Don Rebel stories, Page 61

Shaler senior Miguel Hugas was hesitant when he learned he was moving to the United States to go to high school at Shaler. However, he has no regrets now. Nor do his Titans teammates. “At the beginning, I didn’t want to come here. I wanted to play in Venezuela,” Hugas...

As we prepare for the PIAA semifinals Monday, it looks like when it comes to state softball, the southwest may be best. Of the 24 remaining teams, seven are from the WPIAL. Other western districts include District 6 with three teams and Districts 5, 9 and 10 with one team...

Some classes underwent major changes while others are virtually the same in the latest Trib HSSN baseball rankings as we hit the midway point of the PIAA postseason. Class 4A and 2A saw three district champions ousted from the rankings while only one change was made in 5A and A....

In the first five years of the six-classification format, the WPIAL has averaged just over three teams per year participating in the PIAA baseball finals. For the district to keep pace with that average, teams will have to be above average in the state semifinals Monday. The WPIAL is down...

WPIAL teams are guaranteed to be represented at the PIAA softball championships next week at Penn State in both Class 5A and 4A. Two District 7 teams go head-to-head in the state semifinals Monday in those two classifications. The WPIAL has one team left in Class 6A, 2A and A....

The field of teams from the WPIAL still hunting state gold continues to shrink. In 2021, District 7 sent a record five baseball and five softball teams to Penn State. Last spring, the WPIAL had three baseball and four softball teams qualify for the PIAA state championship games. Now, midway...

What a difference two weeks makes. When Trinity faced Shaler 15 days ago in the WPIAL 5A semifinals, the Hillers jumped on top and watched the Titans battle back to tie before winning the game in eight innings. On Thursday in the PIAA quarterfinals, it was Shaler that jumped on...

The WPIAL sent a total of 37 baseball and softball teams to the PIAA postseason. The District 7 baseball teams were a combined 9-10 in the first round while the softball squads were a sparkling 12-6 in state openers. Now it’s time for quarterfinals Thursday in the PIAA diamond playoffs....

The three biggest classifications produced perfection for WPIAL teams in the opening round of the 2023 PIAA softball playoffs. The three lower classes, not so much. WPIAL softball teams in Class 6A, 5A and 4A were a combined 7-0 on Monday in the first round of the state playoffs. It...

The first round of the 2023 PIAA baseball playoffs produced a mixed bag for WPIAL teams. The big bags were dominant as Class 6A and 5A teams from District 7 were a combined 5-0. Teams in the other four classifications were a combined 4-10. Four WPIAL champions — Mt. Lebanon...

Baseball and softball aren’t the only spring sports winding down with the start of the PIAA postseason. Boys volleyball and boys and girls lacrosse begin their state playoffs Tuesday. In Class 3A boys volleyball, North Allegheny has won four straight state championships. The last time the Tigers did not win...

For having just made history, it seemed like business as usual for the Neshannock softball team after a 9-0 shutout of visiting Penns Valley on Monday in a PIAA Class 2A first-round playoff game. That’s probably because the Lancers have been in the business of nothing but winning these last...

The WPIAL and the other 11 district baseball and softball playoffs are in the books. All of the winners, along with some of the runners-up and consolation survivors will now turn their full attention to the PIAA diamond postseason over the next two weeks, starting Monday. Baseball Two WPIAL baseball...

Now that we are into June, the clock is winding down on the high school sports season, however with the district postseason in the rearview mirror, the focus turns to the state playoffs in the PIAA this week on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Trib HSSN begins our coverage...

Perfection not only brings the gold, it brings a room with a powerful view as we present the district championship edition of the Trib 10. There was only one team change in both the baseball and softball power rankings this week as WPIAL Class A baseball champion Bishop Canevin debuts,...

The late, great David Bowie once crooned about “changes,” which we have plenty of on the latest edition of the Trib HSSN baseball rankings before the start of the PIAA baseball playoffs. The end of the district playoffs prompted most of the moves as some ranked teams found the semifinal...

The larger classifications were hit hard by the district semifinals and finals, prompting plenty of changes in Class 6A, 5A and 4A in this week’s Trib HSSN state softball rankings. Those three classes had three changes each, including new No. 1 teams in 5A and 4A. The three lower classes...

Riverside rallied from a one-run deficit to score the tying run in the fifth inning and five more in the sixth, giving the Panthers a 6-1 victory over Neshannock in the WPIAL Class 3A baseball championship game Wednesday at Wild Things Park. The win is the sixth district crown for...

While all eyes the next few days will be on the district golden parties at Wild Things Park in Washington and Lilley Field in California, there are other key games being played in the WPIAL baseball and softball playoffs. Six of the district’s 10 consolation games will be played with...

As you prep for the picnics and cookouts this holiday weekend, there will be plenty of golden treats later this week as we celebrate diamond Championship Week in the WPIAL on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Trib HSSN concludes our exclusive coverage of WPIAL baseball and softball with all...