High School category, Page 870
Fox Chapel baseball ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back into game action
If a high school baseball team wasn’t loaded with freshmen or sophomores two years ago, it’s probably going to lack experience in 2021. Fox Chapel is one of those teams. Senior Dante DiMatteo is the only letter winner returning for fourth-year coach Jim Hastings from a team that went 10-8...
North Allegheny girls steamroll Cumberland Valley to reach state finals
ALTOONA — It took a few minutes to warm the engine. Once North Allegheny got revved up, though, it was clear the Tigers’ well-oiled machine was primed for a trip to Hershey. North Allegheny overcame its early-game malaise with a huge second-quarter run to punch its ticket into the PIAA...
Norwin special teams standouts Castle, Smith heading to national showcase
What is a punter without his long-snapper? Or a kicker without his holder? Norwin has a talented pair of special teamers, and they are headed to a national showcase as a package deal. Sophomores Joey Castle and Xander Smith are headed to the National Kicking Rankings Top 20 Invitational on...
Detail-oriented Greensburg CC baseball team has pitching to contend
Fundamentals are a big part of the coaching staff’s philosophy at Greensburg Central Catholic. Nothing is taken for granted in preparation for each opponent. Nothing is too simplified. “We work on the basic fundamentals all the time and try to get them down,” junior pitcher Zach David said. “Our coaching...
With young roster, Fox Chapel hopes to rely on pitching, defense
Like every softball team in the WPIAL, Fox Chapel is dealing with a lot of unknowns heading into the 2021 season. Chris Olbrich became head coach before last season after serving as an assistant for a few years, and the Foxes only got one scrimmage in before the season was...
Immediate future looks bright for GCC softball
Greensburg Central Catholic softball has been a slow build since coach Mike Gaffney took over six years ago. There always were talented players, but Gaffney had to play them at varying positions on the field, many times in spots that didn’t quite suit them. It all was out of necessity....
WPIAL boys volleyball coaches release preseason poll
After a year away, WPIAL boys volleyball teams will be back on the court Friday and Saturday to start the 2021 season. The pandemic claimed the 2020 season, leaving hundreds of players looking forward to this spring and the start of a new season. The 39 boys volleyball coaches from...
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Player of the Week for week ending March 21, 2021
They have been the dynamic duo behind three straight WPIAL Class A girls basketball championships. Now as their time together is winding down, the only thing left for them to accomplish together is to lead Rochester to a state championship. Alexis Robison is the senior and closing out a gold...
High school sports schedules for March 22, 2021
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Tuesday’s schedule Archbishop Wood (18-0) at Lower Merion (11-4), 7 p.m.; Upper St. Clair (21-1) vs. Reading (24-2) at Altoona, 6 p.m. Class 5A Semifinals Monday’s schedule Archbishop Ryan (11-5) at Chester (14-1), 7 p.m.; Cathedral Prep (16-7) vs. Lower Dauphin...
Trib HSSN What to Watch for: Monday, March 22, 2021
It was an emotional PIAA quarterfinals weekend for the WPIAL basketball champions. From blowout wins by the Lincoln Park boys, OLSH boys and North Allegheny girls, to heartbreak losses for the Beaver girls and Ellwood City boys and the Bishop Canevin boys having to forfeit before they hit the court...
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Team of the Week for week ending March 21, 2021
Three losses in a 25-day period seemed to take the spotlight away from a team that had won two straight WPIAL crowns, claimed the most recently completed PIAA Class 5A girls basketball championship and was the owner of a record 64-game winning streak. For the first time in more than...
TribLive High School Sports Network broadcasts: Week of March 22, 2021
The champions-only edition of the Road to Hershey winds down as we head into the final four of the state basketball playoffs this week here on the TribLive High School Sports Network. We have semifinals state playoff action Monday and Tuesday with the winners heading to Hershey. HSSN could have...
PIHL standings: Week of March 22, 2021
Here are the latest PIHL standings through Sunday. The PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs are set to start April 5 The Pa. Cup championships are set for April 24. * — clinched playoff spot Team – Wins – Losses – OT/Shootout Loss = Total Points Class AAA *Canon-McMillan, 15-3-1 = 31...
Anticipation high for Deer Lakes softball team’s return to field
Rick Cerra has been waiting for quite a while to coach his first game as the Deer Lakes softball coach. After coaching the junior high team for four seasons, Cerra was given the job ahead of last season after former coach Craig Tialani retired. Tialani had directed the program since...
Franklin Regional baseball set goals beyond WPIAL playoffs
Just about every WPIAL team starts a season with goals of winning section and WPIAL titles. What’s the point if that is not the case, right? But only a select few have the talent to change those goals from words into actions; to follow them through to a finish. Count...
Deer Lakes baseball will be young but won’t lack experience
The last time the Deer Lakes baseball team took the diamond, Justin Brannagan was a freshman and Ryan Rodgers was a sophomore. Now, a year after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the spring sports season, Brannagan and Rodgers are the only two returning letter-winners for the Lancers. Although his team lacks...
Franklin Regional softball team appreciates perspective
Jim Armstrong remembers the day it all came crashing down. “We were in the gym playing kickball,” the Franklin Regional softball coach said. “It kind of dawned on me what was about to happen. It was over.” The PIAA canceled spring sports last year as the coronavirus pandemic began to...
3 WPIAL champions to compete in 2021 PIAA boys basketball semifinals
The WPIAL boys basketball champions split six games in the PIAA quarterfinals in an emotional weekend of state basketball playoffs. Upper St. Clair won a game for the ages with just six players while Lincoln Park and OLSH rolled to lopsided wins. Meanwhile, it was time to check into the...
Matchups set for 2021 PIAA girls basketball semifinals
The WPIAL girls basketball champions were close to a quarterfinals sweep on the Road to Hershey. Only Beaver did not survive as the Bobcats lost a heartbreaker in overtime to District 10 power Villa Maria Academy, 29-28, on Saturday. The other five District 7 champs are Final Four bound Monday...
Penn Hills volleyball hopes to make up for lost time
The Penn Hills boys volleyball team is glad to be back in the gym and is looking forward to competing in 2021. “My expectations for this season are to play,” said Jay Mitlo, the Indians veteran coach. “One year was taken from these guys, and we are elated to get...
Penn Hills track team ready for anything after canceled season
The 2021 track season at Penn Hills will be filled with many unknowns. One thing for certain is youth will be served this spring. “I have a very young team this year,” said veteran coach Lee Zelkowitz. “All the coaches are enjoying working with these athletes. They are very motivated...
Pine-Richland softball gearing season toward section race
Pine-Richland softball coach Gary Shepard feels he has the right mix of returning players and newcomers to field a competitive team this spring. And he will have some time to see how the lineup will shake out. Because of a smaller-than-usual section of only six teams, the Rams will have...
Defending WPIAL champion Pine-Richland baseball team to start season shorthanded
When Pine-Richland takes the field this spring, it will be without a few key players at the start, but that isn’t slowing the Rams’ hunger to defend their WPIAL Class 6A title. Standout pitchers Tommy Beam, a West Virginia recruit, and West Virginia Wesleyan recruit Gabe Mustovic, along with infielder...
Gateway bowlers cap season at regional tournament
While covid protocols and safety precautions made the 2020-21 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League season like no other, an experienced Gateway boys varsity team worked through all of the obstacles to finish with successful results. The Gators capped play at the Western Regional Championships on March 5 and 6. Senior...
Gateway baseball players looking to build on past success with holdovers from ’19
Luke Jackson played 14 games and collected 33 at-bats as a sophomore in 2019 as Gateway finished 13-7 and qualified for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. The senior center fielder, along with a returning group that included nine seniors, hoped to build on the experience, which included a tough 2-1...
