Bill Beckner stories, Page 149
Norwin grad has career year for Seton Hill baseball
Owen Sabol got a taste of college baseball right away when he arrived at Seton Hill. He played in 10 games and started nine of them. But then the pandemic kicked in and the season was sawed off 13 games in. That’s when the waiting game began for 2021. It...
Murrysville Star notebook: FR grad earns all-region honors for Mercyhurst baseball
It has been eight years since the Mercyhurst baseball team saw a relief pitcher earn all-region honors. But then Michael Krauza came along and had a season to place on the mantel. Krauza was named to the NCBWA Atlantic All-Region First Team after making 19 regular season appearances and leading...
Play ball: Times set for WPIAL softball championships
The WPIAL softball championships will return to renovated Cal U for the first time since 2017. There will be four games Wednesday and two more Thursday at Lilley Field. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, June 2 Class A: West Greene vs. Union, noon Class 3A: Mt. Pleasant vs. Ellwood...
Canon-McMillan advances past Norwin to reach WPIAL Class 6A softball final in a pinch
About a month ago, Taylor Eckles wasn’t sure if she would be able to join her teammates in the WPIAL playoffs. A torn tendon in her knee forced her to the sidelines, and she sat softball dormant for six weeks. The Canon-McMillan junior made her return to game action in...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball capsule for May 27, 2021
Thursday’s game Class 3A Third-place game Southmoreland (11-5) vs. Avonworth (12-6) 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway Coaches: Todd Bunner, Southmoreland; Jenna Muncie, Avonworth What’s at stake: The winner qualifies for the PIAA playoffs, and the loser is done for the season. Players to watch: Amarah McCutcheon, Fr., SS, Southmoreland; Abigail...
Smithnosky powers top-seeded Mt. Pleasant past Avonworth into Class 3A finalsVideo
Taking ownership of another WPIAL playoff game, senior Mary Smithnosky propelled Mt. Pleasant into the Class 3A championship with her arm and her bat. The top-seeded Vikings stood on the shoulders of Smithnosky, who tossed a one-hitter and went 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs, in...
Inspirational soccer standouts honored with ‘Moe’ Rosensteel scholarships
The Kaitlyn “Moe” Rosensteel Scholarship Foundation planned to award one scholarship to a deserving WPIAL girls soccer player in the name of the late Ringgold and travel soccer standout and West Virginia Wesleyan recruit who was killed in June of 2019 by a lightning strike at Mammoth Park in Mt....
No. 11 Ellwood City tops Southmoreland, continues underdog run to softball finals
Ellwood City coach Gary Rozanski has seen his teams win WPIAL championships before but never has judged them on aesthetics. It’s not about how it looks. It’s about finding ways to advance. “It’s about playing your best ball and getting hot at the right time,” Rozanski said. “Who takes better...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball capsules for May 26, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 6A Semifinals 2-Norwin (14-2) vs. 6-Canon-McMillan (8-9) 2 p.m. at West Mifflin Coaches: Brian Mesich, Norwin; Michele Moeller, Canon-McMillan Winner plays: Winner of 1-Bethel Park (16-0)/5-Pine-Richland (9-8) on June 2 or 3 in WPIAL championship at Cal (Pa.) Players to watch: Sydney Lokay, Sr., P, Norwin; Olivia...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Jeannette grad Ciara Gregory promoted at Charlotte
Charlotte women’s basketball promoted former standout guard and Jeannette alum Ciara Gregory to a full-time assistant coach. The promotion comes after Gregory served as a graduate manager for two seasons. Gregory, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an American studies minor in 2017, completed a master’s degree this...
A-K Valley baseball playoff preview capsule: Game Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Class A semifinals 7-Riverview (10-6) vs. 6-Jefferson-Morgan (13-5) 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Plum Coaches: Bill Gras, Riverview; John Curtis, Jefferson-Morgan Winner plays: Winner of 1-Eden Christian (16-4)/4-Union (9-5) on June 1 or 2 in championship at Wild Things Park, Washington Players to watch: Taylor Zellefrow, Jr., IF, Riverview; Bryce Bedilion,...
Riverview makes noise in Class A baseball bracket, knocks out No. 2 GCC
The volume seemed to get louder from the Riverview dugout as the game progressed. Wire-to-wire chants and shouts echoed across the field and didn’t stop until the Raiders’ crescendo — the waving of a skull-and-crossbones flag that punctuated a brow-raising upset in the WPIAL Class A baseball playoffs. The message...
Westmoreland high school softball notebook: Sister pairs contribute for Mt. Pleasant
Sister combinations are nothing new to high school softball, but having multiple combos is a little less common. Mt. Pleasant, set to play Avonworth on Tuesday in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals at Penn-Trafford, has two sets of sisters, and they all contribute. Both consist of a senior and sophomore....
WPIAL softball playoff capsules: Games for Tuesday, May 25, 2021
WPIAL softball playoff preview Tuesday’s games Class 4A Semifinals 7-Southmoreland (11-4) vs. 11-Ellwood City (13-4) 2 p.m. at Penn-Trafford Coaches: Todd Bunner, Southmoreland; Gary Rozanski, Ellwood City Winner plays: Winner of 1-Mt. Pleasant (15-3) vs. 4-Avonworth (12-5) on June 2 or 3 (time TBD) in the championship at Cal (Pa.)...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Greensburg’s Goetz makes run at NCAA golf regional
Mark Goetz already had made school history by qualifying for the NCAA Regional round. But the senior golfer from West Virginia nearly took it a step further. Goetz, a Greensburg native who attended The Kiski School, played his way into the lead on the final day of the regional and...
Low numbers concerning, but Jeannette football coach Hall not giving up
With lower participation numbers than usual at Jeannette, rumors have been swirling around the football program. Coach Roy Hall has heard them all. The season might be in jeopardy. The Jayhawks might not be able to field a team this year. A co-op with a neighboring district is imminent. Hall...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: More offers coming in for P-T’s Cade Yacamelli
With high school football training camps set to open in less than three months, Cade Yacamelli of Penn-Trafford has a lot on his mind. The soon-to-be senior is drawing college offers at a rapid pace. He added three this month, from New Hampshire, Yale and Maine. The 6-foot, 200-pound running...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 24, 2021
WPIAL softball playoff previews Monday’s games Class 4A Quarterfinals 7-Yough (11-5) vs. 2-Beaver (14-0) 3 p.m. at Peterswood Park, McMurray Coaches: Dutch Harvey, Yough; Amy Haggart, Beaver Winner plays: Winner of 3-West Mifflin (15-4)/6-Burrell (8-6) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site to TBD) Players to watch: Savannah Manns, Sr., OF,...
Hempfield baseball survives up-and-down inning, stops Central Catholic
No matter how far this playoff runs goes, Hempfield will remember that nerve-racking yet fun-filled fifth inning from the quarterfinals when the Spartans turned a negative into a positive. The third-seeded Spartans went from an unsavory performance in the top of the frame to reversing course and taking control in...
Jake Bazala’s strong outing helps Norwin down Seneca Valley in WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinalsVideo
After the baseball season is over, Jake Bazala plans to cut his long, auburn-colored locks and donate them to a good cause. Until then, the Norwin senior pitcher and his trademark curly hair will try to keep moving forward in the WPIAL playoffs. And the Knights will keep trying to...
Norwin baseball turns up offense at right time
Norwin had made a habit out of eking one-run baseball games, which is fine with the coaching staff, as long as the Knights are winning. Some expected another tight finish when the Class 6A No. 3 Knights hosted Franklin Regional, the state’s top-ranked team in Class 5A, in a late-season...
Franklin Regional baseball works to ‘flush’ late-season loss
For Franklin Regional baseball coach Bobby Saddler and his players, it must have been like having the theme from “Psycho” pierce their ears. Ree, ree, ree. The Panthers’ first loss of the season hit hard, like a stabbing pain. Norwin, the third-ranked team in Class 6A at the time, roughed...
Leechburg softball rolls past Mapletown, advances to WPIAL Class A semifinals
Adjusting her helmet and gripping her bat while on the move from the dugout, Bella Vozar shuffled toward the plate in the bottom of the third inning like she was late for class. The umpire told her to slow down and take her time. “I’m OK,” the Leechburg junior catcher...
Smithnosky pitches top-seeded Mt. Pleasant past Derry, into Class 3A semifinals
Normally, hitting is what jump starts the high-powered Mt. Pleasant softball team. One knock usually leads to many more. But in the Vikings’ playoff opener Thursday under blazing sunshine at Norwin, pitching carried the day. Senior Mary Smithnosky put together a career performance, striking out 14 in a three-hit shutout,...
Seton Hill, Bloomsburg to meet for PSAC baseball title
PSAC baseball championship series (best of 3) Bloomsburg (21-15) vs. Seton Hill (34-4) When: Friday, Saturday (Game 1, noon Friday, Game 2 to follow; Game 3 Saturday if needed) Where: Seton Hill Baseball Complex, Greensburg Coaches: Mike Collins, Bloomsburg; Marc Marizzaldi, Seton Hill What’s next: The winner advances to the...
