Michael Love stories, Page 2
Laurel Highlands softball makes triumphant return to playoffs, no-hits Freeport
The Laurel Highlands softball team played a WPIAL playoff game Monday afternoon for the first time since 2013. The playoff-victory drought had gone back even further. That streak — the Mustangs hadn’t won in the postseason since 1999 — came to a resounding end at Norwin. Laurel Highlands, the No....
A-K Valley H.S. softball capsule for May 11, 2026
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 4A First round 11-Freeport (8-10) vs. 6-Laurel Highlands (10-5) 2 p.m. Monday at Norwin Winner plays: 3-Blackhawk (10-4) on Thursday in quarterfinals (time and location TBD) Players to watch: Addyson Caruso, Freeport; Kayla Howell, Laurel Highlands Extra bases: Freeport is back in the WPIAL playoffs after...
Gateway sports notebook: Gators track and field athletes shine at Baldwin Invitational
Gateway track and field has had a season full of big moments and top finishes at dual meets and invitationals, and many of the top Gators athletes tested their mettle at the 52nd Baldwin Invitational on May 1. The prestigious annual meet often sets the stage for the WPIAL finals...
Excitement level through the roof for Valley, other A-K Valley baseball teams in WPIAL playoffs
A year ago, Valley baseball went 7-11 and missed the WPIAL playoffs. That was last year. This year, the Vikings (14-5) bounced back to have one of the most accomplished regular seasons in Class 4A. Now, the Section 3 co-champion with Indiana (8-2) is ready to begin what it hopes...
Knoch softball team looks to continue rolling as postseason begins; 9 A-K Valley teams set for WPIAL playoffs
The last time Knoch didn’t appear in a WPIAL softball playoff tournament, the current group of seniors were 6 years old. The Knights (16-2) have produced some memorable postseason victories in that run, and they hope to do it again as they start this year’s journey as the No. 2...
Alle-Kiski Valley softball notebook: WPIAL draw coming up
Nine Alle-Kiski Valley softball teams will find out their WPIAL playoff fates when the softball committee releases the brackets with first-round matchups, dates, sites and times at 4 p.m. Thursday. It’s been a regular season filled with exhilarating wins and heartbreaking setbacks, but now the focus turns to the postseason...
North Catholic girls win WPIAL team track and field title on final event; Quaker Valley boys win 3rd in row
It came down to the 1,600-meter relay to decide the girls champion Tuesday at the WPIAL Class 2A track and field team championships at Peters Township’s Confluence Financial Partners Stadium. Quaker Valley led North Catholic by a single point heading into the meet’s final event. The Trojanettes foursome of Alexa...
Freeport keeps playoff hopes alive with win over Greensburg SalemVideo
There was no room for error for the Freeport softball team in its Section 1-4A finale Monday at Greensburg Salem. The Yellowjackets needed a win to stay alive in the fight for a WPIAL playoff spot. And a win is what they got — in convincing fashion. Freeport jumped ahead...
Burrell girls, Riverview boys ready for WPIAL track & field finals
Sixteen track and field teams remain in the journey to a WPIAL championship, and the Burrell girls and Riverview boys will test their mettle in the Class 2A finals Tuesday at Peters Township’s Confluence Financial Partners Stadium. The Raiders and Lady Bucs punched their tickets to the finals with wins...
Boys volleyball teams aim to make final statements before WPIAL playoffs
It is crunch time for boys volleyball teams hoping to claim section championships, solidify their WPIAL playoff standing or clinch spots in the postseason. Section play concludes Thursday with one game — Gateway and Penn Hills in Section 4-3A — slated for Friday. The WPIAL boys volleyball committee will announce...
Winchester Thurston grad Will Loevner wins 1st Pittsburgh Marathon; Jane Bareikis earns 3-peat
Will Loevner had been close before but wasn’t able to break the winner’s tape in the Pittsburgh Marathon. He was runner-up in 26.2-mile race two years ago and fifth last year. On Sunday, no one stopped the Winchester Thurston graduate from realizing a dream. Loevner completed the course in a...
Race officials kick off Pittsburgh Marathon weekend at Live Well Expo
Jane Bareikis loves to run on the streets of Pittsburgh. Her affinity goes well beyond her top finishes in the Pittsburgh Marathon. The Kenya native and American citizen returns to Pittsburgh hoping to capture her third consecutive title. She was all smiles Friday morning talking about what Pittsburgh means to...
Excitement high as numerous elite runners set to return for Pittsburgh Marathon
The Pittsburgh Marathon keeps growing, and this year is no exception with more than 52,000 participants expected for the 11 events throughout the weekend. Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R, the local engine behind the marathon’s various activities, said excitement comes from seeing people of all ages, abilities, and goals come...
Plum boys lacrosse team taking big strides; program’s future looking bright
Ben Keller came to Plum in October to take over a boys lacrosse program seeking direction. The team was youthful but also rife with potential and talent ready to make strides and grow together in the five months before the start of this season. The Mustangs weathered the expected ups...
Alle-Kiski Valley girls flag football teams pick up steam
When the Pittsburgh Steelers handed off the high school girls flag football program to the WPIAL, it was a new beginning for established teams of varying degrees and new programs ready to make an impact. Plum and Deer Lakes returned with programs hoping to improve, and girls from Kiski Area...
Plum baseball edges Franklin Regional in section showdown, improves to 14-1Video
The Franklin Regional and Plum baseball teams have engaged in some close matchups over the course of their storied neighboring rivalry. Tuesday’s Section 1-5A clash at Plum High School was no exception. With close plays on the basepaths, clutch hitting and the pitching and defense from both teams to back...
Ranked boys volleyball teams jockey for position in stretch run to WPIAL playoffs
Teams on the road to the WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs have just two more weeks to qualify or strengthen their resumes before the tournaments begin May 12. The stretch run starts Monday and Tuesday evening, and the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association kicked off the journey Monday morning with the...
A-K Valley high school notebook: Fox Chapel’s Leland among several 100-goal scorers in lacrosse
Fox Chapel girls lacrosse senior Caroline Leland scored seven goals to lead the Foxes to a 13-12 victory over Peters Township on April 16. She added three in Thursday’s 9-6 win against rival Shady Side Academy, lifting the Foxes to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in Section 2-3A. The 10 goals...
Derry again edges Freeport by a run in Section 1-4A softball clashVideo
For the second time in three days, the Freeport and Derry softball teams played to a one-run result. And for the second time, the Trojans were the ones who came out on top. Bailey Legge delivered a two-out RBI single to score Francesca DePalma in the top of the seventh...
U.S. Government’s Patent and Trademark Office brings NIL education to NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
Name, image and likeness (NIL) has become a household turn of phrase when it comes to athletes safeguarding their brand with their goals of building financial security. The U.S. Government’s Patent and Trademark Office is in Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft through Saturday, and America’s Branding Agency hopes to provide...
Alle-Kiski Valley athletes have medals in mind at WCCA meet
The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday evening on the North Shore, and many of the top college football players are ready to hear their names called and have their accomplishments celebrated under the bright national television lights. Several hours before, many of the area’s top track and field athletes hope...
Knoch softball team keeps eyes on repeat prize
The Knoch softball program owns eight section championships, the first coming in 2007. More recently, within the past decade, the Knights have five, claiming section gold every other year from 2017 to last year’s perfect 12-0 record in Section 1-5A. Knoch coach Chris Gardner said the goal coming into this...
‘Persistent’ Plum adds on runs in shutout win over Kiski Area
Plum’s Braden Kemmerer was in control on the mound, the defense behind him played clean and the offense was equal parts potent and patient Thursday in a 10-0, five-inning Section 1-5A victory over Kiski Area at a sunny-but-chilly Plum High School. Kemmerer tossed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts, and the...
Teams make statements, increase stock in latest WPIAL boys volleyball rankings
Seven nonsection matches Monday evening kick off this week’s WPIAL boys volleyball schedule, and key section contests follow Tuesday on the road to the WPIAL playoffs. Several teams in Class 3A and Class 2A made statements last week, and their accomplishments are reflected in this week’s Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches...
Central Catholic offensive tackle Jimmy Kalis picks Ohio State
Jimmy Kalis will play his college football at Ohio State. Central Catholic’s 6-foot-8, 285-pound star lineman, surrounded by family, friends and other supporters, gave a verbal commitment to the Buckeyes live on Rivals’ YouTube channel Friday evening. He thanked many of the people who supported him along his journey, including...
