Shady Side Academy relay team continues run of success
Shady Side Academy girls track coach Jeff Perlis entered his 3,200-meter relay team into the Tri-State Track Coaches Association championship at West Mifflin with the idea that if they broke 9 minutes, 40 seconds, they could qualify to compete at the Penn Relay Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The...
Fox Chapel boys volleyball hoping to be ‘ready for prime time’
Phil O’Keeffe planned to be on the quieter side for the Fox Chapel boys volleyball team’s section match with Plum on April 28. The veteran coach wanted to see the Foxes demonstrate their problem-solving skills on the road. Fox Chapel never found its rhythm and suffered a surprising sweep at...
Despite roster turnover, Fox Chapel boys tennis has another successful season
Grant Fenton casually plays tennis. But continuing the tradition of the Fox Chapel boys tennis team is an endeavor the junior takes seriously. Even while pursuing other activities, Fenton always found time growing up to attend tennis clinics with Foxes coach Alex Slezak. “I’ve played since I was 5,” Fenton...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Foxes put together win streak on baseball diamond
The Fox Chapel baseball team made the most of a break between Section 3-5A contests. The Foxes won four straight after losing to Mars on April 16. Fox Chapel’s streak started with a 13-3 win over Valley and saw the Foxes pick up a pair of one-run wins over City...
Senior night victory a late-season highlight for Plum boys volleyball
Lucas Mikhnyuk made one request consistently throughout his four years with the Plum boys volleyball program. Before Tuesday night, the answer alway had been no. The 5-foot-6 senior libero always wanted to try his hand at hitting on the outside. “I always just loved hitting the ball,” Mikhnyuk said. “Trying...
Fox Chapel sophomore finding success in doubles play
Frank Siegel is interested in whatever challenge the Fox Chapel tennis program may have for him. The sophomore first started playing doubles with junior Grant Fenton during the section tournament. Siegel and Fenton found the right chemistry to help Siegel defend his section crown and reach the WPIAL Class 3A...
Resurgent Fox Chapel softball gears up for playoffs
Fox Chapel softball coach Larry Troutman was only interested in finding a way to make the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. That’s what he told himself, anyway, when the Foxes went through a four-game stretch of the Section 1-5A schedule where they lost three times in four games. But that stretch...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Shady Side sophomore turns in record-breaking run
Francesca Pietragallo is off to a strong start for her sophomore year. The Shady Side Academy track standout snapped a 10-year-old school record in the 200-meter dash during a dual meet last week. Pietragallo finished with a time of 26.59 seconds, which was just ahead of Alex Nacey of Eden...
Pirates drop series in Texas as veteran pitcher deGrom outduels Chandler
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ strong start to the season was bolstered by young talent coming up and offseason acquisitions making their lineup much more dangerous. As the calendar creeps toward May, the Pirates now will need to see the entire group continue to progress as teams around majors start to adjust...
Pirates scorch Rangers with 4 runs in 9th inningVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates pinch hitter Jake Mangum didn’t deliver the go-ahead run with a heroic hit that sent the baseball screaming into the outfield. He left that honor to Oneil Cruz. Instead, Mangum’s at-bat saw him shorten his swing and hit a high bouncing ball that allowed Nick Gonzales to beat...
Mlodzinski can’t continue streak of effective pitching as Rangers defeat Pirates
Carmen Mlodzinski’s early-season form was sparkling entering his start Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. The Pirates right-handed pitcher was sporting a 1.77 ERA and hadn’t conceded a run during his previous two appearances, which included 11 2/3 innings of work. Mlodzinski saw the Texas Rangers’ lineup knock the shine...
Fox Chapel notebook: Waller wrestling camp scheduled
Fox Chapel Area High School will host Rob Waller’s All-American Wrestling Club & Camp on June 15-19. The event, which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, is open to wrestlers from all school programs for all age and experience levels. The camp will feature coaches...
Despite limited opportunities, Fox Chapel girls lacrosse hitting its stride
Fox Chapel girls lacrosse coach Kellee Cribby wants to see the team strengthen throughout the season like a muscle. The Foxes have been battling serious atrophy due to battles with Mother Nature throughout the season. It’s hard to build strength when you can’t get on the field. Fox Chapel beat...
Fox Chapel flag football brings creativity in dramatic win
Brandon Rios can hardly be separated from his white binder while patrolling the Fox Chapel flag football team’s sidelines. The coach leading the first-year program likes carrying around a reminder of how things should be designed. But once the ball is snapped, executing the plan requires artistry. Delaney Drum is...
Shady Side Academy relay team setting the pace
The Shady Side Academy girls track team went to the Tri-State Track Coaches Association meet at West Mifflin looking to see how special its 3,200-meter relay team could be. The Bulldogs should be encouraged by their early returns. The team of Rhyley Bendel, Ella Van Norman, Charlotte Barker and Josie...
Penn Hills grad Jaden Dugger showing up on NFL Draft radars
Jaden Dugger put all of the effort in leading up to the NFL Draft. The Penn Hills graduate went to all the meetings. He grinded through all the workouts. Dugger, who played collegiately at Georgetown and Louisiana, plans to trust his agent to handle what happens next. He isn’t totally...
Charlie Batch takes lumps as guest of honor at Mel Blount All-Star Celebrity Roast
Charlie Batch was roasted many times by friends, teammates and classmates during his life. With a larger audience at the Wyndham Grand Hotel on Friday night, the Munhall native and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback knew who he was most worried about coming up on stage for the Mel Blount All-Star...
Top 10 light heavyweight training in Ambridge works toward boxing stardom
Tom Yankello, even after three decades of experience, can’t be prepared for every detail on fight night. Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton, Yankello’s top current pupil, has an eye for flashy ring attire. The 55-year-old Ambridge native and owner of Tom Yankello’s World Class Boxing Gym appreciates that Oberlton, who...
Power surge gives jolt to Shaler softball
Anyone sitting beyond the outfield fence at a Shaler softball game should be prepared to pick up their chairs and move. The Titans are built to send balls screaming over the fence. During Shaler’s 8-1 start, the Titans have smashed 15 home runs. Shaler’s power is coming from all throughout...
Shaler goalie headed to Slovakia for ball hockey world championships
Roman Ober understands the nuances of keeping the score low on the ice and deck. The Shaler freshman will get a chance to see how that translates at a world tournament in early July. Ober was chosen to play for the Team USA U16 team and will travel to Banska...
Sprinter breaks longstanding Fox Chapel record in 100 meters
Max Youkers was happy when he finished the 100-meter dash during Fox Chapel’s dual meet with Shaler by breaking a school record that had stood since 1964 with a time of 11.08 seconds. Youkers, a sophomore who set four school records during the indoor season, is hoping it is another...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Shady Side Academy teammates collide
The WPIAL Section 3-3A boys tennis championship match featured two opponents who are familiar with each others’ games. Shady Side Academy freshman Max Bunimovich beat teammate Thomas Luther, who retired in the final. Bunimovich lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, dropping a 11-9 match to Hempfield senior...
Fox Chapel baseball managing ups, downs of section play
James Hastings knew his team would be tired following a 6-5, nine-inning road win over New Castle on April 8. Having to beat the same team a day later wouldn’t be the easiest task. “You are drained,” Hastings said. “But I told the kids you should be physically and emotionally...
New faces bring new depth to Penn Hills track program
Lee Zelkowitz isn’t wild about having a steady stream of people filing into Penn Hills track and field practice two weeks after the season started. But he doesn’t want anyone to leave either. Following a few years with lower numbers, Zelkowitz is happy to see 60 athletes out between the...
‘Growth and resilience’: Penn Hills softball continues to build throughout program
Addy Helsel doesn’t shirk any of the responsibilities that come along with being the captain of the Penn Hills softball team. Despite being a sophomore, Helsel has more experience than many of the girls in the high school program. She started playing softball at age 5, while many of the...
