Bill Beckner stories, Page 112
Norwin notebook: Baseball, softball standouts earn all-section honors
Norwin athletes once again made their mark in the WPIAL’s two largest classifications this spring. The Big 5/6 Conference, which covers Class 6A and 5A athletics, had its all-section banquet May 25 and announced its top players in baseball and softball. Section 2-6A baseball’s first team included seniors Jack Whalen...
Jenna Clontz belts WPIAL-winning walk-off homer as Armstrong tops Penn-Trafford
Moments after the game ended, Armstrong fans lugged a giant boom-box radio onto Lilley Field and turned up the music, bobbing their heads to the thumping beat. Junior left fielder Jenna Clontz had just performed one of the program’s greatest hits. This was the “hoopla” Penn-Trafford coach Denny Little warned...
Expect offensive outburst when Armstrong, Penn-Trafford clash for WPIAL 5A title
Offense could be on full blast when Penn-Trafford and Armstrong meet Friday ( game was postponed Thursday due to weather) in the WPIAL Class 5A softball championship. So could the volume coming from at least one of the dugouts. “If you think you’re going to see a shutout, you’re crazy,”...
Seneca Valley blasts past North Allegheny to win 1st WPIAL softball title since ’99
Seneca Valley started partying like it was 1999 — and 1992, for that matter. The fourth-seeded Raiders upended No. 7 North Allegheny, 9-5, to win their first WPIAL softball championship since ‘99, and third overall, on Wednesday at Lilley Field at Cal (Pa.). Freshman Lexie Hames and senior first baseman...
WPIAL Class 5A softball championship capsule: Penn-Trafford vs. Armstrong
2-Penn-Trafford (18-2) vs. 1-Armstrong (19-4) 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY, Lilley Field, Cal (Pa.) Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Doug Flanders, Armstrong Players to watch: Mia Smith, Penn-Trafford; Jenna Clontz, Armstrong On the air: Broadcast | Trib HSSN (triblive.com) Extra bases: Penn-Trafford is making its first appearance in the WPIAL finals. The Warriors...
Peters Township’s CeCe Scott wins Rosensteel scholarship
All-state midfielder CeCe Scott of Peters Township won the second Kaitlyn “Moe” Rosensteel Scholarship. The winner was revealed Tuesday evening. Scott, a senior Duquesne commit, helped guide the Indians to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals. The scholarship is in the name of Rosensteel, the Ringgold standout and West Virginia Wesleyan...
Southmoreland hangs on to beat South Allegheny, earns state playoff berth
They say it is hard to beat a team three times in a season. The way Southmoreland saw it, it was even harder to lose to one that many times. The Scotties built an early lead and then fended off several comeback attempts by section foe South Allegheny on Tuesday...
Rapp twins overcome spinal fusion surgeries to help Penn-Trafford softball to WPIAL final
Maddy Rapp thought she might cause a scene when she walked through the metal detectors at Heinz Field in November when she watched her hometown Penn-Trafford Warriors play for a WPIAL football championship. Her fraternal twin sister, McKenzie, saw a similar outcome passing through the security arch. They were surprised...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsule preview for May 31, 2022
Today’s game Third-place consolation Class 3A Southmoreland (13-4) vs. South Allegheny (13-4) 3 p.m. at Norwin Players to watch: Amarah McCutcheon, Southmoreland; Breena Komarnisky, South Allegheny On the air: Broadcast | Trib HSSN (triblive.com) Extra bases: It’s simple: The winner advances to the state tournament, and the loser turns in...
Westmoreland notebook: Big 5/6 Conference announces baseball, softball all-stars
Westmoreland County athletes once again made their mark in the WPIAL’s two largest classifications this spring. The Big 5/6 Conference, which covers Class 6A and 5A athletics, had its all-section banquet Wednesday and announced its top players in baseball and softball. Section 2-6A baseball’s first team included senior infielder Joe...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Seton Hill’s Jenna Osikowicz named All-American
Seton Hill grad student softball player Jenna Osikowicz is breathing rarefied air. The Hempfield alum became the first softball player from Seton Hill to be named a National FastPitch Coaches Association All-American. The outfielder was selected for the second team. Osikowicz already had been named the PSAC West Athlete of...
Westmoreland H.S. athletes of the week: GCC’s Emma Henry, Hempfield’s Peyton Murray
Emma Henry School: Greensburg Central Catholic Sport: Softball Year: Junior Claim to fame: Henry helped lead the Centurions to a 9-6 victory over Springdale in the WPIAL Class A third-place game to give GCC a PIAA playoff spot for the first time since 2012. She doubled, tripled and drove in...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Local players shine at Roundball Classic games
Westmoreland County was well-represented at last weekend’s Roundball Classic senior all-star games, an event that wraps a bow around another high school basketball season in Western Pa. Maybe “most valuable” would be a better way to frame their overall showing at Geneva College. Ligonier Valley’s Matthew Marinchak was named his...
Competition with teammate leads to WPIAL javelin gold for Norwin’s Cody Scherle
Norwin senior Cody Scherle had been nipping at teammate Aaron Schmook’s heels all season. When Schmook won a javelin title, Scherle was consistently close behind, often as the runner-up. The competition was healthy, but also frustrating at times for Scherle. But the momentum shifted at the WPIAL Class 3A championships...
Norwin notebook: Strong volleyball season ends in WPIAL quarterfinals
Norwin had a strong regular season but bowed out early in the WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball playoffs. The No. 5-seeded Knights dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 4 Shaler in the quarterfinals. Norwin coach Mike Palaschak said he expected the match to be close, and it was. The Knights...
Franklin Regional track teams build foundation for future
Franklin Regional track and field coach Bob Ralston has been dealing with a sprained ankle, but it didn’t stop him from leading the Panthers at the WPIAL Class 3A Championship meet at Slippery Rock. The Panthers did not have any PIAA qualifiers, but several athletes performed as well as they...
Darien Lantz named women’s basketball coach at UPG
Barely done with her playing days, Darien Lantz is ready to take on her first head-coaching job at the collegiate level. Lantz was announced Friday as the new women’s basketball coach at Pitt-Greensburg. She replaces Kelsey Oddis, who resigned and accepted another on-campus position. Lantz was an assistant at Thiel...
Greensburg Central Catholic fends off Springdale rally to earn spot in state playoffs
She cranked a shot into the left-field corner and never saw the outfielder bobble the softball. Emma Henry only had one thing on her mind when the ball left the bat and she made the turn: Keep running. The Greensburg Central Catholic junior got the offense started with a triple...
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...
‘Underdog’ Seneca Valley rolls past Hempfield into Class 6A WPIAL finals
As Hempfield was making lineup changes late in the game, Seneca Valley players passed the time with a quick round of Rock-Paper-Scissors. The game went around the horn. Other players danced to music in between innings. It’s all fun and games these days for the Raiders, and they wouldn’t have...
WPIAL softball playoff preview capsule for Thursday, May 26, 2022
WPIAL softball playoffs Consolation game Class A Greensburg Central Catholic (12-6) vs. Springdale (11-2) 4 p.m. Thursday at Plum Players to watch: Emma Henry, GCC; Alexis Hrivnak, Springdale Extra bases: GCC is having its best season since 2012, the last time it made the PIAA playoffs. The Centurions must win...
Penn-Trafford rallies to semifinal win over Chartiers Valley
This wasn’t calculated. Nothing about it was based on analytics. And it had nothing to do with what was written on a wrist band. What Penn-Trafford softball coach Denny Little and his staff did in the fifth inning Tuesday was pure, unscripted feel — as good as drawing up a...
Westmoreland WPIAL playoff softball capsule: Games for Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Class 6A Semifinals 4-Seneca Valley (11-6) vs. 1-Hempfield (13-3) 4 p.m. Wednesday at Fox Chapel Winner plays: Winner of 7-North Allegheny (12-9) vs. 3-Pine-Richland (12-4) on June 1 in championship (time TBD) at Cal (Pa.) Players to watch: Lexie Hames, Seneca Valley; Hannah Uhrinek, Hempfield On the air: Broadcast |...
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....
