the final Section 1-5A series, thus earning the postseason berth along with the No. 15-seed Gators.
The Tigers dropped five of their last six games.
Connellsville ended up 10-10 and finished in fourth place in Section 4-5A.
The Falcons were flying high at the end of the regular season, winning six of their final seven contests.
Both teams have played a game at Latrobe this season. Connellsville stunned the Wildcats, 3-0, in their season opener while McKeesport lost their section road game to the ‘Cats, 8-0.
You can watch or listen to the game only on Trib HSSN.
The new nickname for the ever-shrinking Class 6A could be “Land of 10,000 Byes.”
OK, so the district didn’t give out that many in the 6A softball playoffs; however, in the 10-team field, six received byes into the quarterfinals.
That leaves only two first-round games and they will both take place Monday at West Mifflin.
The four teams that finished tied for fourth place in the two sections will cross over and square off for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds.
In the first game at 3 p.m., Baldwin will face Norwin.
Baldwin finished 4-11 and only won one section game, but the 10-0 victory over Peters Township on May 4 was enough for the Highlanders to get in.
Norwin has a 5-9 record, but two of those victories came in the final week of the regular season as the Knights beat Butler and North Allegheny to force a tie and become the final team to clinch in 6A.
In the second game at 5 p.m., Peters Township will battle North Allegheny.
Peters Township enters the playoffs with a 5-9 overall record, but like Norwin, the Indians won their final two nonsection games of the season.
Despite losing their final four games of the regular season, North Allegheny enters the postseason with a winning record of 10-9.
The only other district softball playoff game Monday is a Class 2A preliminary round game as Fort Cherry takes on Carlynton for the No. 16 seed.
The Rangers and Cougars finished tied for fourth in Section 1-2A with 3-7 section records. Combined, they are 8-19 overall.
The teams played a doubleheader on May 2 and split, with Fort Cherry winning the first game, 8-3, before Carlynton took the second game in a wild one, 12-11.
3A boys, 2A girls lax playoffs
The district lacrosse playoffs begin Monday in Class 3A boys and Class 2A girls.
For the second year in a row, Pine-Richland will face Penn-Trafford in an opening-round playoff match.
Last year, the Rams eliminated the Warriors, 19-9.
That was a No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchup a year ago. This spring, the Rams and Warriors collide in the No. 7 vs. No. 10 contest. The match will take place at Pine-Richland.
Two teams that didn’t make the postseason a year ago meet in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 match as Butler hosts Central Catholic.
The other two first-round matches Monday are Canon-McMillan at Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park hosting Seneca Valley.
In girls 2A, there are two first-round rematches from last year.
South Fayette takes on Aquinas Academy at Plum in the No. 9 vs. No. 8 match while No. 12 Oakland Catholic visits No. 5 Chartiers Valley.
In the 2021 postseason opening round, the Colts cruised past the Eagles, 15-3, while the Crusaders edged the Lions, 13-9.
No. 10 Franklin Regional visits No. 7 Quaker Valley and No. 6 Plum hosts No. 11 Seton LaSalle in the other two 2A opening-round clashes. | 2022-05-15T23:12:12Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 16, 2022: Baseball, softball playoffs begin | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/what-to-watch-for-in-wpial-sports-on-may-16-2022-baseball-softball-playoffs-begin/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/what-to-watch-for-in-wpial-sports-on-may-16-2022-baseball-softball-playoffs-begin/ |
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Leechburg’s Tommy Burke
Leechburg’s Tommy Burke works out with the Blue Devils varsity team during practice April 21.
Submitted by Tommy Burke
Leechburg’s Tommy Burke is a senior on the 2022 baseball team.
Tommy Burke spent his four years in high school balancing numerous activities, including baseball, football, academics and musical theater.
Despite the hefty workload, the Leechburg senior managed to become the school’s valedictorian.
Burke excelled on the gridiron last fall as the Blue Devils’ starting quarterback, throwing for 2,207 yards and helping the team achieve a winning season and reach the playoffs for the first time in 30 years.
This spring, he is playing center field, and he stepped into a role as a starting pitcher.
As a two-way player, he strives for consistency and is hitting his stride this season.
Burke went 3 for 4 and drove in one run in a 15-1 win against St. Joseph on May 2 and followed up with a win on the mound, pitching four innings and striking out five batters with an RBI double in a 16-1 win over St. Joseph the next day.
Although he had early struggles at the plate, Burke put together a nine-game hitting streak. He made adjustments, using a more open stance, and is now hitting .433.
Burke, a Waynesburg football recruit, took a few minutes last week for an A-K Valley senior spotlight Q&A:
What is one thing you have to do before every baseball game?
I put my uniform on the exact same way every time. Even before football games. I’m a very superstitious guy, so I like doing things the same way every time because I like consistency.
When did you realize that you had a hitting streak going, and what was your mindset during your hitting streak?
I started the year off with six strikeouts. I was like 0 for 12 or 13, starting the year off, and I really sat down with my coach and I asked him what I was doing wrong. We made some changes to my batting stance and ever since then I’ve been hitting the ball, putting it in play, using my speed to my advantage and just getting deeper into counts. I really started noticing my hitting streak probably after four or five games. I was like, ‘OK, well, hey, I’m doing some good, I should just keep this going.’
How does it feel to make an impact as a pitcher and a hitter?
I never really pitch because quarterback and pitcher have very different throwing motions. That always messes me up throwing a football and throwing a baseball, but this year it means it was senior night. I said ‘Coach if you need someone to pitch, I can pitch and I can start. I can see what happens.’ And it worked pretty well.
How do you balance school, football and baseball?
I always make school first because, I mean, I’m not the biggest guy. I’m not the fastest guy. I’m not going to go to the NFL or MLB, so school was always first for me because academics are going to take you further than sports.
What does it mean to you to become valedictorian?
It shows other kids that you don’t have to be this stereotype of a person to only be smart or to be just a good athlete. You can be both. You just got to put your heart into it and work hard.
What did it mean for Leechburg to make the football playoffs?
This year, we had a saying that was “TDTM” which stands for “their dream through me,” which meant that for every past season and every person that lived in Leechburg, we wanted to live out their dreams, which is to have a good football program.
Who has pushed you the hardest and has helped you the most throughout your athletic career?
My mom and my dad are always on me with everything. They’ve put a lot on the line and sacrificed a lot of time, money and everything just for me. I’m so thankful for that.
What stood out about Waynesburg?
I’m majoring in pre-medicine, and I want to become a pediatric cardiologist or a surgeon one day, and at Waynesburg, they have a program where if you finish with a 3.5-grade point average or better, you get a guaranteed interview with WVU medical school. I thought that was awesome because it’s already hard enough to get into medical school, let alone get an interview like that.
When did you realize that going into the medical field was for you?
My sister was born with a congenital heart defect and DiGeorge syndrome. At two weeks old, she had to have open-heart surgery, and I promised myself that I want to be a doctor and that I want to help other kids like her. I want to help other people in this world to get better.
Tags: Leechburg | 2022-05-16T19:41:35Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Leechburg’s Tommy Burke | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-senior-spotlight-leechburgs-tommy-burke/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-senior-spotlight-leechburgs-tommy-burke/ |
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Mark Gallagher
Courtesy of Mark Gallagher
Mt. Pleasant’s Mark Gallagher
It can be said that opposites attract.
On the tennis court, that’s certainly true for Mt. Pleasant seniors Mark Gallagher and Ryan Borkowski.
Gallagher and Borkowski were among the top players in Section 1-2A this season, and they teamed up to finish third in the section doubles tournament and earn a berth in the WPIAL championships.
It was the fact that their games were different that made them so successful.
“He’s a lot better at the net. I’m more in the back, and it just ended up being a good doubles (team),” Gallagher said. “(Ryan) always hits the ball back. It doesn’t matter where it is.”
Overall, the Mt. Pleasant team was younger this year, with Gallagher leading the way.
The Vikings went 6-3 overall, falling in the first round of the WPIAL team tournament to Montour, 3-2.
“A lot of people stepped up, and I feel like it was pretty good success,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher is going to Cal (Pa.) and is majoring in psychology, while keeping tennis open as an option.
With his senior season behind him, Gallagher took time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:
How did you get started with tennis?
My math teacher and tennis coach (Matt Gross), he was talking about it in class one day. He told me to come out and try it, and I ended up loving it.
How did the season go for you personally?
I felt like I did a lot better than what I was expecting. I wanted to make sections at least, and I was able to do that. I made WPIALs for doubles, so I was pretty proud of that.
I think my biggest strength in tennis would probably be my forehand. I can hit the ball pretty decently with my forehand.
I would say my backhand. I had a little trouble with it. I ended up getting a little better with it towards the end of the year, so I would say my backhand.
What is your favorite memory from your high school tennis career?
Definitely being able to make WPIALs with Ryan. That was pretty cool.
My favorite food is salt and vinegar wings. The best place to get them is Buffalo Wild Wings. | 2022-05-16T19:41:41Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Mark Gallagher | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-county-senior-spotlight-mt-pleasants-mark-gallagher/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-county-senior-spotlight-mt-pleasants-mark-gallagher/ |
New Highlands football coach Matt Bonislawski
New Highlands football coach Matt Bonislawski coaches for Riverview in 2016.
Matt Bonislawski is a Golden Ram once again.
The former football standout at Highlands who returned to the school as athletic director from 2007-2013 was hired Monday evening as the school district’s new head football coach.
Bonislawski was recommended to the Highlands school board of directors by the athletic department, and the board voted unanimously, 8-0, to bring him aboard.
“I am excited to get started,” said Bonislawski, 38, who hopes to meet with the returning and new players as early as Tuesday afternoon.
“Highlands is a place where I’ve always wanted to be and coach at. The timing just wasn’t right until now. It’s such a special place for me. I know a lot of alumni are excited. I’ve had a lot of people reach out.”
Bonislawski, who played quarterback at UConn, takes over for Dom Girardi, who resigned in late March after five seasons with Highlands football.
Girardi went 21-26 with the Golden Rams and led the team last fall to a 7-4 overall record, a 4-3 third-place mark in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference and a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Girardi cited changes at home and at work that would take more of his time away from his coaching responsibilities.
Several key starters return including Valley News Dispatch all-stars in junior quarterback Chandler Thimons, sophomore leading rusher Luke Bombalski and junior lineman Tyler Bender.
“There is a lot of talent in the program that plays the game hard. They had some really solid games last year,” Bonislawski said. “There are some good kids coming back, but everyone will have an opportunity, whether it’s upperclassmen or underclassmen. I am really not familiar with any particular kid, so it will be good to see some of that competition for playing time with fresh eyes and see how it all plays out.”
Bonislawski’s first and only other head coach position in the WPIAL was at Riverview during the 2016-2017 seasons.
In two years in Oakmont, the man known as “Bones” led the Raiders to a 5-14 record and a wild-card berth to the WPIAL Class A playoffs in 2016.
It was Riverview’s first playoff appearance in nine years.
In 2017, the Raiders finished 2-7 and faced a challenging Eastern Conference schedule that included state champion Jeannette, WPIAL runner-up Imani Christian and WPIAL semifinalist Clairton.
He was let go after the 2017 season. It was a move by Riverview which, Bonislawski said at the time, surprised him.
Before Bonislawski came to Riverview, he served six years as an assistant under former Golden Rams head coach Sam Albert.
“Matt’s track record speaks for itself, both as a player and a coach,” Highlands athletic director Drew Karpen said. “His football knowledge is off the charts. With him being a Highlands grad, he’s going to be able to relate to a lot of his kids. I think that is a huge thing in getting them on the right track. I know they will be itching to get started.
“When we saw him apply, we were pretty excited that he was interested. We had a couple of really good candidates throughout the interview process, but it all came back to him at the end. He is huge on discipline, and that is also something we were looking for. We feel he is going to do a really good job.”
Tasks now in front of Bonislawski, who works for student transportation company ALC Schools based in the South Side, include the finalization of a coaching staff and a game plan for summer work in the weight room and on the field in advance of the 2022 season.
Highlands is scheduled to open the season with a Week Zero home game against University Prep. The Golden Rams shut out Prep, 27-0, in Week Zero last year.
“I know it will be a pretty busy summer,” Bonislawski said. “I was hired in early June at Riverview, and I didn’t get the first workout in until June 23. So, we’re actually a month ahead of that. We’re just looking forward to meeting and getting to know the kids and getting out there with them.” | 2022-05-17T02:44:02Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Former Highlands QB hired to coach Golden Rams football team | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-highlands-qb-hired-to-coach-golden-rams-football-team/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-highlands-qb-hired-to-coach-golden-rams-football-team/ |
Medals are shown at the WPIAL Swimming Championship at Upper St. Clair High School on March 6, 2021.
The role of the WPIAL executive director has changed over the years, with social media bringing more and more issues to the league’s attention, said outgoing director Amy Scheuneman.
As a result, executive directors has become more than a one-person job. Now more than ever, the WPIAL staff and its board deal with a greater volume and wider spectrum of issues, she said, including some that used to be handled in-house by schools.
“I think a lot of that has to do with the availability of social media and knowing what’s going on out there,” said Scheuneman, who oversaw her final monthly WPIAL board meeting Monday.
“Information is so quickly disseminated and issues brought to light,” she said. “A lot of (the issues) in the past may have been handled locally and no one even knew about it. Now, everybody knows about everything because it’s so readily available.”
Scheuneman is resigning June 1 to accept a job elsewhere. Current board president Scott Seltzer was chosen April 25 to replace her as executive director, but the WPIAL board decided Monday to give Seltzer additional help.
The board voted to create a chief operating officer position to oversee postseason tournaments and associated responsibilities, such as finding host sites and finalizing contracts for championship venues, allowing Seltzer more time to focus on board action and policy issues.
Scheuneman, who served two years as executive director, recommended the second-in-charge position be created.
“It helps by giving the other person more responsibility,” she said, “where I was in charge of it all. You’re running all of the tournaments as well as dealing with the board meetings and eligibilities and transfers and the different things that occur on a daily basis, really unrelated to the actual tournaments.”
Vince Sortino, the current assistant to the executive director, will be promoted to chief operating officer June 1. The change in job title will coincide with him taking on a larger administrative role. Sortino also will serve as interim executive director for one month until Seltzer’s tenure begins July 1.
The WPIAL also budgeted money to potentially hire a third administration member, but Scheuneman said it’s undecided how that position will be used.
Scheuneman announced last month she was leaving the WPIAL for a job with P3R, an organizer of races in Western Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh Marathon. After Monday’s board meeting, she reflected on her two years as the league’s top administrator.
“There have only been four of us who’ve been through this to know exactly what it entails,” Scheuneman said.
She joined the WPIAL administration in July 2019 as Tim O’Malley’s eventual successor. She became the league’s first female executive director and the fourth person to hold the position full-time after Charles “Ace” Heberling (1976-97), Larry Hanley (1997-06) and O’Malley (2006-20).
She became the WPIAL’s top administrator during a pandemic, which made the job more challenging.
“It’s hard to describe it until you actually live it,” she said. “I can’t say that it was different (than what I expected). I didn’t know what to expect, really. It’s hard to even tell somebody what it’s like. It’s a lot to manage.”
The executive director often is a lightning rod for criticism, especially when it comes to cases of transfers, eligibility and recruiting. Scheuneman’s time was no exception.
“We’re all in it for the students,” she said. “It’s hard at times to make decisions that do negatively affect them. That’s hard to do, but you have to follow the rules, so it’s a double-edged sword.”
Scheuneman time in charge will be remembered for the initiatives she championed including those focused on sportsmanship, diversity and inclusiveness. She was the driving force behind the WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council, which has guided the board during a time of heightened focus on racial equity.
“Using community and athletics to benefit society — just seeing the bigger picture of it — is certainly something that I focused on,” said Scheuneman, who also organized a league-wide food drive. “Some of those outside-the-bylaws-type things are important to me and important, I feel, to the league in general.”
• Coach says Franklin Regional’s Caden Smith ‘will open some eyes’ as Pitt walk-on | 2022-05-17T02:44:45Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | WPIAL hires chief operating officer to ease workload of executive director | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-hires-chief-operating-officer-to-ease-workload-of-executive-director/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-hires-chief-operating-officer-to-ease-workload-of-executive-director/ |
Trib HSSN Softball Team of the Week for May 16, 2022
After a 5-1 start to the season, including three games at the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the Waynesburg softball team lost three of its next five games.
However, the Raiders finished strong, winning their final five games of the regular season and ending up tied for second place in Section 2-3A.
“We were fortunate to have two five-game winning streaks,” Waynesburg coach Jim Armstrong said. “We played well in Pigeon Forge. Our pitching was good and our bats came alive. We were able to maintain momentum and win the next three.
“Then we started our end run and the bats and pitching came alive as we won the (final) five games. I have to give a lot of credit to our pitcher Kendall Lemley. She’s been a workhorse all season.”
The junior Lemley was on her game Monday as host Waynesburg shut out California, 10-0.
“The California game started out slow for us, but again Kendall stepped up and held them down and our bats came alive,” Armstrong said.
The final game of the regular season was set for Wednesday and provided a great test for the upcoming 3A playoffs as the Raiders hosted Class 2A No. 4 Chartiers-Houston.
“The game with Chartiers-Houston was a good challenge for the team,” Armstrong said. “They are a good team and are well coached. They went up 2-0 and we tied it. They went up 3-2 and as my girls have done all season, they didn’t give up and fought back and scored four runs to win.”
The 6-3 triumph improved Waynesburg to 12-4 for the season, the exact same record the Raiders finished with in the 2021 regular season.
Waynesburg was the No. 3 seed and received a first-round bye last spring. However, the Raiders were stunned by Ellwood City in the quarterfinals, 7-4.
“After that lost lass year, we were upset,” Armstrong said. “We had a great season and then went to the playoffs and had one of those games you can’t explain. We’ve waited until this year to erase that memory.”
Armstrong doesn’t have any players carrying a particularly heavy load on offense and believes that team mindset with everybody contributing is what has led to the program’s success the last two years.
“As far as standout performers, my lineup has been working top to bottom most of the season,” he said. “When one player was off, another player would pick up the slack. My girls made a lot of difference in our games by making most of the outs productive outs by moving players and bringing home runs.”
This year, the Raiders are the No. 6 seed in the 13-team Class 3A playoff field. They will face South Park in a first-round contest Tuesday in a preview of a section matchup starting next year.
“I’m very excited about heading to the playoffs this year,” Armstrong said. “We have been playing good and I just hope it continues. It’s kind of weird that we would get South Park to play, since next year, they are in our section.”
• Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week for May 16, 2022 | 2022-05-17T08:40:02Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN Softball Team of the Week for May 16, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-team-of-the-week-for-may-16-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-team-of-the-week-for-may-16-2022/ |
North Allegheny’s Wren Kucler passes the baton to sister Robin Kucler in the girls 3,200-meter relay during the WPIAL Class 3A team track and field championships Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at West Mifflin High School.
North Allegheny’s Wren Kucler (left), Robin Kucler (right) and Maura Miecko place 1-2-3 in the girls 1,600-meter run during the WPIAL Class 3A team track and field championships Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at West Mifflin High School.
North Allegheny’s Robin Kucler and South Fayette’s Lily Colombo finish second and third, respectively, as they pass South Fayette’s Emily Sinton at the finish of the girls 800-meter during the WPIAL Class 3A team track and field championships Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at West Mifflin High School.
North Allegheny’s Wern Kucler wins the girls 800 during the WPIAL Class 3A team track and field championships Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at West Mifflin High School.
As an 8-year-old, Wren Kucler told her mom she wanted to run around the house 100 times. That’s a lot of running for a little girl, but her mom Deanna saw no reason to discourage her, so she said, “Go ahead. Knock yourself out.”
She ran all 100.
Next she asked to run a 5K with her dad Rob, who thought that was a little too long for a 9-year-old. So, he suggested they run around a nearby lake, with one lap measuring about two miles.
“We get all the way around the lake and she asks, ‘Do you want to go around again?’” said her dad. “I was like, ‘No.’”
So, father and daughter signed up for the 5K.
“On the day of the race, we’re about halfway through and I’m clearly holding her back,” Rob Kucler said. “I said, do you want to go ahead to the end? And she said, sure.”
They quickly found a local track club near their home in Maryland, and within a year or two twin sister Robin Kucler started running with her.
Now high school freshmen, the sisters are both standouts as newcomers on North Allegheny’s track team this school year. They led the NA girls to a WPIAL team title last week and this week they’ll compete to win individual medals.
They’re two of the top distance runners in the WPIAL, but their life story has already covered thousands of miles. They’re originally from just about as far from Western Pennsylvania as geographically possible.
The sisters were born in Jiangxi, China, a province in the southeast area of the country, and adopted by Deanna and Rob Kucler at 11 months old.
“It’s interesting where we came from and where we are today,” Robin Kucler said. “We’re very thankful to be here with this great team, and thankful to be in a family that supports us.”
Their parents chronicled the adoption process, their trip to China and the joyous journey home in an online diary.
When they first met their new daughters in January 2008, Wren was named Yu Chan and Robin was Yu Juan. Those monikers are now their middle names, one of many steps Rob and Deanna have taken to keep the girls connected to their Chinese roots.
The family also celebrates Chinese holidays, and the girls have attended Chinese school, a once-a-week class for them to learn about their native language and culture. They made a return trip to China when the girls were 6 or 7, meeting with the care workers and foster families who nurtured them as babies.
“With any adoption, there’s some measure of trauma no matter how young children are,” Deanna Kucler said. “A lot of people talk about adoption as a beautiful thing, and it is. We’re so happy to have made our family that way. But it always starts with a sad story.
“If the world were perfect, they would have been with their birth family. It starts in an imperfect way and become a perfect thing.”
The two girls stand out on the track for their speed but also their size. Each stands less than 5-feet tall.
“A lot of people are way taller than us,” Wren Kucler said.
Other runners might underestimate them at times. If so, they’ve surely learned their lesson by now.
Wren Kucler enters Wednesday’s WPIAL individual championship with the best Class 3A time in the girls 1,600 meters (4:58.88) and the second best in the 3,200 (10:53.30).
Robin Kucler is seeded 11th in both events.
“They bring a lot of natural talent, but they also do all of the right things,” NA coach John Neff said. “They do the workout perfectly well every time. Whatever you ask, they do. They get to bed on time. They limit their stress. They manage their time with their school work. They eat right. They hydrate. Every little thing that you know gives you 1%, they take advantage of.”
Before becoming runners, both sisters were into figure skating. Wren Kucler noted that they each like to cook and both play the flute. They both hope to someday run in college.
“We do a lot of stuff together,” Robin Kucler said. “We’re always together.”
Rob and Deanna Kucler had been married for five or six years when they first decided to pursue adoption. They searched both domestically and internationally, and learned that China was a good option for a number of families.
Deanna Kucler had spent her junior high years living in Taiwan, giving her a familiarity with that part of the world.
So, they filled out the paperwork, starting the clock on a nearly three-year adoption process. One paperwork question asked: Would they be willing to accept twins? They were told that was unlikely, but they said sure, they’d take twins.
In November 2007, the Kuclers received a FedEx packet from the adoption agency. Rob was out of town, so Deanna opened the envelope.
“I said, I just don’t understand why they’ve sent me duplicate paperwork,” she said. “It’s written in mandarin and translated. I’m going back and forth and then I realize. It was a happy surprise.
“All of a sudden, you have two kids.”
Their arrival at North Allegheny also was a pleasant surprise.
Rob Kucler is from Ohio, and Deanna has roots in West Virginia. Early in their relationship, they had spent nearly a decade living in Western Pennsylvania and returned to the area just last summer. In between, work took the family to Ontario, Canada, and then Maryland.
They added two children to the family while in Canada: Violet, who is in eighth grade, and Greyson, who’s in fourth.
“Everybody works from home now,” Rob Kucler said. “So we decided, if we get to choose anywhere we want to live, we kept the same job and moved back to Pittsburgh.”
The sisters ran cross country in the fall and were instrumental in North Allegheny winning the team title. Wren finished third, Robin was sixth, but by then their coach wasn’t too surprised.
Neff, who coaches both cross country and track, was first introduced to them last July. At offseason cross country workouts, the runners are divided into groups based on how fast they expect to run.
“We say, whoever can run 7-minute pace, step up,” Neff said. “Whoever’s going to run a 7:15 pace, step up. They stepped right up in there. I said, either they’re really good or I didn’t communicate well.
“They are really good.”
• Freeport’s Skiba joins group of contenders for WPIAL discus title | 2022-05-18T13:43:27Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Life journey of North Allegheny runners Wren and Robin Kucler covers thousands of miles | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/life-journey-of-north-allegheny-runners-wren-and-robin-kucler-covers-thousands-of-miles/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/life-journey-of-north-allegheny-runners-wren-and-robin-kucler-covers-thousands-of-miles/ |
Springdale pitcher Alexis Hrivnak (32) and her battery mate, catcher Bri Thompson, are greeted by coach Anthony Pototo as they come off the field after the bottom of the fifth during a win over Leechburg, 4-3, on April 25, 2022, at Gilpin Leechburg Park.
The Springdale softball team’s 3-1 victory over rival Leechburg on May 11 gave it an outright section title for the first time since the 1998 team went 14-0 in section play and made the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs.
Now, this year’s Dynamos hopes to make a run of its own as it turns the page to the playoffs.
“After that first win of the season, it was all about keeping the momentum going,” senior third baseman Emily Wilhelm said.
“We knew what we needed to do to keep the energy up, come to practice and stay focused for those two hours. That’s what it is for us going into the playoffs. It’s about keeping that momentum going. The win over Leechburg last week really fueled us even more for the playoffs. It was a really close game, like we expected, and it was like a game we could see in the playoffs.”
Springdale, like most teams that received a first-round bye into the quarterfinals, will have not played for more than a week when it arrives at its matchup Thursday with the Rams (13-4).
“We’ve been working on everything, honestly,” said Wilhelm said of preparation the past week.
“Mostly, we’ve been working on our attitudes, just keeping our heads and keeping focused if we make a mistake, because they’re bound to happen.”
Springdale knew that no matter which team it would face in the quarterfinals, the familiarity would be there, from playing Northgate in section play this year to taking on South Side in last year’s quarterfinals.
“We definitely should’ve beaten them last year,” Springdale senior pitcher Alexis Hrivnak said.
“We lost with two bunts, which should not have happened by any means.”
“The potential and the mindset is in place,” Hrivnak said.
“South Side is a very good team with a lot of talented players. I played with Madi Fischer on my Passion (club) team. But we know what we can do, too. We’re all very excited but also very anxious to play this game.”
• A-K Valley WPIAL playoff baseball/softball capsules: Games for Wednesday, May 18, 2022
• Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules: Games for Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | 2022-05-18T21:10:53Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | After another long layoff, Springdale softball ‘all about keeping the momentum going’ | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/after-another-long-layoff-springdale-softball-all-about-keeping-the-momentum-going/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/after-another-long-layoff-springdale-softball-all-about-keeping-the-momentum-going/ |
Deer Lake’s Carson McCoy wins the boys Class 2A 800 meters during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Burrell’s Isabella Leger bring home third place in the girls Class 2A 3,200 relay during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy wins the boys Class 2A 1,600 during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Carson McCoy runs past Riverside’s Alden Wetzel on the anchor leg of the 1,600 relay won by Deer Lakes in 3:28.08 at the WPIAL track championships Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The other members of the relay team are Nathan Buechel, Aidan Herman and Fletcher Hammond.
The Riverview boys 3,200-meter relay of, from left, Ty Laughlin, Chris Barnes, Parker Steele and Amberson Bauer, competed at the WPIAL championship meet May 18, 2022, at Slippery Rock University.
Apollo-Ridge’s Greg Klingensmith competes in the Class 2A discus at the WPIAL championship meet May 18, 2022, at Slippery Rock University.
Carson McCoy won state gold last year in the 1,600-meter run, and now he can display that hardware with a pair of WPIAL individual gold medals.
The Deer Lakes senior entered Wednesday’s WPIAL Class 2A track and field championships at Slippery Rock University seeded first in the boys 1,600 and 800 runs, and he bested the field in both.
He first ran to the top spot in the 1,600 with a time of 4 minutes, 23.18 seconds and followed that with the best 800 time, 1:56.34.
“I feel I ran fast enough to get in the fast heats at states,” said McCoy, who will return to Shippensburg University for the PIAA championships May 27-28.
McCoy was second in the 1,600 at WPIALs last year, and foot issues limited him in the 800.
“It’s a great feeling to now have a couple of WPIAL gold medals, especially since I had my first state gold before I ever won a WPIAL championship,” McCoy said.
McCoy and his 1,600 relay teammates — Nathan Buechel, Aidan Herman and Fletcher Hammond — capped the meet with a bang with a WPIAL title in a school-record time of 3:28.08.
McCoy, the anchor, took the baton in second place and passed Riverside’s Alden Wetzel on the final lap.
Rain and cool temperatures prevailed for most of Wednesday’s events where individuals and teams were gunning for automatic trips to states — top five in Class 2A and top four for Class 3A — and also top-eight medals.
Those who finished fifth through eighth in Class 3A and sixth through eighth in Class 2A also qualified for states if their times, heights or distances met the PIAA’s qualifying standards.
Right on McCoy’s heels in the 800 was Riverview junior Amberson Bauer, who bumped up from the No. 3 seed to place second overall in a time of 1:58.84. Bauer set the school record in the event at the Mars Invitational.
“I had run the 4-by-800 earlier, so I was a little tired, but overall, I felt good,” Bauer said. “I trusted in my training, and I knew I was ready for a good race.”
Bauer and Raiders seniors Ty Laughlin and Parker Steele were a part of last year’s boys 3,200 relay that set a school record and brought home WPIAL gold.
Freshman Chris Barnes came on board, replacing the graduated Mason Ochs.
The quartet made a strong run at another title. In the end, the group settled for second overall in a time of 8:19.79. The time was almost 20 seconds faster than their sixth-place seed time of 8:39.69.
Greg Klingensmith hoped to break his school record in the Class 2A boys discus, but the Apollo-Ridge senior said he was content with his finish.
The William & Mary football commit threw 4 feet under his record of 156 feet, 9 inches from WPIALs last year and his season best of 156-2, but he was able to hold his seed place, bringing home a silver medal with a top distance of 152-4.
“I like to be realistic, and second place was my goal,” said Klingensmith, who finished second to defending champion Will Patton, a senior from Shenango who blew away the field with a top throw of 171-2.
“Patton is a premiere athlete. It will be tough to beat him at states. I wanted to get a little further, but we had rain, and the pit was a little slippery. But I think I did very well.”
Klingensmith hopes for redemption at states, where he placed 16th last year (135-7).
The Burrell girls 3,200 relay of juniors Kadi Bauer and Brynn Leiner, sophomore Grace Nesko and senior Isabella Leger, seeded fifth coming in, bumped up two spots to third overall in a time of 10:02.41.
The quartet automatically qualified for states and set a school record.
“We came in seeded fifth, and I knew that we could at least pull something,” Leger said. “The school record was always in the back of our minds. We actually did that today, so it’s super exciting.”
Riverview junior John Patsey qualified for states for the first time with a third-place finish of 41.99 in the boys 300 hurdles.
The Burrell boys 3,200 relay of Damian Barr, Billy Kowalkowski, Luke Guerrini, and Ethan Croushore was seeded fifth, and that’s where it finished as it earned an automatic qualifying place in a time of 8:31.54.
The finals time was six seconds better than its seed time of 8:37.92.
Apollo-Ridge senior Gavin McCall will head to states in the Class 2A boys triple jump with a fifth-place leap of 41-1½.
Burrell senior Kayden Ireland will do the same in the boys 200 after taking fifth in a time of 23.41.
The Riverview 1,600 relay of Bauer, Patsey, Micah Black and Jack Betler made a charge from the first heat and 13th seed to place fifth and qualify for states in a time of 3:34.78.
Isaac Wetzel is PIAA championships bound for the first time in his career.
The Freeport junior reached his goal of states with a third-place finish in the 300 hurdles (41.01).
“I raced alright,” he said. “The weather was kind of iffy, kind of cold. My time was a little slower than normal. Other than that, I felt pretty good for the race I ran. I am excited for states and the opportunity to better my PR (40.65) and maybe even get a top-eight place. I’ve been aiming for a sub-40 this year.”
Earlier in the meet, Wetzel just missed qualifying for states in the 110 hurdles. He took fifth in a time of 15.76, just two one-hundredths of a second from fourth and an automatic berth.
Kiski Area sophomore Eliza Miller will compete at Shippensburg individually after qualifying in the 1,600.
She earned an eighth-place medal in the 1,600 with a time of 5:06.40.
“It is a really awesome feeling considering how crazy fast all the times were this year,” Miller said.
Miller said she knew her time was faster than the qualifying standard as she glanced over to the clock as she crossed the finish line, but she didn’t immediately know if she had the needed place finish, eighth or better.
“One of the other girls, Meredith Price (Pine-Richland), said that we all got top eight, so then I was sure I had qualified,” Miller said.
Price finished seventh with a time of 5:04.99.
Miller came back in the 800 run and placed fifth. Her time of 2:20.49 was five one-hundredths of a second from fourth place and a second PIAA berth. | 2022-05-19T03:05:32Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy adds WPIAL gold to his medal collection | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-carson-mccoy-adds-wpial-gold-to-his-medal-collection/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/deer-lakes-carson-mccoy-adds-wpial-gold-to-his-medal-collection/ |
Hempfield’s Elizabeth Tapper wins the girls Class 3A discus during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Norwin’s Cody Scherle wins the boys Class 3A javelin during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Corinn Brewer takes fourth in the girls high jump during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Norwin’s Aaron Schmook takes second in the boys Class 3A javelin during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Southmoreland’s Alexis Jacobs takes second in the girls Class 2A shot put during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Hempfield’s Elizabeth Tapper takes second in the girls Class 3A pole vault during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s James Brewer wins the boys Class 2A 300-meter hurdles during the WPIAL Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Slippery Rock University.
They might not be able to compete against each other in events, but that does stop Hempfield throwers Liz Tapper and Peyton Murray from battling at practice.
The top WPIAL Class 3A discus throwers brought home gold medals at the WPIAL track and vield championships Wednesday at Slippery Rock University.
Tapper’s best throw was 147 feet, 7 inches, and Murray’s best was 162-6.
Both qualify for the PIAA championships May 27-28 at Shippensburg University.
“We push each other all the time,” Murray said. “We’re always trying to get better.”
Tapper also won the shot put was a throw of 45-10½ and placed second in the pole vault, clearing 11-6.
She said the weather didn’t bother her as much as running back and forth between events.
“I’m very pleased,” Tapper said. “No personal records, but I came here waiting to qualify in all three events and I did that.
“There have been a couple meets where we’re trying to figure out a couple things like today, I was a little off. So we’ll go back to practice Thursday and clean it up for states.”
Murray’s season started with a hip injury that kept him sidelined. Now he’s starting to find his form.
“This is a dream come true,” Murray said. “I’m feeling really good, and I’m excited about the states and happy about today.”
The Hempfield girls 3,200-meter relay of Cydney Blahovec, Lily Murphy, Julia Snider and Alicia Weimer placed third with a season-best time of 9 minutes, 37.51 seconds, and sophomore Grace Iwig earned a trip with a fourth-place finish in the pole vault.
Ligonier Valley senior Miles Higgins won his second consecutive Class 2A javelin title with a throw of 182-4. Teammate James Pleskovich, a junior, also qualified for states by finishing fifth with a throw of 150-1.
“I’m pleased with my performance considering the weather,” Higgins said “Now I get a chance to win a state title.”
The meet was run in cool, rainy conditions which was great for the runners but made things slick for the field events.
Joining the javelin duo in Shippensburg is Chris Saversky in the pole vault. He placed fifth, clearing 12 feet.
Seniors Cody Scherle and Aaron Schmook took the top two spots in the Class 3A javelin.
Scherle’s winning throw was 174-4, and Schmook, the top seed, had a throw of 167-1.
It was the second consecutive season the Schmook was seeded No. 1 in the event. Last year, he failed to qualify.
It was quite a day for the Greensburg Central Catholic track team.
The Centurions had two individual champions, James and Corinn Brewer, and the 400 relay took first.
James Brewer, a sophomore, won the 300 hurdles. His older sister Corinn, a senior, won the pole vault and placed second in the 300 hurdles, third in the 100 hurdles and fourth in the high jump.
“Winning gives me more confidence after not performing to standards in my other two events,” James Brewer said. “I think I just wanted to win more than the others.”
Corinn Brewer had a busy day bouncing from event to event. She’s happy but wants more at Shippensburg.
“I was hoping to win the 300 hurdles,” Corinn Brewer said. “At least my brother did, that was awesome. I know I have more to give. I haven’t practiced a lot because of my shins. I’ll do more this week to prepare for states.”
The relay team consisted of Eva Denis, Sara Felder, Sasha Hoffman and Ella Zambruno.
Joe Blahovec earned a trip to the state championship by placing fourth in the 200. Denis, a freshman, placed second in the 100 and third in the long jump, and Lizzie Dlugos finished fourth in the shot put.
Southmoreland junior Olivia Cernuto overcame a slow start to win the Class 2A triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 4¾ inches. She placed seventh in the long jump but did not meet the qualifying standards.
“It wasn’t my best day jumping,” Cernuto said. “I had some issues, but I hit a good jump at the end of the first round and it pulled me ahead. Winning this is awesome, a great achievement, but I’m not done yet, I have states.”
Joining Cernuto at the state meet are senior Alexis Jacobs, who was second in the shot put with a throw of 39-1½, senior J.J. Bloom, who placed third in the 200, and senior Isaac Trout, who placed third in the long jump and triple jump.
Here’s a list of other athletes from Westmoreland County to qualify for PIAAs.
• Greensburg Salem: Dwight Sarver took third in Class 3A shot put.
• Latrobe: Brennan Campbell placed second in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles.
• Penn-Trafford: Nathan Schlessinger placed fourth in the discus, and Kate Schall placed third in the 400, setting a school record with a time of 58.75.
• Norwin: Bernadette Zukina finished second in the 400 for the second consecutive season, and the 1,600 relay team of Zukina, Bella Brozeski, Alexandra Walton and Layla Robertson placed second. Ashley Laukus tied for second in the high jump.
• Yough: Nick Gunther placed third in the discus and javelin.
• Derry: Jane Huss placed fifth in the 3,200.
• Mt. Pleasant: Rylin Bugosh, a freshman, placed fifth in the 200.
• Belle Vernon: Gianna Anderson was fourth in the triple jump. | 2022-05-19T03:06:03Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Westmoreland throwers shine at WPIAL track championships | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-throwers-shine-at-wpial-track-championships/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/westmoreland-throwers-shine-at-wpial-track-championships/ |
North Catholic’s Trevor Paschall wins the boys 100-meter dash during WPIAL Class 2A track and field championship Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Slippery Rock University.
North Catholic’s Trevor Paschall is usually sprinting around the WPIAL track championships faster than most anybody, but Wednesday he accepted help from a teammate just to walk.
The senior sprinted 100 meters in 10.87 seconds to defend his WPIAL Class 2A title, but he grabbed at his right hamstring after feeling pain. Paschall was the defending WPIAL champion in the 100, 200 and 400, and the state champion in the 200.
Now, he’s worried his season is over.
“The start was great. I felt strong out of the blocks,” Paschall said. “Coming down the last 50 meters, I felt strong. Hamstring was a little tight but I wasn’t too worried about it. I was just happy, feeling I’ve got this race in the bag.
“I pulled up a little bit, felt a pop and just went down.”
Paschall took a seat atop the podium when medals were awarded. He said he didn’t know if the injury was a pull or a strain, so his next step will be a trip to the doctor.
The PIAA championships are May 27-28.
A year ago, he won the 200 meters in Shippensburg and placed second in the 400. So, his injury might remove one of the state’s leading contenders from the meet.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to run at states,” he said. “So as of right now, I think that’s how my season ended. That’s not how I wanted to go out.”
The North Carolina recruit entered the WPIAL meet as the favorite in all three sprints. His teammate Luke Mager won the 200 meters, and Riverside’s Alden Wetzel won the 400.
“I got a gold medal,” Paschall said, still wearing his 100-meter medal. “At the end of the day, I know what I’m capable of, even though I don’t get to defend the rest of my titles.”
The weather was rainy and cool with temperatures in the 50s, but Paschall didn’t blame his injury on the elements. He pointed out that he ran in the rain and won the 100 meters at the Baldwin Invitational a few weeks ago.
“I’m used to it,” he said. “We’ve had a kind of rough season with the cold and the rain. I don’t think it was the weather.”
North Catholic also was the defending WPIAL champion in the 400-meter relay but still qualified for states without Paschall in his familiar anchor role.
“My boys still got fifth place,” he said. “I would have hoped the outcome would have been a little different with me on that team, but they looked good and I’m proud of them.”
Paschall’s immediate plans were simple.
“Rest and recover,” he said. “If I’m feeling good, I’ll run the 100 at states. If not, if it’s a roadblock, I know where I’m ending up next season. I’ll focus on getting better and getting healthy.”
As the WPIAL meet moved along, both teammates and competitors stopped to offer Paschall their well wishes.
“It’s really awesome to know all of these people are supporting me, saying they’re praying for me,” he said. “It makes me feel really good.”
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???? Nijhay Burt, @SteelValleySD (11.30)
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— WPIAL (@wpial7) May 18, 2022 | 2022-05-19T05:36:03Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | North Catholic sprinter Trevor Paschall’s season in question after WPIAL championship injury | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-catholic-sprinter-trevor-paschalls-season-in-question-after-wpial-championship-injury/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-catholic-sprinter-trevor-paschalls-season-in-question-after-wpial-championship-injury/ |
Bethel Park baseball, softball teams strive to reach programs’ high standards
Bethel Park pitcher Evan Holewinski delivers during a 2021 WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal against Shaler.
The Bethel Park baseball team had a tough act to follow.
The Black Hawks entered 2022 season as the reigning PIAA Class 5A champions who also finished as the WPIAL runners-up.
Bethel Park won the Section 4-5A title with a 10-0 record in 2021 and racked up a 22-4 overall record.
However, many of the players on last year’s club returned in 2022.
Bethel Park secured a WPIAL playoff berth by going 8-2 in the section, good for second place behind Peters Township (9-1), and 14-3 in the regular season.
The Black Hawks strung together two seven-game winning streaks this season.
“My expectations of this team at the beginning of the season were for this group to continue to follow the blueprint of our successful team from last year,” coach Pat Zehnder said. “Practicing and playing the right way, supporting each other through the thick and thin of a baseball game and season and high quality of work put in every day to match the high-quality goals we have set in place.
“We are fortunate to have a lot of guys back from last year’s team, and they did a great job showing the way with their work ethic, attitude and leadership. I am so proud and fortunate to work with a group like this that enjoys practicing and playing together.”
The Black Hawks’ regular starting lineup this spring involved the following 11 players: Ben Hudson (LF), David Kessler (SS), Cody Geddes (3B), Ray Altmeyer (DH/OF), John Chalus (C), Bo Conrad (2B), Dylan Schmude (CF), Evan Holewinski (P/1B), Nathan Vargo (P/1B), Jason Nuttridge (RF) and Ryan Petras (INF/OF).
Hudson, Kessler, Geddes, Conrad and Schmude are seniors; Altmeyer, Chalus, Holewinski, Vargo and Nuttridge are juniors. Petras is a top freshman.
Geddes and Kessler provided an outstanding one-two punch offensively this season. Geddes hit .415 batting average with a .475 on-base percentage. He accounted for a team-leading 22 hits in 53 at-bats with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, 15 RBIs, 18 runs and a .792 slugging percentage.
Kessler batted .333 with a .438 on-base percentage. In 64 plate appearances, he had 18 hits, was issued 10 walks and struck out only once. He led the team in doubles (7), triples (2), home runs (5), RBIs (21), runs (19) stolen bases (9) and slugging percentage (.815).
Other .300 hitters on the team were Conrad (.383), Schmude (.367), Altmeyer (.347), Chalus (.346) and Hudson (.319).
“Coby Goelz and Lucas Lybarger also provided big hits off the bench,” Zehnder said.
The pitching staff was led by Holewinski, who posted a 6-0 record and 1.09 ERA. He allowed only five earned runs and 16 hits in 32 innings and fanned 32 batters.
Holewinski, who hit .524 in 21 at-bats, was complemented on the mound by Vargo, freshman Ryan Walsh, juniors Sebastian Schein, Nick Gasper and Evan Lejeune, senior Will Sokira and Geddes.
“I am proud of the hard work, togetherness, toughness and talent this group showed during the regular season,” Zehnder said. “We were all aware that we had a target on our back and would get everyone’s best shot.
“The guys earned their 14-3 record with a high level of work ethic in practice and high level of competitiveness and tenacity during games.”
Sophomores spark softball squad
Bethel Park opened the 2022 softball season as the defending WPIAL Class 6A champion, but the Black Hawks lost eight talented seniors to graduation, making this year’s team a work in progress from day one.
Bethel Park wrapped up the regular season with a 9-8 record and in second place in Section 1-6A with a 6-2 record.
“I feel as though we have developed throughout the season,” veteran coach Heather Semplice-Scott said. “As the year went on, we grew as team. We learned to work together and stay positive and confident with each other. We have learned you have to be ready from the first pitch to the last out. Playing a strong nonsection schedule really helped us prepare for the playoffs.”
Nonsection opponents (and their final regular-season record) included Shaler (15-3), Penn-Trafford (15-2), North Allegheny (10-9), Chartiers-Houston (15-3), Hampton (7-7), West Mifflin (11-9), Seton LaSalle (12-4), Thomas Jefferson (10-7) and Armstrong (16-4). All were playoff qualifiers.
“Our expectation at the beginning of the season was to prepare the players to be competitive throughout the season,” Semplice-Scott said. “We knew we had a lot of work knowing we had a very young team.
“Our seniors are true leaders as they have taken the underclassmen under their wings and have taught them what it takes to be a successful Hawk.”
The Black Hawks’ starting lineup has included sophomore Becky Gillenberger (1B), senior Delaney Sierka (2B), sophomore Julia Miller (SS), sophomores Nicollette Antonucci (3B) and Lupe McElvenny (3B), and senior Sandra Soltes (C), a Pitt recruit.
The outfield is manned by senior Ali Sniegocki, senior Abby Quickel and freshman Savana Knauff. Taylor Striegel has been the team’s designated player the second half of the season.
A pair of sophomores, Mackenzie Wade and Belinda Bova, have shared time in the pitcher’s circle.
Five players on last year’s team are continuing their careers at the next level. They are shortstop Reagan Milliken (Ohio State), first baseman Gina Sciullo (Georgetown), center fielder Lauren Caye (Seton Hall), pitcher Delaney Nagy (UConn) and INF/DP Emily Momchilovich (Chatham). | 2022-05-21T21:18:10Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Bethel Park baseball, softball teams strive to reach programs’ high standards | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-baseball-softball-teams-strive-to-reach-programs-high-standards/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-baseball-softball-teams-strive-to-reach-programs-high-standards/ |
Bethel Park senior makes impact during inaugural Western Pa. girls high school hockey season
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Southwest’s Cameran Evans, a Bethel Park senior, celebrates a goal during a game against Southeast on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Ice Castle in Castle Shannon.
Southwest’s Cameran Evans, a Bethel Park senior, carries the puck during a game against Central on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at RMU Island Sports Center.
Bethel Park’s Cameran Evans is making the most of her chances in the inaugural season of the PIHL girls division.
Evans, a senior forward, was the leading scorer for the Southwest team in games played through mid-May with seven goals and three assists.
“Cam is a very skilled hockey player,” Southwest coach Alli Paratore said. “Her main strengths are her speed and stick skills. She’s the type of player who makes hockey look easy.”
Evans is one of four Bethel Park students on the Southwest squad, along with sophomore forward Lidia Lorenzi and sophomore defenders Nina Romary and Samantha Kern.
“I think it’s a great boost for girls hockey in Pittsburgh, a growing community for sure. It’s definitely a great opportunity for girls,” Evans said. “High school hockey isn’t the safest game for girls, especially with the guys being so much taller and stronger. This is a nice way to give us our own season.
“It’s nice to meet new girls from other schools and even my own school. I’ve played on an all-girls team the last six years, so nothing new here for me.”
There are 16 girls on the Southwest team — three seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen.
“I have high expectations for Southwest this season,” Evans said, “especially with us growing as a team the last few games. Every game, we’ve become better than the last. Expectations are high for the playoffs.
“There are beatable teams that we’ve fallen just short to, but I think we’ll be ready to go when the puck drops next time.”
Evans started skating when she was about 3 or 4, then competed with the Little Penguins.
“My dad (Jason) coached the RMU men’s club the first several years of my life, then shifted over to women’s hockey at Chatham University and that was a huge impact on my decision to play,” Evans said. “Always being at the rink and having continuous games to watch, I fell in love.
“I’ve always seen the game on a different level. After my first Pens game at six days old, it was just in my blood. I played four years on the all-girls team at Steel City Selects and then made my move to the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite last season. This season, I am packing my bags and heading to Florida to play for the Florida Alliance 19U Tier 1 team. I’m extremely excited.”
Evans plans to attend a four-year college to play NCAA ice hockey.
“I am looking forward to it,” she said.
Team Southwest is made up of players from Bethel Park, Brooke, Canon-McMillan, Carrick, Chartiers Valley, John Marshall, Morgantown, Mt. Lebanon and Wheeling Park high schools.
Other Southwest team members this year include sophomore defender Madelin Bank, freshman defender Athena Renton, junior forward Kelcie Stack and freshman forward Alina Donahue from Mt. Lebanon, and Abby Daffner, a freshman, and Chloe Downey, a junior, from Chartiers Valley.
Renton netted the game-winning goal in overtime May 10 to lift the Southwest team to a 4-3 win over the Southeast. Renton scored her second goal in league play at the 1:49 mark in OT.
Morgantown’s Robin Anderson, a junior forward, Wheeling Park’s Alexa Carney, a sophomore forward, Brooke’s Kirsten Lallone, a sophomore goaltender, John Marshall’s Gretchen Rine, a senior defender, Carrick’s Alexandra Chappell, a freshman forward, and Canon-McMillan’s Svetlana Yarosh, a senior forward, round out the squad.
More than 100 players signed up to participate in the inaugural season of the PIHL girls division, which has the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation as a financial backer. Along with the Southwest, there are five other teams: Central, East, North, Southeast and West.
“Girls hockey has definitely been in the spotlight recently. I think the PIHL getting more involved has been great,” Paratore, 30, said. “A majority of these girls have never been given the opportunity to represent their school within their sport, and it means a lot to them. I’ve noticed this is huge for these girls, especially within the Pittsburgh area.
“This inaugural season is (being held) to get more girls involved. The league is supposed to be a chance for all girls to share a common space where they don’t have to prove themselves to play the game we all love.”
The history-making PIHL season was supposed to start in 2020; however, those plans were put on hold in the early days of the pandemic.
Games are held at Alpha Ice in Harmar, Ice Castle in Castle Shannon and the RMU Ice Complex on Neville Island.
As of May 16, the Southwest was tied for fourth place with the East with a 2-4 record. The top three in the standings were the West (6-0), Central (5-2) and North (3-2-0-1).
Paratore, who is assisted by Nick Battista, Mike Dale and Caitlin Dee, believes high school coaches should be role models for the players.
“I like to believe my coaching staff and myself are a bit different when it comes to coaching,” Paratore said. “I like to say we aren’t your average coaches. We’ve always been about developing our players, being competitive, yet still having fun. But we aren’t going to run the girls through a practice and then not talk until the next practice or game. We want to be the coaches that we wanted when we were their age, role models who these girls can look up to.
“Coach Caitlin and myself can definitely relate as we were once in their shoes. There’s more to the game than just the on-ice portion. Respect is my No. 1 rule for all the teams I coach, the way my girls carry themselves both on and off the ice. We hope these girls remember they are the pioneers of the PIHL girls division. They are playing for more than just themselves within this league.”
Paratore has an extensive hockey background. She grew up in Johnstown and played co-ed hockey for the Warriors for five years.
“After being hit from behind in a middle school game, I transitioned to only playing on all-girls teams throughout the Pittsburgh area,” she said.
Paratore eventually developed into a two-time All-American while playing for the ACHA D2 club team at Cal (Pa.).
“I’ve coached different developmental clinics on and off since college, but have really found my niche with the South Hills Panthers girls program,” Paratore said. “I’ve been involved with SHAHA since 2018, helping with numerous programs and teams.
“As a female coach, I still get the stares and sometimes have to prove I deserve to be there. Girls, however, are a different breed. They have more finesse to their game. I always say, girls are people pleasers. In girls hockey, you can’t hit; it’s still very physical, but it’s all about angling.”
More High School Hockey
• Sewickley-area players thrilled to compete in PIHL girls league
• Hampton sophomore skates to national hockey championship
• High school roundup for April 18, 2022: TJ’s Joyce scores winning goal in inaugural PIHL girls game
• Delayed 2 years by pandemic, PIHL adds girls division for high school hockey
• PIHL’s top players fill the nets during 2022 all-star games | 2022-05-21T21:18:16Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Bethel Park senior makes impact during inaugural Western Pa. girls high school hockey season | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-senior-makes-impact-during-inaugural-western-pa-girls-high-school-hockey-season/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-senior-makes-impact-during-inaugural-western-pa-girls-high-school-hockey-season/ |
Hampton’s Matt DeMatteo breaks up a pass intended for Greensburg Salem’s Donavin Waller last season.
Memorial Day weekend should be a memorable one for Matt DeMatteo.
And a very eventful one.
The Hampton senior will compete in the PIAA Class 3A track and field championships May 27-28 at Shippensburg University before heading to Harrisburg to play for Team Pennsylvania in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star football game May 30.
“That will be a busy weekend,” DeMatteo said.
DeMatteo is the first Hampton player in 24 years — and only the third overall — to be selected for the Big 33 Game, which will pit the Pennsylvania All-Stars against the Maryland All-Stars at 2 p.m. at Bishop McDevitt.
He joins linemen Matt Schmitt (1998) and Scott Hart (1987) as Big 33 alumni from Hampton.
“I think it’s a huge deal, and it means a lot to me,” DeMatteo said. “I’m proud to represent Hampton. I think it’s cool.”
DeMatteo started at quarterback, defensive back, kicker and punter last fall for the 11-1 Greater Allegheny champion Talbots. He was selected for the Big 33 as a punter, but unlike the position players who did not have to try out for the game, the Hampton three-sport athlete earned his spot on the roster following a December audition in Lancaster for specialists. The tryout was for kickers and punters for the Big 33 and the PSFCA East-West All-Star games.
DeMatteo, who has never attended a kicking camp and is “more or less self-taught,” outperformed about a dozen other athletes who “were just strictly kickers and that’s all they do all-year round.”
The odds seemed to be against DeMatteo, an all-section guard in basketball who will attend Duquesne on a track scholarship.
“None of the people knew who Matt was, because he didn’t go to Kohl’s kicking camp,” Hampton football coach Steve Sciullo said of the national kicking organization. “He didn’t do all these extra things. … He went there and outkicked and outpunted them all and earned a spot. I think that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.”
DeMatteo gained his Big 33 roster spot after winning the punting competition with the longest boot of the day.
“I think it was 62 yards,” he said.
He also gave one of the top kicking performances at the tryout, but the roster spot went to Navy-bound Nathan Kirkwood of Greencastle-Antrim.
During the field-goal tryout, the kickers attempted field goals in 5-yard increments. If they missed two kicks, they were eliminated. DeMatteo said he was one of four kickers who made a 50-yarder.
“We all had one miss up to this point,” DeMatteo said. “So then they moved it back to, I think it was 55 yards, and I just missed it a little bit right. The rest of the kids also missed it. So they just ended it there because we all had two misses.”
The Big 33 isn’t the only offseason all-star game for DeMatteo. He scored eight points for the West All-Stars in a 101-96 loss to the East in the AK Cager Classic on April 2 at Highlands. The 5-foot-11 guard also was selected for the Roundball Classic on May 21 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, but he opted out because of his busy May schedule.
He will be the second member of his family to take part in the Big 33 game. His father, Jacque, who stepped down as Hampton coach this past winter after 14 seasons, was part of the Pennsylvania coaching staff in the 2019 Big 33 game.
“It means a lot to me,” Matt DeMatteo said. “I always wanted to play in it. It ended up working out.”
DeMatteo, who will wear uniform No. 2, might do more than just punt. He got some reps at wide receiver during the Big 33 practices on April 9-10 at snowy State College, going up against Cincinnati-bound defensive back Patrick Body of Gateway.
“I’m hoping to see a couple snaps,” DeMatteo said. “The coach called and said he watched film and said he liked my athleticism and my ability to catch.”
Before putting on his helmet and shoulder pads, DeMatteo will compete in the 300 hurdles at the PIAA Class 3A track and field championships. He placed second at the WPIAL championships May 18 at Slippery Rock.
“The work has paid off for Matt,” Sciullo said. “He’s having a great run, and it’s a testament to how hard he works.”
Big game Talbots
Here are the Hampton football players who have participated in the Big 33 All-Star game
Matt DeMatteo P 2022
Matt Schmitt OL/DL 1998
Scott Hart OL/DL 1987
• WPIAL hires chief operating officer to ease workload of executive director | 2022-05-21T21:18:22Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Busy Matt DeMatteo ready to represent Hampton in Big 33 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/busy-matt-dematteo-ready-to-represent-hampton-in-big-33/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/busy-matt-dematteo-ready-to-represent-hampton-in-big-33/ |
Catcher Bella Henzler ends Hampton career with flourish
Hampton catcher Bella Henzler fields the ball at home plate during a 2021 playoff game.
The Hampton softball team will return almost everyone from this year’s WPIAL Class 5A playoff qualifier, but one loss is going to sting.
Senior catcher Bella Henzler played her final high school game in the Talbots’ 11-5 loss to top-seeded Armstrong on May 17 at Mars in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs.
“She’s going to really be missed,” coach Ron Fedell said. “Aside from softball, she is such an outstanding kid. She is a great individual.”
Henzler, a James Madison recruit and three-time all-section selection, hit .610 in the regular season with 11 RBIs and 20 runs from the leadoff spot, while playing superb defense and skillfully handling the pitching staff.
Henzler was also the unquestioned leader of the youthful Talbots (7-8), who made a fourth consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance for the first time in program history.
“I did have a very good year,” Henzler said. “We dealt with a lot. Overall, we are a fairly young team and had a lot of learning to do. We made a lot of progress as a team. It was just a fun year.”
The season ended with the first-round loss to Armstrong. Hampton, the No. 16 seed in a 16-team bracket, led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, but sloppy defensive play led to six Armstrong runs and a 7-3 deficit.
“When you are a 16 seed trying to beat a No. 1 seed, you almost can’t make any mistakes,” Fedell said. “The girls gave it everything they had, and I thought we played a good game. But that one inning, we made our mistakes and we couldn’t come back from them.”
Said Henzler, “Everyone makes errors. Everyone screws up. We win as a team. We lose as a team. Being able to pick each other up as a team is something that we struggled with a little bit at the beginning of the year, but that is something that continually got better throughout the season.”
Henzler will play this summer for the New Jersey-based Stars National 18U team. She will compete in tournaments in New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Oklahoma and California before leaving for James Madison in late August.
“She is one of the few kids that has impacted the way I coach,” said Fedell, who will return next spring for his 24th season. “I’m a little bit mellower as a coach because she would take over a lot of the leadership and things that needed to be said, so I didn’t have to be quite as, we’ll say, forceful with the team because she was always there to give them maybe the kick in the rear end that they needed.”
The Talbots also graduate senior second baseman Shannon Shaughnessy, but they will return a large core of players who made progress during an up-and-down 2022 season.
Among the returnees are junior third baseman Addy Maguire, who hit .405 with 17 RBI and 20 runs, and sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Reese, who hit .390 with a team-high six home runs.
Henzler, Maguire and Reese were named all-Section 3-5A in voting by coaches.
Errors haunted the Talbots for much of the season, prompting Fedell to move his starting pitcher, sophomore Charlotte Lomb, to shortstop in the final week of the regular season and put freshman Cassie Vidic on the mound. Vidic relieved in a 9-8 come-from-behind win over Moon and beat Freeport, 4-2, in the regular-season finale before starting the WPIAL playoff game against Armstrong.
“It wasn’t a real hard decision because (Cassie) was pitching great, and Charlotte is a top-notch shortstop,” Fedell said of the decision to start Vidic in the playoff game. “We felt our best defense was with Charlotte at short and Cassie pitching.”
Whoever pitches next season — Fedell expects to use both in a “tandem-type thing” — will be working with a new catcher. Henzler’s leadership void may be the most difficult to fill.
“Next year, I’m hoping some of these guys take a big step forward,” Fedell said. “We are going to need some more leaders on this team.” | 2022-05-21T21:18:28Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Catcher Bella Henzler ends Hampton career with flourish | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/catcher-bella-henzler-ends-hampton-career-with-flourish/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/catcher-bella-henzler-ends-hampton-career-with-flourish/ |
North Allegheny volleyball standouts savor time in elite program
North Allegheny’s Will Hahn (4), Ryan Treser (3), Caleb Schall (2) and Jake Koch (10) stand for the national anthem before a match this season.
The North Allegheny boys volleyball team is taking on Central Dauphin for the 2021 PIAA championship. The team’s adrenaline is rushing and the players are about to cement their legacy as champions. With the team about to clinch the victory, coach Dan Shall calls a timeout.
“We were up 24-16 and our coach, my dad, called a timeout,” said Caleb Schall, who is a senior volleyball player for the Tigers. “It was super special just because we got to spend the last moment of that season in the huddle just together and really looking back at all we did, all the accomplishments we had, and then to go back out on the court and to win a state championship was so special.”
It’s not often a volleyball team wins 75 straight matches, but that’s what North Allegheny did over the span of five years. Caleb Schall credits the team’s success to its chemistry.
“We had lots of practice and getting to know each other on and off the court,” Caleb Schall said. “We became really good friends just from playing together and I think that’s what really helped us play well together. Just days in the gym, even over the summer and in the winter when the season isn’t going on, we were just always practicing, always playing together.”
Schall made a tremendous impact on the team for the past four seasons. In his senior year, he led the team in assists with 477 and is also third on the team in digs with 110.
“I credit that to having good teammates to work with and just always practicing on my game, whether we’re in season or not,” Schall said. “It’s super cool to be able to contribute to this team just because we have so much depth. I do my best every day to help the team and always I can.”
Schall’s father, coach Dan Schall, is a Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer. Coach Schall was inducted in 2015 after leading the team to eight WPIAL championships in nine seasons. Last year’s WPIAL championship win was his 15th as head coach.
Caleb Schall is grateful that he is able to play under his father and continue the Schall legacy at North Allegheny. Schall acknowledges that he and his father have a similar mindset in volleyball.
“It’s just super cool that I get to spend my high school volleyball career with him as a coach and just to be able to talk to him about certain things about our team, our matchups and everything,” Schall said. “We share the same mind, which makes it easier to play for him. He just knows the game really well, and I think that translates to my game as well.”
Senior Ryan Treser also is grateful for his time at North Allegheny. Treser was glad that he could play with his brother Trevor during his freshman season.
“Getting to finally play at the same level as him was crazy to think about,” Treser said. “Growing up, I looked up to him and was always trying to be as good as him. Finally getting to be on the court with him was a very exciting experience for me.”
Treser was called up to varsity during his freshman season and witnessed the team pull away and win the WPIAL championship in 2019.
In his senior season, Treser led the team in digs with 346 and was second in aces with 41. Treser said his best dig and his defining moment was digging Seneca Valley’s Michael Devlin in last year’s WPIAL finals.
“It feels great to be able to play at a high level. It is a really cool experience playing for such a great program,” Treser said. “I feel like there is nothing else I can do but play my best in trying to be as good as players before me.”
The team continues to perform at a high level and was position to claim its third straight PIAA title and fourth consecutive WPIAL championship.
Treser and the team did not find success overnight. He and his teammates have been playing together for years now.
“My teammates have had a huge impact on me. I’ve been playing with most of them since seventh grade. We played school ball and club every year since then, and I think being together for so long got us closer and closer,” Treser said. “After spending so much time in the gym and hotels with each other, we’ve bonded and gained so much chemistry over the years.”
Treser also attributes the team’s success to the coaches.
“The North Allegheny coaching staff is the best I have ever had,” Treser said. “This is not invalidating the other teams I have played for. They are just that good. The way the coaches treat the players is as if they are their own kids. They truly care about each individual, and it is a great feeling and honor to play for them.”
The Tigers dominated their competition throughout the 75-match win streak. The run finally came to an end with a loss to Seneca Valley this season, but even though the team was upset after the loss, the Tigers couldn’t wait to get back out there and continue to get better.
Seventy-five straight wins is a streak that might be unbeatable, and the team’s bond is unbreakable.
“I would describe my time at NA as amazing,” Treser said. “I don’t really think there are other words to describe it.” | 2022-05-21T21:19:17Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | North Allegheny volleyball standouts savor time in elite program | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-allegheny-volleyball-standouts-savor-time-in-elite-program/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-allegheny-volleyball-standouts-savor-time-in-elite-program/ |
North Hills pitcher Sophia Roncone picks up bat, becomes doubly dangerous
North Hills’ Sophia Roncone threw a complete game against Armstrong as North Hills won the 2021 WPIAL Class 5A softball championship.
Sophia Roncone has been one of the most electric pitchers in WPIAL Class 5A softball for the last couple of years. This season, however, she gave opponents two reasons to worry about her.
Roncone went 10-2 in the circle during the regular season with 116 strikeouts and 48 walks. The Indians finished 15-3 and 8-2 in Section 3-5A, taking a share of the section title and earning the No. 4 seed in the WPIAL postseason.
“I’m not as happy as I was last year,” she said, reminiscing on North Hills’ run to the WPIAL title. “But I felt like I got stronger, game by game.”
She also picked up the bat, something she had not done much of at the high school level. The results? Roncone hit .343 in 33 at-bats and launched three home runs. This after getting no at-bats a year ago.
“She decided that she was going to be a home run hitter this year,” Indians coach Libby Gaisor joked. “She’s been doing a great job back there and it’s been a nice addition.”
“I kind of realized that I’m not going to hit next year at school, and (Gaisor) is letting me hit so I wanted to make the most of it and not really stress, just have fun,” Roncone added.
The senior is committed to play at Holy Cross and made the decision in November shortly after taking a visit to Worcester (Mass.) college.
“I just fell in love with the campus and the athletic facilities,” she said. “It was really the type of school that I had envisioned for a while. Everything just fell into place there.”
Holy Cross is under a new coach in Kimberly Stiles, a Pitt grad who informed Roncone that she will have the opportunity to contribute right away.
“That’s pretty exciting,” Roncone said.
Roncone has been playing softball for as long as she can remember and has known for some time that she wanted to play the sport collegiately.
“I’ve always dreamed of doing that,” she said. “It was cool to finally make that happen this fall.”
While the hitting and pitching numbers have been impressive, getting on the field was a challenge in 2022. Roncone was sidelined during the early stages of the season while fighting a virus.
“That was tough, plus with all of the weather cancellations, it was hard to get in a rhythm with playing,” she said. “Now that it got hotter, we’ve been playing more consistently.”
Away from the diamond, Roncone is active in charitable work at North Hills, including the Hands for Service Club, which raises money for Make-A-Wish and Children’s Hospital.
“We do a dance marathon where we have all the kids from the school come and raise money,” she said. “This year we were able to raise $18,000 for them through that.”
On the field, however, Roncone has been a multifaceted, stable force for the Indians. Beyond her hitting and pitching, she also takes pride in becoming a leader.
“Sophia is one of the more talented kids who has ever come through here,” Gaisor said. “But she’s far and away the most humble and hardworking. She’s a pleasure to coach.
“She has an even temperament and leads by example. The girls look up to her because you know you can count on Sophia.”
Gaisor has watched Roncone grow as a player and person, and Roncone has embraced the opportunity to set the bar for her teammates.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve tried to make the most of a situation,” she said. “If I wasn’t the starter, every time I got the opportunity, I’d try to go play as hard as I can.
“Now that I’m a starter, I’m still trying to go out there and play as hard as I can and be a role model for all the other people trying to earn a spot on the team.” | 2022-05-21T21:19:23Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | North Hills pitcher Sophia Roncone picks up bat, becomes doubly dangerous | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-hills-pitcher-sophia-roncone-picks-up-bat-becomes-doubly-dangerous/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/north-hills-pitcher-sophia-roncone-picks-up-bat-becomes-doubly-dangerous/ |
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Sydney Selker, Apollo-Ridge’s Greg Klingensmith
Submitted by Sydney Selker
Freeport’s Sydney Selker is a member of the 2022 softball team.
Submitted by Greg Klingensmith
Apollo-Ridge’s Greg Klingensmith is a member of the 2022 track and field team.
Sydney Selker
School: Freeport
Report card: Selker threw a complete game, allowing one run on five hits against Central Valley in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Wednesday. Selker batted .483 and hit seven home runs while driving in 27 runs during the regular season.
I have to put my hair in my bow. If I don’t have my bow, I freak out. I also have to warm up in a specific way.
What went into you going the distance in your playoff game against Central Valley?
It was definitely hard with the rain, but throughout the whole thing, I knew that we wanted that game bad and I knew that pitching was going to be needed for that game, so I just pushed through the rain. I had to switch out balls frequently, but I stayed positive throughout the entire game.
How did it feel to be able to win that playoff game?
It was amazing because Freeport softball hasn’t won a playoff game in a few years, so being the team that broke that record was super exciting. We all wanted to win that first game so we could face Beaver second round, and it happened, so we’re all super stoked about it.
You had an amazing year with the bat. What went into your preparation?
It was definitely hard coming back from an injury. I was off all winter long not being able to hit or anything, so hitting was definitely something I had a focus on when I came back. I was like, “I want my stats to be better than last year,” so I pushed myself each and every practice to get better.
What was your most memorable home run this year?
The one against Karns City was the most memorable because my sister and I both hit a home run. We’ve always wanted to do it, and it’s her senior year, so whenever we both hit it together, it was magical.
How was it like playing with your sister in softball?
I absolutely love it. She’s my best friend. Playing with her is just something not a lot of people can experience, so I’m super lucky to have gotten to play with my sister.
How much do your teammates mean to you?
My teammates are my sisters. We’re with each other every day for about two and a half hours. I love each and everyone to death. We play super well together, and I always have their back.
Who would you say has pushed you the hardest in softball?
My parents have definitely pushed me hard, but I would say all of my coaches. They know that I’m capable of anything, and they know that if they keep pushing me.
How much do your parents and your family mean to you?
I don’t know how I would live without my family. They are my all-time supporters. They’ve always supported me in everything I’ve done.
How much has travel softball with the Outlaws helped for high school softball?
It definitely helped a lot because we really only get two weeks off, and that’s in August, but we go all year round. We work hard in the fall. We work hard in the winter, and those reps in the wintertime really helped me for the spring.
We’re gonna put forth all of our efforts out to the field. We’re going to work super hard as a team and see what the outcome is. For me, personally, I’m hoping to get Division I offers by next fall. I know it’s kind of pushing it, but I’m going to work super hard for that goal.
What do you want to do after high school?
I want to major in kinesiology. My dream is to become a physical therapist for an athletic team, so like a professional team. I want to be a physical therapist.
Greg Klingensmith
Report card: Klingensmith finished second in the discus (152 feet, 4 inches) at the WPIAL Class 2A championships Wednesday. He broke his own school record. A William & Mary commit for football, Klingensmith is a two-time first-team all-conference selection and was the conference’s defensive lineman of the year.
How did it feel to be able to break the discus record?
It felt like a huge honor. The record there was standing for a very long time, since like the ’70s, so breaking it was a huge honor.
What was your experience like at the WPIAL championships?
I had a blast. The weather wasn’t the best, but I can’t really complain. I didn’t throw as well as I did last year, but I still got second place, which was my goal.
How did it feel to be able to get your first football playoff win as a high schooler?
It was so much fun. That will be a memory for the rest of my life, but I knew the team we had last year was going to go far and we did. I loved all those guys in the class of ‘21.
What was your defining moment in sports?
Whenever I broke the school record, I think that was a big moment. I think that really secured my self-confidence, and that was before I had any offers for football. Also winning that first playoff game at home was just such a surreal moment in my eyes and that had the same impact as breaking the score.
How much have your teammates meant to you?
I don’t know where I’d be without my teammates. The Class of 2021, they’re the best. They were amazing. In football and basketball, the class had every position covered. Baseball was also really good, but from the outside looking in, you might think that those guys were super cocky and self-righteous, but they weren’t. They’re always super nice and super fun. And they had a lot of knowledge, which was beneficial to me and my class, learning from them.
How was it stepping into a leadership-type role for the team?
With the underclassmen, I’ve always wanted to just try to give them the knowledge that I have before I leave.
Who has pushed you the most throughout your entire athletic career?
My mom and dad, they’ve always pushed me to be the best, but other than family, definitely coach (John) Skiba, my football coach. Since I started playing football in my seventh-grade year, he’s always pulled me aside because he saw the potential that I had, and he really pushed me to be the best.
They’re super supportive. I will be a first-generation college student, and that’s unbelievable for them. They always say they’re like, ‘I never thought we’d had kids and this would be happening.’ And now my sister and I are both going to college. My dad was a huge influence on me when I was younger, and my mom was just so proud of me. I am so blessed to have the parents that I do and to back me up no matter what my decisions were.
Why did you choose William & Mary?
I did some research and found out this second-oldest university in the country, and I’m a big history nerd. So that was always cool. I saw some pictures of the campus, and I was it’s such a beautiful place. On my game day visit, I got to see them playing on the field, which is the nicest field I’ve ever seen just in terms of aesthetics and the quality of it. I just got there, and I met the coaching staff, you’re not really supposed to judge your decision off of that, but that was a big influence. I just liked the team and how they handled themselves.
What will your major be?
I’m going to go for business, but I’m still undecided.
Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Freeport | 2022-05-22T04:35:44Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | A-K Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Sydney Selker, Apollo-Ridge’s Greg Klingensmith | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-athletes-of-the-week-freeports-sydney-selker-apollo-ridges-greg-klingensmith/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-athletes-of-the-week-freeports-sydney-selker-apollo-ridges-greg-klingensmith/ |
The AK Valley Hall of Fame Class of 2022 comprises: front, left to right :Doug Kriston (for Rich Kriston), Harry Crytzer, Lizzie Suwala Sheaffer and Dianne Haney; back, left to right: Bob White, Terry Preece, Robert Foster, Frank Phelps, and Jeff Cortileso.
Bob White was a three-year football standout at Freeport who went on to star at Penn State and captain the 1986 Nittany Lions to the national championship.
Through his on-field successes, he said he always understood there were so many people who helped guide him.
“When I find myself in these rare moments and positions like the one I’m in tonight, in the natural, I am standing up here alone,” said White, one of 10 greats celebrated as part of the Class of 2021 at the 51st Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame banquet Saturday evening at the Quality Inn in New Kensington.
“But spiritually speaking, this is more than just about me. As I think about receiving the call about being inducted into this hall of fame tonight and thinking about this award, it goes beyond all the wins and losses and all the ups and downs of competing. Even as I find myself here around the room and talking to various people, I am greatly reminded that this has been about relationships.”
Relationships, those with family members, teachers, coaches, teammates and other mentors, was a common theme that permeated through the thoughts and memories of each inductee in this year’s class.
Sharing the dais with White were fellow inductees Chris Como, Jeff Cortileso, Harry Crytzer, Robert Foster, Dianne Henry, Frank Phelps, Rich Kriston (posthumously), Terry Preece and Lizzie Suwala Sheaffer.
The group had its genesis in December 2019 when the Class of 2020 was announced for enshrinement.
Covid forced hall of fame officials to cancel the past two induction ceremonies, but the event returned this year, much to the excitement of many, including hall of fame chairman Larry Lutz.
“We’re so ecstatic to be able to host this wonderful event again,” Lutz said. “We have 10 terrific inductees this year, and we are looking to continue it for many years to come.”
This year’s group brings the total number of those enshrined to 390 since the first class in 1970.
For Phelps, a track and field head coach or assistant at Burrell for 42 years, he remembered the many athletes he coached and who have made his passion for coaching so fulfilling.
“When (the hall of fame) honors me, it is also honoring the hard work of all those athletes I had the pleasure of working with over the years. I didn’t run anything,” said Phelps, who has guided his girls relay teams to 12 WPIAL titles, including five in a row from 2015-19.
“I am so humble by this and to be a part of an amazing group of athletes that have come from right here in the Alle-Kiski Valley.”
Phelps shared the opportunity to represent Burrell with former Bucs head wrestling coach and current assistant Chris Como, who started the wrestling program on the road to 15 consecutive team wrestling titles.
Como, an NCAA Division II All-American at Pitt Johnstown, honored the memory of the late Shawn and Edward DesLauriers, former Burrell coaches who helped foster both his abilities on the wrestling mat and also his abilities as a coach.
Doug Kriston spoke on behalf of Rich, a football and wrestling standout at Fox Chapel in the early 1970s who passed away in 2013. Rich Kriston played football at Penn State and played in the 1973 Orange Bowl, the 1974 Cotton Bowl and the 1975 Sugar Bowl.
“I think Rich would definitely be humbled by this honor and appreciate it,” Doug said of his brother, who became a football and wrestling assistant coach and also served as an athletic director at Pine-Richland.
“But he would never be one who would want the limelight. It was all about everybody else. I just want to make sure I tell everyone what a great person he was outside of what a great athlete he was.”
At 94, Crytzer, a World War II veteran who was a three-sport athlete at Freeport in baseball, football and basketball, now is the second oldest A-K Valley Hall of Fame member at the time of his induction.
Dan Hawkins was 95 when he was enshrined in 2019.
In addition to the inductees, a group of current student-athletes were recognized for their accomplishments in athletics and also in the classroom. Members of the 2022 A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame High School Student Athete Honor Roll is Leechburg’s Thomas Burke, Freeport’s Garrett King, Plum’s Kaitlyn KIllinger, Knoch’s Madilyn Boyer, Butler’s Raine Gratzmiller, Hampton’s Kayla Hoehler, Kiski Area’s Brayden Dunmire, Plum’s Luke Kolankowski, Fox Chapel’s Eli Yofan, Mars’ Ava Black, and Deer Lakes’ Armend Karpuzi.
There now is a physical hall-of-fame location which houses all of the photos, plaques and memorabilia from each of the 51 classes.
Located in the GC Murphy Building on Corbet Street in Tarentum, the permament home for the hall of fame is open to visitors on the third Thursday of each month, from 5-8 p.m. until November.
“There is such a rich athletic history in the A-K Valley,” said Haney, who coached softball at Kiski Area for 22 years, leading the program to 248 wins, 13 section titles, 15 WPIAL playoff appearances and four undefeated regular seasons.”
“I am thinking tonight of all the people who made this possible for me. I can’t name them all. There is so much in sports you just can’t teach in the classroom. It’s those lessons in life that each one of us (inductees) got to experience.” | 2022-05-22T04:35:51Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | A-K Valley Hall of Fame honors 10 inductees | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-hall-of-fame-honors-10-inductees/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/a-k-valley-hall-of-fame-honors-10-inductees/ |
Submitted by Anthony Allen
Penn Hills’ Angelo Allen competes during a 2022 meet.
Penn Hills senior Angelo Allen didn’t shy away from being designated as the favorite in the shot put entering the WPIAL Class 3A Track and Field Championships on May 18 at Slippery Rock University.
Despite missing the week before the meet with an illness, Allen quickly found his form. Allen had a best throw of 54 feet, 10.5 inches to win the event. His best throw was over 5 feet in front of Fox Chapel’s Mason Miles, the runner-up.
“It’s a blessing and a curse when you go to a meet and know you are going to win it,” Allen said. “But I’m competing against myself. I don’t just want to perform well for myself, but I want to show everyone else why I am the best.”
This will be the second straight year Allen qualified for the PIAA championships, which will be held May 27-28 at Shippensburg University. This year, Allen will have a heavier workload. Allen also finished second in the discus with a throw of 154-4.
Making the discus was important to Allen, who just missed out on the field last season. Being able to qualify for states wasn’t something he expected.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it in the discus because of how high the competition level was,” Allen said. “I just had to stay focused and relaxed during the competition. It was about going out, doing the best I can and following the technique.”
Allen has had a strong year throughout. He won the state championship in the shot put during the indoor season and earned all-state honors. Last spring, Allen placed eighth in the shot put at the PIAA meet, with a best throw of 52-7.
Indians coach Lee Zelkowitz was pleased with Allen’s performance.
“I didn’t get to see him throw because I was working the meet,” Zelkowitz said. “I know he didn’t have his best day, but I’m glad to see him win. He battled an illness last week and had to take some time off.”
Penn Hills had one other athlete qualify for the state meet. Sophomore long jumper Julian Dugger placed third with a leap of 21 feet, 5 inches. Dugger has a conflict and won’t compete in the state meet.
Mylah Faulk also found her way to the medal stand, placing eighth in the 400 run with a time of 1:01.01.
Allen, who will attend Seton Hill to continue his athletic career, said his timing wasn’t thrown off too much by the time he missed.
“Usually when I take a week off, it doesn’t take me too long to get back in rhythm,” Allen said. | 2022-05-22T19:44:50Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Penn Hills’ Angelo Allen cements status as WPIAL’s top shot putter | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-angelo-allen-cements-status-as-wpials-top-shot-putter/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/penn-hills-angelo-allen-cements-status-as-wpials-top-shot-putter/ |
Pine-Richland’s Luke Rudolph brings it home for the win in the boys Class 3A 400-meter relay during the WPIAL track and field championships Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Slippery Rock University.
Luke Rudolph insisted he’s not as fast as the relay runner he replaced, but the results say otherwise.
Pine-Richland’s 400-meter relay team lost its anchor to injury late in the season, yet the boys kept breaking school records. Their latest record-setting run came at the WPIAL Class 3A individual championship May 18 at Slippery Rock University.
The Rams ran a 42.72-second time that broke the school mark and earned them gold medals.
“I don’t even have words,” said Rudolph, a junior who was previously a team alternate. “We’ve broken the record three times. I don’t even believe it personally because I wasn’t even on the team. (Injured teammate) Alex Gochis is way faster than me if we’re being honest. But we broke the record and we’re WPIAL champs.”
Junior Brad Gelly, sophomore Nick Hartwick and senior Joey Dudkowski joined Rudolph in the championship lineup. They finished nearly four-tenths of a second ahead of Central Catholic (43.10), which featured WPIAL 100-meter dash champion Brandon Jackson.
“We were just amazed by it,” Harwick said. “We’ve clicked together pretty good.”
They’re the first Pine-Richland team in school history to win a WPIAL title in the 400-meter relay.
“This means the world,” Pine-Richland coach Mark Hunkele said. “They’re great friends and great teammates. We’re extremely excited to not just make states but to win WPIALs.”
Hunkele shared credit with former head coach Don Thomas, now an assistant, who coaches the sprinters.
Individually, Hartwick placed fourth in the 200 meters, Dudkowski was seventh in the 400 and Gelly was seventh in the 300 hurdles. Dudkowski also placed second in the high jump.
The team’s previous best of 42.96 seconds had them seeded third behind Butler and Seneca Valley. A handoff mistake eliminated Butler from contention and Seneca Valley placed third (43.12).
Gelly, Hartwick and Dudkowski ran three strong legs and Rudolph sealed the win with a gutsy finish.
“I left a little early,” he said, “but Butler was in the lane right next to me and I saw them mess up, so I just got the baton and started running. I didn’t know who was next to me or who was behind me. When I crossed that finish line, I looked back and realized I’d won.”
His teammates sprinted across the football field to meet him near the finish line.
“He’s been really good, better than I thought,” Hartwick said. “I was a little iffy at first, but when I saw him run, I thought, ‘We can go places.’ Obviously, we have. We got first place (at WPIALs). New school record. I’m on cloud nine right now.”
The team broke the school record their first time running together and bettered their own mark three more times, Hunkele said. Gochis, the previous anchor, is a wide receiver recruit headed to Duquesne, so he wasn’t slowing them down.
But late in the season, the team found its stride.
“Alex was running great, but Luke came in as a great replacement,” Hunkele said. “He looked incredible (at WPIALs). It’s the best he’s run.” | 2022-05-22T19:44:56Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Pine-Richland relay sprints to school record, WPIAL gold medal | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-relay-sprints-to-school-record-wpial-gold-medal/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pine-richland-relay-sprints-to-school-record-wpial-gold-medal/ |
Plum’s Connor Pivirotto competes in the 3,200-meter run during WPIAL track and field championships Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Slippery Rock University.
The Plum boys and girls track and field teams were well represented at the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships last week at Slippery Rock University.
A pair of Mustangs — senior Logan Brooks and junior Connor Domke — brought home top-eight medals from the meet which was contested in cool temperatures with on-and-off rain showers dousing all of the runners, jumpers and throwers.
Brooks hoped for a shot at this weekend’s PIAA championships at Shippensburg. He needed to place in the top four for an automatic berth or finish in the top eight and meet the state-qualifying standard.
His top throw of 21 feet, 1¾ inches landed him seventh overall and on the medals stand. But the distance was short of the 22-3 needed to earn a place at states.
“The conditions weren’t ideal, but that’s not really much of an excuse,” said Brooks, also a football standout with Plum who will continue to play in college at Edinboro.
“I had worked to be ready. But I just wasn’t able to get that last bit of spring I needed to propel myself and get the distance I wanted. I can’t tell you why. I think it was just an off day. That happens, but I didn’t want it to happen today.”
Brooks came into the WPIAL meet as the No. 5 seed after jumping 22 feet to place second at the Slippery Rock High School Invitational at Slippery Rock University on April 23.
Domke also entered the meet in medals contention as he was seeded ninth in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.99.
He was in eighth after the three preliminary heats, recording a time of 16.17 seconds which placed him in the finals.
Domke’s finals time was a slightly elevated at 16.42, but he was a WPIAL medalist in eighth overall.
In her WPIAL debut, freshman Gabrielle Layne challenge for a medal in the 100 dash and came close to reaching the medals stand.
The 11th seed coming in, Layne ran a 12.97 in the second of three preliminary heats. When the times were compiled, she found out she was ninth overall, just three one-hundredths of a second away from eighth and a spot in the finals.
Layne also ran the 200 dash preliminaries and took 14th in a time of 27.10.
Junior Cam Rogers and freshman Danica Jones shared the same heat for the preliminaries of the 400 dash.
Rogers held her seed place — 18th — and ran to a time of 1:03.04.
Jones made the most of her first opportunity to run at WPIALs. She bumped up three spots from the 24th seed, placing 21st with a time of 1:04.42.
Rogers and Jones also teamed up for a pair of relays.
They joined Layne and freshman Lilliana Dubois on the 400 relay which bumped up two spots from their seed placement, finishing 16th in a time of 51.77.
Jones, Layne, Rogers and freshman Josie Sciulli capped the meet for the Plum girls with a 1,600-relay finish of 4:20.88, good for 23rd overall.
Senior Jake George capped his career with a pair of WPIAL events.
He placed 17th overall in the 300 hurdles with a time of 43.86, and he teamed with seniors Ethan Jones and Shawn Richardson and sophomore Tristan Ralph to take 20th in a time of 3:43.10.
The quartet’s time was elevated from the top time it recorded in the regular season (3:38.15), but it bumped up four places from the 24th seed.
Junior Connor Pivirotto took 24th in the 3,200 run (10:30.30).
“We had a really awesome group of kids who were always moving in the right direction,” Plum coach Stephanie Kennedy said.
“I think it’s proven in the progress we’re making that we had three relays qualify and also seven individuals. They all had really good attitudes despite the rain and low temperatures. We thought it was going to hold off until a little later, but it didn’t let that dampen their day. The kids went out and really competed.
“We’re losing a couple really good seniors, but most of them are young, especially on the girls side with a couple of ninth graders who really stepped up. We’re looking forward to the cross country season for those distance kids and also to next year’s indoor and outdoor seasons. We’ve already talked to them about that, and they were looking forward to the future even before we were done (at WPIALs).” | 2022-05-22T19:45:03Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Plum’s Brooks, Domke earn WPIAL track and field medals | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/plums-brooks-domke-earn-wpial-track-and-field-medals/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/plums-brooks-domke-earn-wpial-track-and-field-medals/ |
The Riverview boys 3,200-meter relay of, from left, Ty Laughlin, Chris Barnes, Parker Steele and Amberson Bauer, competed at the WPIAL championship meet May 18, at Slippery Rock University.
Riverview junior Amberson Bauer and senior teammates Ty Laughlin and Parker Steele were a part of last year’s boys 3,200-meter relay which set a school record and brought home WPIAL gold.
Freshman Chris Barnes came on board this season, replacing the graduated Mason Ochs.
The quartet made a strong run at another title last week at the WPIAL Class 2A track and field championships at Slippery Rock University.
In the end, the group settled for second overall in a time of 8 minutes, 19.79 seconds. The time was almost 20 seconds faster than their sixth-place seed time of 8:39.69.
In addition to its time and place at WPIALs, the distance relay also punched its ticket to the PIAA championships Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.
It will be gunning for another state medal after placing eighth there last year.
“Hopefully, we can go faster at states,” Barnes said.
Bauer will run individually at states in the 800 meters, while junior John Patsey is set to compete in the 300 hurdles. The boys 1,600 relay also hopes to make its mark in Shippensburg.
Rain and cool temperatures prevailed for most of the events at WPIALs where Class 2A individuals and teams were gunning for automatic trips to states — those finishing top five — and also top-eight medals.
Those who placed sixth through eighth in Class 2A also qualified for states if their times, heights or distances met the PIAA’s pre-set state qualifying standards.
Bauer was right on the heels of Deer Lakes senior Carson McCoy in the 800.
He bumped up from the No. 3 seed to place second overall in a time of 1:58.84. He also challenged his own school record of 1:58.31 set in placing second at the Mars Invitational on April 29.
“I had run the 4-by-800 earlier, so I was a little tired, but overall, I felt good,” Bauer said. “I trusted in my training, and I knew I was ready for a good race. I got caught up in the back a little bit early on, so I had to work my way back.”
The day before the WPIAL track championships, Patsey helped the No. 10 Riverview baseball team advance to the WPIAL quarterfinals with a mild upset of No. 7 Bishop Canevin, 13-7, at Shaler.
At Slippery Rock, Patsey helped himself qualify for states for the first time with a third-place finish of 41.99 in the boys 300 hurdles.
Bauer and Patsey then helped the 1,600 relay, along with Micah Black and Jack Betler, make a charge from the first heat and 13th seed to place fifth and qualify for states in a time of 3:34.78.
Riverview athletes picked up WPIAL medals in three other events.
Steele came back in the 3,200 run and posted a seventh-place finish in 10:08.98. He rose up from the No. 12 seed and cut nearly 20 seconds from his seed time.
Sophomore Lola Abraham challenged for a trip to states in the girls long jump as she placed sixth with a top leap of 16 feet, 5¼ inches. The state qualifying standard was 16-11. She was less than two inches from fifth-place finisher, Eden Christian freshman Lara DeFazio (16-7).
Abraham also took 10th in the 400 (1:03.15) and 11th in the triple jump (33-½).
Junior Alexandra Bibza made her second consecutive trip to WPIALs and picked up a seventh-place medal in the discus (102-6).
It was a personal record and a move up from the 16th seed.
Bibza threw the shot put at WPIALs last year and placed 14th. | 2022-05-22T19:45:09Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Riverview runners take aim at state medals | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/riverview-runners-take-aim-at-state-medals/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/riverview-runners-take-aim-at-state-medals/ |
Penn-Trafford pitcher Mia Smith delivers against Connellsville last season.
Veteran high school teams that have a roster of players who have had a taste of the sweet and bitter of the postseason sometimes need to bring their emotions down a level to remain focused on the task at hand.
The flip side of that is a young and inexperienced lineup that can be intimidated by the one-and-done mentality of the district playoffs.
Penn-Trafford is very young; however, the Warriors leaned on a wily veteran to get through the first two rounds of the WPIAL playoffs last week and into the Class 5A semifinals.
“Since we are such a young team, with 45% freshmen, I am not sure how much the team was chomping at the bit,” Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little said. “I can assure you that there were a few players who definitely wanted to turn in quality performances in the playoffs. Mia of course was at the top of that list. She has been laser focused since the first game of the year.”
Senior Mia Smith was sizzling in the circle last week, beginning with her first-round performance against Plum.
“Mia did turn it up a notch since entering the playoffs,” Little said. “She started the Plum game on fire, and by the seventh inning, she was throwing just as hard or even harder. She kept pounding the strike zone, producing weak contact or striking batters out with a wide variety of pitches and locations.”
Smith threw a two-hitter and struck out 11 as the Warriors blanked the Mustangs, 10-0.
Two days later, it was more of the same from Smith as she shut down a Shaler team that had just scored 14 runs in a first-round win.
“It was much of the same against a very strong Shaler lineup,” Little said. “She was all around the plate hitting her spots, working ahead, as well as making the hitters go after her pitch.”
Smith allowed three hits and struck out 13 as she picked up her second straight shutout, 5-0.
The Pitt-Johnstown recruit helped herself with the bat in both games, something Little has come to expect.
“In both games, she has done her job with the bat, donating a few hits and knocking in a few runs,” he said. “I enjoy the fact that she has the ability to knock the ball over the fence as well. She had a grand slam in a game earlier this season. It is just a bonus to have such a presence in the circle, to be able to help herself out with the bat.”
For the season Smith is batting over.300 with five extra-base hits and 18 RBIs.
The strong senior season is no surprise after Smith played a big part in the Warriors’ 2019 PIAA title as a freshman.
There was no gold last spring, but a strong regular season had Penn-Trafford as the No. 1 seed in the 5A playoffs before a loss to eventual champion North Hills in the district quarterfinals.
“We always have had a strong offense, but I knew coming in, way back 2019, that this girl was going to be the difference maker for our squad,” Little said. “Mia’s strengths are her laser focus and composure in the circle. She has the ability to command all her pitches while pitching with power. She leads by example and also speaks up when needed to get the younger players on task and focused. We have been blessed to have had this kid for four years.”
Smith will bring her career record of 40-6 into the Warriors’ semifinal matchup Tuesday against Chartiers Valley.
“Chartiers is a hot team,” Little said. “We have run into some hot teams before. Mia has experience and has drawn back on that to help her prepare for the upcoming contest. She is also smart. Just the other day she mentioned in an article that seeding means nothing when it comes to playoff time. Everyone can jump up and beat anybody.” | 2022-05-24T09:50:23Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week for May 23, 2022 | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-23-2022/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-softball-player-of-the-week-for-may-23-2022/ |
Saint Vincent athletics
Dominick Nania was named the Saint Vincent wrestling coach Tuesday.
Saint Vincent College announced it was adding a men’s wrestling program in March.
Tuesday, the school named a coach.
Hempfield graduate Dominick Nania was hired as the school’s newly relaunched program.
He was selected from a large list on candidates.
Nania has more than six years of wrestling coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels. He spent the past three years as an assistant coach at Seton Hill. He also coached at Hempfield and Norwin with Saint Vincent alumnus Vince DeAugustine.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family,” Nania said. “When I first arrived on campus I could tell what a special Saint Vincent is. I’m excited to revive the program.
“Accepting the head coaching position at Saint Vincent College has been a dream come true for my family and me. Everyone I have met throughout the interview process has been so welcoming and a pleasure to be around.”
Saint Vincent will become the fourth school in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference to offer wrestling, joining Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and Thiel.
“Being able to start a new program as a student-athlete in college and now coach at an amazing institution bringing back wrestling after almost five decades is something that means so much to me,” Nania said. “This opportunity is so unique, as the President’s Office, the Athletic Department and I are all on the same page. I think that is extremely rare and something that will make this program very successful in the classroom, on the mat and in the community.”
Nania will hire two assistant coaches in the fall. But for now, he’ll be out recruiting wrestlers from Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley.
Nania is no stranger to a start-up program, as he was Wheeling Jesuit’s first wrestling commit. He had an outstanding four-year career for the Cardinals, serving as a three-year team captain and compiling 98 victories.
He was a two-time NCAA Division II national championship qualifier and holds the program’s records for wins, pins (42) and technical falls (17).
He graduated from Wheeling Jesuit with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education before earning a master’s in educational administration at Duquesne.
“I have a lot of friends who are coaching in Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley,” Nania said. “I’ll be trying to convince wrestlers the opportunity they have if they come to Saint Vincent.”
SVC executive vice president and chief operating officer Mallory said Nania is an outstanding addition to the Saint Vincent Athletic Department, and his alignment to the department is an outstanding fit.
“It is clear that he will have a tremendous impact on the student-athletes that he and his staff will serve, and he will represent the College community well as the leader of the men’s wrestling program,” Mallory said. “We look forward to supporting Coach Nania as we continue to pursue excellence in all we do at Saint Vincent College.”
Nania and his wife, Brooke, have a daughter, Gemma.
Saint Vincent announced the addition of men’s wrestling as its 24th varsity athletic program in March. The college had sponsored wrestling at the NAIA level from 1963-74 and then as a club sport for some years after.
The Bearcats will begin competition in fall 2023. | 2022-05-25T04:01:44Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Saint Vincent names Dominick Nania new wrestling coach | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/saint-vincent-names-dominick-nania-new-wrestling-coach/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/saint-vincent-names-dominick-nania-new-wrestling-coach/ |
Bethel Park hires former WPIAL basketball star Dante Calabria as boys coach
WPIAL basketball coverage by TribHSSN.
Dante Calabria, a former WPIAL basketball star who won a national championship at North Carolina, was hired Tuesday as boys coach at Bethel Park.
A 1992 Blackhawk graduate and WPIAL Hall of Fame inductee, Calabria has coached at the college, professional and prep school levels, most recently as an assistant at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. He also played 16 professional seasons overseas in Italy, Spain, Greece and France.
“His resume speaks for itself,” Bethel Park athletic director Dan Sloan said. “It’s exciting to be able to show our kids a guy who came from around this area and made it to where he made it, played at a big-time Division I college under legendary coaches, played professionally and then moved up through the coaching ranks.”
Calabria played for Dean Smith at North Carolina, but Smith isn’t the only legendary coach on his resume. Calabria was an assistant on Larry Brown’s staff in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A and previously assisted the late Rollie Massimino at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“He was a part of a couple coaching trees of legendary guys,” Sloan said.
Sloan said Calabria’s parents still reside in Beaver County and he returned to Western Pennsylvania to spend more time with family.
As Bethel Park’s coach, Calabria replaces Josh Bears, who resigned after seven seasons. The Black Hawks went 16-7 overall last season, 5-5 in Section 2, and reached the first round of the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs.
The team drops to 5A next season.
Sloan said the school received around two dozen applicants for the job.
“We had some good candidates to choose from including some sitting head coaches,” he said.
Calabria will be paid $8,700. Sloan said Calabria now was in the process of completing the required paperwork.
“As soon as that’s complete, we expect him to be in the gym ready to go,” he said. “Him and I already talked about some summer leagues and getting the kids involved.”
Calabria was a 2,200-point scorer at Blackhawk and was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2014. At North Carolina, the 6-foot-5 guard won an NCAA championship in 1993 and also reached the Final Four in ’95.
As a professional player, Calabria was a five-time all-star in Europe and also played for a Italian national team that won the 2005 European Championship.
Among his early coaching stops, Calabria was an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington, head coach at Cus Jonico Taranto of the Italian Basketball League and coach at Montverde Academy, a prep school in Florida.
Calabria joined Massimino as an assistant at Keiser and later replaced him as head coach. Calabria led Keiser to a 20-11 record and an appearance in the NAIA Tournament. He later worked with another championship coach when he joined Brown’s staff in Italy.
Massimino won an NCAA title with Villanova in 1985. Brown won both NCAA and NBA titles. | 2022-05-25T07:13:37Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Bethel Park hires former WPIAL basketball star Dante Calabria as boys coach | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-hires-former-wpial-basketball-star-dante-calabria-as-boys-coach/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bethel-park-hires-former-wpial-basketball-star-dante-calabria-as-boys-coach/ |
Breaking down Seton Hill softball’s competition at the NCAA Division II World Series
Seton Hill’s Jenna Osikowicz is hitting .457 this season.
Thursday at Denver
1 p.m.: No. 1 UT Tyler (45-7) vs. No. 8 Cal State Dominguez Hills (41-21)
3:30 p.m.: No. 4 Southern Indiana (49-11) vs. No. 5 Rogers State (53-10)
6 p.m: No. 2 Adelphi (47-13) vs. No. 7 North Georgia (48-11)
8:30 p.m.: No. 3 Auburn Montgomery (48-11) vs. No. 6 Seton Hill (41-10)
Teams at a glance
No. 1 University of Texas Tyler (45-7): The Patriots have been ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 all season long and showed why in the South Central Region, defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville in three games in the super regionals. This is UT Tyler’s first finals in D-2. The school is in its first season eligible for the D-2 postseason after the jump from D-3, where they were a perennial power, winning the national title in 2016.
No. 2 Adelphi (47-13): The Panthers are back in the finals after winning their first East Region title since 2016. Pitching plays a huge role in its success, and Adelphi showed that against Wilmington (Del.) in winning the East. Adelphi has the second-best ERA in the field at 1.32 and the best WHIP at 0.86.
No. 3 Auburn Montgomery (48-11): The Warhawks were a strong all season and were ranked No. 1 in late April. They have a of good balance of hitters and pitchers. They won the South Region. This is their first trip to the national finals.
No. 4 Southern Indiana (49-11): The Screaming Eagles were national champions in 2018 under legendary coach Sue Kunkle. They defeated Grand Valley State in the super regionals and won a pair of one-run games. Allie Goodin and Josie Newman are a dangerous 1-2 punch in the circle.
No. 5 Rogers State (53-10): Elexis Watson is someone to watch for Rogers State. She has clubbed 59 career home runs. Rogers State is making its first appearance and has a strong pitching staff.
No. 6 Seton Hill (41-10): This is the Griffins’ first trip to national championship. They defeated No. 1-seeded Kutztown to win the Atlantic. Their pitching is the key as the Griffins’ ERA is 1.23, the best in the field, and their 0.96 WHIP is equally good. Morgan Ryan appeared in 22 games this season and posted a 1.05 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 153 strikeouts in 133.1 innings pitched.
No. 7 North Georgia (48-11): The Nighthawks, a former national champion, have won 12 out of their last 13 and that included the Southeast Region title. They have played Adelphi, their first-round opponent, in the D-2 tournament before. Back in 2015, they defeated the Panthers, 8-0.
No. 8 Cal State Dominguez Hills (41-21): The Toros are riding a lot of momentum. They first had to defeat Concordia (Calif.), a team that has been in the top 10 numerous times this season and is currently No. 13, to get to the super regionals. They then knocked of No. 1-seeded Cal State San Marcos, which was ranked No. 5 before the tournament began. | 2022-05-25T14:21:02Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Breaking down Seton Hill softball’s competition at the NCAA Division II World Series | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/breaking-down-seton-hill-softballs-competition-at-the-ncaa-division-ii-world-series/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/breaking-down-seton-hill-softballs-competition-at-the-ncaa-division-ii-world-series/ |
Seton Hill’s Morgan Ryan, a Hempfield graduate, is 18-2 this season.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Seton Hill softball team has a “Mile High” feeling.
That’s because the Griffins are headed to Denver, the Mile High City, to participate in the NCAA Division II World Series. They’ll open with No. 3 seed Auburn Montgomery (48-11) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Griffins (41-10) are riding high after winning the Atlantic Super Regional on Saturday by sweeping Kutztown.
Fourth-year coach Jessica Strong was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Armstrong State, when it made the final eight in 2013 and 2014. She hopes that experience will help as she prepares the Griffins for their first trip to the championship.
“I don’t know much about Auburn Montgomery, but any team that makes it to Denver is talented,” Strong said. “We’re enjoying the moment. We’re very excited.”
Seton Hill rolled through the Atlantic Region tournament, first defeating Claflin, S.C. twice and host Shippensburg. Then they swept the No. 1 team in the region, Kutztown.
The team enjoyed solid pitching and timely hitting throughout the tournament, and it came from a mixture of veteran players and underclassmen.
“Because of covid, we had some players take advantage of the extra season granted by the NCAA,” Strong said. “A lot of players wanted that one last ride and to go as far as we could.”
Graduate students Jenna Osikowicz and Morgan Ryan, teammates from their Little League days at West Point and high school at Hempfield, reunited for one final run. Ryan transferred back home from Notre Dame.
“I didn’t know what we were getting from Morgan,” Strong said. “I knew she pitched Division I in the ACC for Notre Dame. She brings a lot of experience and wit. She’s also getting a chance to hit, which she didn’t get at Notre Dame. She keeps team loose with her jokes.”
Ryan is 18-2 with a 1.05 ERA. In 133 1/3 innings, she has struck out 153. She hit .318 with three home runs and 24 RBIs.
“It’s neat that they are back together — long-time friends back together again and headed to the World Series,” Strong said. “I’m sure they can share their experiences in high-pressure games with other players on the team.”
Osikowicz, who is playing with a broken nose, is hitting .457 with 75 hits, 11 doubles, nine triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs. Morgan Toal is hitting .362 with 35 RBIs.
Two freshmen — Grace Paredes and Brooklyn Fukushima — had big games in the regional. Paredes is hitting .363 with 27 RBIs and Fukushima is hitting .299 with 22 RBIs.
Freshman Brooke Cleland (Penn-Trafford) is hitting .282 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs.
Seton Hill has also been forced to overcome some setbacks. They’ve had a few covid scares and lost centerfielder Natalia Greco (Ellwood City) for the season with an injury.
• Breaking down Seton Hill softball’s competition at the NCAA Division II World Series | 2022-05-25T14:21:08Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Seton Hill softball set for World Series run in Denver | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/seton-hill-softball-set-for-world-series-run-in-denver/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/seton-hill-softball-set-for-world-series-run-in-denver/ |
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for May 25, 2022: Boys volleyball, lacrosse titles up for grabs
North Allegheny senior Caleb Schall (2) attempts to set Varun Kaveti (34) up for a kill against Penn-Trafford May 23, 2022, in a WPIAL Class 3A volleyball semifinal at Fox Chapel.
The district gold starts to flow Wednesday with two WPIAL boys volleyball and three district lacrosse title matches.
In boys volleyball, could there be a changing of the guard in Class 3A?
North Allegheny has completely dominated the 3A landscape with 21 WPIAL boys volleyball championships, four straight crowns and 15 titles in the last 18 seasons.
However, the Tigers are the No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament after splitting two regular season matches and the section championship with Seneca Valley this spring.
The Raiders have never won a WPIAL boys volleyball championship.
Another team looking for its first title is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The Chargers are the top seed in the Class 2A playoffs and will face Montour in the finals Wednesday.
While OLSH is hoping for a first crown, the Spartans captured the very first WPIAL Class 2A championship 15 years ago. That 2007 championship banner is the only one Montour has captured.
Both title matches are at UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris with the 2A finals at 6 p.m. and the 3A title match at 8 p.m.
Watch both matches on Trib HSSN.
Also on Wednesday are the district consolation matches. The winners of the North Catholic vs. Ambridge match in 2A and Penn-Trafford against Shaler in 3A will advance to the PIAA playoffs.
Both consolation matches are At North Allegheny with 2A at 6 p.m. and 3A at 7:45 p.m.
Seeing double in Lax finals
Two Class 3A schools hope to double their pleasure and win double lacrosse gold Wednesday at Joe Walton Stadium on the campus of Robert Morris.
It’s a twin billing if you will as Shady Side Academy faces Mt. Lebanon in the girls finals at 6 p.m., followed by Mt. Lebanon against Shady Side Academy in the boys championship match at 8 p.m.
A new boys champion is guaranteed after Shady Side Academy eliminated North Allegheny in the boys 3A semifinals.
The Bulldogs’ only boys lacrosse crown was won in 2014.
The Blue Devils are trying for a fifth title after championship runs in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
The Blue Devils girls lacrosse team is shooting for a sixth district title after winning in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2016.
However, what have you done for me lately? The Bulldogs are trying to win a third straight WPIAL girls championship.
While Mt. Lebanon and Shady Side Academy are trying to pull of the rare boys and girls championship sweep, Mars pulled that exact thing off last season.
The Fightin’ Planets have both the boys and girls teams in the 2A finals again this season.
While the boys will have to wait until Thursday, the girls get the ball rolling Wednesday against Chartiers Valley in the 2A title match at 4 p.m.
The Colts are the No. 5 seed, but are coming off a victory over top-seeded Blackhawk in the semifinals.
All three title matches Wednesday can be seen on Trib HSSN.
The final of the final four softball games are set for Wednesday with the 6A, 4A and 2A semifinal games.
Of the four teams left standing in 6A, No. 7 seed North Allegheny may have an advantage.
While Hempfield, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley enjoyed first-round byes, the Tigers had to play an opening round game. After beating Peters Township, NA upset No. 2 Mt. Lebanon to earn a spot in the semifinals opposite of section rival Pine-Richland.
None of the four have played a game since May 18.
So while the Tigers have two games under their belt since the end of the regular season, Hempfield and Pine-Richland have played once in 14 days while it has been once in 13 days for Seneca Valley.
The Spartans face the Raiders at Fox Chapel at 4 p.m. while the Tigers and Rams face each other again at Mars at 5 p.m.
In the 4A semifinals, top-seeded Beaver has won 38 straight games, including twice against Montour this season. The Section 3 rivals play at Mars at 3 p.m.
The Section 1 and Section 2 champions meet in the other 4A semifinals game as Burrell battles Elizabeth Forward at Norwin at 3 p.m.
In 2A, Lawrence County rivals collide for a third time as undefeated Neshannock takes on three-time defending champion Laurel at Westminster College at 2 p.m.
The other unbeaten team in 2A, Frazier goes up against OLSH in a semifinals game at Norwin at 5 p.m.
Tags: Ambridge, Burrell, Chartiers Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Hempfield, Laurel, Mars, Montour, Mt. lebanon, Neshannock, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shady Side Academy, Shaler | 2022-05-25T14:21:14Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | What to watch for in WPIAL sports for May 25, 2022: Boys volleyball, lacrosse titles up for grabs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/what-to-watch-for-in-wpial-sports-for-may-25-2022-boys-volleyball-lacrosse-titles-up-for-grabs/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/what-to-watch-for-in-wpial-sports-for-may-25-2022-boys-volleyball-lacrosse-titles-up-for-grabs/ |
Alle-Kiski sends plenty of track athletes to PIAAs
Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy wins the Class 2A 1,600 meters at the WPIAL track and field championships.
Deer Lakes senior Carson McCoy doesn’t have to wait long to run at the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University.
He will be on the track at 9 a.m. Friday morning in defense of his Class 2A boys 1,600-meter title.
It is the first of many events on the track and in the field as the Alle-Kiski Valley will be well represented both Friday and Saturday.
McCoy won gold in the 1,600 last year in a time of 4 minutes, 16.48 seconds, edging Schuylkill Valley’s Luke Seymour (4:17.03) at the finish.
Seymour, also a senior, is the top seed going in Friday as he ran a 4:16.53 to win the District 3 title. McCoy was 10 seconds slower (4:23.18) at WPIALs than his personal best in the 1,600, but it still was enough to capture WPIAL gold. He is seeded second.
“It’s going to be a pretty competitive race,” McCoy said. “I hope to run my best race and see what happens.”
He also is looking for big things in the 800 where he is the top seed after running to a WPIAL-championship time of 1:56.34. The 800 is Saturday at 1:55 p.m.
Injury last year prevented McCoy from doing well in the 800 at WPIALs, and he missed out on the chance to run it at states.
McCoy, in addition to his individual pursuits, will join teammates Nathan Buechel, Aidan Herman and Fletcher Hammond in the 1,600 relay. The quartet finished the WPIAL meet in a big way with a WPIAL title and a school record of 3:28.08, and it is seeded second.
The 1,600 relay is the final event of the two days and will be run at approximately 3 p.m.
Riverview junior Amberson Bauer is in medal contention in the 800 after his runner-up finish to McCoy at WPIALs. He ran a 1:58.82 at WPIALs, and the time places him as the fifth seed for Saturday’s race.
Apollo-Ridge senior Greg Klingensmith, a William & Mary football recruit, finished second in the Class 2A discus at WPIALs (152 feet, 4 inches) and is seeded fifth in the event Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Last year, Klingensmith finished 16th at states with a top throw of 135-7, down more than 21 feet from his personal best 156-9 recorded at WPIALs a week earlier.
“I am very excited for redemption,” Klingensmith said. “Last year (at states) was not the best for me, but I am excited to get to Shippensburg, compete to my best ability, and just have fun.”
The Riverview boys 3,200 relay of Bauer, seniors Ty Laughlin and Parker Steele, and freshman Chris Barnes made a run at defending its 2021 WPIAL title, but the quartet had to settle for second at 8:19.79, three seconds off the school record set at states last year (eighth place, 8:16.58).
The relay is seeded seventh for its race Saturday at 10:45 a.m.
“Hopefully, we can place pretty high and break that record,” Barnes said.
The Burrell girls 3,200 relay of juniors Kadi Bauer and Brynn Leiner, sophomore Grace Nesko and senior Isabella Leger is seeded 14th and hopes to go under 10 minutes after a school-record time of 10:02.41 to take third in Class 2A at WPIALs.
“It’s kind of amazing to see where we started at the beginning of the season, running just under 11 minutes, to running a 10:02 (at WPIALs),” Leger said.
“It was a great way to end my career at WPIALs, and now we’re on to states to see if we can go faster. It will be a lot of fun to see what we can do against the best (3,200 relay) teams in the state.”
Kiski Area sophomore Eliza Miller will make her second trip to states and first in an individual event as she will run the Class 3A girls 1,600. She finished eighth at WPIALs, but her time of 5:06.40 met the state qualifying standard.
The event was fast throughout the state as 23 of the 30 who are entered met the qualifying standard of 5:10 at their district meets. Miller is seeded 19th.
Riverview junior John Patsey will compete at states for the first time. He is seeded 17th in the 300 hurdles after finishing third at WPIALs (41.99).
Others ready to make the trip to the PIAA championships in Class 2A are Herman in the boys 800 run (16th seed, 2:00.63); the Burrell boys 3,200 relay of Damian Barr, Billy Kowalkowski, Luke Guerrini, and Ethan Croushore (17th, 8:31.54); Apollo-Ridge’s Gavin McCall in the triple jump (21st, 41-1½); the Riverview boys 1,600 relay of Bauer, Patsey, Micah Black and Jack Betler (23rd, 3:34.78); and Burrell’s Kayden Ireland in the boys 200 dash (28th, 23.41).
In Class 3A, Freeport junior Isaac Wetzel is set for the boys 300 hurdles (19th, 41.01).
The Pennsylvania Cable Network will have live and taped coverage of the PIAA track and field championships Saturday.
Live coverage includes the track finals from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and there will be recorded coverage of the 1,600 run (8 a.m.) and select field events.
For more information, go to pcntv.com/trackandfield/.
Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Kiski Area, Riverview
• WPIAL softball playoff preview capsule for Thursday, May 26, 2022
• Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher commits to play football at West Virginia
• Bethel Park hires former WPIAL basketball star Dante Calabria as boys coach | 2022-05-26T00:12:09Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Alle-Kiski sends plenty of track athletes to PIAAs | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/alle-kiski-sends-plenty-of-track-athletes-to-piaas/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/alle-kiski-sends-plenty-of-track-athletes-to-piaas/ |
Shady Side Academy boys beat Mt. Lebanon for WPIAL lacrosse title on J.P. Henry highlight-reel goal in OT
The Shady Side Academy boys lacrosse team hoists the WPIAL championship trophy after defeating Mt. Lebanon in the 3A final on Wednesday at Robert Morris.
Shady Side Academy and Mt. Lebanon came into the WPIAL 3A tournament as the top two seeds. The teams met in the regular season in a tight, one-goal match one by the Bulldogs.
So, it was no surprise that the championship rematch was close as Shady Side Academy’s J.P. Henry scored the game-winning goal with a behind-the-back shot at 2:59 of overtime to give the Bulldogs the win and the school’s second lacrosse title and first since 2014.
“Honestly, we play these guys every year in the regular season,” said Shady Side coach Cam Thompson. “I think every year since I’ve been here (five seasons) it’s been a one-goal game. They are really well coached, and it’s always a good test, so we love playing them.”
Tied at 11-11, Shady Side won the opening faceoff in overtime and immediately called timeout. The Bulldogs set up a play and as a delayed penalty was being called on Mt. Lebanon, the junior Marquette recruit Henry found the loose ball and his only goal of the game set off the celebration.
“The set we drew up didn’t go as planned,” Thompson said. “But our guys are pretty high-IQ lacrosse players, and they’ve done a really good job of buying in on what we teach them, and that was a perfect example of it at the end.”
Shady Side jumped out to a 6-3 first-quarter lead and had a two-goal cushion at halftime. But the Blue Devils battled back to make it 8-8 at the end of three. That set up the back-and-forth final quarter.
Ethan Salvia, another junior Marquette recruit who was named Class 3A player of the year for the second straight season, scored his fourth goal to put the Bulldogs in front. Salvia also added an assist.
But Jack McCann and Miles Halter each netted hat-trick goals to give the Blue Devils a 10-9 lead. Freshman Seamus Riorden tied the game for Shady Side Academy before Mt. Lebanon’s Aidan Conway scored his second goal of the night with 1:56 remaining to make the score 11-10.
Sophomore Mac Mohn answered for the Bulldogs 50 seconds later with his fourth goal of the game to knot the score 11-11 and set up Henry’s overtime heroics.
“J.P. has had a handful of behind-the-back shots this season,” Thompson said. “He has great hands inside and he’s a goal scorer for us. We knew he was going to get one eventually, and he stuck it when we needed him to.”
Both Shady Side Academy (16-5) and Mt. Lebanon (14-7) have qualified for the state playoffs. The first round of the PIAA tournament is set to begin Tuesday. | 2022-05-26T05:12:34Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Shady Side Academy boys beat Mt. Lebanon for WPIAL lacrosse title on J.P. Henry highlight-reel goal in OT | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/shady-side-academy-boys-beat-mt-lebanon-for-wpial-lacrosse-title-on-j-p-henry-highlight-reel-goal-in-ot/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/shady-side-academy-boys-beat-mt-lebanon-for-wpial-lacrosse-title-on-j-p-henry-highlight-reel-goal-in-ot/ |
Coach Rich Falter and his trusty clipboard are carried off the floor by Highlands players moments after the Golden Rams upset Blackhawk, 58-56, for the WPIAL Class 3A title March 3, 1995 at Duquesne University.
Despite an outstanding coaching career that included 316 victories in high school basketball, Rich Falter never sought the limelight.
In fact, he had to be deceived into showing up for an awards ceremony in order to be inducted into the Highlands High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
Falter, who recorded 255 victories at Highlands and 61 more across the street at St. Joseph, died Tuesday of complications following a stroke. He was 74.
Several years ago, Highlands basketball boosters knew he wouldn’t accept induction on its own merit, so they got him to come to a game to present an award to former Golden Rams standout Micah Mason.
While he was there, he was told he was now a hall of fame member.
The graduate of the former Har-Brack High School was looking to enter the coaching ranks while Natrona Heights businessman Glenn Mills was active in the YMCA basketball organization.
“We became friends and I had a team of fifth- and sixth-graders,” Mills recalled. “I saw the kids took to him right away. We had four teams that played each other on the weeknights, then on the weekends he put a team together to go on the road.”
The team was called the Scarlet Knights, patterned after Har-Brack graduate Tom Young, who coached Rutgers University at the time.
“By the time those kids got to the junior high level, they knew what to do,” Mills said. “I never knew anybody who didn’t like him. Rich was just wonderful.”
He entered the high school ranks with St. Joseph and led the Spartans to three WPIAL playoff berths in four years, including the 1992 Class A semifinals.
It was on to Highlands for the next 17 seasons where he guided the Golden Rams to three section titles, 11 WPIAL playoff appearances and title games in 1995, 2002 and ’09, winning it all in 1995 in a memorable upset over favored Blackhawk at the then-A.J. Palumbo Center .
He was instrumental in the lives of assistant coaches and players both on and off the court.
“After I started coaching, he told me I needed to get my degree in education if I wanted to continue coaching,” said Shawn Bennis, who has become a long-time educator in the Highlands School District. “I am what I am today from an educating standpoint and a coaching standpoint (because of him).”
Bennis was an assistant to Falter for 13 years before becoming Kiski Area’s head coach.
“After a year as the eighth-grade coach, he brought me on as the junior varsity coach with Mike Lorenzini and Ron Lang,” Bennis said.
Bennis eventually ended up as the Highlands head coach.
“He was someone I could call and we’d both have a coaching chalkboard in our heads,” Bennis said. “Rich was someone who touched many lives. He truly loved his players.”
Ultimately, Falter left the coaching ranks to care for his ill mother, Rose, who died just short of her 100th birthday.
After retirement, the Point Park graduate had declined nominations to the Alle-Kiski Sports Hall of Fame.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Natrona Heights VFW Post 894, Veterans Drive, Natrona Heights.
His five nieces and nephews suggest, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a favorite charity in his name. | 2022-05-27T02:39:58Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Late Highlands coach Rich Falter remembered for his humility, impact on players | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/late-highlands-coach-rich-falter-remembered-for-his-humility-impact-on-players/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/late-highlands-coach-rich-falter-remembered-for-his-humility-impact-on-players/ |
Norwin baseball coach Mike Liebdzinski hits grounders to his infielders during a 2017 practice.
As sure as he looked at his watch, Mike Liebdzinski knew when he walked off the field Monday at Plum that it was time.
The longtime Norwin baseball coach is calling it a career after nearly three decades in the dugout.
He told his players about his resignation Thursday.
“This has been something that I have been thinking about for the past few years,” Liebdzinski said. “It’s not easy to let it go. I started coaching in 1992, the same year I graduated college. After 30 years, it just seems like the right time. Time for someone different to come in with new ideas and new energy.”
That means the Knights’ 5-2 loss to Central Catholic was the final game for Liebdzinski, 51, who was the team’s head coach for 19 years.
“I remember interviewing for the job and telling the school board that if they hired me, they wouldn’t have to worry about hiring a new coach for the next 20 years,” Liebdzinski said. “I didn’t quite keep my promise, but I was close.”
Liebdzinski finished with a career record of 233-114. He won eight section titles and one WPIAL championship (2016).
He made the playoffs 17 times and had two WPIAL runner-up finishes.
A Norwin graduate who went on to play at Davidson, Liebdzinski knew he wanted to coach straight out of college.
“Baseball has been a major part of my life ever since I can remember,” he said. “I used to work the summer camps at Davidson, and my college coach always told me I would be a coach some day. After my playing days came to an end, it just seemed like the logical step to stay involved with the game.”
In addition to having team success, Liebdzinski became known for grooming and producing college-level players. He had 22 players go on to play at Division I programs, while 22 went on to Division II careers, something in which he takes tremendous pride.
“Very proud,” he said. “And there were countless Division III guys. Also, four pros after their college years.”
Two of those are still playing in JJ Matijevic (Houston Astros) and Max McDowell (New York Yankees).
“There are so many things that are satisfying about coaching,” Liebdzinski said. “At the forefront is teaching young men the game of baseball and watching them develop and go on to bigger things. I will most definitely miss that part of it.”
Liebdzinski, who has been a social studies teacher at Norwin for 25 years, does not see himself staying around the game much moving forward.
“It’s been a long time since I had a free spring, summer and fall. Actually, I’m not sure I ever did,” he said. “I feel like it’s time to get away completely. At least for now.”
Liebdzinski thinks most, if not all, of his staff also will depart the program.
“I am very proud to have represented my alma mater for the past 19 years,” he said. “I was so fortunate to have an incredible staff of coaches for all of those years. A special thanks to Tom Quealy, who suggested that I apply for the job 19 years ago and we have been together ever since. We wanted to build a quality program that was competitive every year and did things the right way. I think that we accomplished that. At least I hope we did.
“It was truly my pleasure to work with such great young men for all those years. I wish that we could have brought a couple more WPIAL championships back to Norwin, but I guess that’s baseball.”
Quealy got a better look at Liebdzinski’s coaching methods than anyone.
“He was able to change the culture and win immediately,” Quealy said. “His outward demeanor can be conceived as stoic and hard-nosed, but those close to him know him to be compassionate.
“Without a doubt, he is one of the very best baseball coaches ever in the WPIAL.” | 2022-05-27T02:40:04Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | With 233 wins, WPIAL title to his credit, Norwin baseball coach Mike Liebdzinski steps down | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/with-233-wins-wpial-title-to-his-credit-norwin-baseball-coach-mike-liebdzinski-steps-down/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/with-233-wins-wpial-title-to-his-credit-norwin-baseball-coach-mike-liebdzinski-steps-down/ |
Moon’s Mia Cochran wins 1,600 meters, wants 2 more golds at busy PIAA championship
Moon’s Mia Cochran wins the girls PIAA Class 3A 1600-meter run Friday, May 27, 2022, at Shippensburg University.
SHIPPENSBURG — After defending her state 1,600-meter title Friday morning, Moon’s Mia Cochran revealed the top item on her afternoon agenda.
“A nap,” she said.
She’ll certainly need her rest. The Arkansas recruit is attempting to pull off a triple win this weekend in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the state track championship, an impossible feat before the PIAA revamped its meet schedule this year.
The PIAA eliminated preliminary rounds from the 800 and 1,600 meters, meaning Cochran must run only three times instead of five.
But once on the track, there’s no time to rest.
“It’s just ‘all go’ this weekend,” said Cochran, a senior. “It’s the last state meet. Just do whatever I can to bring it home. It’s just exciting to finish up my senior year here.”
Cochran is the defending state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200. She had a commanding lead Friday in the 1,600 and won by more than eight seconds, but said she refused to let herself relax.
“I’m still pushing at that point,” she said. “It does play with your head a little bit, not having anyone around you, but you’ve still got to do what you can to bring it in and bring it home strong.”
She crossed the line in 4 minutes, 46.53 seconds. Her time was four seconds faster than last year’s winning effort.
WPIAL runners won three of the four 1,600-meter races. Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy won the Class 2A boys title and Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo won 2A girls.
Archbishop Wood senior Gary Martin defended his title in the Class 3A boys race and set a PIAA championship record at 4:1.56.
The 1,600 was the only track final run Friday, and it was the day’s first event at 9 a.m.
Cochran will have an early wake-up call again Saturday for the 3,200, which also starts at 9 a.m. The 800 is scheduled for around 2 p.m.
She’s seeded sixth in the 3,200 at 10:48, but that’s seriously misleading. Her qualifying time from the WPIAL championship was 31 seconds slower than her personal best (10:17).
She’s seeded eighth in the 800, but her season-best time is five seconds faster than her seed.
Along with her growing collection of PIAA track medals, Cochran also is a three-time state cross country champion, so this weekend she’s adding the final achievements to a remarkable high school career.
But Cochran said she isn’t focused on the end.
“It still hasn’t hit me that I’m a senior,” she said. “I’m just finishing out the year having fun.” | 2022-05-28T03:56:12Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Moon’s Mia Cochran wins 1,600 meters, wants 2 more golds at busy PIAA championship | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/moons-mia-cochran-wins-1600-meters-wants-2-more-golds-at-busy-piaa-championship/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/moons-mia-cochran-wins-1600-meters-wants-2-more-golds-at-busy-piaa-championship/ |
Bright future for Hampton boys lacrosse
Sean Donlan was one of four Hampton boys lacrosse players to earn first-team all-Section 2-2A honors this season.
Hampton boys lacrosse coach Andy DeMichiei and his wife, Kristen, welcomed their first child, Owen, on May 10.
The former high school All-American also watched his Talbots program make some baby steps during his first season as coach at his alma mater.
“I think they showed positive signs and movement in the right direction,” he said. “I think it’s a promising future.”
The Talbots’ 2022 season ended with a 9-5 loss to visiting No. 5 seed South Fayette on May 19 in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.
The score was tied 3-3 at halftime before South Fayette netted a pair of goals in a 40-second span in the third quarter to take the lead for good. The fourth-seeded Talbots, down 7-3 at one point, pulled to within 7-5 with nine minutes to play, but they didn’t score again and fell to South Fayette in the WPIAL quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.
“We were never out of it,” senior midfielder Dylan Beranek said. “The scoreboard might have said otherwise, but we felt like we were in it the whole time. Effort was never an issue. We never gave up.”
The Talbots (8-8) stayed determined all season. They regrouped after a 1-4 start, which included a 19-1 loss to rival Mars, to earn the No. 4 seed. Expected to face a rebuilding season after losing 13 seniors from last year’s team, Hampton reached the WPIAL postseason for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
Opposing coaches took notice. Beranek, junior long stick middie Sean Donlan, sophomore defender Gabe Gannelli and junior goalie Kaden Hoolahan were rewarded with first-team All-Section 2-2A honors.
“I couldn’t be happier about how our season went,” Beranek said. “I came in expecting a sub-.500 season. Everyone was telling you, ‘Oh, you guys aren’t going to be that good.’ And we end up seeded higher than we did last year. I couldn’t be more proud with how our team played and how we responded to a tough start.”
The Talbots will be in good position to move forward again next season. They graduate Beranek (15 goals, 11 assists), whom DeMichiei called “one of the better leaders that I’ve ever been around,” and a quartet of senior first-year lacrosse players — Logan Schwartz, Christian Liberto, Kole Reiser and Joe Puccio.
Hampton will bring back “75-80%” of its scoring, including seniors-to-be Luke Hartle (34g, 17a), Maddox Lohr (25g, 21a) and Jacob Krempasky (29g, 10a), the team’s top three scorers.
Other top returnees include all-section picks Donlan, Hoolahan and Gannelli, along with juniors Derek Tronetti and Gabe Harris, sophomores Joey Nelson and Zachary Jacob, and freshmen Ray Kirsopp and Nolan Harris.
“We’re just returning a ton of talent,” DeMichiei said, “and will be set up for a good opportunity to make a run next year.”
DeMichiei also is optimistic about his feeder system. The eighth-grade team enjoyed “a ton of success,” he said, and another year of working hand-in-hand with the Hampton Youth Lacrosse association should pay dividends.
DeMichiei is stressing “vertical integration” between the varsity program and the youth teams, all the way down to second grade. He is working with Jim Schwarzbach, president of Hampton Youth Lacrosse, to coordinate terminology and offensive sets at the lower levels. DeMichiei is also looking to place more experienced coaches at the youth level.
“I think traditionally in the past it’s been a lot of parents who read the ‘Lacrosse for Dummies’ book and are doing their best to help out,” DeMichiei said. “But I think it’s going to be very helpful for our program to get guys who have played and have experience at the college level coaching at that youth level. That way, when guys get up to high school, they are a little bit more polished.”
DeMichiei is hoping to emulate perennial WPIAL powers such as Mars and Mt. Lebanon.
“(Mt. Lebanon) places so many good coaches and alumni throughout their youth program,” he said. “I think it’s one of the best in the WPIAL. They do a tremendous job. It’s something that they do really, really well, and something that I’m hoping to replicate here at Hampton.”
DeMichiei, for his part, is adapting to the challenges of being a new dad. He said returning home after the WPIAL playoff loss to his then-9-day-old son “put things into perspective.”
“I came home, and I was pretty disappointed,” he said. “I jumped in the shower, and coming out of the shower that’s when it kind of hit me. … I think coming home to him helped out and opened my eyes.”
• Mars boys lacrosse rolls to 6th straight WPIAL title with another dominant performance | 2022-05-28T18:30:13Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Bright future for Hampton boys lacrosse | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bright-future-for-hampton-boys-lacrosse/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/bright-future-for-hampton-boys-lacrosse/ |
Former Franklin Regional wrestlers keep Olympic dreams alive
Former Franklin Regional and Arizona State wrestler Josh Shields recently competed at the U.S. Open freestyle tournament and the World Team Trials.
Franklin Regional and Penn State grad Nico Megaludis recently competed at the U.S. Open freestyle tournament and the World Team Trials.
Josh Shields and Nico Megaludis aren’t ready to hang up their headgear just yet.
The Franklin Regional grads recently competed in the U.S. Open freestyle wrestling tournament and the World Team Trials and just came up short of making the team.
But they’re looking for another shot down the road at making the World Team or the Olympic team.
Shields finished second in the U.S. Open, falling to Kittanning grad and former Penn State wrestler Jason Nolf in the 74-kilogram finals.
He also competed in the World Team Trials where he was hoping for another shot at Nolf, but came up short.
Megaludis won the 61-kg title at the U.S. Open, but fell in the semifinals in the World Team Trials.
“It was a tough tournament,” Shields said before boarding a plane and flying home to Pittsburgh. “I’m glad I competed. I learned so much about myself and it will make me a better coach.”
Shields, 28, coaches high school wrestlers at the Ahwatukee Club in Phoenix. He graduated from Arizona State.
“I learned how to be a better hand fighter, and I have to work on perfecting two or three offensive moves,” Shields said. “I have to learn how to keep my opponents from scoring. It’s a lot different at this level. I have to feel comfortable in 1-0 matches.
“I have to be confident in those matches, and I think I’m getting closer. I felt myself getting better.”
Shields said he has to credit Mark Perry, a coach at Arizona State, for making him a better wrestler. He’s a two-time All-American and was a PIAA champion in 2015.
“I’ll just keep working hard,” Shields said. “My goal is to at least keep the dream going until 2028.”
For Megaludis, he’s back on working hard to get back on the mat after a few injuries sidelined him.
Megaludis was a national champion, a three-time finalist and a four-time All-American at Penn State. He was a three-time PIAA champion. His high school career record was 170-1.
Both wrestlers have had to overcome some injuries. Shields injured his ribs in the World Team Trials.
Another former Franklin Regional grad is on the move. Michael Kemerer, who recently graduated from Iowa, said he’s headed to Ithaca to train at Cornell. He made the announcement on Twitter.
Kemerer was a five-time All-American at Iowa. He will join Spartan Combat RTC as a resident athlete and to assist with coaching.
He said Spartan Combat RTC provides him with an opportunity to develop on and off the mat.
Kemerer recently had shoulder surgery.
He said his No. 1 goal is to get healthy and back on the mat. He’s looking forward to sharing his knowledge and influencing younger wrestlers.
Kemerer finished in the top four of the NCAA four times.
• Breaking down Seton Hill softball’s competition at NCAA Division II World Series | 2022-05-28T18:30:32Z | tribhssn.triblive.com | Former Franklin Regional wrestlers keep Olympic dreams alive | Trib HSSN | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-franklin-regional-wrestlers-keep-olympic-dreams-alive/ | https://tribhssn.triblive.com/former-franklin-regional-wrestlers-keep-olympic-dreams-alive/ |
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