Don Rebel stories, Page 67

Western Beaver junior outfielder Shaylyn Shall knows a little bit about change. Shall attends Lincoln Park, which has a co-op agreement in softball with Western Beaver. It is her third high school in as many years after attending Montour as a freshman and Hopewell as a sophomore. However, the startling...

As a sophomore last year, Zane Griffaton batted .317 with two home runs and 17 RBIs for West Mifflin. But when you ask him about the Titans’ WPIAL Class 4A championship run from last season, Griffaton gets defensive. “Playing spectacular defense, I feel, played a really big part in our...

The Mars baseball program has proven itself as a perennial contender in WPIAL Class 5A. In the last five seasons, the Fightin’ Planets lost in the 2017 and 2018 district championship game to Latrobe and North Hills, respectively. They lost in the 2019 semifinals, the 2021 quarterfinals and were upset...

Easter Monday has most WPIAL baseball and softball teams enjoying the day off. However, there is some action to begin the new week. It has been a major struggle for defending WPIAL 6A baseball champion Mt. Lebanon in 2023. More than two weeks into the season, the Blue Devils still...

No need to hunt for eggs and treats this week as The Network goes full boat spring sports post-Easter holiday on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Trib HSSN continues our coverage of WPIAL softball and baseball with section action. We also have boys and girls district lacrosse. Plus, the...

Two weeks into the 2023 season, let’s look back at the end of the 2022 softball season. Two of the six PIAA champions from last spring finished with perfect records. District 2 champion Pittston Area completed a 25-0 season with a victory over Armstrong in the Class 5A championship game....

Before we debut the first Trib HSSN baseball state ranking for the 2023 campaign, we give you a little history lesson of the 2022 PIAA champions. Bethel Park was the only repeat state champion from 2021. The Black Hawks shut out Selinsgrove in Class 5A to win the program’s third...

There might be storms brewing in the area Thursday, but they won’t wash away a busy schedule of WPIAL boys volleyball. There are five Class 3A section matches, including an early season battle for first place in Section 1 as Canon-McMillan hosts Peters Township. The Big Macs and Indians are...

Nearly two weeks into the 2023 WPIAL baseball and softball seasons, it’s time to see who is feeling the power on the diamonds early this spring. Several familiar schools that ended the 2022 season ranked in the Trib 10 are back for more. Bethel Park was the Trib 10 top...

2023 Girls Basketball Player of the Year Maddie Webber South Fayette 5-11, senior, G In some places, fire is welcome warmth and light. In other areas, it could be disastrous if not controlled. In the belly of an athlete, fire is what separates the good players from the great ones....

Last year, they met three times on the softball diamond, twice in the regular season and one more time in the WPIAL 6A championship game. On Wednesday, these northern rivals meet for the first time this season as Seneca Valley hosts North Allegheny. In Section 1-6A action last spring, both...

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. After having a baserunner thrown out at the plate trying to score from third base on a wild pitch in the first inning, Bethel Park scored the game winner in the bottom of the seventh inning on a bases-loaded wild pitch...

What a great day for a ballgame, let’s play two — or at least the second game of the home-and-home section series in WPIAL baseball. Last spring, Upper St. Clair stunned Class 6A baseball fans by upsetting North Allegheny in the quarterfinals, then beating Butler in the semifinals to reach...

Brian Junker knows what a championship baseball team looks like after leading Shaler to WPIAL Class 5A gold in 2019. It’s early in the season, but this Titans team looks special as the calendar turns from March to April. “I love this team. I love these kids,” Junker said. “Everyone’s...

While many teams in the lower classifications began section play last week, most WPIAL baseball teams will start their section schedule Monday. The three defending district champions are slated to begin section action. In Class 6A, 2022 champion Mt. Lebanon might be thrilled to start in Section 2-6A after going...

Some young district pitchers don’t mind pitching in the early season chill known as March baseball. They feel it gives them an edge over the hitters. Don’t count Chartiers-Houston senior Ryan Opfer among them. “I prefer it hot actually,” Opfer said. “I prefer 90 degrees over 50 degrees to be...

Before we turn the house and or yard over looking for Easter eggs, we have a couple more days of spring scholastic sports to take us to the holiday this week here on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Trib HSSN continues our coverage of WPIAL softball and baseball with...

There were a lot of players and coaches who put in plenty of time on the basketball court this season to be the best they could be. While we salute all of those who participated in a memorable 2023 girls high school basketball campaign, we have a special seat in...

Foul weather in Western Pa. is a bonus for those softball teams that planned some business trips down south. Burrell (1-2) will complete its Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach with a game against Moore Catholic out of New York. West Allegheny (2-0) has two games set for Saturday at the...

There were a lot of players and coaches who put in plenty of time on the basketball court this season to be the best that they could be. While we salute all of those who participated in a memorable 2022-23 boys high school basketball campaign, we have a special seat...

The final day of March may bring limited action around the district diamonds due to a wet forecast. Perhaps the greatest chance at playing ball Friday might be Burrell softball team. The Bucs are spending a few days enjoying the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. before section play begins...

There are 21 WPIAL softball section games slated for Thursday as teams continue or begin their section schedule in Sections 2 and 3 in Class 4A, Sections 1 and 3 in Class 2A and Sections 1, 2 and 3 in Class A. Two games match teams that are looking to...

The WPIAL sent seven teams to Hershey to play for a PIAA basketball championship, and three came home with gold. Lincoln Park won the boys Class 4A state title while Class A produced two PIAA champions with Imani Christian boys and Union girls. Thus, there was no change at the...