High School category, Page 851
Connellsville rallies from 5-run deficit to beat Shaler in Class 5A softball playoffs
Having lost five of six to close the regular season, the Connellsville softball team entered the WPIAL playoffs without much momentum or swagger. But the Falcons picked the perfect time to snap out of their slump. The 13th-seeded Falcons erased a five-run deficit, and Tagan Basinger delivered the winning hit...
Westmoreland WPIAL baseball playoff capsules for May 19, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 5A First round 5-Plum (11-6) vs. 12-Latrobe (11-8) 4:30 p.m. at Norwin Coaches: Carl Vollmer, Plum; Matt Basciano, Latrobe Winner plays: Winner of 4-South Fayette (15-3)/13-Peters Township (8-10) Friday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals. Players to watch: Ethan Kircher, Sr., C, Plum; Chase Sickenberger, Jr., INF, Latrobe...
Westmoreland notebook: Youngstown State right fit for Norwin’s Rigone
Emma Rigone had interest from a number of Division I women’s soccer programs but went with the one that checked all the boxes. The Norwin junior defender, who played center midfield in cup soccer, announced her commitment to Youngstown State. “The coaches stood out to me more than those from...
Penn-Trafford softball stomps Hampton in 1st round
The Penn-Trafford softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the first during Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round playoff game against Hampton at Gateway. The top-seeded Warriors rolled from there to a 10-0 victory halted after five innings. “We got hits and did a lot of the little things,”...
Southmoreland keeps cool, downs Keystone Oaks in Class 3A softballVideo
Southmoreland jumped out to a big early lead and held on for an 11-9 victory over Keystone Oaks in a first-round WPIAL Class 3A softball playoff game Tuesday afternoon at West Mifflin. A quick start seemed out of the question for the Scotties when the first batter of the game...
Derry softball gets 1st playoff win in program historyVideo
From the routine-looking plays they made all over the field to the steady pitching and hitting they displayed, Derry softball players looked like they had been here before, like they belonged here even. The Trojans have experienced the WPIAL softball playoffs many times since the program began in 1979. But...
Fox Chapel stuns Plum in first-round pitchers’ duel
The Plum and Fox Chapel softball teams met in late March to open the 2021 season. The Mustangs scored a five-run victory in the matchup. The teams rematched Tuesday in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, but this time, the result was different. The 14th-seeded Foxes scored...
Favorite status doesn’t faze top softball seeds from Westmoreland County
If the softball playoffs come to pass the way the WPIAL committee foresees — “to chalk,” as they say — there are going to be some celebrations in Westmoreland County. Three schools — located at home plate, first base and third on a county map — are taking No. 1...
Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL baseball playoff capsules for May 19, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 5A First round 5-Plum (11-6) vs. 12-Latrobe (11-8) 4:30 p.m. at Norwin Coaches: Carl Vollmer, Plum; Matt Basciano, Latrobe Winner plays: Winner of 4-South Fayette (15-3)/13-Peters Township (8-10) Friday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals. Players to watch: Ethan Kircher, Sr., C, Plum; Chase Sickenberger, Jr., INF, Latrobe...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 19, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 6A Quarterfinals 3-Hempfield (12-5) vs. 6-Canon-McMillan (7-9) 4 p.m. at West Mifflin Coaches: Bob Kalp, Hempfield; Michele Moeller, Canon-McMillan Winner plays: Winner of 2-Norwin (13-2) vs. 7-North Allegheny (9-9) next Wednesday (time, site TBD) in semifinals Players to watch: Emma Hoffner, Sr. C, Hempfield; Olivia Ulam, Sr.,...
Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 19, 2021
Wednesday’s games Class 4A 6-Burrell (7-5) vs. 11-Belle Vernon (10-9) 2 p.m. at Plum Coaches: Rick Nealer, Burrell; Tom Rodriguez, Belle Vernon Winner plays: 3-West Mifflin (15-4) Monday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Katie Armstrong, So., P, Burrell; Maren Metikosh, So., OF, Belle Vernon Extra bases: Burrell...
After adding 2-game series to regular season, what’s next for WPIAL baseball?
The WPIAL baseball committee’s philosophy is simple: The best team should win section titles and league championships, not the team with one incredibly dominant pitcher. Whether that happens here in the playoffs is impossible to predict, but the baseball committee takes steps each spring hoping for that outcome. Playoff games...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 18, 2021: Softball playoffs heat up
The WPIAL softball playoffs get underway in three classifications Tuesday. There are eight Class 5A first-round games and four opening-round games in 3A and Class A. The busiest site will be North Allegheny, which will host a tripleheader. The first game at 2 p.m. features the only champion Class 5A...
Trib HSSN Baseball Team of the Week for May 17, 2021
The top teams in WPIAL Class A baseball this season have a shiny history coming into the postseason. No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic won gold in 2015, No. 3 Rochester was a runner-up in 2008, No. 4 Union lost in the finals in 2018 and 2019, and No. 5 OLSH...
Trib HSSN Baseball Player of the Week for May 17, 2021
Most utility baseball players are good at a little bit of everything, and their versatility is a blessing to all coaches. Sophomore Steven Budash has become a big-time blessing for Indiana coach Bill Thompson. In his first varsity season, Budash has contributed as a catcher, a third baseman, a first...
High school roundup for May 17, 2021: Allderdice takes City League softball title
Julia DiPietro-Harvey put on a show at the plate, going 4 for 5 with a double, home run and seven RBIs to lead Allderdice to a 13-12 victory over Brashear in the City League softball championship game Monday. Samantha Caruso went 3 for 3 and winning pitcher Brenna Altman singled,...
High school scores, summaries and schedule for May 17, 2021
Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A First round Friday’s schedule Upper St. Clair (8-9) vs. Canon-McMillan (8-10) at West Mifflin, 4 p.m. Quarterfinals Saturday’s schedule North Allegheny (17-3) vs. Upper St. Clair/Canon-McMillan winner at Shaler, 2:30 p.m.; Mt. Lebanon (11-7) vs. Butler (13-6) at Shaler, noon; Norwin (13-3) vs. Seneca Valley...
Kiefer’s clutch goals lift Franklin Regional over Shaler in WPIAL boys lacrosse playoffs
Jack Kiefer never saw his golden goal hit the back of the net. What he did see was a mob of teammates running at him, which gave him assurance he had propelled Franklin Regional to victory. Kiefer scored with 51.2 seconds remaining in overtime to give the eighth-seeded Panthers an...
Former Valley standout holding basketball camp, tournament at alma mater
Former Valley standout BJ Flenory is looking to give back to the area and honor the legends who came before him. On Saturday and Sunday, Flenory will hold a free basketball skills camp and ensuing tournament for fourth graders from around the area at the basketball gym at Valley. The...
Mask policies for spectators will vary at WPIAL postseason events
Spectators will be asked to wear masks Wednesday at the WPIAL track and field championships at Slippery Rock University despite the recent change to the statewide mandate. However, policies at other WPIAL events, including playoff games and championships, will vary by venue, WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said Monday. The...
Burrell relay team, other Class AA medal hopefuls gear up for WPIAL meet
As sophomores in 2019, Burrell’s Brayden Callahan, Jake Guerrini and Ryan Wurzer, along with the now-graduated Kaleb Seibert, finished 12th in the 1,600-meter relay at the WPIAL Class AA championships at Slippery Rock. Despite the finish outside of medal contention, the group, with everyone back in 2020, had their sights...
Alle-Kiski Valley WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 18, 2021
Tuesday’s games Class 5A 3-Plum (13-3) vs. 14-Fox Chapel (11-6) 2 p.m. at Gateway Coaches: Phil DiLonardo, Plum; Chris Olbrich, Fox Chapel Winner plays: Winner of 6-West Allegheny (13-3)/11-Franklin Regional (9-6) on Thursday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Melanie Meinke, Sr., P, Plum; Mackenzie Borkovich, Jr., P,...
Westmoreland WPIAL softball playoff capsules for May 18, 2021
Tuesday’s games Class 5A First round Tuesday 1-Penn-Trafford (14-4) vs. 16-Hampton (7-8) 4 p.m. at Gateway Coaches: Denny Little, Penn-Trafford; Ron Fedell, Hampton Winner plays: Winner of 8-North Hills (12-4)/9-Trinity (8-4) on Thursday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Brooke Cleland, Sr., OF, Penn-Trafford; Charlotte Lomb, Fr., P,...
North Allegheny, Seton LaSalle earn top seeds for WPIAL boys volleyball playoffs
North Allegheny and Seton LaSalle are the top seeds in their respective boys volleyball playoff brackets as the WPIAL released the Class AAA and AA pairings Monday afternoon. The first round begins Tuesday with games in both classifications. The top five teams in each Class AAA and Class AA section...
Coaches association releases final WPIAL boys volleyball rankings
The WPIAL Class AAA and Class AA playoff brackets will be revealed Monday at noon on Trib HSSN. In advance of that announcement, the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association released its final rankings for the 2021 season. North Allegheny (Class AAA) and Seton LaSalle (Class AA) hold on to the...
