High School category, Page 919
Westmoreland high school notebook: Penn-Trafford to dedicate bench to late pitcher
Penn-Trafford will officially dedicate its bench monument to late standout pitcher Maclean Maund on Monday in a short ceremony before the baseball team’s season-opening game against Connellsville. It also will be the Warriors’ first game on the new turf infield in Harrison City. Maund was killed in a vehicle accident...
High school roundup for March 26, 2021: South Fayette sophomore Ks 17 in no-hitter
Sophomore Tyler Pitzer couldn’t have made a much better first impression for South Fayette. The right-handed starter threw a no-hitter, striking out 17 of the 22 batters he faced, to lead the Lions (1-0) to a 5-0 season-opening nonsection win over North Catholic (0-1) on Friday afternoon. Pitzer allowed two...
Quinn’s homer carries Franklin Regional over Hempfield in season openerVideo
Field announcer Dennis Nicely introduced “Timmy J. Quinn” as the Franklin Regional senior first baseman came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning adding, “The J stands for just have fun.” A few seconds later, it could have stood for jack. One swing of the bat was sure...
Knoch softball eager to be tested by tough competition in 2021
Two years ago, the Knoch softball team put together one of the best runs in program history. The Knights went 18-3, finished third in the WPIAL Class 4A tournament and made their first PIAA playoff appearance. Now, as the Knights prepare for the 2021 season, third-year head coach Gary Coe...
With a new head coach, Knoch baseball has high aspirations
In his three years at the helm of the Vincentian Academy baseball team, Bradley Bestic put together a successful run. In his first season in 2018, Vincentian Academy went 20-4 and won WPIAL and PIAA titles. A year later, the Royals finished third in the WPIAL and earned another berth...
Competition for lineup spots fierce on Latrobe softball team
Latrobe softball coach Bob Kovalcin has seven seniors on his roster, and during the preseason, he told each of them they had first crack at their position. Whether they keep it will be performance-based. “I told the seniors it’s their job to lose, but there’s somebody right there behind them...
North Allegheny girls celebrate 1st PIAA title, top Spring-Ford in state finalsVideo
HERSHEY — North Allegheny’s Lizzy Groetsch and Paige Morningstar were together at Giant Center four years ago when the Tigers last reached the state finals, and they talked then about someday winning a title. Their day arrived Friday. Groetsch shook off early foul trouble to score a game-high 22 points...
Latrobe baseball coming together as players find roles
A big part of Latrobe coach Matt Basciano’s message every year is playing team baseball. Doing the little things like hitting behind a runner to move them up a base or hitting a cutoff man to prevent a single from becoming a double are essential for success all the time,...
OLSH joins elite list as undefeated PIAA boys basketball champion
HERSHEY — For Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, this was the perfect ending. OLSH junior Jake DiMichele had 21 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks, and senior Dante Spadafora added 15 points as the Chargers defeated Philadelphia’s Constitution, 62-49, in the PIAA Class 2A final Friday at Giant Center....
2021 WPIAL Class 4A 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 4A 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....
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for March 26, 2021: Teams chasing PIAA glory
The champions-only version of the PIAA basketball playoffs has one day in the books with eight more state title games to be played at the Giant Center in Hershey over the next two days. Two boys and two girls championship games will be held Friday and Saturday at noon, 2:30...
High school scores, schedules for March 25, 2021
High schools Baseball Friday’s schedule Nonsection Aliquippa at New Castle, 4 p.m. Avella at Jefferson-Morgan, 4 p.m. Brownsville at Carmichaels, 4 p.m. Carrick at Woodland Hills, 5 p.m. Central Catholic at Penn Hills, 4 p.m. Central Valley at Moon, 4:15 p.m. Chartiers Valley at Peters Township, 4 p.m. Clairton at...
PIAA Class 6A girls basketball championship breakdown: North Allegheny vs. Spring-Ford
PIAA Class 6A girls basketball championship North Allegheny vs. Spring-Ford 5 p.m. Friday at Giant Center, Hershey On the air: PCN-TV; TribHSSN.TribLive.com (audio) How they got here: WPIAL champion North Allegheny beat District 10 champion McDowell, 60-30, in the quarterfinals and District 3 champion Cumberland Valley, 67-23, in the semifinals....
Westmoreland freshmen seeing increased football recruiting attention
Say what you want about 7-on-7 football competitions and their merit. College coaches are tuned in to them and are using them to gauge young talent. Players may be in T-shirts and shorts but they can still display hands and speed. Freshmen players are among those getting noticed, including a...
PIAA Class 2A boys basketball championship breakdown: OLSH vs. Constitution
PIAA Class 2A boys basketball championship Constitution vs. OLSH 2:30 p.m. Friday at Giant Center, Hershey On the air: PCN-TV How they got here: WPIAL champion OLSH defeated District 9 champion Karns City, 75-45, in the quarterfinals and District 6 champion Portage, 74-50, in the semifinals. District 12 champion Constitution...
Kiski Area softball will stress versatility with just 3 returning starters
When the coronavirus pandemic canceled last year’s spring sports season, the Kiski Area softball team lost a lot. Seniors Brooke Bires, Courtney Moyer, and Sarah Clever were three big bats in the lineup, and they had their sights set on doing big things last season. But their hopes were dashed...
Jeannette baseball will lean on pair of veteran players
Jeannette baseball has been a perennial playoff contender in recent years under the guidance coach Marcus Clarkson. The Jayhawks advanced to the postseason five consecutive years, from 2015 to ’19, and reeled in the ’17 WPIAL Class A title with a 7-3 victory against section rival Greensburg Central Catholic at...
Mohawk basketball seniors find ‘closure’ despite PIAA championship loss
HERSHEY — The PIAA eliminated its on-court medal ceremonies this winter, so Mohawk basketball coach Mike O’Lare awarded them in the team’s makeshift locker room. The two-time WPIAL champions lost to Philadelphia’s West Catholic, 67-56, in the PIAA Class 3A final Thursday night, but O’Lare made certain his players left...
Kiski Area baseball hopes past success translates to varsity level
Kiski Area baseball coach Aaron Albert is only returning one starter, but the third-year Cavaliers coach is glad it’s senior catcher Derek Hald. The Saint Vincent recruit has been Kiski Area’s backstop for the past three years, and he’s been a calming voice in the dugout, as well. Now, heading...
Jeannette softball team to rely on youth
A priority early for the Jeannette softball team was a high-alert search for players at the high school. “There is no feeder program here, and I had to cancel my first scrimmage due to having only eight players,” said Joe Giacomin, the Jayhawks’ first-year coach. “After every practice, I ask...
Neshannock girls fall in PIAA basketball finals, plan return trip to Hershey
HERSHEY — Neshannock’s first visit to the state finals ended with silver medals and a runner-up trophy, but before the Lancers left Giant Center, they were already making plans for a return trip. They have no seniors, so why not? “We decided in the little room over there that we’ll...
Constitution will play OLSH in state finals after negative covid tests
HERSHEY — The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart boys basketball team will have an opponent for the state championships. The game was in question over covid-19 concerns, but the Class 2A final against Constitution will be played as schedule at 2:30 p.m. Friday, PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said....
2021 WPIAL Class 5A 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 5A 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....
