High School category, Page 260
Hempfield grad, Pitt pitcher Phil Fox drafted by White Sox in 7th round
Hempfield graduate Phil Fox can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to pitch in professional baseball. “From the day I was, like, born, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life,” he said. The Chicago White Sox made no promises that he will have...
Aliquippa’s Mike Warfield taking ‘leave of absence’ as Quips’ football coach
Mike Warfield says football fans will see him at Aliquippa’s stadium this fall, but adds with a laugh that his new job on Friday nights might be selling 50/50 tickets. Surprisingly, the three-time state champion coach won’t be coaching the Quips. Warfield went 74-6 in six years as head coach...
PIAA proposal to force 2-time state champions into higher class lacks support from WPIAL board
The WPIAL doesn’t favor a potential PIAA rule that forces two-time defending state champions into a higher classification. The proposed change to the competitive-balance rule was discussed and disliked by the WPIAL board Monday because it could unjustly punish successful programs that didn’t use transfers to reload, said WPIAL president...
Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields picked by Royals in 2nd round of MLB Draft
Kansas City Royals scouts came to Mt. Lebanon in April to watch David Shields pitch and stayed around to talk after he struck out 13 batters in a complete-game win. Their visit that day convinced Blue Devils coach Patt McCloskey that the Royals were thinking seriously about drafting Shields. “It...
Golf, football success leads Peters Township to Class 5A Trib Cup title
North Allegheny (6A) has won 21 straight Sports Cups while Neshannock in 2A has a run of three Trib Cups in a row. Hampton (4A), Quaker Valley (3A) and Greensburg Central Catholic (A) all won cups this year after a one-year hiatus. However, the long wait for Cup No. 2...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Peters Township’s Mickey Vaccarello
If there is one thing Mickey Vaccarello wants to improve on during his senior season, it would be his contributions on offense. The Peters Township senior’s offensive numbers weren’t that impressive in 2023 because of all the playmakers the Indians had. He did catch a touchdown pass in the WPIAL...
Sewickley Academy restarts girls golf program
The girls golf program at Sewickley Academy has been revamped. It is one of eight new girls golf programs in the WPIAL, including five in Class 2A — Belle Vernon, Beaver, Ellwood City, North Catholic and SA. The three new teams in Class 3A are Latrobe, Plum and Trinity. “Sewickley...
Sampson YMCA swimmers heading to elite showcase meet
Plum’s Sampson YMCA swim team is set to send its largest contingent of competitors to the International Swim Coaches Association Summer Senior Blast and Elite Showcase at the North Shore Aquatic Complex from July 23 to Aug. 3 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The group of qualifiers continues a trend of...
Franklin Regional designated hitter emerges as all-state performer
Surprised wasn’t the right word, but Darren DeRiggi did not fully expect to have all-state honors arrive on his doorstep at the conclusion of high school baseball season. He had just completed a crackling junior campaign where he accomplished his initial goal of starting for the Panthers. That was the...
Hampton teen quickly climbing gymnastics ladder
Hampton teen Ella Lattimore enjoyed gymnastics long before she became any good at it. “It definitely took some time,” she said. “I really liked to do it, but I wasn’t very good. I just kind of showed up at the competitions, I did OK, and I left.” Now she leaves...
Fox Chapel girls basketball coach pleased to host summer league
Marty Matvey has the tools at his disposal to be ambitious when it comes to the Fox Chapel girls basketball team’s summer league. The Foxes coach is appreciative of how the district supports his desire to grow what has become a burgeoning fall and summer league for basketball players looking...
Neshannock captures 3rd straight Class 2A Trib Cup title
Neshannock has discovered the key to capturing the Trib Cup — perfection. The Lancers claimed their third straight Class 2A Trib Cup on the coattails of a second perfect season in the last three years by the Neshannock softball team. “We are very proud of all of our athletes and...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Steel Valley’s Donald Barksdale
Get this. A six-touchdown game last season against Burrell could have been a nine-touchdown game for Donald Barksdale. Nine touchdowns. A heaping 54 points — from one guy. “Three were called back,” Barksdale said with a sigh. “Penalties.” There is a reason Steel Valley football coach Ray Braszo calls his...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Hempfield football assembles eclectic coaching staff
Hempfield second-year football coach Nick Keefer has assembled a unique mix of assistants for a new season. One will be of interest to local basketball fans. Longtime hardwood coach Jim Nesser has joined the Spartans and will work with defensive backs. Nesser, who previously helped out at Greensburg Central Catholic...
Experienced assistant ready to move into head coaching role with Ligonier Valley boys
Ligonier Valley’s new boys basketball coach could feel a magnetic pull, almost a calling to be the loudest voice from the bench. The game is in his bloodline. The glimmer in Dante Porter’s eye began to show in his third season as an assistant with the Geibel boys basketball team...
Alle-Kiski Valley sends crew to national 16U wrestling tourney
Garett Huff is no stranger to high-level wrestling competition. The rising sophomore from Plum hopes to make his mark with a new venture next weekend, one that is steeped in tradition for the quality matches it produces every summer. USA Wrestling’s U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo,...
Hampton leads Class 4A standings to claim school’s 3rd Trib Cup
It was 11 years for Hampton between winning its first Sports Cup in 2011 and second in 2022. The wait for the third Trib Cup was a lot shorter. The Talbots claimed the 2023-2024 Class 4A Trib Cup by an impressive 125 points this past school year. “It is a...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Peters Township’s Nolan DiLucia
Last August, Peters Township junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia wasn’t sure what his playing time would be as the Indians returned 2022 starting quarterback Chris Cibrone, who had thrown for over 2,000 yards the previous season. However, Peters Township coach T.J. Plack decided to go with DiLucia as his starting quarterback...
Greensburg Central Catholic returns to top of Class A Trib Cup standings
A year after their three-year run of winning the Class A Trib Cup ended, Greensburg Central Catholic is back on top. With another win, the Centurions are alone in third place overall after winning the school’s 10th Sports Cup, trailing only North Allegheny (21) and Sewickley Academy (13). “It means...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: North Allegheny’s Jack Yatchenko
Jack Yatchenko was on the sideline for the play that pretty much clinched a WPIAL title for North Allegheny. No, he didn’t start the play there, but that was how far the lineman traveled while blocking on that snap. He found an unblocked defensive back and drove him into the...
Belle Vernon braces for life after Quinton Martin
Begrudgingly, Belle Vernon braced for the departure of No. 25. When Quinton Martin’s high school playing days were over. The Leopards knew the time would come, so they prepared for it. But reality is setting in with training camp just over a month out. “Life without Q, I’ve said that...
Quaker Valley dethrones North Catholic to win Class 3A Trib Cup
A year after seeing its three-year Trib Cup run end, Quaker Valley has ended the four-year run by North Catholic in Class 3A in the closest competition in the 2023-2024 school year. The Quakers edged the Trojans by only 40 points to claim the school’s eighth Sports Cup (fourth most)...
Peters Township’s Natalie Wetzel commits to play basketball at Miami (Fla).
Peters Township rising senior Natalie Wetzel, one of the WPIAL’s top girls basketball recruits, had college offers that stretched from New England to the Southwest. Ultimately, the 6-foot-3 forward has decided to head south to the Sunshine State. Wetzel committed to Miami (Fla.) on Tuesday, choosing the Hurricanes over offers...
Ron Steedle, cornerstone of Shaler hockey community, dies at age 69
When Ron Steedle was promoted to lead Shaler’s ice hockey team in 1988, few could predict how his influence would shape a program that has since amassed more than 500 wins. Like any good mentor, his impact extended beyond practices and games. Steedle went to birthday and graduation parties, wedding...
North Allegheny continues domination of Class 6A Trib Cup competition
The streak continues for North Allegheny as the Tigers have captured their 21st Sports Cup in the highest classification in the 21 years of the competition’s existence. The Tigers are now a perfect 8 for 8 in Class 6A Trib Cups. “It never gets old winning the Cup,” North Allegheny...
