High School category, Page 911
Little things add up for Freeport softball in win over Highlands
Freeport third baseman Autumn Powell grounded out to second base for the first out of the second inning of Friday’s Section 1-4A opener at Highlands. The grounder scored catcher Natalie King, who had walked and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. The small-ball run was a humble...
Small ball helps Shaler sneak past Fox Chapel in Section 3-5A
The Shaler Area softball team has been showing off its power, but after a one-run loss to West Allegheny earlier this week, coach Tom Sorce said the Titans were going to do whatever they could to push runs across the plate. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of...
Pitt gets commitment from Sean Fitzsimmons, Central Valley’s ‘face of the program’
After Central Valley defensive tackle Sean Fitzsimmons verbally committed to Pitt on Friday, the last topic coach Mark Lyons wanted to discuss five months before football season was the possibility of repeating as PIAA Class 3A champion. But he did allow himself one tiny glimpse into the future. “With Sean...
Franklin Regional Unified Club captures Western Pa. bocce championshipVideo
When Franklin Regional life skills teacher Allison Harris helped start the high school’s Unified Club in 2014, she was hoping to create inclusive opportunities that would bring life skills students together with the larger student body in fun competitions. She certainly did not expect the club’s track team to win...
PIAA won’t offer opinion on transgender legislation before reading proposal
The PIAA won’t offer an opinion on proposed legislation barring transgender athletes from girls sports before reading the bill, executive director Bob Lombardi said. Under current PIAA bylaws, the association will accept any gender indicated by a student’s principal. The proposed legislation, unveiled Monday by five Republican state lawmakers, was...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for April 8, 2021
High schools Baseball WPIAL Thursday’s results Class 2A Section 4 Blackhawk 12, Beaver 8 Nonsection Serra Catholic 13, South Allegheny 3 Chartiers Valley 17, Carrick 6 Southmoreland 6, Greensburg Central Catholic 4 North Hills 17, Fox Chapel 10 Shenango 14, Union 4 Cornell at Ambridge, ppd. Friday’s schedule Class 4A...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 9, 2021: Early season showdown for softball powers
Since expansion from four to six classes throughout the PIAA in softball four years ago, two programs have dominated the Class 4A landscape: Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward. The Leopards won back-to-back WPIAL championships, beating Yough in the 2017 finals and Elizabeth Forward by a 5-4 score in the 2018...
Trib 10: For the first time in a long time, WPIAL baseball, softball power rankings
It has been two years since we felt the spring power. Or should I say, two years since we’re released our weekly Trib HSSN baseball and softball power rankings. These are the ranking where classifications don’t matter. If you’re good, you’re good. Beaver and Elizabeth Forward were the two teams...
High school roundup for April 8, 2021: Twin brothers square off for section tennis title
In the history of WPIAL tennis, there’s never been a matchup of opponents who knew each others’ games better. In a battle of twin brothers, Quaker Valley’s Mike Sirianni defeated Will Sirianni, 6-3, 6-4, in the Section 4-AA singles championship Thursday at Quaker Valley. In the third-place match, Winchester Thurston’s...
A-K Valley boys baseball notebook: Hot bats, solid pitching boost Deer Lakes
With a few big bats and some dominant pitching from juniors Justin Brannagan and Jacob Danka, the Deer Lakes Lancers have gotten off to a hot start in 2021. Two of their four wins have come by 10 runs and their other two victories came by a combined nine runs....
WPIAL coaches agree: Back-to-back section games ‘more equitable’
Baseball teams that opened WPIAL section play earlier this week had a similar refrain for their opponents: “See you tomorrow.” The league went to a new format this season for section games with teams playing each other on back-to-back days, at each other’s home fields, to bring more uniformity to...
Valley baseball winning arms race in season’s opening weeks
In 2021, pitching will come at a premium as teams will be forced to dive deep into their rotations for back-to-back section games each week. While some teams may not have the depth to keep up with the demand, the Valley Vikings (5-1, 2-0) have showcased they’ll have plenty of...
Westmoreland baseball notebook: Franklin Regional uses simple formula for success
Franklin Regional is winning with a simple formula. One that has produced pure, fundamentally sound baseball. And four wins in as many games. “Pitching and defense,” coach Bobby Saddler said. “We knew we had both, and our guys are proving it.” The Panthers (4-0, 2-0), ranked No. 3 in Class...
Rosters announced for annual Roundball Classic
The Roundball Classic is back after a year away and it will feature eight games over three days next month. More than 170 players are set to converge on Geneva College May 13, 14 and 15. “I thought we’d be forgotten after last year,” organizer Allen Deep said. “When you’re...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 8, 2021: Section volleyball matchups aplenty
WPIAL Class AA boys volleyball completes its first week of section play Thursday. Defending district champion Ambridge has its home section opener when the Bridgers host North Catholic on Thursday. The Trojans were a playoff team two years ago, beating Keystone Oaks in the first round before losing to Our...
Trib HSSN State Baseball Rankings for April 7, 2021
The last time we released the Trib HSSN state baseball rankings was nearly 22 months ago. As a reminder, here are the state champions that sat atop the six classifications. They were Souderton (6A), Red Land (5A), Selinsgrove (4A), Mount Union (3A), Devon Prep (2A) and West Middlesex (A). With...
Hempfield bounces back to earn split with Upper St. Clair
Hempfield not only won a section baseball game Tuesday evening, it also was able to put a check in the box next to the team’s mental toughness. A day after losing a three-run lead in the seventh inning and losing in eight innings to Upper St. Clair at home, the...
High school roundup for April 7, 2021: North Allegheny earns split with Seneca Valley
Spencer Barnett doubled and drove in three runs and winning pitcher Kyle Demi struck out eight to lead North Allegheny to an 11-3 baseball victory over Seneca Valley in Section 1-6A Wednesday afternoon. Aaron Galaska had two hits, including a double, for the Tigers (3-1, 1-1) who split the two-game...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for April 7, 2021
WPIAL Baseball Wednesday’s results Class 6A Section 1 Butler 2, Allderdice 1 Central Catholic 6, Pine-Richland 2 North Allegheny 11, Seneca Valley 3 Section 2 Mt. Lebanon 5, Canon-McMillan 3 Baldwin 4, Norwin 3 Hempfield 6, Upper St. Clair 3 Class 5A Section 1 Franklin Regional 8, Penn-Trafford 4 Latrobe...
Hempfield beats Penn-Trafford in slugfest between big-school powers
Hempfield misses its senior starting pitcher, Callie Sowers, who has yet to play a game this season because of a broken thumb. But perhaps to the surprise of some who follow the elite softball program, this Spartans team isn’t just about pitching. They can hit … and hit … and...
Greensburg Salem baseball can’t overcome slow start in loss to Uniontown
The faster the young Greensburg Salem baseball team learns not to give games away, the faster the Golden Lions will start winning on a consistent basis. Greensburg Salem (1-4, 1-3) dropped a two-game series with Uniontown by literally handing the visitors the game. The Red Raiders (2-2, 2-2) took advantage...
Greensburg Central Catholic softball off to promising start
While three games is a small sample size, it represents a strong start to the Greensburg Central Catholic softball team, and is perhaps a sign of what’s to come for the program. The Centurions were anxious to take the field last year to display their improved pitching and defensive play....
Alle-Kiski high school softball notebook: Fox Chapel-Burrell provides pitchers’ duel
Spectators at the March 29 nonsection game between Fox Chapel and Burrell were treated to a double pitching gem. Foxes junior Mackenzie Borkovich and Burrell softball Katie Armstrong dueled for 10 innings before Fox Chapel won in the bottom of the 10th, 1-0, on a throwing error. Borkovich, who shook...
Walk-off double pushes Highlands baseball team past Knoch
One close game is nice, but back-to-back tight wins is even better. Thanks to junior middle infielder Seth Helgert, Highlands earned its second straight Section 1-4A triumph Wednesday, rallying for a 3-2 walk-off victory over Knoch. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Helgert stepped to the plate...
Freeport’s Borghol overcomes back issues to make triumphant softball return
Maya Borghol hit a home run in a March 23 scrimmage against Kiski Area. The trip around the bases, the Freeport senior center fielder said, was confirmation the power she displayed during a breakout freshman season still was there. Lingering issues after back surgery in 2018 took away most of...
