Jerin Steele stories, Page 7
Springdale hires Chad Walsh as football coach hoping he can change team’s fortunes
Chad Walsh has experience turning around struggling football programs. He did so at Valley a dozen years ago, and now he will look to do the same at Springdale. Walsh officially was hired as coach of the Dynamos on Tuesday at the Allegheny Valley School Board meeting. “I live in...
Aliquippa tops Fort Cherry to earn another shot at a state title in Hershey
Cameron Lindsey doesn’t eat much chocolate, but he sure loves making trips to Hershey. No matter what sport he’s playing. Lindsey, a Pitt football recruit, showed his soft touch around the rim on the basketball court Tuesday night, scoring 18 points to help Aliquippa defeat Fort Cherry, 65-53, in the...
Tough loss ends special season for Burrell hockey
Burrell’s run in the PIHL Division 2 playoffs ended in heartbreaking fashion Monday night with a 6-5 loss to Neshannock in the championship game at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, but it wasn’t hard for the Bucs to find highlights from a stellar season. The current group of Bucs...
After wild 3rd period, waved-off goal, Neshannock wins 3rd PIHL D2 title in 4 years
Burrell thought it had the potential game-winning goal late in the third period until it was waved off. A couple minutes later, Brian McConahy scored to keep Neshannock’s impressive run going. McConahy’s goal with just over two minutes left in regulation propelled the Lancers to their third PIHL Division 2...
Burrell hockey team out to make program history in championship game
Burrell finished one spot ahead of Neshannock in the PIHL Division 2 standings, but the Lancers have loads of championship experience. They are looking for their third championship in the past four years. The Bucs are looking for their first, and they know they will have to earn it when...
Riverhounds still looking for 1st goal after losing home opener to Orange County
It’s only two games, and there’s a long way to go, but the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have yet to find the back of the net. It wasn’t for a lack of opportunities Saturday night, but the Hounds didn’t have their finishing touch. Add in a couple defensive lapses, and it made...
Timing right for Pine-Richland boys volleyball to take step forward
As a young team of freshmen and sophomores, the Pine-Richland boys volleyball team took their lumps last season. Now, a year older and more seasoned, they are looking to earn respect in WPIAL circles. “Our guys are excited to show what they can do because they knew that last year...
Pine-Richland’s Vaughn Spencer finally slays injury bug to win state wrestling title
The morning of his state championship wrestling match, Vaughn Spencer was sitting in his hotel room, rubbing Icy Hot on his knee. During his semifinal match the previous day, he got his knee twisted before finishing off a pin of Owen J. Roberts’ Sam Gautreau. It was almost fitting that...
Expectations remain high for new-look Plum baseball team
It was another banner year in 2023 for the Plum baseball team. The Mustangs used a walk-off win against Fox Chapel on the final day of the regular season to earn a split of the Section 1-5A title with Penn-Trafford and went on to make the WPIAL semifinals before falling...
Fervent community support grows for Deer Lakes during playoff run
Deer Lakes and Forest Hills both wear green and gold, so Lancers coach Albie Fletcher wasn’t exactly sure what the supporter breakdown was when he first walked into the gym Wednesday night at Armstrong. He quickly learned that the majority donning the colors were Deer Lakes supporters. “I wasn’t sure...
Burrell stops rival Deer Lakes, earns date with Neshannock in PIHL Division 2 finals
Deer Lakes had a five-on-three power play late in the second period and a chance to get back into the game, but Aidan Petroff was having none of it. After his goalie, Kooper Price, robbed Mark Rauenswinter on a point-blank shot, Petroff went the other way and scored on the...
Alle-Kiski Valley baseball preview: Plum reloads for another run
It was another banner year in 2023 for the Plum baseball team. The Mustangs used a walk-off win against Fox Chapel on the final day of the regular season to earn a split of the Section 1-5A title with Penn-Trafford and went on to make the WPIAL semifinals before falling...
Billy Schaeffer’s grand night helps Deer Lakes boys down Forest Hills in PIAA 2nd round
Billy Schaeffer has been dreaming of reaching 1,000 points since he began his high school career. Doing so on a big stage and helping Deer Lakes put away Forest Hills made the moment all the more sweet. Schaeffer had a game-high 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and...
Bethel Park rallies in 2nd half to defeat Fox Chapel, reach PIAA 5A quarterfinals
After a half in which his team made five shots and scored 13 points, Bethel Park coach Dante Calabria said he kept his message brief. He just asked his players to bring more energy and leave it all out there in the final 16 minutes. The Black Hawks responded accordingly....
Father-son duos bring competitive fire to Deer Lakes basketball
When Albie Fletcher got the Deer Lakes boys basketball coaching job two years ago, he asked Todd Rodgers to join his staff. At the time, neither could’ve forecasted they’d watch their sons win back-to-back WPIAL Class 3A championships, but Aiden Fletcher and Collin Rodgers have provided plenty of proud dad...
Pine-Richland notebook: Vaughn Spencer captures 2nd WPIAL wrestling title
Vaughn Spencer became a two-time WPIAL wrestling champion in style March 2, at Canon-McMillan. Spencer breezed his way through the Class 3A 172-pound bracket, earning a pin in the second period over Latrobe’s Hunter Snyder in the final. He had three pins in his four bouts. Spencer won by fall...
Pine-Richland hockey finds recipe for success with power play, defense
There wasn’t much separation in PIHL Class 3A with four teams finishing within one point of each other, but Pine-Richland has a couple traits that helped them eke into the top seed in the Penguins Cup playoffs. The Rams boast the top-ranked power play and have been exceptional at closing...
Deer Lakes relies on inside game to defeat Mercyhurst Prep in PIAA 1st round
In the last couple of seasons, Deer Lakes has won playoff games in a variety of ways, and Saturday they turned to their inside game. And their domination in the paint helped put another one in the win column. The Lancers scored 46 of their points in the paint in...
Franklin Regional hits key shots in 4th quarter, takes care of Warwick in PIAA 1st round
Fin Hutchison knows his teammates believe in him every time he takes a shot. With two of the Panthers’ leading scorers, Cooper Rankin and Cam Rowell, on the bench in foul trouble, Hutchison had the confidence to put the team on his back to put away a pesky Warwick team....
Riverhounds look to replace key players, maintain high standards after memorable season
Coming off a historic year in which the Pittsburgh Riverhounds won its first USL Championship Players’ Shield as the top team in the regular season, there will be changes. Key members of last season’s club Albert Dikwa, the USL Player of the Year, and Arturo Ordonez, the USL Defender of...
Pine-Richland notebook: Realignment puts Rams in conference with Aliquippa
Pine-Richland football coach Jon LeDonne will face his alma mater, Aliquippa, next fall. It’s a scenario that seems crazy with Aliquippa’s Class 2A enrollment, but due to the PIAA competitive balance rules, the Quips will be bumped up to Class 5A next year and are in a conference with the...
After WPIAL title, Deer Lakes boys set sights on run to state championship
The Deer Lakes boys basketball team had three goals at the beginning of the season: win a section title, repeat as WPIAL champs and get back to Hershey for the state finals. After Friday’s 55-49 win over Alle-Kiski Valley rival Burrell in the WPIAL Class 3A championship, the Lancers can...
Deer Lakes tops rival Burrell to win 2nd straight WPIAL Class 3A title
Billy Schaeffer couldn’t quite put into words what it meant for Deer Lakes to win back-to-back WPIAL boys basketball titles and this time do so against rival Burrell. But the wide smile on his face told the story. “I don’t know what to say, so I’m just going to keep...
Neighborhood rival Burrell aims to dethrone defending champion Deer Lakes in WPIAL final
At the beginning of section play, Deer Lakes and Burrell were the top two teams in the Trib HSSN Class 3A boys basketball rankings. Each team took a different path through January and February with the Lancers keeping their place as the top seed and the Bucs entering the tournament...
Pine-Richland swimmers hoping for medal haul at WPIAL meet
The most exciting time of the year is nearing for local high school swimmers with the WPIAL championships kicking off and Pine-Richland will be well represented. Defending 100 breaststroke champion Sarah Anne Shaffer leads the way, but Pine-Richland coach Pete Barry believes there’s potential for multiple district medal winners and...
