Dave Mackall stories, Page 31
Dan Day eager to get Seton Hill football team on winning path
If Dan Day, one of the first people to play football at Seton Hill, becomes a successful coach at his alma mater — something along the lines of what he did as a senior offensive lineman in 2008, captaining the Griffins during a march to their only postseason appearance —...
Hempfield East Legion team wins Region 7 with 11-inning victory
Dajauhn Hertzog’s glove was the first one to go. Then, the rest of Hempfield East’s players heaved their mitts as high as they could before rallying around their winning relief pitcher to celebrate. It took 11 innings, but the feeling of winning a second consecutive Pennsylvania American Legion Region 7...
Hempfield East among 3 teams left at Region 7 Legion tournament
A portable tent buckled under forceful wind gusts as rain began to fall in sheets Monday at Latrobe High School, prompting a lengthy delay at the Region 7 tournament of the Pennsylvania American Legion baseball playoffs. It was a scene in stark contrast to the calm, steamy weather conditions that...
Hempfield East cruises past Punxsutawney in opening round of Region 7 Legion tournament
All along this season, Andrew Rosenberg and his Hempfield East teammates have noticed the difference. Now that they’ve opened defense of their American Legion Baseball Region 7 championship with a 14-4 rout of Punxsutawney on Friday at Latrobe Legion-Keener Field, they appear hungrier than ever. Hempfield East, which lost to...
Despite loss to Hempfield East, Unity remains among contenders in District 31 Legion
A day after Unity was beaten in the final at-bat by league-leading Hempfield East in a District 31 American Legion baseball game at Pitt-Greensburg, Unity’s players began to trickle onto Whitney Field for a workout, appearing eager to move on. “This is your team. It’s not for me,” said Unity...
Hempfield softball loses in PIAA Class 6A semifinals
LORETTO — Bob Kalp forced a smile not long after his Hempfield softball team fell just short of yet another trip to the state finals. Perhaps the longtime Hall of Fame-caliber coach — Hempfield’s field already has been named for him — somehow was at peace Tuesday despite a 4-1...
No previous PIAA softball playoffs experience necessary for Penn-Trafford
Unlike other Westmoreland County softball teams with recent appearances in the PIAA playoffs — Hempfield, Mt. Pleasant, Valley and Yough have won state championships this decade — Penn-Trafford is new to the scene. The Warriors, with just one previous trip to the state tournament back in 1990, have burst into...
Penn-Trafford softball tops WPIAL champ West A to advance in PIAA playoffs
When Penn-Trafford learned its PIAA quarterfinal opponent after a Class 5A first-round victory earlier this week, the players were giddy. It was no disrespect to West Allegheny, the three-time defending WPIAL champion, but rather the opposite, said sophomore slugger Brooke Cleland, who belted two home runs to lead Penn-Trafford to...
Top-seeded California defeats Union for 6th WPIAL baseball title
The second time around was bittersweet for California baseball coach Lou Pasquale, who first experienced a WPIAL championship as a Trojans assistant in 2017 before leading the team to a title Tuesday as its head coach. Top-seeded California held off No. 3 Union, 9-6, in the Class A championship game...
Ligonier Valley’s offense grounded in season-ending loss to Chestnut Ridge
FISHERTOWN — Ligonier Valley softball fans, agonizing with each run allowed by their beloved Rams on Thursday, momentarily were distracted from the reality of a soon-to-be, season-ending 7-1 loss to top-seeded Chestnut Ridge in the District 5/6 Class 3A semifinals. It was a welcome reprieve on an otherwise miserable trip...
Laurel Highlands upsets No. 2 Franklin Regional in WPIAL semifinals
If Scott DeBerry thought he might be dreaming Wednesday afternoon, the ice-water bath that drenched the Laurel Highlands baseball coach surely felt real following the Mustangs’ 4-1 upset of Franklin Regional in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals at West Mifflin. Indeed, DeBerry wasn’t dreaming. “I think I needed that,” he...
Breegle’s clutch single lifts Ligonier Valley past Central in District 5/6 playoffs
It took 10 innings for Ligonier Valley to pass its first test in the District 5/6 softball playoffs after it was looking like the Rams didn’t have a prayer. Junior Myrna Breegle said a divine intervention Monday likely enabled No. 4 seed Ligonier Valley to come away with an improbable...
Mt. Pleasant edges Yough in battle of softball titans
Shades of that PIAA championship victory two years ago kept creeping into Carolyn Alincic’s mind Wednesday as the Mt. Pleasant right-hander navigated her way through another tight game. This was playoff softball at midseason, the top two WPIAL teams in the Trib HSSN Class 4A rankings battling to the wire....
Robert Morris men’s basketball ousted in second round of CIT
The opportunity to extend its men’s basketball season with a second appearance in the CollegeInsiders.com Postseason Tournament gave Robert Morris something more to play for this year. It lasted two games. The Colonials, who for a fourth year in a row fell short of playing in the Northeast Conference Tournament...
Robert Morris overcomes Jimmy Boeheim, Cornell in CIT opener
Matty McConnell wasn’t ready to call it his shining moment during a solid, four-year basketball career at Robert Morris, but his third consecutive 3-point shot in an overtime victory Tuesday night over Cornell ranks right up there. While Jimmy Boeheim — yes, the son of Syracuse hall of fame coach...
Wilder guides Lincoln Park boys past Richland into PIAA Class 3A semifinals
Two-time WPIAL champion Lincoln Park is headed to another state semifinal round in boys basketball. Andre Wilder scored 26 points, including eight during a crucial fourth-quarter run, and Lincoln Park turned back District 6 champion Richland in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Saturday at Hempfield. It is the Leopards’ eighth...
Vincentian Academy falls short to Shanksville-Stonycreek in PIAA quarterfinals
Ron Moncrief wasn’t shedding tears of sorrow Saturday. The Vincentian Academy girls basketball coach came away as content as possible following a loss to Shanksville-Stonycreek in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals. “We started off 3-8 this year, and to make it to the elite eight is a compliment for the...
Central Cambria takes down Beaver girls in PIAA quarterfinals
With a lineup dominated by underclassmen, the Beaver girls basketball team still managed to attract some attention this season, playing into the middle of March, despite entering the state tournament as the sixth-place team from the WPIAL playoffs. The Bobcats, who typically go with three sophomores and a freshman among...
Shady Side Academy girls fall short in PIAA 2nd round; Szlachetka announces retirementVideo
Overall, for the Shady Side Academy girls basketball program, mission accomplished. Despite seeing her team’s season end Tuesday night, coach Amy Szlachetka felt a sense of satisfaction with the Indians’ 20 victories in her final year at the helm. “This is it for me,” Szlachetka said shortly after Shady Side...
Derry baseball looks to build on last season’s strong finish
Injuries early last season propelled the Derry baseball team into oblivion by midseason, but it was an opportunity to build for the future. The Trojans return five starters among eight lettermen, hoping to continue the success of a season-ending, three-game winning streak accomplished with an inexperienced lineup. “We saved our...
Derry softball returns 8 starters, hopes drop to Class 3A pays off
Could this be a year of playoff success for the Derry softball team? With no seniors on the roster, coach Pat Meloy said it’s still a goal to get past a WPIAL first-round game. The Trojans, despite sub-par records in Class 4A, managed to snag WPIAL playoff berths the past...
Fusco leads Mars past Milton Hershey in PIAA opening round
From the Petersen Events Center to Greensburg Salem High School, it was a drastic change in scenery for the WPIAL champion Mars Fightin’ Planets. No matter, with each game at this stage of the season comes higher stakes, and the Mars boys basketball team was ready once again for a...
Ligonier Valley boys turn focus to Beaver Falls, PIAA tournament
Ligonier Valley, the only Westmoreland County-based high school whose sports teams compete outside the WPIAL, is getting a rare opportunity to impress its western neighbors in boys basketball. The District 6 Class 3A runner-up Rams will meet Beaver Falls, the WPIAL fifth-place team, in a PIAA first-round game at 4...
IUP women limit Seton Hill’s perimeter shooting in PSAC quarterfinal victory
For a time, it looked as though Seton Hill’s improbable, late-season run in women’s basketball might continue Wednesday night. Then No. 14 IUP’s offense started to click midway through the third quarter. Carolyn Appleby scored 28 points and Brittany Robinson scored 16, including the 1,000th of her college career, and...
Latrobe takes down Hampton in Penguins Cup playoffs
Latrobe opened the PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs with an emotional victory Monday night, riding the energy of a large, vocal crowd and the offensive expertise of Alex Walker. The sophomore scored a goal and assisted on three others to lead the IceCats to a 4-1 victory over Hampton in a...
