Bill Beckner stories, Page 121
New coaches at Jeannette, Hempfield plan to continue their programs’ traditions of winning
Tom Paulone watches his players condition in the weight room at Jeannette’s McKee Stadium on a bitter-cold March afternoon. Training camp is more than four months away, but the Jayhawks’ new football coach has his players working. Paulone’s eyes light up, and a smile covers his face as one Jayhawk...
Hempfield alum Kason Harrell selected as all-star in Irish pro hoops league
Kason Harrell has proven he can play at the next level. He has become one of the most popular players in Ireland’s Super League. On Friday, the former Hempfield and Fort Wayne star capped another productive season with an all-star nod. Harrell, a second-year pro for Killester Basketball Club, was...
Westmoreland H.S. baseball notebook: Latrobe enjoys out-of-state opener
Latrobe continued a tradition by playing a baseball game against Upper Arlington High School in Ohio. The Wildcats traveled one state over to open the season against Upper Arlington, which is coached by Latrobe graduate Nate Phillips. Here’s the cool part: The schools’ most famous alums are golf legends Arnold...
Seton Hill’s Osikowicz up for national softball award
Jenna Osikowicz came back for a fifth season at Seton Hill. It might earn her a national award. The standout softball player from Hempfield was added to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Year Award watch list, one of 50 NCAA Division II players nominated....
Boys rosters set for May’s Roundball Classic all-star basketball games
The Roundball Classic senior all-star basketball games will return May 19-21 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Boys rosters were released Wednesday, with players from the WPIAL, City League, District 6 and District 10 set to compete in five games. The schedule is as follows: Thursday, May 19 Girls District...
Westmoreland softball notebook: Franklin Regional plays power ball
Franklin Regional did more than hit the beach in Florida. The Panthers softball team also hit the ball — all over the place — when they opened the season at a KSA event in Orlando. Coach Jim Armstrong expected offense to be swift and productive, and the Panthers (4-1) didn’t...
Girls Roundball Classic all-star basketball rosters announced
The Roundball Classic senior all-star basketball games will return May 19-21 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Girls rosters are set and feature players from the WPIAL, District 6, District 10 and the City League. Event director Allen Deep said boys rosters, along with times and matchups for all of...
Latrobe alum Austin Butler picked for national 3-on-3 competition
Austin Butler is tough to defend one on one. Opponents will soon be trying to slow the former Latrobe star in a 3-on-3 format. The former Latrobe star can earn some cash along the way. Butler, who just completed his grad season at Charlotte, has been selected to play for...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Ligonier Valley’s Rachel Caldwell adds lacrosse to resume
When she played at Ligonier Valley, Rachel Caldwell was a four-year letterwinner in soccer and earned two letters playing softball. If there was a spot for hidden talents in her yearbook, she could have listed lacrosse. Caldwell, a junior at Waynesburg, registered a career-high six goals in a 22-14 loss...
Belle Vernon’s Kreis makes USA junior handball team
What started as a curious activity in gym class turned into a chance for Viva Kreis to represent her country. A junior at Belle Vernon, Kreis was recently selected to play for the USA Women’s Junior National Handball Team that will compete next month against Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Tyler Horvat ready to build on All-American season
Gradually, Washington & Jefferson junior baseball player Tyler Horvat (Penn-Trafford) is getting back into a rhythm, but a slight setback has him well behind of last year’s torrid pace. A nagging groin injury caused him to miss the first 10 games of the season. “We didn’t want to rush things...
Recruiting hype doesn’t seem to affect Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin
Even at a young age, Quinton Martin is existing nicely with the recruiting process. The sophomore standout from Belle Vernon said the big-time college attention hasn’t changed him a bit. It could have, but it hasn’t. And he doesn’t think it will. The most sought-after recruit to come out of...
Norwin notebook: Girls bowling team reaches playoff round at states
The Norwin girls bowling team reached the playoff round of the state championships March 19 in Lancaster. The Knights were tripped up by Neshaminy in the quarterfinals, 2-0. Neshaminy went on to defeat Shikellamy in the finals. Norwin was third after the qualifying round. Kali Siegel (533), Kari Siegel (487),...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Franklin Regional establishes sports hall of fame
From now until April 29, Franklin Regional is taking nominations for its inaugural hall of fame class. A longtime idea that was finally brought to fruition, the Franklin Regional Athletics Hall of Fame will launch this year. While halls of fame are not as popular as one might think, at...
Penn-Trafford baseball wins opener against rival Norwin
Jake Otto batted in the lower third of the Penn-Trafford lineup last season as an unassuming sophomore. But he knew his role likely would increase this season. When junior Jakob Haynes, the Warriors’ likely No. 4 hitter, was injured during football, Otto was ready to pick up the slack. On...
Westmoreland PIHL playoff preview capsule: Pennsylvania Cup championship game
Saturday’s game Pennsylvania Cup Hockey Championship Class A Norwin (16-4-2) vs. West Chester East (17-0) 11 a.m., Ice Line Quad Rinks, West Chester Coaches: Mike Robinson, Norwin; Eric Wolf, West Chester East Scouting report: Norwin returned to the PIHL finals for the first time in 38 years and made the...
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Felder will play for Youngstown State
In less than a month’s time, Sara Felder was recruited by a school, visited its campus and made a commitment. Three goals accomplished. Of course, Felder is used to hat tricks. Now, the Greensburg Central Catholic junior has her college plans laid out as she prepares for one final high...
Westmoreland baseball opening day primer: Teams, players, games to watch
Friday is opening day for high school baseball in the WPIAL. Here are some particulars to guide you into opening day — and a new season. Teams to watch Hempfield — The returning WPIAL Class 6A runner-up has some key players back and opens the season ranked No. 2. Norwin...
Westmoreland softball opening day primer: Teams, players, games to watch
Friday is opening day for high school softball in the WPIAL. Here are some particulars to get you started on a new season. Teams to watch Norwin — The Knights have pitching and power and are ranked No. 2 in Class 6A. Hempfield — New coach Tina Madison takes over...
Senior leadership, sophomore talent helps Norwin reach Pennsylvania Cup final
While the roster lists them by their sweater number and class, Norwin hockey players say they identify as one. In other words, in their minds there are no sophomores or seniors, freshmen or juniors. Just a bunch of talented players on the same team with the same goals. Big, realistic...
Expectations remain high for Southmoreland softball team
Southmoreland softball had some fun with its first week of practices, introducing themes. Players showed up in all kinds of gaudy costumes. One day, they were ballerinas. The next, hunters dressed in camouflage. Their outfits in the days that followed included medical scrubs, fluorescent construction gear and cowgirl hats and...
‘Playoffs or nothing’ for refocused Southmoreland baseball team
With rain in the forecast earlier in the week, Southmoreland baseball players rolled out a brand new tarp to cover their home infield. They used tires to weigh it down. In this case, the wheels didn’t come off. Last year was a different story. The Scotties started 5-0 but proceeded...
Norwin hockey rolls into state final against West Chester East
Norwin hockey players held up a poster board with two words written on it Monday night after their first championship victory. The words? “Roll Academy.” The meaning? “We call ourselves the Academy,” sophomore goaltender Owen Burmeister said. “It’s just a name we came up with. We want to keep it...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Norwin’s Anthony DelleFemine changing course
Former Norwin football standout Anthony DelleFemine is leaving Youngstown State. He has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will have two years of eligibility left. DelleFemine began his college career at Robert Morris but setbacks and injuries forced him to change lanes. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior wide receiver played in...
Norwin blanks McDowell to claim 1st Penguins Cup championship
Norwin likes to give out a banana to its top player after each hockey win, the recipient being the choice of senior defenseman Will Dillner. The Knights were going bananas Monday night as they made program history, but Dillner could hardly decide on one player. There were a bunch. This...
