High School category, Page 866
Gateway softball seeing where pieces fit after canceled season
Gateway’s softball team has taken a basic approach to the 2021 season, homing in directly on the game’s fundamentals. “We are working on the basics to be able to make the routine plays in the field and minimize mental mistakes,” coach Scott Lewis said. “We are working on hitting just...
Gateway swimmer claims medals, finds motivation at state meet
In a high school swim season full of ups and down, with changes and uncertainty around every corner, Andrew Holmes still planned to meet all of his goals and expectations. The Gateway junior ticked off many of the boxes he hoped to over the past couple of months and capped...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Warriors tennis off to quick start
The Penn-Trafford boys tennis team is off to a 4-0 start with victories against Hampton, Thomas Jefferson, Latrobe and Kiski Area. The Latrobe and Kiski Area matches were both 4-1 section wins. Alex Turowski (3-0) is unbeaten in singles action while Ryan Litzinger (4-0) is undefeated in doubles. Brian Lee...
With solid core returning, Penn-Trafford volleyball has talent to contend
Following last season’s cancellation, the Penn-Trafford volleyball team is anxious to get back on the court. After all, the Warriors had a streak of 12 straight appearances in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs interrupted, including the 2016 championship. Penn-Trafford begins the season ranked fifth in the WPIAL coaches poll. “This...
With athleticism and versatility, Quaker Valley baseball confident heading into season
In the year before Dean Owrey took over the Quaker Valley baseball program, the Quakers won just five games. In his first season, Owrey and the Quakers captured 11 games and punched their ticket to the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs before losing to South Park, 2-1, in the first round....
With small roster, Quaker Valley softball to rely on versatility
The Quaker Valley softball team will be young in 2021, but the Quakers aren’t going to let that stop them from building something special for the future. With just one senior and 11 total players, the Quakers will lack some senior leadership and depth, but coach Nicole Olson is looking...
3 Baldwin girls basketball seniors to take games to next level
Anna Lucarelli proved to be a rarity in the Baldwin girls basketball program. Lucarelli was a four-year captain for the Highlanders, an uncommon role at any level and one she genuinely embraced. “I am really grateful. I have had some great coaches to help me on and off the court,”...
Bar set high for Thomas Jefferson boys, girls basketball programs
There is a sunny disposition in both Thomas Jefferson basketball programs heading into 2021-22. The senior-driven boys team will have key players back from this year’s 18-5 unit, while the girls team has high hopes to build off its 12-10 record thanks to a host of talented underclassmen. “I really...
2021 WPIAL Class 2A softball preseason breakdown
After a year away from the diamond, softball players from across Western Pennsylvania are itching to get back in the field of play. With the 2021 season moving forward as planned, WPIAL teams will get the chance to do just that. Several perennial powers will look to regain their place...
2021 WPIAL Class 2A baseball preseason breakdown
WPIAL baseball players have been waiting nearly two seasons to get back on the field of play after the coronavirus pandemic forced officials to cancel the entire 2020 campaign. With the 2021 season moving forward, district players are eager to showcase their skills and lead their teams to the postseason....
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 27, 2021
High schools Baseball Saturday’s results Nonsection Armstrong 7, Ellwood City 1 Chartiers-Houston 5, Freedom 2 Moniteau 7, South Allegheny 5 Moon 11, Hopewell 9 Seton LaSalle 9, Peters Township 6 Baldwin 3, Upper Arlington (Ohio) 1 Latrobe 2, Upper Arlington (Ohio) 0 Shaler 4, Mt. Lebanon 3 West Mifflin 6,...
High school roundup for March 27, 2021: Latrobe softball’s Tallman throws no-hitter, homers
Latrobe’s Jordan Tallman opened the softball season with a bang. The senior pitcher threw a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking one, and also hit a home run to lead Latrobe to a 16-0 victory over Belle Vernon (1-1) in nonsection play Saturday. Jenna Tallman added a home run,...
Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame banquet canceled again
For the second consecutive year, the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame banquet was canceled because of the pandemic. Hall of fame chairman Larry Lutz said all eight inductees have been contacted and will be coming to the next induction banquet May 21, 2022. The students honorees, however, from the...
Waynesburg routs Central Dauphin to capture 1st PIAA wrestling title
MECHANICSBURG — A year ago, Waynesburg made a run to the PIAA Class 3A team wrestling championships and came up just short of capturing the first PIAA title in any sport in Waynesburg history. Although it was a devastating loss for the Raiders, 172-pound senior Luca Augustine also called it...
Leechburg baseball team’s expectations remain high with new coach
Bill Stoops knows what it’s like to help lead a high school baseball team to the WPIAL playoffs and pick up postseason victories. He did it with Deer Lakes as the coach from 1999-2007, as an assistant at North Allegheny from 2008-15 and with Gateway from 2016-18. After a short...
2021 Valley News Dispatch wrestling all-stars
Cooper Hornack Burrell, fr., 106 pounds 2020-21 record: 29-3 In his first season of varsity wrestling, Hornack captured a WPIAL title and also took second at states. He had 14 pins and two of his three losses came via decision. Antonino Walker Plum, fr., 106 pounds 2020-21 record: 22-4 In...
Leechburg softball puts playoff streak on line
No softball team in the WPIAL has built a streak quite like Leechburg’s. The program’s penchant for consistency has equated to 33 straight WPIAL playoff seasons. That is a run, coach Debbie Young said, this year’s team will fight fiercely to maintain. But the goals and expectations, she added, are...
New league, new team for Ligonier Valley baseball
Ligonier Valley’s return to the WPIAL in baseball began on a triumphant note Friday in the program’s first game back in District 7, a 6-4 decision over Greensburg Salem. The outcome provided hope for the retooled Rams, who were forced to replace their entire starting lineup from the 2019 season...
Chartiers Valley held to 27 points in PIAA championship loss to Cardinal O’HaraVideo
HERSHEY — On film, Cardinal O’Hara looked big, strong and physical to Chartiers Valley coach Tim McConnell, so his Colts weren’t surprised by what they ran into at Giant Center. Yet, nobody could’ve foreseen this. Chartiers Valley — which once scored 100 points in a game this season — tied...
Valley News Dispatch wrestler of the year: Burrell’s AJ Corrado
When Burrell senior AJ Corrado first started wrestling in fifth grade, he used to be mesmerized by the state wrestling brackets, often wondering if he’d ever have a chance to stand on top of the PIAA podium one day in Hershey. “I would always look at brackets and stuff like...
Burrell takes 3rd at PIAA team tournament for first time since 2014
Since his seniors were younger, Burrell wrestling coach Josh Shields knew he would have a special team when 2021 came around. Adding a talented freshman in Cooper Hornack and a few other pieces who fit the Burrell mold provided a big boost, too. On Saturday afternoon at Cumberland Valley High...
Ligonier Valley softball wants status quo: Success
Every year, it seems, Ligonier Valley coach Mark Zimmerman appears optimistic about his softball team’s chances for a successful season. Most years, the Rams have succeeded. In fact, since 2006, not counting last season’s canceled schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic, Ligonier Valley advanced to the District 6 playoffs all...
2021 Tribune-Review Westmoreland County wrestling all-stars
Vinny Kilkeary Latrobe, so., 113 pounds 2020-21 record: 26-3 Career record: 56-10 Kilkeary won the 2019 PIAA title with a pin in the finals against Erie Cathedral Prep’s Jake Van Dee. This year he placed third, losing in the semifinals. He was the Section 2 and WPIAL 113-pound champion. All...
Tribune-Review Westmoreland Wrestler of the Year: Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer wastes no time
Mt. Pleasant junior Dayton Pitzer didn’t pin every opponent he faced. It just seemed that way. Pitzer finished his junior season with a state-high 31 pins and his second PIAA Class AA wrestling title. It was a great bounce-back year after a knee injury took away his sophomore season and...
2021 Trib HSSN wrestling all-stars
Mac Church Waynesburg, so., 120 pounds 2020-21 record: 29-2 Career record: 76-8 Church was upset in the WPIAL Class AAA 120-pound final, but undaunted, he came back to win a PIAA title. He defeated Chambersburg junior Karl Shindledecker in overtime. He was the WPIAL champion at 106 in 2020. Church...
