Bill Beckner stories, Page 143
WPIAL-studded Palomino team co-champs at World Series
It never got to play the actual title game of the Palomino World Series, but the Youngstown Class B AstroFalcons All-Star Team still walked away champions — with some bonus history. The winning sensation felt just like the AstroFalcons thought it would as they celebrated a co-title with Puerto Rico...
WPIAL’s top girls soccer players make Moe Rosensteel award watch list
The Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award recognizes the best WPIAL girls soccer player “whose play, leadership and passion for the game emulates that of the award’s namesake.” Kaitlyn “Moe” Rosensteel was a soccer standout at Ringgold who was about to begin a college career at West Virginia Wesleyan...
James Piot rallies to defeat Austin Greaser at the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont Country Club isn’t all nightmares and ghosts from the past. The storied venue and USGA holy ground is also a place where dreams can come true. Right, James Piot? “I still can’t believe I am holding this trophy,” Piot said. “I still think I’m dreaming.” Piot, 22, a Canton,...
James Piot leads after 18 holes in U.S. Amateur final
James Piot will take a 1-up lead over Austin Greaser into the afternoon round of the 36-hole finale of the 121st U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club. The second 18 will begin at 2:30 p.m. A fifth-year senior at Michigan State and a native of Canton, Mich., Piot was all...
U.S. Amateur notebook: 2003 champion Nick Flanagan returns to Oakmont
Australian Nick Flanagan was in town for the U.S. Amateur, but he had to warm up his throwing arm, not his driver and putter. Talk about a tough pitch shot. Flanagan, the last U.S. Amateur champion to win at Oakmont, in 2003, threw out the first pitch Friday night before...
James Piot, Austin Greaser advance to final at U.S. Amateur
James Piot said he had to pack up his things and change hotel rooms this weekend because a wedding party was coming in next door. The Michigan State fifth-year senior might have a different kind of party if everything goes his way Sunday at Oakmont Country Club. Piot put together...
Trouble off tee leaves Palmer Jackson swimming upstream at U.S. Amateur
Palmer Jackson used to be a baseball pitcher and could freeze-frame a knuckleball with the best of them. He was Franklin Regional’s answer to Tim Wakefield. During the U.S. Amateur earlier this month at Oakmont Country Club, Jackson was thrown a curve ball. The golf standout, who will be a...
Closer look at the U.S. Amateur semifinalists
It started with 312. It was dwindled to 64. Now only four players remain as the 121st U.S. Amateur moves into the weekend at softened Oakmont Country Club. On Saturday, college standouts Travis Vick, Nick Gabrelcik, Austin Greaser and James Piot will play for spots in Sunday’s 36-hole championship. Vick...
Westmoreland County flavor at Pittsburgh chapter of National Italian American Sports HOF night
Westmoreland County had strong representation at the recent National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Chapter’s 34th Annual Scholarship Sports Night. Among the award winners were Tony DeNunzio, a longtime Jeannette resident known for his exploits in banking, music and his family’s Italian food restaurants. He received the Frank...
Norwin grad Calahan Young part of U.S. Paralympic goalball team
Irwin’s Calahan Young is part of the 240-member U.S. Paralympic team that will compete in Tokyo later this month. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced team rosters Wednesday. Young will compete in goalball for the American side in the Paralympics, which begin Aug. 25. The games were postponed in...
Mark Goetz continues solid play at weather-delayed U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club
Mark Goetz spent most of his 23rd birthday at Oakmont Country Club. Just about dawn to dusk. His morning consisted of a range session, and he watched some friends play a few holes. In the afternoon, he sat through a 3-hour, 50-minute rain delay after playing just two holes. Then,...
U.S. Amateur notebook: Oakmont’s Sean Knapp misses out on coveted match play spot
The pressure of playing in his backyard did not sit as hard on Sean Knapp’s shoulders as a factoid. He was the second-oldest player in the 312-man field at the U.S. Amateur. It’s an achievement, no doubt. But Knapp wanted this one badly. The veteran just wanted a shot at...
Weather delay halts 2nd round of U.S. Amateur Championship
With lightning in the area and storms approaching, play was suspended Tuesday afternoon at the 121st U.S. Amateur at 1:34 p.m. There were 243 players that had not finished the second round of stroke play at Longue Vue Club and Oakmont Country Club when the stoppage occurred. The top 64...
Yough, RMU product picked for NEC Mount Rushmore team
Yough graduate Nicole Sleith Schaffer was one of the most feared softball pitchers to play at Robert Morris. She struck out more than 900 hitters over four seasons and once tossed a perfect game to extend her team’s season. She will go down as one of Northeast Conference’s all-time greats,...
Oakmont Country Club a familiar site for USGA’s U.S. Amateur
Oakmont Country Club will host the U.S. Amateur for the sixth time beginning Monday. The USGA’s national championship was last played at the storied course in 2003 — 84 years after the first amateur was staged there. Past champions include Nick Flanagan (2003), Steve Melnyk (1969), Willie Turnesa (1938), Bobby...
Power surge puts Norwin grad JJ Matijevic on doorstep of major leagues
Left, right, center. Doesn’t matter. JJ Matijevic can spray the baseball all over the park — and deep into the bleachers — with some of the best middle-order hitters in the minor leagues. But the Norwin graduate wants to prove he can hit home runs in the majors, too. He...
Mother-to-be Katie Miller Gee claims 10-shot win at PA Mid-Amateur
Katie Miller Gee took a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Pennsylvania Women’s Golf Association Mid-Amateur on Tuesday. Then, she hit the accelerator and raced past everybody. No bumps on this road. Well, maybe one. Miller Gee, the newly named girls golf coach at her alma mater of...
Westmoreland college notebook: Hempfield grad Mackenna Orie finds fit at Arizona
College athletes say it all the time. Their school didn’t “fit,” so they bolted for another one that did. Or, at least that is the idea. That was the case with Mackenna Orie, the former Hempfield standout thrower who announced recently she is leaving one Division I track and field...
With a clothing line, Spencer Lee is in fast lane of NIL movement
“Excuses are for wusses.” You would be hard pressed to find four words that inspired a fan base more than those spoken by Spencer Lee during last season’s NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. After the Iowa star out of Franklin Regional revealed he had competed — and won his third...
Latrobe grad Brady Pevarnik changing course to Bowling Green
Brady Pevarnik’s college golf career is barely off the first tee, but he is chomping at the bit, ready to prove himself at the Division I level. In search of continuity and a clean bill of health, the former Latrobe standout is on his third college after deciding to transfer...
Greensburg Salem grad Jeff Mankins to play golf at Division I Towson
After limited action and a general growing feeling of discomfort at IUP, Jeff Mankins is leaving the golf program. With three years of eligibility remaining, the Greensburg Salem graduate is transferring to Towson, meaning he will go from a Division II team to one that plays at the Division-I level....
Sewickley’s Carol Semple Thompson returns to competition at U.S. Senior Women’s Open
When career amateur Carol Semple Thompson tees off Thursday, she will make more USGA history. The Sewickley native will have played in more USGA events than anyone — ever. “I believe I have played in 116,” she said earlier this week during a lead-up press conference to the U.S. Senior...
Chris Klimchock looks forward to guiding Pitt-Greensburg men’s basketball in hometown
Chris Klimchock used to be a ball boy at Jeannette boys basketball practices. A peanut-sized toddler who could barely lift a basketball let alone dribble it, he took in the sights and sounds from his father, Rick, who coached the Jayhawks from 1992-2006. He was always in the gym. He...
Hempfield alum Mackenna Orie leaving DePaul track and field program
Mackenna Orie is changing college track and field programs. The former Hempfield standout thrower is transferring from DePaul and will now fling heavy objects at Arizona. Orie just completed her sophomore season. She will join one of the WPIAL’s most decorated and prodigious throwers at Arizona in record-breaker Jordan Geist....
Norwin grad Emily Harrigan starting fresh at Pitt after injury-plagued stint at Rutgers
Calling her next move “a leap of faith,” Emily Harrigan is giving her college soccer career a restart as she gets set to play for Pitt this fall. The former Norwin star who was a two-time Tribune-Review Player of the Year, Harrigan had her patience tested numerous times as injuries...
