High School category, Page 852
Hempfield softball responds in big way after falling behind early, downs Norwin
With its first three hitters, Norwin began the day double, home run, home run in its Section 2-6A softball clash Friday at Hempfield. The Knights had a three-run lead before some fans beyond the outfield fence got settled into their lawn chairs and covered themselves with blankets. It looked like...
In Class 6A showdown, Norwin stings North Allegheny on Ryan Scavnicky walk-off single
North Allegheny baseball coach Andy Heck told his team after Friday’s nonsection game at Norwin that he wouldn’t be surprised if the top two teams in Class 6A will meet again later this season. In this meeting, No. 1 Norwin got a two-out single from senior second baseman Ryan Scavnicky...
Deer Lakes softball streaks past Derry to cap off big weekVideo
Some early two-out lightning put the Deer Lakes softball team on the right track to an 8-2 Section 1-3A victory over Derry on Friday. All four of the Lancers’ runs in the first inning came with two outs, as did their second-inning run, as they took a 5-0 lead. “We...
West Mifflin softball uses speed, power to rally past Franklin Regional
The 1970s Pittsburgh Pirates were billed as Lumber and Lightning for their unique combination of power at the plate and speed on the basepaths. Nearly a half-century later, the West Mifflin softball team is having success on the diamond with the same mindset. The Titans hit two home runs, one...
Armstrong baseball team ‘steals’ victory from Highlands
Armstrong’s track team was on the road Friday. But it was hard to tell by watching the baseball team on the basepaths. The River Hawks stole nine bases, with six of the seven runs scored by runners who stole a base along the way, as Armstrong defeated Highlands, 7-5, in...
Seton LaSalle appeals football coaches’ suspensions to PIAA
Seton LaSalle has appealed to the PIAA to overturn discipline handed down by the WPIAL for recruiting violations. Head coach Mauro Monz and assistant Jason Pinkston were suspended from coaching any PIAA-affiliated team for one year following a WPIAL hearing March 30. Four school districts had raised allegations against Seton...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 23, 2021: Lacrosse academies do battle
Two of the top district girls lacrosse teams in Class AAA clash Friday for a share of first place in Section 2 in another battle of the academies. Sewickley Academy and Shady Side Academy are both 4-0 in section play, tied for first place with North Allegheny and Fox Chapel....
Bethel Park chasing another section baseball title and more
Bethel Park baseball is striving for a banner season in 2021. And with ample reasons. The Black Hawks, section champions and WPIAL semifinalists in 2019, were among the favorites to win the Class 6A title a year ago. “My expectations were pretty high going into this season,” coach Pat Zehnder...
Led by lineup loaded with Division I recruits, Bethel Park off to strong start in Class 6A
The Bethel Park softball team is one of the favorites this year to reach the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. The Black Hawks were ranked No. 2 in their division in the Trib HSSN preseason rankings and have since moved up to No. 1. And through five games, the Black...
High school roundup for April 23, 2021: Sydney Lokay helps Norwin slam Seneca Valley
Winning pitcher Sydney Lokay helped her own cause in the most dramatic way possible Thursday afternoon, hitting a grand slam to spark Norwin to a 9-7 Section 2-6A softball victory over Seneca Valley. The slam for Lokay, who struck out 10, gave the Knights (7-1, 4-0) a 5-0 lead in...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for April 22, 2021
High schools Baseball Thursday’s results Class 6A Section 2 Mt. Lebanon 2, Hempfield 1 Class 5A Section 1 Penn-Trafford 10, Gateway 4 Section 2 Fox Chapel 10, Woodland Hills 0 Section 4 South Fayette 12, Upper St. Clair 2 Class 3A Section 2 South Park 14, Steel Valley 4 Section...
Pine-Richland cites ‘pattern of hazing, intimidation’ in letter firing coach Eric Kasperowicz
Ousted football coach Eric Kasperowicz “expressed minimal concern for hazing or empathy for the students” during a 2½-hour interview with Pine-Richland administrators in late-March, according to a letter the school district sent him cutting ties. The three-page letter dated April 14 notified Kasperowicz his contract wouldn’t be renewed and detailed...
Trib 10: Softball shakeup in weekly power rankings
The winds of change that had the temps bouncing up and down last week were calm in the Trib 10 baseball rankings, but strong again in the district softball power rankings. Baseball had a couple of teams slide and some move up; however, all 10 teams are still feeling the...
Jesse Pugh’s 2 homers power Armstrong softball past Franklin Regional
Frustrated that she struck out in her previous at-bat, Jesse Pugh came to the plate with vexation in the top of the fifth. There was some angry aluminum awaiting Franklin Regional senior pitcher Makinzie DeRiggi. With a mighty swing, the freshman slugger from Armstrong sent a moon shot to deep...
A-K Valley baseball notebook: Knoch on winning streak
After losing two straight to Highlands at the beginning of their season, Knoch has put together a little winning streaks turned things around during the past two weeks. With section series wins over Burrell and Freeport, the Knights have won six straight games, including a 10-9 victory over North Hills...
Deer Lakes baseball answers questions with sizzling start
Deer Lakes baseball coach Josh Tysk wasn’t sure how potent the Lancers offense would be this season. With just two returning players in junior Justin Brannagan and senior Ryan Rodgers, there were several unknowns in the lineup. But through eight games, the Lancers are leaving no doubt that they can...
Father of Pine-Richland football player says district using son as ‘scapegoat’ in Kasperowicz saga
The father of a Pine-Richland football player is accusing the school district’s administration of leaking information about his son to create a “scapegoat” for their decision to fire head football coach Eric Kasperowicz. Vince Cruz, whose son is a sophomore on the junior varsity football team, said he retained attorney...
Westmoreland County baseball notebook: Special season might be in store for GCC
One game was all it took for Greensburg Central Catholic to realize it has some promising potential at the plate. The Centurions (5-1), the TribHSSN No. 1 team in WPIAL Class A to open the week, won their first five Section 2 games handily, scoring double-digit runs in each. “After...
Penn-Trafford baseball shows flair for the dramatic with early-season wins
Penn-Trafford still is finding its identity as the baseball season nears the halfway mark. Coach Dan Miller was moving pieces around in his pitching rotation at the beginning of the week as his team won five in a row after a tough, 11-2 nonsection loss to Norwin. “It’s an honest...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for April 21, 2021
High schools Baseball Wednesday’s results WPIAL Class 3A Section 3 Derry 15, Ligonier Valley 0 Nonsection Rochester at Central Valley, ppd. District 8 City League Carrick at Obama Academy, ppd. Thursday’s schedule Class 6A Section 2 Hempfield at Mt. Lebanon, 4:15 p.m. Class 5A Section 1 Penn-Trafford at Gateway, 7...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 22, 2021: Shenango, Laurel fight for 1st place
Shenango and Laurel are neighboring school districts in Lawrence County. But geography isn’t the only category where these two schools are next to each other. In the WPIAL Section 4-2A softball standings, the Wildcats and Spartans are tied for first place with 5-1 records. Plus, in the latest HSSN softball...
High school roundup for April 21, 2021: North Allegheny duo wins section doubles title
After winning a section singles title earlier this month, North Allegheny’s Chase Davidson doubled his medal haul Wednesday when he teamed up with Shomik Telang to win a Section 2-AAA doubles crown. The duo defeated Anthony Lounder and Rohan Maheshwari of Moon, 6-2, 6-2. Davidson topped Lounder in the section...
Trib HSSN State Baseball Rankings for April 21, 2021
The 2021 Trib HSSN state baseball rankings continue to be in a state of flux. There were wholesale changes in Class 3A, no change in Class 4A and something in between in the other four classifications. There also was a changing of the guard at the top of the rankings...
A-K Valley softball notebook: Dramatic win was worth wait for Deer Lakes
Things didn’t go as planned for the Deer Lakes softball team in a 6-3 section loss at Valley in Section 1-3A on April 9. The setback stopped a three-game winning streak to start the season. The Lancers hoped to quickly get back on track, but an April 12 section game...
Plum softball starting to hit stride in search of elusive playoff victory
When the Plum softball team suffered a 5-0 loss to Section 1-5A rival Franklin Regional on April 7, team members were itching to get back on the field and bounce back from the uncharacteristic shutout. But a game against Woodland Hills two days later was scrapped because of covid issues...
