With 233 wins, WPIAL title to his credit, Norwin baseball coach Mike Liebdzinski steps down
As sure as he looked at his watch, Mike Liebdzinski knew when he walked off the field Monday at Plum that it was time. The longtime Norwin baseball coach is calling it a career after nearly three decades in the dugout. He told his players about his resignation Thursday. “This...
Norwin’s Aaron Schmook commits to Kent State
Aaron Schmook did not set out to commit the week of the PIAA track and field championships. But in a sport that prides itself on timing and separation, his decision seems appropriate all the same. The senior from Norwin has accepted a partial scholarship to throw the javelin at Kent...
Kelly sparks 5-run inning that carries Central Catholic over Norwin, into Class 6A semis
Central Catholic sophomore Gavin Kelly is glad there is a quick turnaround from the WPIAL Class 6A baseball quarterfinals to the semifinals. Quick as in, be ready to play again in less than 24 hours. “That’s good. We want to keep playing because we’re hot,” the West Virginia commit said....
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for May 23, 2022: Rematches set for baseball playoffs
Welcome to Semifinals Monday in the 2022 WPIAL baseball playoffs. Unless your team is in classes 6A or 4A, then it’s Welcome to Quarterfinals Monday. Whether it’s the second or third round, the recurring theme is rematches. Of the 16 scheduled games, 11 are matchups between teams that faced each...
Westmoreland baseball playoff capsule: Central Catholic vs. Norwin, Monday, May 23, 2022
Class 6A quarterfinals 5-Central Catholic (11-9) vs. 4-Norwin (10-8) 4 p.m. at Plum Winner plays: Winner of 8-Seneca Valley (14-7) vs. 1-Mt. Lebanon (13-7) on Tuesday in semifinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Cade O’Leary, Central Catholic; Jack Whalen, Norwin Extra bases: Central Catholic finished third in Section 1...
Norwin notebook: Baseball team finishes strong to earn playoff berth
The Norwin baseball team rallied to earn a WPIAL Class 6A playoff spot and a decent seed in the bracket. The fourth-seeded Knights (10-8) were scheduled to take on No. 5 Central Catholic (10-9) in the quarterfinals of the eight-team bracket May 23. The Knights were 4-6 at one point...
Seton Hill softball, baseball teams win NCAA regional games
The Seton Hill softball team moved a game closer to qualifying for the NCAA Division II World Series on Thursday by defeating host Kutztown, 7-0, in the Atlantic Super Regional Championship. Morgan Ryan, the Notre Dame transfer who played at Hempfield, threw a six-hit shutout and helped her cause with...
Gambles pay off for Hempfield softball in walk-off win over rival Norwin
Top-seeded Hempfield played the percentages and, as a result, gets to play in the semifinals. Spartans first-year softball coach Tina Madison issued four intentional walks to Norwin — including two in the seventh inning with her team up by one run — and allowed the Knights to load the bases...
Norwin softball team, ‘coming in hot,’ beats Baldwin in playoff opener
Norwin softball had its team banquet the night before the playoff opener. Odd timing? For sure. But it also allowed the Lady Knight to spin forward instead of looking back. To offer pep talks and atta-girls rather than farewell hugs and nostalgia. This season isn’t over yet. “We’re coming in...
Softball playoff capsule: Baldwin vs. Norwin, Monday, May 16, 2022
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 6A First round 9-Baldwin (4-11) vs. 8-Norwin (5-9) 3 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin Winner plays: 1-Hempfield (12-3) at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Penn-Trafford Players to watch: Gabby Jaquay, Fr., Baldwin; Madie Kessler, Jr., Norwin Last year’s finish: Baldwin — Lost to Bethel Park, 9-1, in...
Westmoreland H.S. athletes of the week: Norwin’s Bailey Snowberger, Hempfield’s Chaz Ewer
Bailey Snowberger School: Norwin Sport: Softball Year: Sophomore Claim to fame: Snowberger, a shortstop, helped Norwin make a late push for a WPIAL Class 6A playoff spot. She led off Tuesday’s game with a triple, hustling to third and beating the throw, and finished with two hits and an RBI...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Area players to take part in upcoming Roundball games
Basketball season ended months ago, but the Roundball Classic will bring together some of the top talent from the WPIAL this week. The nine senior all-star games will be Thursday through Saturday at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Area boys selected are Nick Crum and Noah Wright of Penn-Trafford, Michael...
Norwin notebook: Track teams surge into WPIAL finals
The Norwin track and field teams advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A championship. The meet was set for May 11 at West Mifflin. At the semifinal meet, the girls earned commanding wins over Canon-McMillan (98-52), Bethel Park (124-26) and Belle Vernon (120-30). The boys topped Connellsville (121-29), Canon-McMillan (97-53) and...
WPIAL baseball seedings set up Westmoreland County clash in 1st round
When two second-place section teams received better seeds than his section-winning one, Yough baseball coach Craig Spisak didn’t kick up dust. After winning its second section title in four years, Yough was branded with a No. 5 seed in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A baseball playoffs, which...
Westmoreland baseball notebook: Franklin Regional playing well at right time
Franklin Regional won’t get the No. 1 seed like it did last year, but the Panthers have something most of the other teams in the WPIAL Class 5A playoff field don’t have: championship experience. The defending champions, who ran their winning streak to six with a 10-3 win over Kiski...
Norwin shuts out North Allegheny to earn spot in WPIAL softball playoffs
There was a WPIAL “last chance” track and field meet going on Tuesday at Norwin. Simultaneously, on the upper part of the campus, there also was a “last chance” softball game. With its season hanging in the balance, Norwin took care of business in the Section 2-6A finale, delivering a...
Greensburg Central Catholic, Norwin ready for team finals in WPIAL track
When Mike Brewer took over the Greensburg Central Catholic track and field program 10 years ago, he had a team of 12 — five boys and seven girls. Now the program has a full roster and Wednesday, the boys and girls teams are hoping to perform at a high level...
No changes in final WPIAL Boys Volleyball Coaches Association top-10 polls
WPIAL boys volleyball section play concludes Thursday evening, and the playoff brackets and pairings are scheduled to be released Friday. Several playoff spots, section titles and playoff positioning will be determined over the next four nights. With that, the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association released its final spring 2022 Class...
Westmoreland Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Olivia Mastrilli
March 30 to April 27. That’s how long the Norwin softball team had to wait between playing games on their home field this season. The Lady Knights have had to reschedule home games a total of nine times this season because of weather issues that led to poor field conditions....
What to watch for on Trib HSSN for Monday, May 9, 2022: Baseball, softball, tennis on tap
Welcome to the final week of the WPIAL baseball and softball regular season. With weather not an issue, several district baseball teams hope to join the long list of schools that have qualified for the 2022 WPIAL baseball playoffs with a victory Monday. *Kiski Area can clinch a playoff berth...
Norwin notebook: Former, future Knights wrestlers compete at U.S. Open event
There is no offseason for the Norwin wrestling program. A Norwin graduate and a rising standout competed recently in national competitions. Kurtis Phipps, a sophomore at Bucknell, and Landon Sidun, who is set to make the jump from junior high to varsity wrestling, competed at the United States Marine Corps/USA...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Mt. Pleasant’s Hutter reopens recruitment
Mt. Pleasant softball standout Katie Hutter has changed her college plans. Initially an Akron commit — a decision she made in fall 2020 — Hutter decommitted because of a coaching change. The senior has opened her recruiting. Hutter, a .593 hitter and shortstop, will likely play outfield in college....
Westmoreland County baseball notebook: Southmoreland takes giant leap into playoffs
Senior shortstop/pitcher Anthony Govern said this season was “playoffs or bust” for Southmoreland. He didn’t flinch when he said it. The Scotties have lived up to their long-time-coming goal of reaching the postseason, qualifying for the first time since 2008. The team was 6-6 overall and 5-5 in Section 4-3A...
Stecko taps power potential for Norwin baseball team
Ty Stecko remembers when his baseball bat seemed to weigh more than he did. “I was always tall, but I was really skinny,” the Norwin slugger said about his stature in youth baseball. “I had to put some weight on.” Once a scrawny lamp post, Stecko has grown into a...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 4, 2022: Softball playoff berths on the line
Win and you’re in. Those four words are sweet music to the ears of any high school team on the bubble as section play winds down. In district softball, several teams can earn a playoff berth with a victory Wednesday — weather permitting, of course. • In Section 1-6A, Baldwin...
