Ted Sarneso stories, Page 11
Burrell wins pitchers’ duel with Neshannock in Class 3A quarterfinals
In their WPIAL Class 3A first-round games, Burrell and Neshannock scored six runs apiece and manufactured runs by stealing bases. The Bucs swiped six, and the Lancers stole five. In the quarterfinal matchup, neither team had many runners as the top pitcher for each squad was on the mound. Burrell...
Plum senior Rayla Smith sets near unbreakable school record for goals
Senior Rayla Smith set the all-time goals record for Plum girls lacrosse last season and has added to her total. The record of 179 goals was set by Plum graduate Sam Casile in 2010. Going into last season, Smith had 121 goals and went on to lead the team with...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s AJ McLafferty
Stealing bases is a small chess match in the middle of a baseball game between the pitcher and the runner. Burrell senior center fielder AJ McLafferty enjoys the mental game as the Bucs leadoff hitter. “I have fun when I’m on base,” McLafferty said. “There’s a lot of little things...
Moon wins 2nd girls flag football title in a row over North Allegheny
Given the spirited nature of WPIAL football during the fall, it came as no surprise that the third annual girls flag football championships, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Steelers, were just as exciting. Athletes from 15 high schools showed off their skills on a beautiful, sun-drenched Sunday afternoon at Carnegie Mellon’s...
Deer Lakes hoping to send large contingent to WPIAL track and field championships
Going into the WPIAL Class 2A team championships on May 1 at Shenango, Deer Lakes’ boys track and field team was hoping to put on a good showing and maybe come away with a split. “We didn’t go into the meet thinking we could defeat section champions Hopewell and Shenango,”...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Springdale’s Owen Scheuring
As the regular season wound down, the Springdale baseball team was in the midst of fighting for a playoff spot in Section 2-A. Senior shortstop Owen Scheuring said the team was focused on what it needed to accomplish to get in. “We want to take care of our own business...
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman organizes 5K to benefit homeless
In her last two years at Greensburg Central Catholic, junior Sasha Hoffman has been successful both in and out of the classroom. Her weighted GPA sits at 4.3, which is tops in her class. She is taking two AP classes and three CHS Pitt classes. She excels both on the...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Brooke Signorella
Trying new things has become something of a habit for Highlands senior Brooke Signorella. She was an outside hitter on the volleyball team, which is a relatively new program for Highlands, having started up only three years ago. Currently, she competes on the Golden Rams track and field team, participating...
Emotions run high during 53rd Alle-Kiski Valley Hall of Fame induction ceremony
In a night filled with excitement, gratitude and memories, Brice Flenory was the last inductee to speak. His speech was heartfelt and a testament to his journey. He thanked his wife, his coaches, his teachers and the leaders in his community while also quoting scripture. “Just staying true to myself...
Freeport boys lacrosse finds its sting as program trends upward
For the first time in their lives, the players on the 2024 Freeport lacrosse team have a coach who has played the game. Devin Wolford took over after a year as offensive coordinator for La Roche’s lacrosse team. He played high school lacrosse for Hampton and won a WPIAL championship...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Fox Chapel’s Mitchell Epstein
The Fox Chapel baseball team has all the trust in the world in senior catcher Mitch Epstein. “When we lost our catcher, he stepped in and has been starting ever since,” said Foxes coach Jim Hastings. “Mitch’s teammates pick up and feed off his confidence, and that’s big.” Epstein performed...
North Allegheny boys lacrosse is looking for consistency ahead of postseason
North Allegheny’s boys lacrosse team began the season with five consecutive losses. Since April 5, they’ve won six of their last seven, but according to coach John Rullan, they still have yet to play a full 48 minutes. “We weren’t putting that full four quarters together,” Rullan said. “We always...
Skillz and Drillz offers youth football option to players in New Kensington
When the covid pandemic hit in 2020, people had a lot of free time and used it in myriad ways. James Threatte of New Kensington used his free time to come up with a solution to a problem he observed in his community. Threatte looked at the Burrell and Deer...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Plum’s Sophie Anderson
For second-year Plum girls lacrosse coach Dom Barnabei, having senior defender Sophie Anderson has been a blessing. “Most high school players are just playing lacrosse,” said Barnabei. “Sophie thinks lacrosse. Her ability to analyze and explain to the younger players the thought process as to why she made her decisions...
Washington Township’s Chris Rozewicz runs 5K in every state
Chris Rozewicz set out to run a 5K in every U.S. state, looking to complete the task before he would be beyond able to finish. “As I aged, the body was not what it used to be with arthritis and that type of thing,” said Rozewicz, 68, of Washington Township....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Apollo-Ridge’s Camdyn Kowalczyk
Apollo-Ridge senior Camdyn Kowalczyk thought she had done some major damage to her knee, possibly tearing her meniscus. Luckily, she received good news. “I got an MRI, and it’s just swelling,” Kowalczyk said. “I have to do physical therapy twice a week for a month before I can start getting...
Allegheny Valley YMCA Gators shine at district, state swim championships
The Allegheny Valley YMCA Gators were well represented at the district championships and had 11 swimmers qualify for the state championships. They also broke multiple team records across both championship weekends. The districts were held at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, on March 7-9, and the Gators sent 33...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Knoch’s Brady Wozniak
After making the all-section team last season, Knoch’s Brady Wozniak has switched positions from third base to shortstop. Wozniak is used to playing different positions. He has played up to four on the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox, a traveling team he plays on during the summer. “I always want to play...
A-K Valley basketball stars light up scoreboard at Cager Classic
Those attending the 27th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Cager Classic on Saturday evening at Highlands High School were there to see some basketball between East and West All-Star teams. The girls game looked more like a track meet, and there’s a good possibility the burn marks are still present on the...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Leechburg’s Laney Aul
Laney Aul is a key player for the Leechburg softball team, but that’s just a small part of her story. Aul has maintained a 4.1 GPA and participated in the Leechburg Clean-Up Day, singing to the elderly and helping with the ASA Softball team for younger kids. “She’s an extremely...
After last season’s tough losses, Penn-Trafford volleyball aims to again contend
Members of the Penn-Trafford boys volleyball team feel they still have enough talent to compete in Class 3A, despite the loss of solid players Daniel Tarabrella, Andrew Kessler and Carson Good to graduation. “We had some good guys and did a lot of winning,” coach Jim Schall said. “Daniel was...
Championship WPIAL soccer coach to follow father into A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame
Throughout his life, Mark Perry has followed in his father’s footsteps. On May 4, he will do it once again as he joins his father in the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame. “My father was the soccer coach at Fox Chapel when I was in high school,” Perry said....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Valley’s Jacob Staraniec
Valley baseball senior pitcher Jacob Staraniec is a team captain and one of the leaders on the Vikings pitching staff. He cites his guidance with his younger brother as an example of how he has come to mentor the young players on the team. “Having a little brother, I’m trying...
Gateway boys volleyball refuels, gets ready to take next step
A year after grabbing the school’s first boys volleyball section championship in 36 years with an 8-0 record in Section 2-2A, the Gateway boys volleyball team fell short of its goals in 2023. “We’ve had a nice run here the last couple years,” said coach Phil Randolph. “It felt, to...
A-K Valley HOF inductee Paganelli has storied baseball past
Every Sports Hall of Famer has stories about the great plays they made or a number of championships they won. For Fred Paganelli, who grew up in Natrona Heights and will join the A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame in May, his sports life was filled with many memories, championships...
