Other Local category, Page 29
Latrobe alum Jared Kollar signs with San Diego Padres
Feeling he had more to prove as a college pitcher, Jared Kollar took advantage of a fifth year of eligibility and played last season at Rutgers. What did he prove? That he might have major-league talent. The crafty right-hander out of Latrobe and Seton Hill was signed Tuesday night to...
Latrobe grad Brady Pevarnik back in business with West Penn Amateur victory
Brady Pevarnik was sort of in a slump the past few seasons. Once an up-and-coming player alongside the likes of Palmer Jackson and Mark Goetz, Pevarnik’s game had slipped a little. A broken right wrist suffered while playing pick-up basketball sidelined him for more than a year and a half....
Bushy Run comes up short in Region 7 final
The Bushy Run American Legion baseball team needed to win two games Tuesday if it hoped to qualify for the state tournament at Boyertown on Saturday. The day started well as Bushy Run used two big innings — a three-run first inning and a four-run eighth inning — to defeat...
A-K Valley baseball standouts get taste of college game with Butler Blue Sox
The Butler Blue Sox field one of the youngest teams in the Tri-State Summer Collegiate League at Pullman Park. Despite their youth, the Blue Sox are picking up steam and swinging hot sticks as the season progresses. Valley News Dispatch Baseball Player of the Year Justin Brannagan, who graduated from...
West Point Little League gears up to host state 8-9-10 tournament
When West Point Little League president Tom Rennie inquired about hotel availability in the last week of July for the Pennsylvania State Little League 8-9-10 tournament, which is being hosted by the league, he got a chuckle from management. That’s because Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Latrobe starts on the...
Brady Pevarnik, Darin Kowalski share West Penn Amateur lead after 2 rounds
Latrobe graduate Brady Pevarnik used a strong first round and shares the lead with South Hills Country Club Darin Kowalski at the 122nd Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur tournament at Butler. The duo shot an even-par 140 for two rounds, both played Monday. The field was cut to the low...
Latrobe, Bushy Run Legion teams lose, will meet in semis
District 31 American Legion champion Latrobe and third-place finisher Bushy Run advanced to the Pennsylvania Region 7 semifinals Tuesday despite losing their first games. Latrobe split its two games, defeating host Bedford, 2-1, and falling to Beech Creek, 8-6, on a walk-off grand slam by Ty Houtz. Pool A was...
From success at Penn State to 1st pro tournament, Greensburg native climbing tennis ladder
When Loren Byers was 17, he won the USTA National Level 3 Tennis Championship in Arizona. The win helped Byers gain recognition across the country, and he eventually climbed the national ranks. “The person I beat in my last match was pretty high ranked, so that helped out my ranking,”...
New Kensington gym sends 5 young female boxers to nationals
Not a lot of gyms can say they are taking five female boxers to a national tournament, but Sanctuary Boxing Club in New Kensington accomplished that feat. Rich Cantolina, a professional boxer and the coach of Sanctuary Boxing, sees the potential in his gym and in his boxers. “These girls...
Freeport ballplayers stick together on successful team in Butler County league
In an era when community baseball teams often are fragmented, Freeport has kept together enough homegrown players to form a competitive team. Freeport’s entry in the Butler County Area Baseball League is getting set for next week’s double-elimination playoff to determine a league champion. Freeport has a 9-6 record this...
Hoffman walk-off grand slam rallies Bushy Run past Young Township
Brody Hoffman hit a grand slam on a 1-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Bushy Run walked off with a 7-5 victory against Young Township on Sunday in the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 7 tournament at Bedford. Hoffman’s blast highlighted a five-run seventh...
Penn Township Junior Legion baseball looks to defend regional, state titles
The Penn Township Junior Legion baseball team had its eye on another Westmoreland County Youth Legion title July 10. Murrysville, especially Owen Sinclair, spoiled that celebration. Sinclair hit three home runs and drove in six runs to lead Murrysville to a 7-2 victory in the championship game at the Penn...
Bushy Run, Latrobe pick up wins in Region 7 Legion tournament
Gavin Good’s three-run double with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning rallied Bushy Run to an 8-5 victory against St. Michael on Saturday in the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 7 tournament at Everett High School. Bushy Run, the third-seeded team from District 31, rallied from a 5-0...
Murrysville’s Owen Sinclair belts 3 homers in Junior Legion championship game
Owen Sinclair had a memorable game July 11 in the Westmoreland County Youth Legion championship finals. One he’ll always remember. Sinclair had three home runs, drove in six runs and helped Murrysville defeat Penn Township, 8-2, to win the title. All three of his home runs went over the center...
Latrobe blanks Young Township to repeat as District 31 American Legion baseball champs
Latrobe used strong pitching from Jake Albaugh and Adam Moreland and timely hits from Logan Short and Erick Batista to claim its second consecutive District 31 American Legion baseball title Wednesday at Legion-Keener Field. Albaugh and Moreland combined on a two-hit shutout as Latrobe defeated Young Township, 3-0, in a...
Golf notebook: Kevin Shields wins Falling Rock Classic
Kevin Shields used five birdies to build a first-round lead at the Falling Rock Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort on Monday. The Mt. Lebanon native backed that effort with a pair of eagles during the final round on the Falling Rock Course Tuesday to breeze to a comfortable win. Shields...
French team brings international flair back to annual Freeport baseball tournament
For the first time in several years, an international team will join the fun for the 28th annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational. FIBI president Chuck Sarver and vice president Dave Brestensky said the arrival of a team from France will add to the excitement and anticipation of what should be...
Brian Sackett inducted into International Tang Soo Do Federation Hall of Fame
Teaching karate and watching his students succeed is rewarding for Master Brian Sackett. After spending nearly 30 years studying and teaching Tang Soo Do, he is being recognized for his accomplishments. Sackett recently accepted his induction into the International Tang Soo Do Federation Hall of Fame. “The real reward is...
Latrobe, Young Township set to tangle for Legion title
With the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 7 tournament scheduled to begin Saturday at Bedford, one could wonder how Latrobe coach Jason Bush and Young Township coach Ryan Staats will approach Wednesday’s District 31 championship game. “We’re playing to win,” Bush said. “We go out to win any time we play...
Kevin Fajt wins Westmoreland County Amateur in playoff
Kevin Fajt has played golf long enough to know you’re never out of a match even if things look bleak. Through 27 holes of the Westmoreland County Amateur on Sunday at Greensburg Country Club, Fajt was down four shots to first-round leader Ron DeNunzio. But when DeNunzio bogeyed No. 11...
Latrobe, Young Township advance to D31 championship game
Regular-season champion Latrobe and third-place finisher Young Township will play for the District 31 American Legion championship after sweeping their semifinal series Sunday. Latrobe got four RBIs from Vinny Amatucci and a strong pitching performance from Peyton Henry and defeated rival Unity, 10-1, in Game 2 to sweep the best-of-three...
Norwin’s Max McDowell maturing in Yankees system
Sure, Max McDowell wanted to be there in person when the New York Yankees played the Pittsburgh Pirates in a recent two-game series at PNC Park. The minor-league catcher would have given just about anything to get a call-up to join New York’s big club on the North Shore, 20...
Young Township, Latrobe pick up wins in District 31 American semifinals
A fast start is all Young Township needed to get past Bushy Run in the District 31 American Legion semifinals Saturday at Penn-Trafford High School. Back-to-back two-run doubles by Bradley Felix and Haden Brink in a four-run first inning led Young Township to a 7-2 win in Game 1 of...
Ronald DeNunzio leads Westmoreland County Amateur
Greensburg Country Club member Ronald DeNunzio used his course knowledge and grabbed the first-round lead Saturday at the Westmoreland County Golf Association’s Amateur tournament. DeNunzio shot 4-under-par 66 and holds a two shot lead over Hannastown Golf Club’s Kevin Fajt and Ryan Sikora. Both shot a 2-under 68. Tied for...
Semifinal schedules set for District 31 American Legion Baseball playoffs
District 31 American Legion Baseball playoffs are scheduled to resume Saturday with two semifinal round games. Regular-season champion Latrobe will play host to rival Unity at 2 p.m at Legion Keener Field. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Whitney. Latrobe opened the playoffs...
