Bill Beckner stories, Page 15
Westmoreland high school baseball playoff preview capsule: GCC, Serra Catholic meet in Class A semis
WPIAL baseball playoffs Class A Semifinals 5-Greensburg Central Catholic (17-2) vs. 1-Serra Catholic (18-3) 4 p.m. Friday at Gateway Winner plays: Winner of 6-Carmichaels (15-4)/2-Eden Christian (14-4) in championship May 27 or 28 at EQT Park, Washington Players to watch: Jackson McMullen, GCC; Owen Dumbroski, Serra Catholic Extra bases: The...
Westmoreland County softball notebook: Penn-Trafford’s Allyson Paulone brought drama to 5A semifinals
Allyson Paulone said she had no idea she was taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Tuesday in the WPIAL 5A softball semifinals. None. “I was just going along,” the Penn-Trafford pitcher said. “I knew my defense was playing well behind me, but I wasn’t thinking about (a no-hitter). Nobody...
After coaching change at Marshall, Latrobe’s John Wetzel flips commitment to Pitt
Pitt didn’t offer John Wetzel initially when the Latrobe standout was looking for a place to further his football career. But when he became available again, the Panthers pounced. “I haven’t been this excited about college in months,” Wetzel said after signing a letter of intent with Pitt, about a...
Lexie Hames neutralizes Norwin again as Seneca Valley advances to Class 6A finals
Norwin opted to pitch to Lexie Hames four times in the WPIAL semifinals. No intentional walks on this day. If only she hadn’t pitched to them. Hames wasn’t much of a problem with a bat in her hands, but the high-speed ace from Seneca Valley continued to mow down the...
With quick turnaround, rivals Hempfield, Norwin to meet in WPIAL 6A baseball semifinals
A surprise semifinal matchup Tuesday night will mark the fourth meeting of the season between a pair of Westmoreland County baseball teams. No. 4 seed Norwin (13-8) will take on No. 8 Hempfield (9-12) at 7 p.m. at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair for a spot in the WPIAL...
No. 1 Pine-Richland turns tables on Latrobe, rallies for 1-run win in WPIAL 5A quarterfinals
Usually, it is Latrobe finding ways to win one-run baseball games. But it was top-seeded Pine-Richland that captured some late drama against the Wildcats on Monday in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals, using a last-inning rally to win its second straight one-run game and advance in the playoffs. Drew Boivin...
Former Latrobe standout Austin Butler hired as Hempfield boys basketball coach
Though his playing career appears to be entering its twilight years, Austin Butler’s coaching career is just stepping into the jump circle. Butler, the former Latrobe basketball star who played for two Division I programs and professionally overseas, was hired Monday night to be the next coach at Hempfield. Butler,...
Westmoreland County softball notebook: Norwin eyes another playoff upset
Put the ball in play. It sounds simple enough, and Norwin believes it is the key to overtaking Seneca Valley in the WPIAL 6A semifinals. The Knights (10-11) will take on No. 2 seed Seneca Valley (15-3) and ace flamethrower Lexie Hames at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Chapel for...
Westmoreland softball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 20, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 6A Semifinals 6-Norwin (10-11) vs. 2-Seneca Valley (15-3) 4 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Chapel Winner plays: Winner of 4-Canon-McMillan (12-8)/1-Hempfield (19-1) in championship May 28-29 at Lilley Field, Cal (Pa.) Players to watch: Abbie Telli, Norwin; Lexie Hames, Seneca Valley Extra bases: Norwin upset No. 3...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Ligonier Valley grad Cheyenne Piper earns postseason honors
At the end of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference softball season it was time to pay the Piper. Westminster pitcher Cheyenne Piper had a breakthrough freshman season and as a result won two major awards from the conference The Ligonier Valley alum was named pitcher and newcomer of the year for...
H.S. baseball notebook: Greensburg CC inspired by Warren Schaeffer’s rise with Rockies
If Warren Schaeffer can achieve his dream, so can anybody from Greensburg Central Catholic. The former Centurions star’s meteoric rise in the Colorado Rockies’ coaching ranks has caught the attention of the current team just in time for the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Schaeffer, who helped lead GCC to a...
Westmoreland softball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 19, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals 7-Southmoreland (10-7) vs. 2-Mohawk (13-5) 3 p.m. Monday at Montour Winner plays: Winner of 6-McGuffey (11-5)/3-Ellwood City (10-8) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Zoey Murphy, Southmoreland; Lydia Cole, Mohawk Extra bases: Southmoreland, a perennial playoff contender, rallied several times...
Roundball activities now will include girls underclassman all-star games
After a spike in interest for the boys underclassmen games, organizers of the Roundball Classic all-star basketball weekend decided to add girls games this year. “We’ve had a fabulous response,” lead organizer Allen Deep said. The showcase games will feature top players in grades nine through 11 who play in...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Latrobe at forefront of girls flag football movement
It is just a matter of time before girls flag football is a fully sanctioned PIAA sport, complete with district and state championships. Latrobe is one of the local club teams preparing to field a team in the WPIAL for 2025-26. It appears to be in good standing with the...
Norwin notebook: Baseball, softball teams earn spots in WPIAL playoffs
The Norwin baseball and softball teams learned their WPIAL playoff seedings and were primed to open the postseason. The baseball team (12-7) was seeded No. 4 in Class 6A and was set to play No. 5 Butler (10-8) in the quarterfinals on May 19. The Knights finished second in Section...
Latrobe’s all-time leading scorer in line for Hempfield boys basketball coaching position
Austin Butler used to enjoy playing basketball against Hempfield. The high-scoring guard from Latrobe had some intense games against the Spartans. Now, he could be coaching them. According to the school board agenda for Monday’s meeting, Hempfield will vote to hire Butler as boys basketball coach. If approved, the 26-year-old...
Anthony Grippo, Greensburg CC make statement in 1st-round rout of Sewickley
Watching Anthony Grippo bat for Greensburg Central Catholic is an event. It starts before he even steps over the chalk and into the box. His routine is detailed. There is the little hip wiggle and the double-chop motion he makes toward right-center field —he assures pitchers don’t want his spray...
Riveters add three more WPIAL alums to inaugural roster
The Pittsburgh Riveters put the finishing touches on their first roster a day before the pre-professional women’s soccer team kicks off its inaugural season. Riveters SC continued to build with local players from the Riverhounds Development Academy, adding Aris Lamanna (Franklin Regional), Mackenzie Dupre (Upper St. Clair) and Aleena Ulke...
Norwin softball pulls off another upset, this time thanks to ‘Smiley Miley’
The darlings of the WPIAL 6A softball playoffs are at it again. And underdog Norwin has “Smiley Miley” to thank for its latest upset. Junior Miley Harrison wasn’t even sure if she would play in the Knights’ playoff opener, but she came up clutch when her name was called to...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Longtime Franklin Regional softball coach Armstrong hangs up cleats
Like any coach, Jim Armstrong wanted his softball players at Franklin Regional to win more than they lost. But seeing them laughing, being loose and enjoying their time in the program sometimes seemed more meaningful. “Let’s work hard, but let’s have fun,” Armstrong said. “It’s just a game.” Armstrong told...
Westmoreland softball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 14, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals 6-Norwin (9-11) vs. 3-North Allegheny (12-7) 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fox Chapel Winner plays: 2-Seneca Valley (15-3) in semifinals Players to watch: Diem Wardzinski, Norwin; Sammy Plotsko, North Allegheny Extra bases: Norwin made an unforeseen run to the finals last year as a No....
Derry walks it off against Greensburg Salem in Class 4A softball playoff opener
John DePalma’s message to his girls before Derry took the field for the WPIAL softball playoffs was simple. “It’s just softball,” the coach said. But there is softball, and there is playoff softball, and Derry still is relatively new to the latter. After all, the Trojans had only one playoff...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Former GCC standout Stawovy hired as women’s assistant basketball coach at Washington & Lee
Former Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball player Brittany Stawovy was hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Division III Washington & Lee in Lexington, Va. Stawovy coached the last two years at Kenyon after two years as a graduate assistant at Division II Seton Hill, where she earned a...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules: Games for Tuesday, May 13, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A First round 5-Mt. Pleasant (11-5) vs. 12-Keystone Oaks (8-8) 5 p.m. Tuesday at Waynesburg University Winner plays: 4-Avonworth (14-4) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Gia Stanek, Mt. Pleasant; Kennadi Smith, Keystone Oaks Extra bases: Mt. Pleasant, led by first-year coach Paul Reho, won the Section...
Greensburg Central Catholic alum Warren Schaeffer named interim manager of Rockies
The Colorado Rockies’ firing of longtime manager Bud Black means a former WPIAL product will try to get the club back on track. Warren Schaeffer, a native of Vandergrift and a Greensburg Central Catholic alum, was named interim manager Sunday. He had been the third base coach since 2023. Schaeffer,...
