High School category, Page 1237
Lafferty fans 12 as Seton LaSalle edges Laurel in PIAA quarterfinals
Seton LaSalle freshman Drew Lafferty is not a big strikeout pitcher. Entering the Rebels’ PIAA quarterfinal game against Laurel, he had 44 punch outs in just over 42 innings pitched. But on Thursday, the Kentucky recruit had his knockout pitch going with a capital K. Lafferty pitched a complete game...
A-K Valley notebook: Freeport’s Heilman to compete in Big 26 Classic
Jarrett Heilman, who helped the Freeport baseball team capture the Section 1-3A championship and qualify for the PIAA playoffs for the first time in 21 years, will represent the WPIAL on the Pennsylvania team for the Big 26 Baseball Classic on July 25-28, in Harrisburg. The list of players for...
Expectations to remain high for Leechburg softball program
Even though expectations are always high for Leechburg softball, coach Debbi Young had her own expectations exceeded this year. Not that the fifth-year coach didn’t expect a section title and a 33rd consecutive WPIAL playoff berth for the program. The Blue Devils made the Class A semifinals and won the...
Hempfield blanks McDowell, reaches PIAA semifinals for 5th straight season
The home plate umpire might have forced Hempfield pitcher Callie Sowers to give up her good luck charm, but the Spartans were reluctant to throw in the towel. Sowers couldn’t keep her lucky gold cloth in her back pocket like she has done all season because the ump said it...
Penn Hills players enjoy chance to take field together a final time at NFBD all-star game
A majority of the seniors from the Penn Hills football who helped win a state championship for the first time since 1995 got to play together for one final time. Eleven seniors from Penn Hills played for the Never Fear team in the NFBD all-star football game June 2 at...
Postseason losses a ‘learning experience’ for North Allegheny softball team
Two bumps to end the season didn’t spell doom for first-year North Allegheny softball coach Morgan Vescovi. Along the way, the Tigers finished in a three-way tie for the WPIAL Section 2-6A crown and advanced to the WPIAL championship. North Allegheny’s season came to an end with a 2-0 loss...
Shaler volleyball hopes to continue growing after reaching PIAA playoffs
Trapper Crain would like, if possible, to give up his role as an outside hitter for the Shaler Area boys volleyball team. There are several tall underclassmen who the 5-foot-10 junior recognizes will give the team a more significant height advantage. Crain started at the position to help out a...
North Hills’ Murtezi honored to compete in Big 33 Football Classic
Former North Hills football player Lirion Murtezi put an exclamation point on his impressive high school football career May 27 when he suited up for the 62nd annual Big 33 Football Classic at Landis Field at Speed Ebersole Stadium. Murtezi, a four-year starter for the Indians, entrenched himself in the...
Despite no 3-peat, Hampton girls lacrosse proud of another strong season
Often times, great programs are unhappy with results other programs would call a milestone. But Hampton girls lacrosse, though disappointed in its WPIAL silver medal, is keeping things in perspective after its 15-12 loss to Oakland Catholic in the final. “To come up one win short in terms of a...
Hampton boys lacrosse reaches program milestone at state tournament
In one snapshot, it was the same story for the Hampton boys lacrosse team. But in the big picture, the team went further than any before it. Hampton’s season ended with a 12-5 loss to Strath Haven in the second round of the PIAA tournament, but the team became the...
Gateway Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019 announced
Katrina Streiner won a pair of WPIAL swimming championships in the 50-yard freestyle, added one in the 100 freestyle and was a PIAA medalist during her Gateway career. She went on to compete at Duquesne where she set school records and captured an Atlantic 10 relay title. Streiner’s efforts in...
2019 Powerade wrestling field to feature Texas team
There will be some new faces in the 2019 Powerade Holiday Wrestling tournament this season, including one from Texas. The field of 51 was announced by tournament director Frank Vulcano Jr. on Thursday. The annual tournament will be held Dec. 27-28 at Canon-McMillan High School. There are 12 new teams...
AJGA tournament coming to Southpointe next month
A popular youth golf tournament is coming to Washington County on July 8-12. The American Junior Golf Association tournament, sponsored by DICK’S Sporting Goods, will be hosted by Southpointe Golf Club near Canonsburg. The 54-hole national tournament, for players ages 12 to 19, will consist of 96 boys and girls...
Pine-Richland sack leader Miguel Jackson announces 1st Division 1 offer
Pine-Richland sack leader Miguel Jackson, who earned all-conference recognition last season as a sophomore, announced his first Division 1 offer Wednesday from Akron. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive end had a team-high 14 sacks last season when the Rams won the WPIAL Class 6A title. He also blocked a punt, returned...
PIAA postpones 3 softball playoff games, moves Class 6A baseball quarterfinal
The PIAA postponed three softball games scheduled Thursday at Slippery Rock University and moved the North Allegheny vs. Pine-Richland baseball game to a different site. The Class 6A baseball quarterfinal was switched to LaRoche College at 4 p.m., Thursday due to field conditions at Slippery Rock, the PIAA announced. The...
FR’s Palmer Jackson 2 shots back in AJGA tournament
Franklin Regional senior Palmer Jackson is spending his final week of school doing what he likes the most: golfing. The Notre Dame commit is playing in the AJGA Memorial Junior tournament hosted by Sung Hyun Park at the Ohio State University Golf Club Scarlet Course in Columbus. Jackson is two...
High school scores, schedules for June 5, 2019
High Schools Baseball PIAA Playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals Thursday’s schedule Neshaminy vs. Downingtown East at Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Township, 4 p.m.; Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Souderton at Methacton, 3 p.m.; Central Bucks South vs. Wilson at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, 3 p.m.; Pine-Richland vs. North Allegheny at Slippery Rock University,...
Franklin Regional ‘revved up’ for PIAA quarterfinal matchup
Michael Klingensmith led off first base after drawing a walk in the top of the first inning in Monday’s PIAA first- round game when Cathedral Prep pitcher Colin Kelly made a pick-off throw to first. Klingensmith dove back to the bag, easily beating the attempt and right on cue all...
After falling in PIAA 1st round, Knoch reflects on special softball season
A young team, a new head coach and more question marks than players, the 2019 Knoch softball team had no idea what was in store this season. They just hoped to be competitive. And then, it happened. Trailing big at home to new section foe Ambridge and down to their...
WPIAL Class 2A baseball teams find success in PIAA tournament
In Class 2A of the 2019 PIAA baseball playoffs, five letters provide the answer to how the west was won. W.P.I.A.L. The four District 7 representatives to the Class 2A postseason were all first-round winners, making it a WPIAL quarterfinals block party Thursday at Matulevic Field in Shaler. “Someone from...
WPIAL suspends McKeesport basketball assistant 1 year for recruiting
McKeesport pays Troy Blackwell to convince charter school students to return to the school district, but the WPIAL ruled Wednesday that the assistant girls basketball coach’s efforts violated recruiting rules. The issue was that Blackwell sent a social media message to a girls basketball player at a charter school encouraging...
WPIAL delays eligibility decision on Moon basketball star Donovan Johnson
Donovan Johnson’s senior season remains in limbo. The WPIAL board held an eligibility hearing Wednesday for the Moon basketball star but delayed any decision until Johnson’s family provides more information about why he repeated eighth grade, WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said. Johnson’s parents argued that Donovan should be eligible...
Central Catholic basketball coach avoids 1-year suspension, must sit 2 gamesVideo
Central Catholic boys basketball coach Brian Urso avoided a one-year ban for recruiting, but the WPIAL still wants him suspended for a scrimmage and two regular-season games next season. If Urso isn’t suspended, his team will be barred from the playoffs, WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said Wednesday, after the...
WPIAL duo selected for all-star baseball classic
Freeport junior Jarrett Heilman and South Fayette sophomore Ryan McGuire will represent the WPIAL on the Pennsylvania roster for the Big 26 Baseball Classic on July 25-28 in Harrisburg. The list of players was announced Wednesday morning for the four-day tryout-based all-star series. The Pennsylvania team, made up entirely of...
North Allegheny volleyball beats Bethel Park again, this time in PIAAs
It was a WPIAL finals rematch the Bethel Park boys volleyball team waited 12 days for and one WPIAL and defending PIAA champion North Allegheny knew was coming. It wasn’t if — the only question was where it would be held. After being swept in the WPIAL finals by the...
