High School category, Page 685
Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy defends 1,600-meter title at PIAA championships
SHIPPENSBURG — Carson McCoy maybe isn’t a front runner, yet the Deer Lakes senior usually crosses the finish line first. His patient, wait-for-your-moment strategy worked again Friday as he surged down the stretch to defend his PIAA Class 2A title in the boys 1,600 meters at the state track championships...
Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo captures PIAA Class 2A gold in 1,600
SHIPPENSBURG — Jolena Quarzo prefers running in the morning. The Brownsville junior was pleased when the PIAA announced that it was splitting the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events and running the 1,600 final as the first race Friday morning. Quarzo won her first PIAA Class 2A 1,600 title Friday with a...
Mars boys lacrosse rolls to 6th straight WPIAL title with another dominant performance
Around these parts, “one for the thumb” was a popular rallying cry for a couple of decades. The Mars boys lacrosse team already took care of that last season. This year, the goal for the Fightin’ Planets was sixth consecutive WPIAL championship, and they reached that goal with a dominant...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for May 26, 2022
High schools Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Championship Tuesday’s schedule Mt. Lebanon (15-7) vs. Upper St. Clair (12-8) at Wild Things Park, 7:30 p.m. Class 5A Championship Wednesday’s schedule Peters Township (21-1) vs. West Allegheny (18-4) at Wild Things Park, 7:30 p.m. Third place Tuesday’s schedule Thomas Jefferson (15-7) vs....
Late Highlands coach Rich Falter remembered for his humility, impact on players
Despite an outstanding coaching career that included 316 victories in high school basketball, Rich Falter never sought the limelight. In fact, he had to be deceived into showing up for an awards ceremony in order to be inducted into the Highlands High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Falter, who recorded...
As Emma Callahan chases shot put records, spotlight shines on Shenango’s success
From Emma Callahan’s view, she’d just set a WPIAL championship record, but the Shenango shot putter also knew it’s hard to see from the circle. “I was holding my breath and didn’t want to get excited too soon,” said Callahan, a senior. “I thought I had the record last year,...
Greensburg Central Catholic fends off Springdale rally to earn spot in state playoffs
She cranked a shot into the left-field corner and never saw the outfielder bobble the softball. Emma Henry only had one thing on her mind when the ball left the bat and she made the turn: Keep running. The Greensburg Central Catholic junior got the offense started with a triple...
With 233 wins, WPIAL title to his credit, Norwin baseball coach Mike Liebdzinski steps down
As sure as he looked at his watch, Mike Liebdzinski knew when he walked off the field Monday at Plum that it was time. The longtime Norwin baseball coach is calling it a career after nearly three decades in the dugout. He told his players about his resignation Thursday. “This...
Shady Side Academy boys beat Mt. Lebanon for WPIAL lacrosse title on J.P. Henry highlight-reel goal in OT
Shady Side Academy and Mt. Lebanon came into the WPIAL 3A tournament as the top two seeds. The teams met in the regular season in a tight, one-goal match one by the Bulldogs. So, it was no surprise that the championship rematch was close as Shady Side Academy’s J.P. Henry...
In classic battle of evenly matched rivals, North Allegheny tops Seneca Valley to win 5th straight volleyball crown
At first glance, moments after North Allegheny outlasted Seneca Valley in their marathon WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball championship match Wednesday night at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center for its fifth consecutive title, nobody flinched. If ever there was a competition where essentially nobody was a loser, this was it....
Shady Side Academy girls lacrosse completes WPIAL 3-peat
In 2019, Shady Side Academy needed two overtimes to beat Upper St Clair for its first girls lacrosse championship. Last season, the Bulldogs needed a goal from Jenny Wooding with 26.8 seconds remaining to best Mt. Lebanon. There was no such drama Wednesday night at Robert Morris. The Bulldogs shut...
Chartiers Valley runs past Mars to capture 1st WPIAL girls lacrosse championship
If Chartiers Valley raised a few eyebrows with an upset win over top-seeded Blackhawk in the semifinals, the remaining eyebrows are now up. The Colts used a couple of runs in each half to defeat second-seeded Mars, 17-6, to win the school’s first WPIAL girls lacrosse championship in the Class...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for May 25, 2022
High schools Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Championship Tuesday’s schedule Mt. Lebanon (15-7) vs. Upper St. Clair (12-8) at Wild Things Park, 7:30 p.m. Class 5A Championship Wednesday, June 1 Peters Township (21-1) vs. West Allegheny (18-4) at Wild Things Park, 7:30 p.m. Third place Tuesday’s schedule Thomas Jefferson (15-7)...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on March 26, 2022: Mars lacrosse hunts another title
Last spring, Mars became the most decorated boys lacrosse program in WPIAL history with a fifth consecutive Class 2A championship. On Thursday, the Fightin’ Planets hope to start a second hand of title rings. Top-seeded Mars faces Quaker Valley in the WPIAL 2A boys lacrosse championship at 8 p.m. at...
Trib HSSN State Baseball Rankings for May 25, 2022
There was little movement in this week’s Trib HSSN state baseball rankings as the district playoffs move into the final week. Only three teams were knocked out, opening the door for three new teams, including a return to the state top 5 for both South Park in 3A and Halifax...
Trib HSSN State Softball Rankings for May 25, 2022
As we head to the holiday weekend, all is quiet on the elite state softball front. As the district playoffs continue across the commonwealth, byes and very few upsets have led to almost identical Trib HSSN state softball rankings. Only Abington Heights in Class 5A lost its footing and dropped...
North Allegheny plays near-perfect game to knock off Pine-Richland in 6A semifinals
North Allegheny softball coach Morgan Vescovi made a list of five goals for her team to accomplish in Wednesday’s Class 6A semifinal against Pine-Richland. At the top was to put pressure on the Rams early, and her Tigers did just that. They scored twice in the top of the first...
Montour climbs back from brink to defeat OLSH in WPIAL Class 2A volleyball finals
Montour boys volleyball coach Colin Vitale was smiling before, during and after the WPIAL Class 2A championship match Thursday night at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center. Vitale, appearing relaxed even when his team was on the brink of defeat in the fourth game, was a ball of joy afterwards with...
High school roundup for May 25, 2022: Undefeated Neshannock, Frazier reach WPIAL finals
Neshannock has been the most dangerous offensive team in the WPIAL this season, averaging more than 12 runs per game. On Wednesday, the Lancers managed to score only one run, but that was all they needed. Winning pitcher Addy Frye, a freshman, delivered the game-winning RBI double in the bottom...
‘Underdog’ Seneca Valley rolls past Hempfield into Class 6A WPIAL finals
As Hempfield was making lineup changes late in the game, Seneca Valley players passed the time with a quick round of Rock-Paper-Scissors. The game went around the horn. Other players danced to music in between innings. It’s all fun and games these days for the Raiders, and they wouldn’t have...
Elizabeth Forward puts end to Burrell’s softball title hopes
While the Burrell softball team failed to reach one of its goals Wednesday, another one remains very much in play. The Bucs saw their pursuit of a WPIAL Class 4A title halted in a 2-1 semifinal loss to No. 2 Elizabeth Forward at Norwin. But No. 3 Burrell’s season isn’t...
WPIAL softball playoff preview capsule for Thursday, May 26, 2022
WPIAL softball playoffs Consolation game Class A Greensburg Central Catholic (12-6) vs. Springdale (11-2) 4 p.m. Thursday at Plum Players to watch: Emma Henry, GCC; Alexis Hrivnak, Springdale Extra bases: GCC is having its best season since 2012, the last time it made the PIAA playoffs. The Centurions must win...
Alle-Kiski sends plenty of track athletes to PIAAs
Deer Lakes senior Carson McCoy doesn’t have to wait long to run at the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University. He will be on the track at 9 a.m. Friday morning in defense of his Class 2A boys 1,600-meter title. It is the first of many events on...
Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher commits to play football at West VirginiaVideo
Keeping his family close was important to Rodney Gallagher, so he did what countless other Western Pennsylvania football recruits have done and committed to his hometown team. But for him, a junior at Laurel Highlands in Fayette County, that’s not Pitt or Penn State. That’s West Virginia. Gallagher, the state’s...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for May 25, 2022: Boys volleyball, lacrosse titles up for grabs
The district gold starts to flow Wednesday with two WPIAL boys volleyball and three district lacrosse title matches. In boys volleyball, could there be a changing of the guard in Class 3A? North Allegheny has completely dominated the 3A landscape with 21 WPIAL boys volleyball championships, four straight crowns and...
