Don Rebel stories, Page 120
Playoff win caps season of growth for Bishop Canevin softball
The Bishop Canevin softball team started the season losing four of its first five games. The Crusaders then won four of the next five contests. It was that kind of spring for the Crusaders, one in which everything balanced out, including their final record of 7-7. “This season was a...
Trib HSSN state baseball rankings for May 28, 2021
It was not a good week for the favorites in district baseball playoff across the state. Top seeds fell left and right in the biggest turnover week in the Trib HSSN state baseball rankings this season. Ten of the top 30 teams across the Commonwealth lost out on the chance...
Trib HSSN State Softball Rankings for May 27, 2021
What you see this time of year on scholastic diamonds across the state is the cream slowly rising to the top. Only four teams out of 30 from last week’s Trib HSSN state softball rankings lost in their district playoffs and fell out of the Top 5 for good. That...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 27, 2021: One spot in finals still up for grabs
The WPIAL baseball and softball semifinals are all in the book. Well, almost. All 12 baseball final four games were played Tuesday and 11 district softball semifinals were decided Tuesday and Wednesday, except one. The Class 2A semifinal between top-seeded Ligonier Valley and No. 5 seed Shenango was halted Wednesday...
Trib 10: Playoff upsets change face of baseball, softball power rankings
There were some major changes to the Trib 10 this week with some eyebrow-raisers that forced a shift in power heading into diamond championship week. Half of the baseball field was bounced in the quarterfinals and semifinals while only three softball teams didn’t have the power to stay ranked through...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 26, 2021: Champions crowned in lacrosse, volleyball
The week long gold rush begins Wednesday as the WPIAL will crown champions in four spring sports over the next seven days. On Wednesday, boys volleyball and girls lacrosse take center stage with championship matches in both Class AAA and AA. In girls lacrosse, Shady Side Academy will play for...
Another dominant performance for Seton LaSalle in 2A baseball semifinals
Veteran Serra Catholic coach Brian Dzurenda didn’t have much to say after his team lost to Seton LaSalle in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals at West Mifflin, but what he did share said it all. “They were just better than us.” Seton LaSalle dominated all aspects of the game in...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 25, 2021: Baseball teams fight for finals berths today
Wet weather, maybe more accurately, the threat of wet weather forced the WPIAL to shuffle the deck on the lineup for Monday. All of the district changes have created Semifinals Tuesday around the WPIAL with a dozen baseball games to decide who will play for gold next week at Wild...
Trib HSSN Softball Team of the Week for May 24, 2021
This winter, high school sports fans from across the WPIAL watched as the Ellwood City boys basketball team stunned the experts with a district championship run from the No. 11 seed in Class 3A. Is there any of that Wolverines magic golden dust left over to sprinkle on the No....
Trib HSSN Baseball Team of the Week for May 24, 2021
The Peters Township baseball program has an outstanding tradition with great success in the district and state postseason. Under the now-retired former coach, Joe Maize, the Indians won back-to-back WPIAL championships in 2007-2008, were the district runner-up once and reached the state finals twice, bringing home silver both times. However,...
Trib HSSN Baseball Player of the Week for May 23, 2021
The Big Three in Section 3-5A baseball is down to the Big One through two rounds of the WPIAL playoffs. First, South Fayette was stunned by Peters Township in the opening round, then Shaler lost a heartbreaker to Bethel Park in the quarterfinals. West Allegheny remains standing, thanks in part...
Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week for May 23, 2021
Every little kid who loves baseball or softball seems to have the same dream. Bottom of the last inning, tied score, bases loaded and you come to bat with the fate of your team in your hands and,. Then, a walk-off grand slam to win a playoff game. Dreams can...
This week on Trib HSSN: Week of May 24, 2021
It’s the diamond version of the countdown to the final four as the spring postseason heats up this week on the Trib High School Sports Network. We have exclusive video and audio coverage of the 2021 WPIAL baseball and softball playoffs as we feature the quarterfinals and semifinals rounds. We...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports: Monday, May 24, 2021
The third time’s a charm. In this case, the third time will decide the WPIAL Class 6A baseball championship participants. The 6A semifinals are section rematches. It will be the third meeting of the season between Butler and North Allegheny on one side of the bracket and Nowin against Hempfield...
Super sophomores make instant impact for South Fayette baseball
The Three Musketeers was a 19th century French historical adventure novel about three swordsmen who fought for justice. The South Fayette version of the nearly 180-year old tale is made up of three swashbuckling sophomores who use bats and gloves to fight for first place and hopefully, treasures of gold...
Carlynton softball savors highlights from up-and-down season
After sweeping Aliquippa in a doubleheader in early May, the Carlynton softball team was 4-3 in Section 1-2A and 6-3 overall. The Cougars looked to be in good shape for a playoff chase in a tough Section 1-2A. However, the team struggled down the stretch and missed out on the...
Upper St. Clair baseball downs Canon-McMillan in another come-from-behind win
Just call them the Cardiac Cats. Two weeks after scoring a run in the seventh inning to tie the game and another in the eighth to upset then top-ranked Norwin to clinch a WPIAL Class 6A playoff berth, Upper St. Clair worked its late magic again Friday to come back...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 21, 2021: Class 6A baseball joins the playoff party
Then there was one. After three days of WPIAL baseball first-round and even quarterfinal games throughout five of the classifications, the Class 6A district baseball tournament begins Friday. With only nine playoff teams, there is only one first-round game as Section 2-6A rivals Canon-McMillan and Upper St. Clair square off...
Trib 10 for May 20, 2021: Playoff upsets shake up power rankings
The district playoffs are upon us with the first two rounds being played this week. It’s a time of year when losses end the season. Losses can also bump teams from the weekly power ratings, with no hope of returning to the overall top 10. The postseason climb thus far...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 20, 2021: Unpredictable 5A softball tourney rolls on
Call it Black Tuesday around the WPIAL Class 5A softball playoffs. Half of the first-round games in 5A produced upsets as the bracket was turned upside down. No. 2 Latrobe, No. 3 Plum, No. 4 Shaler and No. 6 West Allegheny were all ousted in the opening round. With the...
Trib HSSN state baseball rankings for May 19, 2021
There was only one change to the latest edition of the 2021 Trib HSSN state baseball rankings in the bottom three classifications, but five teams were out in the top three classifications as the district playoffs begin. Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Cathedral Prep, Red Land, Warren and Bellefonte were all bounced from the...
Canon-McMillan dethrones 5-time defending WPIAL softball champ Hempfield
The longest WPIAL softball championship streak has ended. Hempfield no longer has that sixth sense. Canon-McMillan scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and held on to beat Hempfield, 2-1, in a Class 6A quarterfinals softball game Wednesday at West Mifflin. “I haven’t had a whole lot...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 19, 2021: It’s time for playoff baseball
This hump day happens to be the busiest day of the WPIAL spring postseason with lots of action in softball, lacrosse and boys volleyball. It also is opening day of the 2021 WPIAL baseball postseason with first-round games in Class 5A, 4A, 2A and A. Class 5A defending champion Shaler...
Trib HSSN State Softball Rankings for May 18, 2021
Only two teams dropped out of the Trib HSSN state softball rankings from last week as we closed out the regular season and geared up for the district playoffs. Central Columbia in 3A and Mount Union in 2A were bumped from the Top 5 in their respective classifications, replaced by...
Southmoreland keeps cool, downs Keystone Oaks in Class 3A softballVideo
Southmoreland jumped out to a big early lead and held on for an 11-9 victory over Keystone Oaks in a first-round WPIAL Class 3A softball playoff game Tuesday afternoon at West Mifflin. A quick start seemed out of the question for the Scotties when the first batter of the game...
