Bill Beckner stories, Page 150
Westmoreland campus clippings: Norwin grad Thrift transferring to Youngstown State
Jayvon Thrift said transferring will bring his college football career, one that still is getting off the ground, “full circle.” That is because the school where he is headed to is the place where he initially planned to play. Thrift, a Norwin graduate, is leaving West Virginia to join the...
Yough softball team scores winning run on error in 8th inning to top Freeport
Freshman Makayla Spoonhoward made the turn for home, hit the deck and did a rollover. The Yough freshman slid safely across the plate after an error on a pick-off attempt in the bottom of the eighth Wednesday to bring an abrupt ending to a WPIAL softball playoff game that couldn’t...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 20, 2021
Today’s games Class 5A Quarterfinals 1-Penn-Trafford (15-4) vs. 8-North Hills (13-5) 2 p.m. at Fox Chapel Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Libby Gasior, North Hills Winner plays: Winner of 13-Connellsville (10-8)/5-Chartiers Valley (12-7) on Tuesday in semifinals Players to watch: Allie Prady, Sr., IF, Penn-Trafford; Sophia Roncone, Jr., P, North Hills...
Westmoreland notebook: Youngstown State right fit for Norwin’s Rigone
Emma Rigone had interest from a number of Division I women’s soccer programs but went with the one that checked all the boxes. The Norwin junior defender, who played center midfield in cup soccer, announced her commitment to Youngstown State. “The coaches stood out to me more than those from...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Another Big Ten title for Penn State’s Holmberg
A pair of Hempfield alums were crowned conference champions at the NCAA Division I level Saturday. Penn State grad student Maddie Holmberg won the heptathlon at the Big Ten Championships with a score of 5,839 points. Holmberg finished first in the long jump (6.16 meters) and the 200-meter dash (24.5...
Derry softball gets 1st playoff win in program historyVideo
From the routine-looking plays they made all over the field to the steady pitching and hitting they displayed, Derry softball players looked like they had been here before, like they belonged here even. The Trojans have experienced the WPIAL softball playoffs many times since the program began in 1979. But...
Favorite status doesn’t faze top softball seeds from Westmoreland County
If the softball playoffs come to pass the way the WPIAL committee foresees — “to chalk,” as they say — there are going to be some celebrations in Westmoreland County. Three schools — located at home plate, first base and third on a county map — are taking No. 1...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 19, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 6A Quarterfinals 3-Hempfield (12-5) vs. 6-Canon-McMillan (7-9) 4 p.m. at West Mifflin Coaches: Bob Kalp, Hempfield; Michele Moeller, Canon-McMillan Winner plays: Winner of 2-Norwin (13-2) vs. 7-North Allegheny (9-9) next Wednesday (time, site TBD) in semifinals Players to watch: Emma Hoffner, Sr. C, Hempfield; Olivia Ulam, Sr.,...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Led by Osikowicz, Seton Hill softball clean up postseason awards
Jenna Osikowicz played a key role at Hempfield, helping the softball program win three WPIAL titles and two PIAA championships. Now a senior right fielder at Seton Hill, Osikowicz brought her winning mentality to the Griffins — and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Osikowicz, who helped lead Seton Hill to...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 18, 2021
Tuesday’s games Class 5A First round Tuesday 1-Penn-Trafford (14-4) vs. 16-Hampton (7-8) 4 p.m. at Gateway Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Ron Fedell, Hampton Winner plays: Winner of 8-North Hills (12-4)/9-Trinity (8-4) on Thursday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Brooke Cleland, Sr., OF, Penn-Trafford; Charlotte Lomb, Fr., P,...
Hempfield alums Holmberg, Orie win conference track & field titles
A pair of Hempfield alums were crowned conference champions at the NCAA Division I level Saturday. Penn State grad student Maddie Holmberg won the heptathlon at the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill., while DePaul sophomore Mackenna Orie won the shot put title at the Big East Championships in Geneva,...
Westmoreland notebook: Norwin, Hempfield could meet in baseball, softball playoffs
Norwin and Hempfield could meet again in the WPIAL baseball and softball semifinals, and that could mean at least two local teams making the Class 6A finals. The teams split their section series. The baseball teams shared a section championship. The WPIAL playoffs begin this week, and the local matchups...
Seton Hill’s Tommy Pellis has big week of accolades on eve of PSAC semifinals
Tommy Pellis is glad he came back for a fifth baseball season at Seton Hill. So are the Griffins. A grad student outfielder and Greensburg Central Catholic grad, Pellis is having his best college season, and reaping the awards that can come with it. National prominence is nothing new to...
Norwin grad Christiana Skrabak making impact in final season with Seton Hill softball
Seton Hill softball player Christiana Skrabak was as impactful in a 16-0 runaway victory against Mercyhurst in the deciding game of a best-of-three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference quarterfinal series as she has been all season. Skrabak is a grad student from Norwin who is making sure her finale ends with...
Norwin notebook: Kessler’s home run trot a familiar sight for Knights
Sophomore Madie Kessler wasn’t aiming for Route 30, but those who witnessed her towering home run against North Allegheny believe the ball might have landed on the highway below Norwin High School. An umpire was even impressed, saying he hadn’t seen a ball hit that far. Kessler’s tape-measure blast to...
Franklin Regional softball team hits upswing as playoffs approach
After losing its first two games, the Franklin Regional softball has been a model of consistency. Sort of. A four-game winning streak was followed by four losses. But then, as you might have been able to guess, the Panthers won four more in a row. Coach Jim Armstrong is focusing...
Saint Vincent baseball rallies to reach PAC finals
Saint Vincent isn’t quite ready to cash in its chips. The Bearcats baseball team rallied for two wins Friday in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament and, all of the sudden, will play for the championship. Fourth-seeded SVC (17-17) staved off elimination twice by defeating No. 3 Franciscan, 13-4, and No....
Norwin soccer coach Lauren Karcher resigns after 7 successful seasons
Pregnant with her second child who is due to arrive in mid-September, Lauren Karcher knows she won’t be able to dedicate all of her attention to the girls soccer program at Norwin. She had the same issue in 2019 when she gave birth to her daughter, Harper, and she turned...
Previewing the PSAC softball championship: West Chester vs. Seton Hill
PSAC softball championship series West Chester (28-14) vs. Seton Hill (32-12) When: Friday, Saturday at Seton Hill Softball Complex, Greensburg. Game 1, 4 p.m. Friday; Game 2, 1 p.m. Saturday (Game 3 to follow, if necessary) Coaches: Diane Lokey, West Chester; Jessica Strong, Seton Hill What’s next?: The series winner...
Latrobe in lofty spot as Westmoreland County softball squads earn top WPIAL seeds
Even though it seemed like it at first glance, there was no clerical error or mix-up on the right side of the WPIAL Class 5A softball playoff bracket when it met public eyes Thursday. Latrobe, the No. 2 seed? It even surprised Latrobe’s coach. Bob Kovalcin was slightly taken aback...
Westmoreland high school baseball notebook: Area teams set for WPIAL playoffs
The WPIAL will convene Friday to draw up playoff brackets. The pairings will be announced around 3 p.m. on the Trib High School Sports Network. At least 10 Westmoreland teams are headed to the postseason, which could begin Monday. Local qualifiers are Hempfield and Norwin (Class 6A); Franklin Regional, Latrobe...
Westmoreland softball notebook: Franklin Regional surges into playoffs
After losing its first two games, the Franklin Regional softball has been a model of consistency. Sort of. A four-game winning streak was followed by four straight losses. But then, five more wins in a row. Coach Jim Armstrong is focusing more on the most recent streak, which earned the...
Latrobe softball pitchers prove to be worthy replacements
Latrobe has done just fine without Jordan Tallman, thank you. Don’t get the wrong idea. The Wildcats miss their senior ace and can’t wait to get her back in the circle. But they have done more than provide a stopgap with a pair of underclassmen arms. Tallman injured the wrist...
Norwin baseball batters Class 5A No. 1 Franklin Regional, 18-2
Norwin had lost two section games in a row and was looking to recharge its battery – and its bats — against Franklin Regional in a nonsection baseball game that had some extra shine to it. It’s not often teams of this ilk get to meet just before the WPIAL...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Ex-Mt. Pleasant ace Alincic leaving Morehead State
Former Mt. Pleasant ace softball pitcher Carolyn Alincic is changing college programs, and possibly divisions. The strikeout pitcher who won WPIAL and PIAA titles with the Vikings, is leaving Morehead State (Ky.) after just less than two seasons. Candid and open about her decision, Alincic said she needed to hit...
