High School category, Page 1215
Freeport boys soccer confident it can compete in tough section
There have been plenty of good on-field moments the last few years for Freeport boys soccer, but one thing that always has stuck out for coach Dave Teorsky didn’t happen in a game. “One of the cool lines I can remember from a year or so ago was one player...
A-K Valley football Q&A with Kiski Area’s Jason Baker
In an effort to revamp his team, Kiski Area football coach Sam Albert dug into the depths of the high school to recruit student-athletes he believed could help improve their chances this season. When he did, he came out with a large target for his new quarterback this season. After...
A-K Valley football players to watch in Week Zero
Jake Blumer Leechburg, sr., RB/OLB The Blue Devils hope to begin this season the way they kicked off last year — with a victory over rival Apollo-Ridge. Expect Blumer, Leechburg’s leading rusher last year, to be at the heart of the gameplan on both sides of the ball. Last year,...
Valley’s 6-game winning streak on line in ‘Battle of the Bypass’
There’s never a lack of excitement when Burrell and Valley get together for the “Battle of the Bypass.” “Man, we are looking at it like it’s Burrell week,” Valley’s Vaun Ross said excitedly. “What week is it? It’s Burrell week! We’re excited, man. All of us, we’re hyped, and we...
Westmoreland County football Q&A with Latrobe’s Branden Crosby
When Branden Crosby transferred from Greensburg Salem to Latrobe as a freshman, Latrobe football coach Jason Marucco knew little about him. He saw Crosby had athletic ability but didn’t find him a regular position on the team until last season when the 6-foot, 160-pounder took the reins at quarterback. A...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in Week Zero
Dillon Ferretti Hempfield, sr., G/LB There are few players like Ferretti, a three-sport athlete who also wrestles and is an outstanding thrower on the track and field team. Ferretti led the Spartans in tackles last season with 114, including 12 for losses. He also had 51⁄2 sacks. As a sophomore...
‘Battle of Route 30’ pits Norwin, Penn-Trafford football teams in Week Zero
When the PIAA expanded to six classifications four years ago and decided to move the start of the playoffs up a week, it also allowed schools to eliminate their second scrimmage and play a game during Week Zero. Because many schools lost their rivalries during expansion, coaches and athletic directors...
Westmoreland County high school football don’t-miss matchups for Week Zero
Nonconference Greensburg Salem at Hempfield 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Coaches: Dave Keefer, Greensburg Salem; Rich Bowen, Hempfield Players to watch: Trent Patrick, Greensburg Salem (Sr., 5-9, 230, QB/LB); Nathan Roby, Hempfield (5-7, 155, RB/DB) Last year: Greensburg Salem (4-7, 4-3), fourth place in Class 4A Big 8 Conference,...
The Birdie opines on Week Zero, Westmoreland County matchups
Four years after its inception, Week Zero remains a confusing proposition, even for Mr. Birdie. He gets questions from readers all the time about the official/unofficial start of the season. Why doesn’t everyone do it? Do the games really count? How are Antonio Brown’s feet? (OK, the last one might...
A-K Valley high school football don’t-miss matchups for Week Zero
Nonconference Allderdice at Kiski Area 7 p.m. Friday at Richard J. Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township Last year: Allderdice, 6-5, 4-1 City League; Kiski Area, 3-8, 2-5 Class 5A Northern Conference Coaches: Jerry Haslett, Allderdice; Sam Albert, Kiski Area Players to watch: Solomon Johnston, Allderdice (Jr., 6-4, 325, OL/DL); Justin Hessom,...
The Birdie gets ready for Week Zero by picking A-K Valley winners
Unlike past years, The Birdie is unsure about his season-opening picks. The Birdie was sitting in on the weekly high school football planning meeting and just couldn’t keep his big beak silent. It was new quarterbacks this, young players that and he went on and on about Week Zero games....
Even without LeDonne in attendance, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland excited for clash of champions
Jon LeDonne won’t take a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains or listen to some Smokey Robinson on his free Friday night. He probably will stay at home and watch his Penn Hills football team play Pine-Richland online or on his television. It’s a marquee matchup between the defending WPIAL...
Week Zero high school football schedule
Friday Western Pa. vs. Everyone Showcase At North Allegheny Friendship Collegiate Academy (D.C.) at North Allegheny, 8 p.m. Theodore Roosevelt (D.C.) vs. Erie, 5 p.m. At Wolvarena Avalon vs. Baldwin, 5 p.m. York William Penn vs. Central Catholic, 8 p.m. Nonconference Allderdice at Kiski Area, 7 p.m. Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg,...
Sidney Shemanski hopes to guide young Freeport girls soccer to section title
Sidney Shemanski will begin the first leg of the three-part finale to her Freeport athletic career this fall with the girls soccer team. It has been a decorated career in soccer, basketball and track and field for the reigning Valley News Dispatch Female Athlete of the Year. While it is...
Ligonier Valley looks to maintain level of success in District 6
Ligonier Valley has been one of the best teams from District 6 over the past four seasons. The Rams are 49-6 in that span, including a 40-3 mark the past three seasons that include three consecutive Heritage Conference titles and three straight District 6 title game trips, winning in 2017...
High school sports scores for Aug. 20, 2019
High schools Golf Boys Tuesday’s results WPIAL Class AA Section 2 Greensburg Central Catholic 214, Southmoreland 261 Medalist: Ben Ritenour (GCC), 38 Mt. Pleasant 223, Frazier 226 Medalist: Tim Pisula (MP), 39 Section 7 Serra Catholic 227, East Allegheny 325 Medalist: Christian Galiardi (SC), 43 Nonsection Riverview 236, Plum 276...
Union small in numbers but big on talent
Another year, another common scenario for coach Stacy Robinson and the Union Scotties. One of the smallest schools in the WPIAL, Union had just 20 kids arrive for the first day of camp. While those numbers are small, the veteran head coach knows that the effort of his players, especially...
Sto-Rox football team returns core of explosive offense
The Sto-Rox football team enters the season with plenty of motivation. The Vikings made strides in LaRoi Johnson’s first season as coach. The team achieved a winning record for only the second time since 2013. The offense improved its points-per-game average from 17.8 in 2017 to 41.6 in 2018. Quarterback...
Rochester eager to atone for WPIAL title game loss
Though Rochester came up short against OLSH in the WPIAL Class A championship game last season, coach Gene Matsook does not spend time reflecting on the past. “This is a new team with new kids,” he said. “We can’t be worrying about what happened in 2018.” The Rams made it...
OLSH football team reloads hoping for another championship run
Last fall, OLSH football enjoyed unprecedented success. The Chargers won a Big 7 Conference title and a WPIAL Class A championship for the first time in program history. A 41-10 setback to Farrell ended OLSH’s season at 12-2 in the PIAA semifinals. It marked the end for 15 seniors, which...
WPIAL position by position breakdown: Scouting the safeties
Versatile safeties are crucial in today’s WPIAL. With more teams turning to no-huddle, spread offenses, defenses need defensive backs who can cover receivers and also attack the run. The safeties on this year’s list — topped by Blackhawk’s Marques Watson-Trent — are just what coaches want. Combined, they forced nearly...
Northgate optimistic after nightmare season in 2018
One season after the Northgate Flames were barely an ember, second-year coach Mike Fulmore is feeling a bit more optimistic. “Our numbers are looking good,” he said. “Things are really going pretty well for us right now. We’re just really excited.” Fulmore has about 25 players in camp this season...
Hempfield girls soccer team zeroes in on defense
If you notice the Hempfield girls soccer team getting defensive, it’s nothing personal. The Spartans simply don’t want opposing teams to score. “One thing we can definitely improve on is our defensive look,” Hempfield coach Adam Shaffer said. “The phrase we’ve literally been using is, ‘The goals will come.’ ”...
Hempfield boys soccer team sees dividends from feeder program
It has been eight years since the Hempfield boys team tasted playoff soccer, and that season ended in a Class 4A, first-round loss to Upper St. Clair. The Spartans, at least, were in the hunt. But there’s been nothing much to show since that 2011 season. “They’ve struggled here. It’s...
Lessons learned should guide Fox Chapel girls soccer this season
Last season was a learning experience for the Fox Chapel girls soccer team. As the Foxes battled in a new section against some of the top teams in Class 4A, injuries to several key players tested their mettle. Coach Peter Torres said several younger players got opportunities to show what...
