Bill Beckner stories, Page 188
Lancaster Catholic ends Southmoreland’s dream season in PIAA second round
BEDFORD — The party is over for Southmoreland. Perennial power Lancaster Catholic raced to a commanding lead, held off a late flurry and bounced the Scotties from the state playoffs, 64-56, ending the high-wire act that had reached the PIAA Class 4A second round. The Scotties made it respectable by...
Despite heart-breaking ending, Belle Vernon boys basketball proud of effort
After 48 minutes of basketball, Belle Vernon senior forward Jared Hartman was so emotionally wrung out and exhausted, he collapsed to the court and just sat there in a daze. He was numb after playing in a game for the ages. “I have never been a part of something like...
Lancaster Catholic outlasts Belle Vernon in 4OT epicVideo
ALTOONA — Lancaster Catholic won’t get to re-watch the last portion of its insane PIAA second-round win, and it’s unfortunate. “We had someone filming and our iPad died in the seventh quarter,” Crusaders coach Joe Klazas said. “We’ll have a lot to remember, I can tell you that.” The game...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Penn State’s Maddie Holmberg honored again
Maddie Holmberg, a Penn State senior and Hempfield alum, was named the United Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year. She is a repeat winner of the award, which has a lot of words in its name but almost seems fitting in that...
Pieces in place for Hempfield softball’s quest for 6th straight WPIAL crown
Even by Hempfield’s lofty standards, last year was somewhat of a surprise. The Lady Spartans started slow, took a pair of haymakers to the chin from North Allegheny and Penn-Trafford and looked like they might be in for a slow climb to get into playoff form again, let alone title-winning...
Hempfield baseball to lean on pitching depth, work ethic
Hempfield could take some time to find its identity on the baseball diamond, and 13th-year coach Tim Buzzard is in no hurry to see that happen. “We still have things to figure out,” Buzzard said. “We have to see which kids blend and mesh. You really don’t know until you...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball capsule for March 11, 2020
Today’s game Class 4A Second round Southmoreland (25-1) vs. Lancaster Catholic (26-3) 6 p.m. at Bedford High School Winner plays: Winner of Northern Lebanon (23-4) and Danville (25-3) on Saturday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD) Coaches: Brian Pritts, Southmoreland; Charlie Detz, Lancaster Catholic Players to watch: Sarah Pisula, Southmoreland (Sr.,...
Community support swells for Southmoreland girls hoops
Carson’s Catering in Scottdale welcomed the Southmoreland girls basketball team in for a buffet dinner after Saturday’s PIAA playoff win — the first in the state postseason for the Scotties. Pasta, chicken parmesan, hot sausage, stuffed shells, ravioli, soup and salad — all of it, on the house. A carb...
Locals Oberdorf, Myers garner MAAC softball honors
Marist teammates and former Westmoreland County and WPIAL softball standouts Claire Oberdorf and Kiley Myers swept the latest Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the week honors. Oberdorf, a third baseman out of Greensburg Salem, was tabbed player of the week and Myers, who is from Latrobe, was the pitcher...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball capsule for March 10, 2020
PIAA basketball playoffs Boys Class 4A Second round Belle Vernon (20-7) vs. Lancaster Catholic (24-3) 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Altoona High School Winner plays: Winner of Imhotep Charter (20-8) and Montoursville (21-5) on Friday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD) Coaches: Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon; Joe Klazas, Lancaster Catholic Players to...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Pitt-Greensburg coaches honored by AMCC
Brody Jackson led Pitt-Greensburg to one of the best regular seasons in the history of the men’s basketball program. He was recognized for the accomplishment by being named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year. His counterpart, Hayley Schaetzle, received the same conference honor on the women’s side...
Spencer Lee semifinalist for nation’s top amateur athlete award
Spencer Lee is considered one of the top amateur athletes in the nation. The proof certainly is in the results: two NCAA wrestling titles at Iowa and an All-American career so far at the collegiate level. The Franklin Regional grad and Hawkeyes junior is now up for an award representative...
Spencer Lee finally breaks through for Big Ten title, aims for third national title
It’s hard to believe Spencer Lee has never won a conference title before Sunday. The Iowa wrestler has won everything else at the college level, and always strives for something greater. But he finally added Big Ten gold to his decorated career. Lee, a junior out of Franklin Regional, was...
IUP men, women seeded first in NCAA Atlantic Regional, will host opening games
The road to the Elite Eight will run through Indiana. IUP made it a double-dip for No. 1 seeds Sunday night when the NCAA announced pairings for the Division II men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Both IUP teams earned top seeds and home games in the Atlantic Regional, which means...
Similarities abound, Belle Vernon and Soutmoreland learn second-round sites
The Belle Vernon boys and Southmoreland girls have more than a few things in common as they trek through the PIAA basketball playoffs. Not only are both in Class 4A but also are the last remaining teams from Westmoreland County in this year’s postseason. Both earned silver medals in the...
Southmoreland makes PIAA girls basketball playoffs debut to remember
Having never been to the PIAA girls basketball playoffs, Southmoreland wasn’t quite sure what was in store Saturday afternoon in its state tournament debut. Would there be nerves playing in front of another large crowd? Of course. Was the thought of a potential trip-up lurking in the shadows? Maybe a...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Derry’s Bushey to golf at Cal (Pa.)
Derry senior Aidan Bushey did not start playing competitive golf until high school, so in the beginning of his budding career he had no idea the sport would be so beneficial to his future. He looks back fondly on the first time he put a tee in the ground and...
WPIAL champion Laurel Highlands bounced from PIAA tournament in 1st round
Laurel Highlands had grown accustomed to winning close games, almost to the point of expecting them to happen. Good, down-to-the-wire games had become their calling card in the playoffs. The Mustangs won’t blow you out, they said, but they’ll give you quite a show. Call it a law of averages...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball preview capsules for March 7, 2020
Today’s games Boys Class 3A first round Ligonier Valley (23-3) vs. Carlynton (15-9) 1 p.m. at Greater Johnstown Winner plays: Winner of Fairview (23-2) and Beaver Falls (14-8) on Wednesday in second round Coaches: John Berger, Ligonier Valley; Mike Kozy, Carlynton Players to watch: Michael Marinchak, Ligonier Valley; Chauncie Mickens,...
Hempfield’s Holmberg repeats as mid-region’s top field athlete
Another indoor track and field season, another award for Maddie Holmberg. Holmberg, a Penn State senior and Hempfield alum, was named the United Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year. She is a repeat winner of the award, which has a lot of...
Fresh start for Southmoreland in maiden voyage into PIAA girls basketball playoffs
Forgive Southmoreland girls basketball coaches and players for not knowing what to expect in the PIAA playoffs. This is their first time in the state tournament, but don’t expect uncertainty to bother the Scotties much. All coach Brian Pritts knows is his WPIAL runner-up team looks like it is ready...
Westmoreland County basketball playoff preview capsule: Game of March 6, 2020
Today’s game Boys Class 4A first round Belle Vernon (19-7) vs. Clearfield (15-8) 7:30 p.m. at St. Marys High School Winner plays: Winner of Lancaster Catholic (23-3) and Ringgold (14-10) on Tuesday in second round Coaches: Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon; Nathan Glunt, Clearfield Players to watch: Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon...
Fite, Biss chosen top coach, athlete in PSAC East basketball
Chris Fite offers high praise for Jake Biss, his steely-eyed point guard at Shippensburg. But the feeling is mutual when it comes to Biss’ respect for his coach. Fite and Biss, both Latrobe alums, were lauded by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on Thursday, Fite as the coach of the...
Westmoreland basketball notebook: Belle Vernon aims to improve its defense
Ask Belle Vernon players about their runner-up finish in the WPIAL, and they immediately get defensive. The Leopards (19-7) think the result against Highlands (22-3) could have been different — or at least, closer — in last week’s WPIAL Class 4A championship had they amped up their effort on defense....
Jeannette’s Julian Batts sinks game-winner for LIU Brooklyn in NEC tourney openerVideo
Julian Batts never imagined he could get this much attention for a layup. But this layup was different. It had excitement and charisma. It brought the crowd to its feet. And it was a season-saver. The Long Island Brooklyn senior point guard took an inbound pass on the wing Wednesday...
