Josh Rizzo stories, Page 10
Burrell captures inaugural Division 2 Pennsylvania Challenge Cup
Burrell forward Luke Mink still feels the disappointment of not lifting a PIHL championship trophy. But the Buccaneers channeled their pent-up anger into performing well during the inaugural Division 2 Pennsylvania Challenge Cup on Saturday at RMU Island Sports Center. Mink scored two goals in the first period to help...
Relay team leads Shady Side Academy girls track squad into season with momentum
Jeff Perlis was eager to see his 3,200 meter relay team in action during the indoor season. The Shady Side Academy girls track and field coach knew the Bulldogs had the potential to have a strong team. The Bulldogs returned 75% of their starters — Charlotte Baker, Sarah Kushnir and...
Under new coach, Fox Chapel softball makes most of early season schedule
Larry Troutman hasn’t had to worry about some of the typical pratfalls that revolve around taking over a spring sports program. The first-year Fox Chapel softball coach has had excellent weather to get settled into the job. Following two years leading Leechburg, the Foxes’ new coach didn’t want to waste...
Resilient Shady Side Academy stops OLSH to reach state title game for 1st time
Karis Thomas leapt in the air and chest bumped a yelling Leah Buford in front of the Shady Side Academy bench as the time wound down Friday night at Fox Chapel. The Bulldogs’ junior guard and her teammates made adjustments on the fly to become a team capable of reaching...
Despite loss in Penguins Cup final, Burrell hockey team still has something to play for
Mike Morascyzk would have liked to lift the PIHL’s varsity Division 2 Penguins Cup championship trophy Tuesday night at UPMC Lemieux Complex. While the Buccaneers were denied making program history when Morgantown (W.Va.) picked up a 5-1 win, Burrell was comforted by having an opportunity to play in the first...
Morgantown beats Burrell in Division 2 finals, becomes 1st PIHL champ from West Virginia since 2011
Chantz Watkins can relate to the Burrell hockey team’s feelings following a 5-1 loss to Morgantown in the Penguins Cup Tuesday night at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. Watkins, a Buccaneers assistant coach, was on the ice for Burrell’s Division 2 Pens Cup loss to Neshannock the year before. Losing to...
Fox Chapel suffers heartbreaking overtime loss in Penguins Cup final
Tucker Cullen sat in the locker room Monday night at UPMC Lemieux Complex bawling next to Fox Chapel senior forward Dom Casile. Cullen, a sophomore, wanted to help Casile be a part of the first Foxes team to lift the PIHL’s Class 2A Penguins Cup. Cathedral Prep forward Ethan Cuningham...
Fox Chapel sees fruits of talent, coaching in lead-up to Pens Cup final
Ryan Loebig felt fortunate he didn’t have to build the Fox Chapel hockey program from the ground up. When Loebig took over before this season, his desire was to tinker with some small things to make the team more productive. The Foxes will see if that is enough to get...
Wightman family continues to make impact for Thiel women’s lacrosse
Thiel junior Hayden Wightman wasn’t sure she was even going to attend college. If Wightman did go, she wasn’t sure she wanted to follow the family tradition of playing lacrosse. While Wightman was in high school at Shaler Area, she didn’t play any varsity sports. But once her dad took...
Penn Hills notebook: Swimmers make improvements at WPIAL meet
The Penn Hills swim team recently competed at the WPIAL Class 3A championships at Trees Pool. While the Indians didn’t send anyone to Bucknell for the state championships, there was improvement throughout their lineup. Anthony Sipple placed 21st in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.76 seconds, which was...
Despite experienced lineup, Shaler softball remains work in progress
Even with nine starters returning, Shaler softball coach Tom Sorce was hesitant to describe exactly what this year’s team will be like. The Titans finished 15-4 last season and bowed out in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals to Penn-Trafford. “We want to play one game at a time and get...
South Fayette controls Hollidaysburg in PIAA quarterfinals, earns rematch with Peters Township
South Fayette girls basketball coach Bryan Bennett always has the future in mind. The Lions work on some concepts that may not be employed for months, if ever. South Fayette showcased that Saturday during a 70-52 PIAA Class 5A quarterfinal against District 6 champion Hollidaysburg on Saturday at Armstrong High...
Aliquippa rolls past Forest Hills in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals
Aliquippa guard Josh Pratt felt comfortable at the start of the PIAA Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinal Saturday against District 6 champion Forest Hills. Collectively, the Quips seemed businesslike in their approach. Aliquippa turned up the heat defensively from the opening whistle and cruised to a 73-34 win at Armstrong...
College offers piling up for Fox Chapel kicker
Harran Zureikat wants to give precise answers to questions about kicks. Anyone talking about the Fox Chapel junior kicker should be prepared for his thoughts to turn to game-like scenarios immediately. For example, ask him what the longest field goal he can make is, and he needs more details. “In...
Behind formidable pitching staff, Fox Chapel baseball expects big season
The Fox Chapel baseball team has the starting pitching to once again be in the mix for a section title. The Foxes hope the bats will follow. Fox Chapel’s rotation will be led by a one-two punch including West Virginia commit Blake Krushinski and Jeremy Haigh. “I think we have...
Early-season win over Morgantown gives Burrell confidence heading into Penguins Cup D2 final
The first meeting between Burrell and Morgantown (W.Va.) during the PIHL varsity Division 2 season seems like a long time ago. The Buccaneers went to Morgantown on Oct. 10 and rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to eke out a 6-5 win. Luke Mink scored the game-winner...
Burrell blasts past rival Deer Lakes in 3rd period to reach PIHL Division 2 finals
Jacob Rose lit the fire to the Burrell hockey team’s goal barrage 16 seconds into the third period. Once Rose’s breakaway effort found the back of the net, there was little Deer Lakes could do to wrestle back the momentum Thursday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. Julian Kemp...
A-K Valley baseball preview: Section champ Valley among teams adjusting to new surroundings
Realignment presents challenges for many baseball teams around the WPIAL. That will be the case for some of the teams in the Alle-Kiski Valley this season. Valley baseball coach Jim Basilone lost three seniors who did a lot of pitching last season, but the Vikings still have their share of...
Western Pa. natives help Saint Francis earn program’s 2nd trip to NCAA Tournament
Saint Francis junior guard Chris Moncrief saw Daemar Kelly practice the situation he found himself in during the Northeast Conference championship game hundreds of times. There weren’t always cameras or opponents around, but Kelly wanted to be the guy who could make big shots. Kelly, a Penn Hills graduate, stuck...
Fox Chapel’s Michael Worsen makes most of 2nd chance in wrestling postseason
Michael Worsen was cutting weight in a frenzy. The Fox Chapel senior wrestler got the call 36 hours ahead of the PIAA Western Regional that he was being put into the 121-pound bracket as an alternate. Worsen immediately hit the sauna and did some running to drop close to five...
Herald notebook: Fox Chapel hockey advances to PIHL Penguins Cup semifinals
The PIHL’s promotion and relegation system makes it challenging for programs to sustain their success as they climb the ladder. Fox Chapel reached the Class A Penguins Cup two seasons ago. After being bounced in the first round last year after taking the step up to Class 2A, the Foxes...
New coach aims to lead Penn Hills softball back to postseason
Michele Stiller was excited to have the opportunity to take over the Penn Hills softball program. Stiller, a 2012 Penn Hills graduate, was confident the pipeline supplying the varsity program was in good shape. “There is a lot of good coaching at the middle school and rec level,” Stiller said....
Penn Hills baseball puts focus on snapping losing skid in Section 1-5A
The bright yellow signs taped on the padded walls behind the batting cages inside the Fralic Center are impossible to miss. In large black letters, the Penn Hills baseball team has a blunt reminder of what they hope to avoid in the future. The signs read 0-22, of the Indians’...
Joe Ionta remembered for inspiring athletes, love of Plum track, cross country programs
Dan Casarcia was eager to help coach. When Casarcia joined the Plum track and field coaching staff in 1997, he was given a clipboard and told by Mustangs head coach Joe Ionta to write down each runner’s splits at the 1-mile mark. But when Casarcia reached the mile marker, he...
Knoch aims to knock off District 10 champion Cathedral Prep in PIAA 1st round
The reward for a good season from the Knoch boys basketball team was more work for coach Alan Bauman. It’s time he’s happy to invest. The Knights, who earned the fifth seed out of the WPIAL, will attempt to knock off District 10 champion Cathedral Prep in a PIAA Class...
