Five teams to watch this spring

Washington boys track
Championship pieces are in place for the Prexies, on the team and individual levels.
Washington placed second at the WPIAL Class AA team championships last year thanks to some dominating performances in the relays. And the boys team claimed four individual/relay medals at the PIAA championships.
Dustin Fuller, Mykhael Kelley, Darius Spinks, Jordan Thomas and Josh Wise are among the top returning lettermen.

Chartiers-Houston softball
Pitcher Kiersten Conwell is gone, but two-time All-State player Kayla Briggs will take over full-time pitching duties and Observer-Reporter Player of the Year Colby Miller is back behind the plate.
The Bucs lost one game last spring, but it came in the PIAA Class A semifinals. C-H will once again be in contention for a WPIAL championship, which would be the eighth in program history.
C-H hopes to have senior shortstop Rachel Tucker back for the start of the regular season.Tucker had a season-ending shoulder injury during basketball season.

Peters Township softball
Peters Township is the lone local softball team with a pair of Division I recruits in the starting lineup.
Pitcher Tara Konopka will play at Drexel next year, and she went 9-6 with 120 strikeouts and a 1.97 ERA as a junior. Shortstop Morgan Matetic is headed to George Washington and will be counted upon to drive in runs.
PT has several outstanding defensive players but, to piece together a run in rugged Class AAAA, the Indians will need more offense.

Trinity baseball
First-year coach Scott Henson inherits a quality pitching staff, and the majority of those pitchers are left-handed. It makes Trinity an intriguing team in Class AAA, and a good bet to get back to the postseason after a difficult 2011 season.
Senior Hunter Bigler will pitch at IUP next year, while junior Nick Riotto is a Penn State recruit.
Trinity should benefit from the new artificial playing surface at Consol Energy Park, where the Hillers play home games. Last year, the park wasn't completed in time for Trinity to start its season and the Hillers were one of the last WPIAL teams to play an official game.

Waynesburg baseball
The Raiders were the surprise of WPIAL Class AA baseball last year. After a season-opening loss to Beth-Center, Waynesburg didn't lose again until the WPIAL championship game, and that came by one run to eventual PIAA champion Riverside.
With a pair of Division II recruits in pitcher/infielder Joe Monica (Concord) and catcher Stephen McCaw (Mercyhurst), Waynesburg has one of the better one-two punches in the district. McCaw (pictured), the WPIAL Class AA Player of the Year as a junior, will pitch more this season.
Another key player for first-year coach Kevin Pinkavitch will be Alex Swauger, who bats in the middle of the order.

Local PIAA baseball/softball qualifiers

All games Monday

Baseball
Class AAAA
Peters Township vs. Dubois at Berwind Park, St. Marys, 5 p.m.
Class AA
Waynesburg vs. Bedford at Shanksville Stoneycreek High School, 4:30 p.m.
Class A
Chartiers-Houston vs. Bishop Carroll at First Commonwealth Field, Homer City, 4 p.m.

Softball
Class A
Chartiers-Houston vs. Smethport at North Allegheny High School, 3 p.m.
Cochranton vs. Fort Cherry at Allegheny College, Meadville, 3 p.m.

Top five moments of 2010

1. Tyler Henry putback seals South Fayette's state championship

South Fayette missed layups throughout its PIAA Class AA championship game against District 12's Strawberry Mansion. Despite the struggles from close range, the Lions clamped down on defense and kept the game close throughout.

With under a minute remaining in regulation in a tied game, Mike Lamberti drove the lane and his layup clanked off the rim.

Tyler Henry, recognizing that his team hadn't hit many layups, raced in from outside the three-point arc and grabbed the offensive rebound. His wide-open putback with 25 seconds remaining lifted South Fayette to a 49-47 victory.

It's the first PIAA team championship in South Fayette's history.

2. Dani Hume rebound lifts PT girls to first state title

The 2010 girls soccer season was one of firsts at Peters Township.

First, the Indians rolled through the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs and won their first district title. The dominating efforts continued in the PIAA tournament as Peters Township advanced to the state title match for the second time in three years.

Peters Township faced District 1 power Archbishop Wood in the final, a team that had won 23 straight matches and was ranked fourth nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The Indians dominated play but didn't score until Dani Hume collected a rebound from a Veronica Latsko shot and buried it. Peters Township won 1-0 for its first state championship.

3. Conwell simply striking for C-H softball

The postseason journey of Chartiers-Houston was a challenging one. The Bucs nearly lost to Brentwood in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals and played a series of extra-innings games.

The bats of Kayla Briggs and Colby Miller helped carry the Bucs through the postseason despite a loss to Vincentian Academy in the WPIAL championship. Then, in the PIAA semifinals, pitcher Kiersten Conwell took over.

Conwell pitched a shutout in the semifinals. In the championship game against Montgomery, she got over a first-inning run to shut down the opponent's powerful lineup the rest of the way. Chartiers-Houston won, 4-1, for its first PIAA championship in six tries.

4. Jesse Scheirer's OT blast gives PT boys 7th WPIAL title

Peters Township shook off a loss against Canon-McMillan to end the regular season to land in a familiar spot - the WPIAL Class AAA championship. The 2010 championship marked the sixth time in eight years that the Indians played for the title.

Jesse Scheirer, a senior striker, was PT's leading scorer during the regular season but he made a bigger impact in the postseason with a series of clutch goals.

None was bigger than the one he scored in the WPIAL championship against Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

A scoreless match spilled into overtime when Scheirer, involved in a little scruff just moments before, made a dazzling run against the Vikings defense and blasted a low, line drive shot into the net for a 1-0 victory and the seventh WPIAL championship in the relatively short history of Peters Township boys soccer.

5. Brumbaugh turns PIAA semis and quarters into passing practice

South Fayette quarterback Christian Brumbaugh established new standards for WPIAL career passing yards, WPIAL career touchdown passes and WPIAL single-season passing yards but neither record may have been achieved were it not for two brilliant performances in the state playoffs.

After winning its first WPIAL Class AA title (South Fayette's third WPIAL championship overall), Brumbaugh passed for 376 yards (then a PIAA playoff record) with five touchdowns against Brockway. In a driving snow storm, Brumbaugh started the game 13-for-13.

In the semifinals against Forest Hills, he came the WPIAL's career passing leader by throwing for 362 yards and six touchdowns, which is a PIAA playoff record.

Brumbaugh threw for a PIAA single-season record 52 touchdowns on the year.

2010 All-State Softball Team

2010 PSBCA All-State Softball Teams
Class AAAA
FIRST TEAM
P — Geena Badolato, Sr, Mt. Lebanon
P — Fran Carrullo, Jr, Central Bucks South
P — Lauren Walker, Jr, Central York
C — Caryn Bailey, Soph, Elizabethtown
C — Chelsy Cosentino, Sr, Kiski Area
INF — Lauren Alcorn, Sr, Lower Dauphin
INF — Tess Apke, Jr, Mt. Lebanon
INF — D'Anna Devine, Jr, Pennsbury
INF — Sara Rasley, Jr, Easton
OUT — Dior George, Jr, Bethlehem Liberty
OUT — Megan Kelly, Sr, Hatboro-Horsham
OUT — Amanda McCann, Sr, Upper Darby
Off. Pitcher — Samantha Derr, Sr, Warwick

SECOND TEAM
P — Jess Epler, Jr, Governor Mifflin
P — Alexa Larkin, Jr, Latrobe
P — Caroline Raymond, Sr, Downingtown West
C — Chelsea Edwards, Sr, Hatboro-Horsham
C — Morgan Noad, Soph, Conestoga
INF — Courtney Clee, Jr, Neshaminy
INF — Morgan Decker, Soph, Central Bucks South
INF — Cassie Show, Sr, Connellsville
INF — Chelsea Siar, Sr, Shaler
OUT — Lindsey Mastro, Jr, Nazareth
OUT — Kelli Rohan, Jr, McDowell
OUT — Mary Schlosbon, Sr, Garnet Valley
Off. Pitcher — Taylor Henry, Soph, Central Dauphin

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Katie Dunkleberger, Soph, Elizabethtown; Emily Estep, Sr, Chambersburg; Kelly Goslin, Sr, Coatesville; Shelby Kline, Sr, State College; Anna Lauterbach, Soph, Baldwin; Sarah McGowan, Jr, Neshaminy; Kate Poppe, Soph, Bishop Shanahan; Melissa Robinson, Sr, St. Hubert; Kait Schilling, Sr, Pennsbury; Maggie Shaffer, Soph, Hatboro-Horsham; Katie Zak, Sr, Waynesboro; C — Maria Ficca, Sr, Bishop Shanahan; Lauren Hackett, Soph, Shaler; Molly Hepner, Sr, Downingtown West; Amy McCaffrey, Sr, Upper Dublin; Erin Quense, Sr, Neshaminy; Nicole Spina, Sr, Garnet Valley; Miranda Sergas, Sr, North Penn; INF — Casey Alcorn, Soph, Lower Dauphin; Megan Baker, Soph, Waynesboro; Alyssa Bates, Soph, Hempfield (Greensburg); Morgan Booth, Sr, Stroudsburg; Kelsey Cunningham, Sr, Peters Township; Alicia DeSanto, Sr, Upper Darby; Hilary Dilsaver, Sr, Nazareth; Kristen Focht, Sr, Allen; Kirsten Glantz, Sr, State College; Mariah Keener, Soph, Elizabethtown; Alex Kissinger, Sr, Governor Mifflin; Meghan Kozusko, Sr, Latrobe; Mallory Lyons, Sr, Coatesville; Eavan Matz, Sr, Delaware Valley; Jess Norris, Sr, Spring-Ford; Elizabeth Odrin, Sr, Avon Grove; Bre Ord, Jr, Warwick; Taylor Pattillo, Jr, Chambersburg; Erica Ragazzone, Fr, St. Hubert; Sarah Schwalm, Jr, Central Dauphin; Haileigh Stocks, Soph, Central Bucks South; Bre Tongel, Sr, Mt. Lebanon; Candice Van Horn, Jr, Hazleton; Cassie Wagman, Sr, Spring Grove; Mary Ward, Sr, North Penn; OUT — Sami Ashley, Jr, Emmaus; Gina Goss, Sr, Shaler; Shari Lynne Kluth, Jr, Norristown; Dani Miller, Jr, Waynesboro; Mandi Shearer, Sr, Elizabethtown; Kaylee Werner, Jr, Chambersburg; Kirsten Wilcox, Sr, DuBois; Off. Pitcher — Elizabeth Mack, Jr, New Oxford

Class AAA
FIRST TEAM
P — Erica Cipolloni, Sr, Nazareth Academy
P — Brooke Koch, Sr, Jersey Shore
P — Nicole Sleith, Jr, Yough
C — Jessica Bower, Sr, Jersey Shore
C — Kelsi Jordan, Sr, Conwell-Egan
INF — Brittany Smith, Sr, Bellefonte
INF — Jess Tate, Jr, Archbishop Wood
INF — Kasey Siegel, Sr. SS, Franklin Regional
INF — Haley Thomas, Soph, Northern York
OUT — Danielle Gomola, Sr, Bellefonte
OUT — Alicia Kukoda, Sr, West Chester East
OUT — Alyssa Lombardo, Jr, Saucon Valley
Off. Pitcher — Abbey Radic, Sr, Palmyra

SECOND TEAM
P — Krista Morrone, Jr, Palisades
P — Christy Von Pusch, Soph, Radnor
P — Ally Vrcek, Sr, Franklin Regional
C — Carly Mowen, Sr, Greencastle-Antrim
C — Katie Stevens, Jr, Abington Heights
INF — Nicole Blantz, Jr, Lampeter-Strasburg
INF — Stacey Capp, Fr, Montour
INF — Cory Ozanne, Soph, Southern Lehigh
INF — Christina Stathes, Sr, Bellefonte
OUT — Laura Gebhart, Jr, Donegal
OUT — Kristen Grimley, Sr, Merion Mercer Academy
OUT — Ashley Lorey, Sr, Titusville
Off. Pitcher — Molly Ferguson, Sr, Phoenixville

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Brianna Andraos, Soph, West Chester East; Autumn Appleby, Jr, Greencastle-Antrim; Chelsea Bock, Sr, Wilson (Easton); Kristan Baker, Jr, Dallas; Emily Dauberman, Sr, Bellefonte; Tara Klee, Fr, Hamburg; Kaitlyn Kutchman, Soph, Montour; Emily Lobdell, Sr, Warren; Calli Pastor, Soph, Big Spring; Lisa Seidler, Sr, Archbishop Wood; Katie Shaub, Sr, Muhlenberg; Alley Stine, Sr, Valley View; C – Stephanie Beck, Jr, Ambridge; Megan McCracken, Sr, James Buchanan; Katie O’Rourke, Sr, Palmyra; Liz Presto, Sr, Bethlehem Catholic; Sarah Seneca, Sr, Saucon Valley; Kelsey Squelch, Sr, Perry; Rachael Trupp, Sr, Muhlenberg; Jackie Wear, Sr, Northwestern Lehigh; INF — Allie Aikins, Soph, Sun Valley; Liz Aniska, Soph, Valley View; Mandi Baer, Sr, Daniel Boone; Alaynna Beers, Jr, Yough; Charlotte Conaway, Sr, Radnor; Erica DeVinney, Fr, Bellefonte; Ashley Dolan, Sr, Franklin Regional; Rebecca Glenn, Sr, Jersey Shore; Taylor Killian, Sr, Shippensburg; Madison Krebs, Soph, Milton; Emily Moran, Sr, Archbishop Prendergast; Ashley Morran, Sr, Trinity (Washington); Bre Pletnick, Sr, Villa Joseph Marie; Kaylee Poole, Sr, James Buchanan; Lexi Schwartzmiller, Jr, Chartiers Valley; Alex Stermel, Jr, Nazareth Academy; Sara Yoos, Soph, Archbishop Wood; OUT — Courtney Bauder, Jr, Jersey Shore; Sam LaCoe, Sr, Abington Heights; Evie Rentzel, Soph, Northern York; Kristina Scott, Jr, Hampton; Off. Pitcher — Kristin Beaty, Jr, Archbishop Carroll; Mary Cate Scott, Soph, Lansdale Catholic; Kelsey Hannold, Jr, Donegal; Kayla Haslett, Jr, Ambridge; Rachel Kline, Soph, Greencastle-Antrim; Alex Puckly, Jr, Corry

Class AA
FIRST TEAM
P — Sarah Bertoni, Jr, Nanticoke
P — Caitlin Nealer, Jr, Valley
P — Chelsea Rex, Jr, Philipsburg-Osceola
C — Amanda Cardone, Sr, Nanticoke
C — Taylor Harpster, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Kirstie Cortazzo, Sr, Jeannette
INF — Jordan Darchicourt, Jr, Boiling Springs
INF — Kelsey Gonder, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Jenn Harnischfeger, Sr, Nanticoke
OUT — Jessalyn Neatrour, Sr, Chestnut Ridge
OUT — Kelly Peter, Sr, Kutztown
OUT — Tamara Stubits, Jr, Northern Lehigh
Off. Pitcher — Kate Pratt, Sr, Troy

SECOND TEAM
P — Emily Crandell, Sr, Mifflinburg
P — Brooke Darling, Jr, Elk Lake
P — Hope Spancake, Sr, Pine Grove
C — Kassandra Atherton, Sr, Mount Union
C — Casey Bonk, Sr, Valley
INF — Cari Conway, Sr, Wilmington
INF — Sami Gow, Soph, Nanticoke
INF — Chasity Myers, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Erica Crawford, Sr, Wyalusing Valley
OUT — Samantha Bertasavage, Fr, Pine Grove
OUT — Jasa Mitchell, Sr, Bald Eagle Area
OUT — Jane Rogers, Soph, St. Pius X
Off. Pitcher — Sarah Dietrich, Sr, Upper Dauphin

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Emily Ashbridge, Jr, Masterman; Emily Detz, Jr, Columbia; Megan Greiss, Jr, Kutztown; Brianna Jennings, Jr, Wyalusing Valley; Jamie Kertes, Jr, Bishop Canevin; Rachelle Miller, Fr, Mohawk; Casey Moses, Jr, Burrell; Nikki Troisi, Jr, Kennedy-Kenrick; Julie Wagaman, Sr, Northern Lehigh; Alison Wickwire, Jr, Towanda; Porshia Wilson, Sr, Loyalsock; C — Amanda Daneker, Fr, Loyalsock; Cassie Ernst, Sr, Annville-Cleona; Leanda Helms, Sr, Brandywine Heights; Courtney Mattocks, Sr, Troy; Nikki Rzodkiewicz, Soph, Harbor Creek; INF — Lindsey Brown, Sr, Upper Dauphin; Brooke Clarke, Soph, Central Columbia; Cassi Conway, Sr, Wilmington; Paige Dennison, Soph, Bermudian Springs; Christiana Donofry, Jr, Notre Dame; Kayla Eiswerth, Sr, South Williamsport; Chelsea Evans, Sr, Riverside (Ellwood City); Amanda Light, Sr, Kennedy-Kenrick; Callie Markovich, Jr, Northwestern; Caitlin Martz, Jr, Central Columbia; Jennifer Nichols, Sr, Shipley; Taylor Parsons, Jr, Bald Eagle Area; Jenna Pollard, Sr, Fairview; Katie Reimer, Jr, Palmerton; Nina Spagnolo, Jr, Burrell; Taylor Swatsworth, Jr, Central Cambria; OUT — Kelsey Bonk, Soph, Valley; Diana Butash, Sr, Mid Valley; Emily Romeo, Jr, Wilmington; Off. Pitcher — Dana Achille, Fr, South Park; Emily Bosworth, Sr, Waynesburg; Kelsey Fuller, Sr, Northwestern; Ayla Gounder, Sr, South Fayette; Lindsey Lowrey, Jr, Juniata; Taylor Parker, Fr, Warrior Run

Class A
FIRST TEAM
P — Ronette Claar, Soph, Claysburg-Kimmel
P — Kiersten Conwell, Jr., Chartiers-Houston
P — Casey Drick, Sr, Montgomery
C — Gretchen Herzberger, Jr, Cochranton
C — Colby Miller, Soph, Chartiers-Houston
INF — Chrissy Belko, Sr, Old Forge
INF — Kayla Briggs, Fr, Chartiers-Houston
INF — Kelsey Carlsen, Soph, Northeast Bradford
INF — Christi Mauk, Sr, Claysburg-Kimmel
OUT — Hannah Cole, Soph, Muncy
OUT — Alyssa Molino, Sr, Montgomery
OUT — Ale Zozos, Sr, Vincentian
Off. Pitcher — Blaire Lauthers, Fr, Fannett-Metal

SECOND TEAM
P — Christine Henderson, Jr, Ligonier Valley
P — Nina Melvin, Sr, Vincentian
P — Haylie Phillips, Soph, Northeast Bradford
C — Lauren Sauerwein, Jr, Mount Alvernia
C — Kaitlyn Warzel, C, Montgomery
INF — Sara Clark, Sr, Curwensville
INF — Adrian McLane, Sr, York Tech
INF — Victoria Oberdorf, Sr, Leechburg
INF — Courtney Woodward, Jr, Line Mountain
OUT — Alysha Bixler, Sr, Williams Valley
OUT — Codie Onderko, Sr, Conneaut Valley
OUT — Chrissy Scott, Sr., Chartiers-Houston
Off. Pitcher — Chelsea Yanishevsky, Sr, New Hope-Solebury

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Logan Akers, Jr, Smethport; Jess Armillay, Sr, Old Forge; Becca Braden, Sr, Conneaut Valley; Ashley Cantiello, Jr, Bristol; Kaitlyn Coles, Soph, Jefferson Morgan; Megan DeMartino, Soph, Berlin; Lauren Evers, Sr, Elk County Catholic; Brianna Flynn, Jr, Sharpsville; Laykin Hughes, Jr, Minersville; Keli Krause, Soph, Christopher Dock; Kori McManus, Jr, Coudersport; Emily Yoder, Jr, Southern Columbia; C — Kellsie Davis, Jr, Williams Valley; Karli Rorabaugh, Fr, Purchase Line; Spryce York, Jr, Otto-Eldred; INF — Olivia Bradford, Soph, Christopher Dock; Lynne Christopher, Sr, Carmichaels; Taresa Dongilli, Sr, Vincentian; Brooke Dugger, Jr, Bristol; Maddie Grimm, Fr, Ligonier Valley; Amanda Kraus, Jr, Sullivan County; Kelsey Lynch, Jr, Montgomery; Tracie Reynolds, Sr, Youngsville; Jenna Rhodes, Soph, Fannett-Metal; Sarah Saltz, Sr, Barrack Hebrew Academy; Lindsy Sammarco, Sr, Bishop Carroll; OUT — Sara Clark, Sr, Curwensville; Bailey Elbin, Jr, Southern Fulton; Hannah McGowan, Jr, Elk County Catholic; Alycia Parks, Jr, Northeast Bradford; Amber Tutino, Sr, Ligonier Valley; Off. Pitcher — Darcy Bostich, Soph, Bentworth; Heather Carper, Soph, Juniata Valley; Anna Heggenstaller, Jr, Greenwood; Stacey Johnson, Sr, Curwensville; DP — Sarah Walasavage, Fr, Minersville

The Year in Photos, Part II

Chartiers-Houston pitcher Kiersten Conwell delivers during the WPIAL Class A championship game versus Vincentian Academy at California University. The Bucs failed to win their eighth WPIAL title that day but Conwell pitched C-H to its first PIAA championship – a 4-1 victory over Montgomery.

Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter







Canon-McMillan's Taylor Schram celebrates an assist during a match at Bethel Park. Schram led the Big Macs to their first PIAA playoff appearance this fall. Schram finished her distinguised scholastic career with 144 goals, 52 coming during her senior year. She will play at Penn State.

Photo by Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac







Charleroi's Cody Wiercioch hugs coach Greg Doerfler after Wiercioch became the first PIAA wresling champion in Charleroi history. Wiercioch was one of two local freshmen to win gold at states. The other was Canon-McMillan's Conner Schram, who is Taylor Schram's younger brother.

Photo by Joe Tuscano / Observer-Reporter






Steve Bucci returned to Canon-McMillan this spring as Bethel Park's baseball coach. Bucci won the 2008 PIAA Class AAAA title at Canon-McMillan then resigned just weeks before the start of the 2009 season. C-M won this game and Bucci is embroiled in a coaching controversy at BP.

Photo by Robin Richards / Observer-Reporter







Senior captains Mike Burroughs, left, and Tyler Henry hoist the PIAA Class AA championship basketball trophy won by South Fayette. The Lions edged Strawberry Mansion of Philadelphia, 49-47 as Henry scored the winning basket on a putback with 25 seconds remaining. Burroughs, who will play at St. Vincent College, was a dominant force inside for South Fayette.

Photo by Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac

Girls Athlete of The Year Finalists

Each year, the Observer-Reporter sports staff selects a Girls Athlete of the Year and, unlike the boys honor, it's not always handed to an athlete who dominates the headlines.

The following is the list of past honorees since the award was first given in 2000.
2009-10 – ?????
2008-09 – Amanda Kennedy, Bentworth
2007-08 – Jenna Phillips, Washington
2006-07 – Paige McMenamin, Peters Township
2005-06 – Brianna Liebold, Chartiers-Houston
2004-05 – Ashley Young, Canon-McMillan
2003-04 – Samantha Slagle, Beth-Center
2002-03 – Stephanie Kuhn, Ringgold
2001-02 – Jessica Perry, Peters Township
2000-01 – Shellie Cotton, Charleroi
1999-2000 – Kristen Lancas, Ringgold

This year's list of finalists is unusual in that the majority of the athletes are one-sport standouts.

Jules Femiani, Peters Township
A Central Michigan field hockey recruit, Femiani scored the game-winning goal in overtime as PT beat Fox Chapel for its first WPIAL field hockey championship. Femiani also earned honorable mention All-American honors for lacrosse and was first-team All-WPIAL.

Ashley Morran, Trinity
Trinity's all-time home run hitter in softball, Morran won 2009 O-R Player of the Year honors. As a senior, she batted .430 despite constantly being pitched around. Morran was also the second-leading scorer on Trinity's basketball team.

Taylor Schram, Canon-McMillan
Committed to Penn State for soccer as a junior. Schram scored 52 goals as a senior in leading Canon-McMillan to the PIAA playoffs for the first time. She tallied 145 for her varsity career and Coaches’ All-State and All-American selection for second consecutive year. Schram also earned selection first-team All-American by ESPN Rise.

Sarah Shashura, California
From the tennis hotbed known as the Mon Valley, Shashura won the WPIAL boys singles title in the spring and qualified for the PIAA tournament. She lost in the first round at states but held a substantial lead in the match before tiring. A four-star recruit according to the Tennis Recruiting Network, Shashura is ranked No. 149 nationally.

Tanya Timko, Chartiers-Houston
Months after receiving publicity for winning the WPIAL doubles title with her sister Karli, Tanya played singles in the fall and won a WPIAL championship to give her district titles in everything but boys singles. Timko went on to finish second at the PIAA tournament. A three-star recruit by the previously mentioned network, Timko is ranked No. 202 nationally.

PIAA softball game change

Chartiers-Houston's PIAA Class A softball championship versus Montgomery has been changed to Friday at 4 p.m. at Shippensburg University's Robb Field. The game was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. but the PIAA was forced to change game times because of a high school graduation for Class AAAA finalist Central Bucks South.

Much about Montgomery

Montgomery, Chartiers-Houston's opponent in Friday's PIAA Class A championship game, had never won a state playoff game before this year. Montgomery never won a league championship for that matter.

For more on the Red Raiders, click:
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/544708.html?nav=5017
http://thedailyreview.com/sports/northeast-falls-to-montgomery-in-extra-innings-at-state-semis-1.846859

Is the sixth time the charm for Chartiers-Houston?

Chartiers-Houston advanced to the PIAA Class A softball championship with its 1-0 victory over Claysburg-Kimmel Monday at Shanksville-Stonycreek High School.

The win put the Bucs, winners of seven WPIAL titles (1985, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007) in their rich history, into the title game for the sixth time.

No WPIAL team has appeared in six PIAA softball title games. Shaler has played in five and Sto-Rox in four.

Chartiers-Houston previously reached the finals in 1987, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2005.

There are two common threads linking each of the five previous appearances: Chartiers-Houston has never won a PIAA title and the Bucs have yet to score a run.

1987 Minersville (District 11) 2, Chartiers-Houston 0
1999 Minersville 6, Chartiers-Houston 0
2000 Canton (District 4) 8, Chartiers-Houston 0
2003 South Williamsport (District 4) 11, Chartiers-Houston 0 (5 inn.)
2005 Minersville 4, Chartiers-Houston 0

The good news for the Bucs is they aren't playing Minersville. Chartiers-Houston (22-2) faces District 4 champion Montgomery, a 2-1 winner over Northeast Bradford in nine innings, Friday morning at Shippensburg University's Robb Field. The game starts at 10 a.m.

"We'll be the underdog, but we've been the underdog pretty much the entire time and we like that," said Bucs coach Tricia Alderson, who pitched in the 1987 championship game and coached in the 2005 contest.

In order to capture the elusive title, the Bucs must find a way to crack the scoreboard. Think about it, in five PIAA championship appearances there has not been one wild pitch, passed ball, walk or error that's led to a Chartiers-Houston run.

Extraordinary.

The guess here is this group of Bucs, an unlikely bunch to get this far considering only three players participate in softball outside the high school season, finally scores a run in the state championship. Whether it leads to a win is anybody's guess.

"We've never scored a run there so that's the first thing we want to do," Alderson said. "And, hopefully, we can get a win."

PIAA Class AA/A softball brackets (Western region)

District and finish listed before school. Home team listed first. Sites and times to be determined.

Class AA
First round
Monday, June 7
7-1 Valley (21-0) vs. 5-1 Chestnut Ridge
10-1 Wilmington (21-1) vs. 7-4 Sto-Rox (14-5)
9-1 St. Marys vs. 7-2 Burrell (17-3)
6-1 Phillipsburg-Osceola vs. 7-3 Waynesburg (16-4)

Class A
First round
Monday, June 7
7-1 Vincentian Academy (17-2) vs. 10-2 Sharpsville (15-7)
5-1 Fannett-Metal vs. 6-2 Claysburg-Kimmel
10-1 Conneaut Valley (16-2) vs. 7-2 Chartiers-Houston (18-2)
9-1 Elk County Catholic vs. 7-3 Bentworth (16-4)