Bill Beckner stories, Page 155
Loaded Mt. Pleasant softball focused on winning titles
Mt. Pleasant softball is not mincing words when it comes to its end game this season. “For these seniors, the goal is championship or bust,” coach Chris Brunson said. “It has to be. These girls were seventh- and eighth-graders when we were winning championships. They want their turn at it.”...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Seton Hill baseball makes ‘SportsCenter’
Seton Hill senior Derek Orndorff made some magic in right-center field last week, and the nation got to catch a glimpse of it. Orndorff made a spectacular running catch in the top of the second inning in the Griffins’ game last Friday against IUP. The play made No. 4 on...
Westmoreland notebook: Mt. Pleasant to honor Giallonardo
The Mt. Pleasant baseball team will honor the memory of former teammate Dom Giallonardo by wearing his No. 2 on the side of their new caps. “We let our seniors design our hats each year,” coach Chris Firmstone said. “They wanted to do something to remember Dom.” Giallonardo, who graduated...
Seton Hill’s Orndorff makes ESPN’s top plays with highlight catch
In a rather unassuming Friday afternoon baseball game in Greensburg, Seton Hill senior Derek Orndorff made some magic in right center field. And the nation got to catch a glimpse of it. Orndorff made a spectacular running catch in the top of the second inning in the undefeated Griffins’ game...
Norwin notebook: Former Knights provide boost to Seton Hill baseball, softball
Through eight games, sophomore shortstop and Norwin alum Owen Sabol was hitting .346 with 10 runs and five RBIs for the nationally ranked Seton Hill baseball team. The Griffins (7-0) remained perfect with a come-from-behind 8-7 win at Ashland as Sabol hit his first home run of the season. Seton...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Penn-Trafford to dedicate bench to late pitcher
Penn-Trafford will officially dedicate its bench monument to late standout pitcher Maclean Maund on Monday in a short ceremony before the baseball team’s season-opening game against Connellsville. It also will be the Warriors’ first game on the new turf infield in Harrison City. Maund was killed in a vehicle accident...
Iowa’s Spencer Lee withdraws from Olympic Trials
Another day, another surprising announcement from one of college wrestling’s most celebrated lightweights. Iowa senior Spencer Lee, fresh off a third NCAA championship that he won while competing with two torn ACLs, made it known Friday he will not compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials next month. “It is not...
Quinn’s homer carries Franklin Regional over Hempfield in season openerVideo
Field announcer Dennis Nicely introduced “Timmy J. Quinn” as the Franklin Regional senior first baseman came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning adding, “The J stands for just have fun.” A few seconds later, it could have stood for jack. One swing of the bat was sure...
Westmoreland freshmen seeing increased football recruiting attention
Say what you want about 7-on-7 football competitions and their merit. College coaches are tuned in to them and are using them to gauge young talent. Players may be in T-shirts and shorts but they can still display hands and speed. Freshmen players are among those getting noticed, including a...
Latrobe product Kokoska causing stir for Kansas State
Zach Kokoska was on the path to becoming a pitcher in college. No, really. “I was a left-hander who could throw 90 (mph),” the former Latrobe standout said. “Coaches jumped all over that.” But when he began to hit for power and average, that ship quickly sailed. When he left...
Saint Vincent women, Westminster men recognized for title run with PAC awards
Defense was a big part of Saint Vincent’s run to a conference championship. Coaching had a little to do with it, too. Both were exemplified by a key senior and the Bearcats’ unfettered leader on the sidelines. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference recognized both with postseason awards Wednesday. Saint Vincent guard...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Latrobe grad Butler on to D-II Elite Eight
The dance goes on for Bryce Butler. A sophomore guard at West Liberty, Butler has helped the Hilltoppers (18-4) reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament. The Latrobe alum had four points and six rebounds in a 78-61 win over Hillsdale. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Butler...
Belle Vernon hires boys soccer coach
Al Yeschenko had a good couple of days. He guided a Beadling Club ‘07 boys soccer team to a tournament championship Sunday in Delaware. On Monday, he was hired as the boys head soccer coach at Belle Vernon. Yeschenko was an assistant last year with the man he is replacing,...
Norwin special teams standouts Castle, Smith heading to national showcase
What is a punter without his long-snapper? Or a kicker without his holder? Norwin has a talented pair of special teamers, and they are headed to a national showcase as a package deal. Sophomores Joey Castle and Xander Smith are headed to the National Kicking Rankings Top 20 Invitational on...
Detail-oriented Greensburg CC baseball team has pitching to contend
Fundamentals are a big part of the coaching staff’s philosophy at Greensburg Central Catholic. Nothing is taken for granted in preparation for each opponent. Nothing is too simplified. “We work on the basic fundamentals all the time and try to get them down,” junior pitcher Zach David said. “Our coaching...
Westmoreland campus clippings: GCC grad Stowovy enters NCAA transfer portal
Brittany Stawovy is on the move. After completing a four-year playing career at West Virginia Wesleyan, the senior basketball player has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Stawovy, a Greensburg Central Catholic graduate, is unable to continue with a post-grad program, so she is looking to play one more season somewhere...
Immediate future looks bright for GCC softball
Greensburg Central Catholic softball has been a slow build since coach Mike Gaffney took over six years ago. There always were talented players, but Gaffney had to play them at varying positions on the field, many times in spots that didn’t quite suit them. It all was out of necessity....
Franklin Regional baseball set goals beyond WPIAL playoffs
Just about every WPIAL team starts a season with goals of winning section and WPIAL titles. What’s the point if that is not the case, right? But only a select few have the talent to change those goals from words into actions; to follow them through to a finish. Count...
Franklin Regional softball team appreciates perspective
Jim Armstrong remembers the day it all came crashing down. “We were in the gym playing kickball,” the Franklin Regional softball coach said. “It kind of dawned on me what was about to happen. It was over.” The PIAA canceled spring sports last year as the coronavirus pandemic began to...
With most sports in full swing, Westmoreland colleges experience different March Madness
As the NCAA Tournament tipped off Friday afternoon, Aaron Smetanka was preparing for kickoff. Yes, kickoff. In March. The Saint Vincent football coach was finalizing gameday plans for the Bearcats’ season opener at Grove City. Elsewhere on campus, the women’s basketball team was practicing for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship...
Westmoreland notebook: Jeannette looking for new girls basketball coach
Jeannette is taking its girls basketball program in a new direction. The district opened the coaching position held for the last three seasons by Jonathan Bass after the Jayhawks finished 0-19 this season. The team was 0-6 in section play but opted to enter the WPIAL open playoff tournament and...
Louisy eager to take over Franklin Regional boys soccer program
Thomas Louisy had pondered coaching high school soccer in the past. “I had hundreds of offers,” he said. “I just never had been interested in coaching high school.” But then the recruitment started, and he made a quick pivot. The Franklin Regional job opened after his longtime cohort, Rand Hudson,...
Norwin notebook: Girls basketball team well-stocked for solid 2021-22 season
With the WPIAL sending only champions to the PIAA playoffs this year in basketball, local fans only can wonder what might have been for some teams in the state tournaments — the ultimate second chance for teams that were tripped up in the district playoffs. Take Norwin’s girls. The Knights...
Large, talented senior class gives rise to optimism for Norwin boys lacrosse
With one of its largest senior classes — and arguably one of its most talented — the Norwin boys lacrosse team is hoping for a season that extends into the WPIAL playoffs. Sixth-year coach Chad Good’s team could match his namesake. “We always have high expectations,” Good said. “We have...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad slugs her way to conference honor
Otterbein senior Hannah Dobrinick, a Penn-Trafford grad, has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week. A first baseman, Dobrinick went 7 for 11 in a four-game series against John Carroll with a pair of two-run home runs. She drove in five runs and scored seven times. She...
