Paul Schofield stories, Page 54
Penn-Trafford girls soccer turning the corner into playoff contention
Penn-Trafford girls soccer used to be one of the top programs in the WPIAL. Under third-year coach Jim Mastroianni, the program is making a resurgence and the future looks bright. Penn-Trafford is 4-3-4 overall this season and 3-2-3 in Section 3-3A. With four section games remaining, the Warriors are in...
Franklin Regional grad Michael Krauza works his way to Double-A in Mets system
It’s been an adventurous summer for Franklin Regional grad Michael Krauza. The Murrysville native started his summer pitching for the Cleburne (Texas) Railroaders in the American Association, an independent league. He posted an 0-1 record in 15 games for Cleburne, allowing 12 hits in 18 innings of relief, striking out...
4th-quarter scoring spurt propels Mt. Pleasant past Greensburg Salem
Mt. Pleasant and Greensburg Salem were locked in a close battle early in the fourth quarter when Vikings junior linebacker Camden Moore came up with a clutch interception at his team’s 29-yard-line. His play stopped the surging Golden Lions, and the Vikings went on to put the game away by...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2022 Week 5
Here are Westmoreland County’s high school football players to watch for Week 5. Tommy Kalkstein Penn-Trafford, Sr., QB/WR/LB The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown against Hempfield last Friday. He also has 13 catches for 137 yards. On defense, he has 20 tackles and an interception....
Unbeaten Hempfield faces another stern Big East test in No. 4 Gateway
Hempfield football coach Mike Brown said the goal for the 2022 Spartans was to play meaningful games at the end of the season. That goal already has been achieved. After defeating then-No. 1 Penn-Trafford, 28-17, in a WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference showdown last week, the No. 3-ranked Spartans...
Ace for Mars’ Blake Bertolo highlights first round of WPIAL 3A golf championship
It was quite an exciting day for Mars senior Blake Bertolo at Champion Lakes Golf Course near Bolivar on Tuesday. Not only did he qualify for the final round of the WPIAL Class 3A Championship on Oct. 6 at Allegheny Country Club by shooting a 5-over-par 76, but his round...
Derry’s Hunter Jurica shares 1st-round lead in WPIAL Class 2A golf championship
Derry senior Hunter Jurica likes the new way the WPIAL will determine the golf champion. Instead of a one-day event, the WPIAL is holding a two-day competition for the boys and girls. The Class 2A boys and both girls classifications held their first round Monday. Jurica and Brownsville junior Daniel...
Penn-Trafford girls volleyball working to learn what it takes to win
Penn-Trafford girls’ volleyball coach Jim Schall didn’t seemed bothered by his team’s start to the 2022 season. Warriors were 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Section 3-4A following a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Shaler, falling 15-13 in Game 5, on Sept. 20. Penn-Trafford returned two starters — senior libero Gia Pezze...
Taking chances pays off as Hempfield knocks off Penn-Trafford
When you’re a football team trying to turn its fortunes around, you have to take chances. Hempfield did that Friday night before a standing-room-only crowd of more than 5,000 at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated No. 1 and reigning Class 5A PIAA and WPIAL champion Penn-Trafford, 28-17, in the Big...
Penn-Trafford freshman Mia Williams, South Park senior Nicole Kempton capture WPIAL tennis titles
Penn-Trafford freshman Mia Williams and South Park senior Nicole Kempton did something Thursday that had never been done at their school: win a WPIAL girls tennis title. And both did it with dominating performances despite cool temperatures and gusty wind conditions at Bethel Park. During the first day of the...
Unbeaten Hempfield readies for its biggest game in decades, a clash with Penn-Trafford
It’s one of the biggest questions asked by casual high school football fans in Westmoreland County: Why can’t Hempfield be a consistent winner? Why can’t the largest school in the county be successful? The school has been very successful in other sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, cross country, track...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2022 Week 4
Class 4A Big Seven Conference Laurel Highlands (2-2, 0-1) at Latrobe (2-2, 0-1) 7 p.m., Friday, Memorial Stadium, Latrobe Both teams are coming off conference opening losses. Laurel Highlands was blanked by McKeesport, 33-0, and Latrobe was beaten by Thomas Jefferson, 31-21. The Wildcats have dropped their past two games....
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2022 Week 4
Adam Lacarte Belle Vernon, Jr., S The 6-foot junior is one of the leading tacklers for the Leopards. Lacarte has 21 tackles and broke up one pass from his free safety position. Nick Lonas Ligonier Valley, Sr., SB/LB Lonas has rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries and leads the...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Field hockey team scores 2 big wins
Penn-Trafford’s field hockey team opened section play by defeating Latrobe, 4-2, and Fox Chapel, 2-1. Against Fox Chapel, Emily Bloom and Ava Hershberger scored goals. Hershberger and Maddy Keenan had assists. Against Latrobe, Keenan tied the score before Hershberger tallied a hat trick. Penn-Trafford finished a strong nonsection schedule, defeating...
Freshman sensation boosts Penn-Trafford tennis team
Helped by a freshman sensation, the Penn-Trafford girls tennis team is having one of its best seasons. The Warriors (4-1) are in a position to qualify for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs if they can win the rest of their matches, including a first-place showdown with Franklin Regional (5-0) on...
Franklin Regional girls tennis players eye section title
The Franklin Regional girls tennis team finds itself in a familiar spot as the regular season nears its midway point — atop Section 1-3A. The Panthers (5-0, 4-0) have defeated returning section champion Latrobe, 4-1, and are eyeing a big match Sept. 23 against Penn-Trafford, which features section singles champion...
Rubrecht scores 4 times to help Greensburg Salem turn away Deer Lakes
It took Greensburg Salem a few series before it found its rhythm against Deer Lakes on Friday. But, once it did, it rolled to a third-consecutive victory. And it was the running of senior quarterback Cody Rubrecht and sophomore running back Kai Brunot that carried the Golden Lions (3-1) to...
WPIAL section singles tennis: Penn-Trafford freshman steamrolls to title
Penn-Trafford freshman Mia Williams celebrated the retirement of her favorite tennis player Roger Federer on Thursday by winning the Section 1-3A singles title. Williams did it in impressive fashion as she didn’t lose a game against four opponents over the two days. She defeated Latrobe senior Avery Massaro, 6-0, 6-0,...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2022 Week 3
Elijah Binakonsky Hempfield, Sr., RB/LB Binakonsky rushed for two touchdowns in the first half against Latrobe last week and spearheaded a defense that limited Latrobe running back Bobby Fulton to 40 yards. Amari Mack Greensburg Central Catholic, Sr., WR/LB Mack caught touchdown passes of 22 and 29 yards from Tyree...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2022 Week 3
Class 5A Big East 1-Gateway (3-0, 0-0) vs. Franklin Regional (1-1, 0-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Panthers Stadium, Murrysville Top-ranked Gateway survived a scare at winless North Hills, winning 20-17. Franklin Regional bounced back from an overtime loss to defeat Connellsville, 40-0. … Gators kicker Cole Plaskon booted two field goals,...
Belle Vernon, Penn-Trafford ready for clash of Westmoreland County heavyweights
Don’t tell players from the Penn-Trafford and Belle Vernon football teams that Friday’s nonconference game isn’t important. It might not count in the conference standings, but when two Westmoreland County schools that rank among the top teams in the state get together, expect a hard-hitting and exciting game. Penn-Trafford visits...
Robert Morris men’s basketball to open season at Ohio State
Robert Morris released its men’s basketball schedule for the 2022-23 season, and it features two trips to Ohio in November. The Colonials open the season at Ohio State from the Big Ten Conference on Nov. 7. Following homes games against Division III Pitt-Greensburg on Nov. 9 and Division II West...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Golfers place 2nd at WCCA tournament
The Penn-Trafford boys golf team finished second in the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Sept. 2 at the Latrobe Elks. Norwin took top honors with a 403 score. The Warriors and Franklin Regional tied for second with a 406. Junior Nick Turowski finished second with a 1-over par 73. The...
Penn-Trafford sets course to win another field hockey title
It’s been an unusual start of the field hockey season for Penn-Trafford coach Cindy Dutt. Illnesses have kept numerous players and coach Cindy Dutt away from practices. Despite the absences, Penn-Trafford is 2-1 with wins against Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon, both Class 3A teams, before falling to Class 3A...
Franklin Regional girls golfers sit atop Section 3 again
It would be understandable if the Franklin Regional girls golf team struggled at the start of the season after losing its top two players. The opposite, however, has occurred. The Panthers are sitting at a familiar spot in Section 3-3A — on top. The Panthers are 7-0 and coach Kane...
