High School category, Page 307
New coach brings energy, ‘tough love’ to Norwin girls soccer program
If there is one promise Ashley DeVito can make to her new Norwin girls soccer players, it is this: “Tough love,” she said. “I am going to push them and challenge them to reach their greatest potential; however, I’ll always provide them the support that they need to do so....
Despite early-season loss, Hampton boys lacrosse has high expectations
The opening week of the 2024 spring season proved something about the Hampton boys lacrosse team. The Talbots aren’t the best team in the WPIAL Class 2A, but they very well could turn into the second-best. Hampton sandwiched a 20-6 loss to seven-time defending WPIAL champion Mars with blowout victories...
Hampton girls lacrosse plans to spread scoring wealth
The Hampton girls lacrosse team this season is relying on balance rather than brilliance. After a three-year stretch that featured two of the most prolific goal-scorers in program history, the Talbots are looking for a well-distributed, roster-wide attack. “Not relying on one person to score is going to be an...
Riverview baseball leans on experienced lineup, starts 3-0
Riverview senior pitcher and infielder Jack Loughren is an island unto himself in that he’s the only senior on a youthful Raiders baseball team. The team’s senior day ceremony will be brief. But Loughren is not alone in terms of players in the lineup who have varsity experience. Eight seniors...
After impressive postseason, Plum bowlers head to national championships
Plum was the only WPIBL program to have both its boys and girls bowling teams qualify for the Pennsylvania state championships. The Mustangs’ representation at Leisure Lanes in Lancaster on March 16 was the destination of a journey that took the squads through the WPIBL and Western Regional tournaments. But...
Behind ‘softball sisters,’ North Allegheny hopes to return to WPIAL finals
North Allegheny has a roster full of “softball sisters,” even though most of the girls aren’t actually related. It’s an informal mentorship program coach Morgan Vescovi adopted a year ago, pairing an upperclassman with a younger teammate from the varsity or junior varsity. The players are able to bond while...
North Allegheny notebook: Tigers volleyball among top-ranked teams
North Allegheny’s boys volleyball team is off to a strong start to the season in its quest to add to its WPIAL-leading total of district titles (22). The Tigers are ranked second in the latest Western Pa. Volleyball Coaches poll behind defending WPIAL champion Shaler, which ended North Allegheny’s run...
Deer Lakes’ Billy Schaeffer leads Valley News Dispatch boys basketball all-stars
Player of the Year Billy Schaeffer 6-2, Sr., G, Deer Lakes Billy Schaeffer was a 3-point artist last year, playing a role that helped Deer Lakes win its first WPIAL basketball championship. But as the lone returning starter coming into his senior season, he knew he had to evolve his...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 29, 2024
High schools Baseball Friday’s results Nonsection Beaver 9, Highlands 2 Laurel 8, West Middlesex 5 South Allegheny 3, McKeesport 2 Saturday’s schedule Nonsection Northern Garrett (Md.) at Albert Gallatin, noon Softball Friday’s results Nonsection Baldwinsville (NY) 3, Moon 2 Buckeye Local (OH) 2, Moon 0 Eastlake North (OH) 8, Beaver...
High school roundup for March 2024: Plum softball rallies to win in 7th
Jaiden Gentile singled and scored on a Liana Yusko sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning as Plum rallied for a 9-8 victory over Highlands in nonsection softball Friday. Yusko went 3 for 5 with two doubles and Gentile also doubled and drove in a pair of runs...
TribLive’s Paul Schofield to take place in Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame
Before he started as a full-time sports writer out of college in 1980, Paul Schofield’s exposure to high school wrestling was minimal. As a kid, he remembers watching the state finals on WQED-TV, hearing about far-away places such as Tyrone or Shikellamy or Shickshinny and wondering what they were like....
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence set for anticipated rematch at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
Rune Lawrence’s senior season almost ended in the semifinals of the Ironman Tournament in December. The Frazier star was in a battle against two-time Ohio state champion Max Shulaw and was decisively winning when the PIAA four-time champion hurt his knee on a questionable move by Shulaw, according to Frazier...
Again searching for new boys basketball coach, Plum seeks stability, return to prominence
For the second time in less than two years, Plum is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Justin Walther tendered his resignation last month, and it was accepted by the district. Athletic director Drew Karpen said Wednesday that in a short time after the position was advertised, there were...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for March 28, 2024
High schools Baseball Thursday’s results Class 3A Section 1 Shenango 16, Beaver Falls 1 Riverside 12, Ellwood City 2 Mohawk 6, Quaker Valley 3 Section 3 Burrell 10, Valley 8 Shady Side Academy 4, Deer Lakes 3 Section 4 Yough 13, Brownsville 3 Class 2A Section 1 Washington 12, Bentworth...
High school roundup for March 28, 2024: Freshman homers in 1st at-bat to boost North Allegheny past Norwin
Freshman J.J. Mancuso homered in his first varsity at-bat, hitting a two-run shot to lead North Allegheny to a 5-4 victory over Norwin in nonsection baseball Thursday. August Maslo drove in two runs and J.D. Costanzo picked up the win for the Tigers (3-0). Keegan Carr knocked in two runs...
No. 1 Hempfield fends off challenge from hard-hitting Penn-Trafford
With the scoreboard on the fritz, a temporary display panel was used Thursday at Hempfield’s Robert D. Kalp Field. That was the least of the home team’s problems, however, as Penn-Trafford dealt the Spartans their first bout of adversity this season. The Warriors, though, couldn’t deal them their first loss....
Experienced Valley baseball team ready to bloom
It’s a season that Valley baseball coach Jim Basilone and his players have been building for. A team that was once made up of mainly freshmen and sophomores has grown into an experienced group. With eight starters returning to forge a deep lineup and pitching staff, the Vikings have visions...
Rosters revealed for Roundball Classic all-star games
Rosters are out for the annual Roundball Classic basketball games, set for May 22-26 at North Allegheny. Top senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10 were selected to play in the all-star weekend, which ties a bow around another season in Western Pennsylvania. In addition, there will...
In 1st meet of season, Derry junior fires off state’s best javelin throw
After winning a WPIAL Class 2A championship and finishing second in the state last year in the javelin, Derry junior Sophia Mazzoni brought high expectations into this track and field season. She didn’t waste any time showing just how motivated — and prepared — she is to continue her upward...
Aliquippa sues PIAA to prevent football team’s promotion to Class 5A
The school with the most wins in WPIAL football history is hoping its next big victory comes in a courtroom. Aliquippa has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the PIAA from moving its football team to a higher classification where opponents would have much larger enrollments. The lawsuit, which is...
Westmoreland County high school baseball notebook: Latrobe heads west for opener
Tradition never graduates, as the saying goes. That is certainly true with the Latrobe baseball program. The Wildcats opened the season the way they usually do, by making their annual trek to Ohio for a pair of games. Only instead of playing against Upper Arlington, a team coached by Latrobe...
High school sports scores, schedules for March 27, 2024
High schools Baseball Wednesday’s results Class 5A Section 1 Plum 6, Armstrong 5 Fox Chapel 3, Penn-Trafford 2 Franklin Regional 11, Penn Hills 0 Class 3A Section 1 Ellwood City at Riverside, ppd. Mohawk at Quaker Valley, ppd. Section 3 Burrell at Valley, ppd. Derry 5, Freeport 2 Shady Side...
High school roundup for March 27, 2024: Derry takes down Freeport in extra innings
Collin Barkley was 2 for 5 and hit the go-ahead two-run double in the ninth inning as Derry outlasted Freeport, 5-2, in extra innings to complete a Section 3-3A baseball sweep. Cason Long was the winning pitcher for the Trojans (2-1, 2-0). Malik Febinger and Michael Hanz collected two hits...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for March 28, 2024: Rivals Mt. Lebanon, USC to meet
Two years ago, rivals collided on the district’s biggest stage, playing for WPIAL baseball gold. There is not as much at stake Thursday when the schools meet in a nonsection contest, but the intensity will be there as it always is for Mt. Lebanon against Upper St. Clair. The visiting...
Lincoln Park boys, Blackhawk girls top final Trib 10 rankings
When the first edition of the Trib 10 boys basketball power rankings were released, defending state champions Lincoln Park and Imani Christian were the top two teams. So it was written, so let it be done. While the Saints slid down a couple spots before making their way back up...
