Area softball teams started the week off right Monday.
Heavyweights like Chartiers-Houston did as expected, while Peters Township and Fort Cherry pulled off upsets according to the seeds. With Canon-McMillan, West Greene and Carmichaels adding to the win total, local teams went 6-1 on Monday.
Impressive.
Several teams were scheduled for Tuesday but, thanks to more rain, those games have been pushed back to Thursday - the same day as the WPIAL track and field championships. Not sure how the WPIAL plans to have track championships and softball games at the same site. Should be interesting.
Class AA
No. 8 Bishop Canevin (11-4) vs. No. 9 Waynesburg (10-5), Thursday at Baldwin High School, 2 p.m.
No. 4 Bentworth (13-2) vs. No. 13 South Allegheny (9-5), Thursday at Woodland Hills High School, 2 p.m.
No. 3 Seton-La Salle (14-1) vs. No. 14 Burgettstown (12-6), Thursday at Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
WPIAL baseball games postponed
All WPIAL baseball playoff games scheduled for Tuesday have been moved to Wednesday. Games will be played at the same time, same location as originally scheduled.
Class AA
No. 2 Laurel (13-3) vs. No. 15 Washington (9-7), Wednesday at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township, 4:30 p.m.
No. 7 Greensburg Central Catholic (12-4) vs. No. 10 South Fayette (10-6), Wednesday at North Allegheny High School, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Waynesburg (15-1) vs. No. 14 Freeport (11-4), Wednesday at Gateway High School, 4:30 p.m.
Class A
No. Rochester (9-4) vs. No. 9 Carmichaels (10-5), Wednesday at W&J's Ross Memorial Field, 2 p.m.
No. 5 Chartiers-Houston (9-5) vs. No. 12 Avonworth (10-5), Wednesday at the Burkett Complex in Ross Memorial Park, 2 p.m.
No. 7 Beth-Center (12-3) vs. No. 10 Vincentian Academy (11-6), Wednesday at Gateway High School, 2 p.m.
No. 6 Bentworth (11-4) vs. No. 11 Leechburg (10-6), Wednesday at Mt. Pleasant High School, 2 p.m.
Class AA
No. 2 Laurel (13-3) vs. No. 15 Washington (9-7), Wednesday at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township, 4:30 p.m.
No. 7 Greensburg Central Catholic (12-4) vs. No. 10 South Fayette (10-6), Wednesday at North Allegheny High School, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Waynesburg (15-1) vs. No. 14 Freeport (11-4), Wednesday at Gateway High School, 4:30 p.m.
Class A
No. Rochester (9-4) vs. No. 9 Carmichaels (10-5), Wednesday at W&J's Ross Memorial Field, 2 p.m.
No. 5 Chartiers-Houston (9-5) vs. No. 12 Avonworth (10-5), Wednesday at the Burkett Complex in Ross Memorial Park, 2 p.m.
No. 7 Beth-Center (12-3) vs. No. 10 Vincentian Academy (11-6), Wednesday at Gateway High School, 2 p.m.
No. 6 Bentworth (11-4) vs. No. 11 Leechburg (10-6), Wednesday at Mt. Pleasant High School, 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
WPIAL Baseball All-Stars
The WPIAL Baseball Coaches Association, which will hold its eighth annual, All-Star games June 12 at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township, has released the rosters for the teams.
The day begins with Class AA vs. Class A at 1 p.m., followed by Class AAAA vs. Class AAA at approximately 4 p.m.
Class AAAA – Justin Bianco (Peters Township), Grant Brown (Bethel Park), Anthony DeRenzo (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Alex Gabler (Laurel Highlands), Cody Gaertner (North Allegheny), Cody Herald (Butler), Zac Laneve (Pine-Richland), Ryan Minteer (Peters Township), Tim Norris (Hempfield), Cory Podvasnik (Plum), Taylor Schmidt (North Hills), Zach Schramm (Shaler), Brady Sheetz (Peters Township), Jason Shirley (Norwin), Jake Slater (Kiski Area), Bobby Swartout (Butler), Brian Tougher (Woodland Hills), Eric Weyant (Kiski Area), Tanner Wilt (North Allegheny), Eric Woistman (Upper St. Clair)
Coaches – Ed Carr (Penn Hills), Tony Fisher (Bethel Park), Frank LaCava (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Todd Schiffhauer (North Allegheny)
Class AAA – Dan Altavilla (Elizabeth Forward), Carmen Barone (East Allegheny), Luke Burton (Ambridge), Matt Coholich (Hampton), Tim Crytzer (Kittanning), Tyler Dean (Mars), Blake Friday (Mars), Jesse Grundza (Ambridge), Mike Hickman (Kittanning), Brett Hoffman (Moon), Dan Jeffreys (Moon), Luke Horew (Chartiers Valley), David Kucenic (South Park), Kevin Link (East Allegheny), Michael Pavlic (Belle Vernon), Anthony Piccolini (Indiana), Matt Rubino (Hopewell), Louis Simon (Elizabeth Forward), Ryan Socol (Montour), Logan Urtz (Central Valley)
Coaches – Levi Bristor (Trinity), Scott Hruby (Uniontown), Jeff Kuzma (West Mifflin), Joe Rubino (Hopewell)
Class AA – Corey Bauer (Brentwood), Joe Babincak (Deer Lakes), Franzee Barlamas (Freedom), Jake Campbell (Freeport), Gino Ceriani (Ellwood City), Mike DelSardo (Seton-La Salle), Ryan Finnegan (Riverside), Grant Foley (Shady Side Academy), Troy Heidenreich (Carlynton), Cayman Hoggard (Riverview), Jimmy Kcehowski (Freedom), John McCormick (Shenango), Dalton Moore (Freeport), Kyle Richael (Laurel), Zach Smalich (Frazier), Zach Sufrin (Shady Side Academy), Jake Thellman (Riverside), Mark Wesolek (Deer Lakes), Dylan Wolsonovich (Ford City), Dave Yakopec (Burrell)
Coaches – Rich Griser (Riverview), Jon Pedrosky (Deer Lakes), Skooter Roebuck (Brownsville), Jason Sharop (Carlynton)
Class A – Mike Bodnar (Beth-Center), Joe Cioffi (Neshannock), Adam Dian (Vincentian), Julian Falascino (OLSH), Derek Kissell (Bentworth), Bryan Korzen (Cornell), Brandon Kozich (Jefferson-Morgan), Jon Krall (Carmichaels), Mathew Loftis (Serra), Chris Miller (Serra), Andrew Nicklaus (Avonworth), Michael Patsch (Quigley), Michael Phillips (OLSH), Morgan Porter (North Catholic), Andrew Powell (Quigley), Matt Sabatini (Beth-Center), Anthony Speeney (Geibel), Tom Sparrow (California), Chris Tsangaris (Neshannock), Justin Wentz (North Catholic)
Coaches – Phil Coffin (Avonworth), Brian Dzurenda (Serra), Mike Kirkwood (Neshannock), Randy Miller (North Catholic)
The day begins with Class AA vs. Class A at 1 p.m., followed by Class AAAA vs. Class AAA at approximately 4 p.m.
Class AAAA – Justin Bianco (Peters Township), Grant Brown (Bethel Park), Anthony DeRenzo (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Alex Gabler (Laurel Highlands), Cody Gaertner (North Allegheny), Cody Herald (Butler), Zac Laneve (Pine-Richland), Ryan Minteer (Peters Township), Tim Norris (Hempfield), Cory Podvasnik (Plum), Taylor Schmidt (North Hills), Zach Schramm (Shaler), Brady Sheetz (Peters Township), Jason Shirley (Norwin), Jake Slater (Kiski Area), Bobby Swartout (Butler), Brian Tougher (Woodland Hills), Eric Weyant (Kiski Area), Tanner Wilt (North Allegheny), Eric Woistman (Upper St. Clair)
Coaches – Ed Carr (Penn Hills), Tony Fisher (Bethel Park), Frank LaCava (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Todd Schiffhauer (North Allegheny)
Class AAA – Dan Altavilla (Elizabeth Forward), Carmen Barone (East Allegheny), Luke Burton (Ambridge), Matt Coholich (Hampton), Tim Crytzer (Kittanning), Tyler Dean (Mars), Blake Friday (Mars), Jesse Grundza (Ambridge), Mike Hickman (Kittanning), Brett Hoffman (Moon), Dan Jeffreys (Moon), Luke Horew (Chartiers Valley), David Kucenic (South Park), Kevin Link (East Allegheny), Michael Pavlic (Belle Vernon), Anthony Piccolini (Indiana), Matt Rubino (Hopewell), Louis Simon (Elizabeth Forward), Ryan Socol (Montour), Logan Urtz (Central Valley)
Coaches – Levi Bristor (Trinity), Scott Hruby (Uniontown), Jeff Kuzma (West Mifflin), Joe Rubino (Hopewell)
Class AA – Corey Bauer (Brentwood), Joe Babincak (Deer Lakes), Franzee Barlamas (Freedom), Jake Campbell (Freeport), Gino Ceriani (Ellwood City), Mike DelSardo (Seton-La Salle), Ryan Finnegan (Riverside), Grant Foley (Shady Side Academy), Troy Heidenreich (Carlynton), Cayman Hoggard (Riverview), Jimmy Kcehowski (Freedom), John McCormick (Shenango), Dalton Moore (Freeport), Kyle Richael (Laurel), Zach Smalich (Frazier), Zach Sufrin (Shady Side Academy), Jake Thellman (Riverside), Mark Wesolek (Deer Lakes), Dylan Wolsonovich (Ford City), Dave Yakopec (Burrell)
Coaches – Rich Griser (Riverview), Jon Pedrosky (Deer Lakes), Skooter Roebuck (Brownsville), Jason Sharop (Carlynton)
Class A – Mike Bodnar (Beth-Center), Joe Cioffi (Neshannock), Adam Dian (Vincentian), Julian Falascino (OLSH), Derek Kissell (Bentworth), Bryan Korzen (Cornell), Brandon Kozich (Jefferson-Morgan), Jon Krall (Carmichaels), Mathew Loftis (Serra), Chris Miller (Serra), Andrew Nicklaus (Avonworth), Michael Patsch (Quigley), Michael Phillips (OLSH), Morgan Porter (North Catholic), Andrew Powell (Quigley), Matt Sabatini (Beth-Center), Anthony Speeney (Geibel), Tom Sparrow (California), Chris Tsangaris (Neshannock), Justin Wentz (North Catholic)
Coaches – Phil Coffin (Avonworth), Brian Dzurenda (Serra), Mike Kirkwood (Neshannock), Randy Miller (North Catholic)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Football coaches plan to promote sport
STATE COLLEGE (AP) — The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association unveiled big plans Friday to promote the sport and strengthen ties with in-state college coaches.
Group leaders met with Pitt’s Todd Graham, Temple’s Steve Addazio and Penn State’s Joe Paterno at the Nittany Lions’ team headquarters Friday in Happy Valley. Afterward, the high school coaches announced plans to turn an annual coaches clinic into a convention starting next year in Pittsburgh.
All college and high school coaches in the state would be invited.
“We’ll make that the place to be once a year to support high school football in Pennsylvania,” Clearfield High coach Tim Janocko said.
The prep coaches want to resume an East-West all-star game in 2012 following a one-year hiatus this season. The game was previously held in Altoona.
The game would be held next year in May at Gateway High School in suburban Pittsburgh, and Downingtown West in eastern Pennsylvania the following season. Both the convention and the all-star game would be rotated to locations around the state.
Graham, Addazio and Paterno offered their support to the efforts.
“It’s about building relationships,” said Elco High coach Mark Evans. “If you don’t have a prospect, or potential prospect for them, they usually skip your school, so a (convention) like this will enable us to continue to develop a strong relationship with college coaches.”
The high school coaches also hope to open high school coaches hall of fame exhibits at three locations around the state: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and State College. Plans for the exhibit at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, are closest to completion, though Janocko said the group had to wait for the NFL’s lockout to be resolved before the project could proceed.
Group leaders met with Pitt’s Todd Graham, Temple’s Steve Addazio and Penn State’s Joe Paterno at the Nittany Lions’ team headquarters Friday in Happy Valley. Afterward, the high school coaches announced plans to turn an annual coaches clinic into a convention starting next year in Pittsburgh.
All college and high school coaches in the state would be invited.
“We’ll make that the place to be once a year to support high school football in Pennsylvania,” Clearfield High coach Tim Janocko said.
The prep coaches want to resume an East-West all-star game in 2012 following a one-year hiatus this season. The game was previously held in Altoona.
The game would be held next year in May at Gateway High School in suburban Pittsburgh, and Downingtown West in eastern Pennsylvania the following season. Both the convention and the all-star game would be rotated to locations around the state.
Graham, Addazio and Paterno offered their support to the efforts.
“It’s about building relationships,” said Elco High coach Mark Evans. “If you don’t have a prospect, or potential prospect for them, they usually skip your school, so a (convention) like this will enable us to continue to develop a strong relationship with college coaches.”
The high school coaches also hope to open high school coaches hall of fame exhibits at three locations around the state: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and State College. Plans for the exhibit at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, are closest to completion, though Janocko said the group had to wait for the NFL’s lockout to be resolved before the project could proceed.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Avella tables football hire
Avella football remains without a head coach after the school board tabled a decision to fill the position during Wednesday night's meeting.
It marks the second time the decision has been tabled.
Previously, Avella graduate Ryan Cecchini's name was on the agenda to be hired. Several current players are rallying for an assistant coach.
Frank Gray spent the past three seasons as the Eagles football coach, and he helped keep the program afloat during some difficult times. More of those could be on the horizon as rumors of dropping the football program in favor of soccer have swirled for months.
Follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak
It marks the second time the decision has been tabled.
Previously, Avella graduate Ryan Cecchini's name was on the agenda to be hired. Several current players are rallying for an assistant coach.
Frank Gray spent the past three seasons as the Eagles football coach, and he helped keep the program afloat during some difficult times. More of those could be on the horizon as rumors of dropping the football program in favor of soccer have swirled for months.
Follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak
Boys Athlete of the Year
Doesn't seem like it, but an entire school year has nearly passed since Clairton, which would be on its way to another PIAA Class A football championship, came to Washington and dominated the Prexies in the opening week of the high school football season.
As long as that game seemed - and watching a contest when one of the contestants shortest third-down attempt was a third-and-7 can seem like an eternity - the year has passed by rather quickly.
There have been outstanding performances, team and individual. Peters Township soccer swept the boys and girls WPIAL Class AAA titles. The girls team went on to win PIAA gold. South Fayette dominated WPIAL Class AA football competition. Monessen won a WPIAL boys basketball championship, playing up in classification no less.Here
Yep, it's been a year to remember.
But it;s not over, not until the final team plays and not until the Observer-Reporter names Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year.
Here's a few names who come to mind as possibilities (if you need a refresher on accomplishments, let me know):
Zach Barnes, Washington; Nick Bolias, Monessen; Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette; Dakota Conway, California; T.D. Conway, California; Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township; Austin Hancock, Peters Township; Jon Krall, Carmichaels; Josh Patterson, South Fayette; Josh Valentic, Trinity.
The spring season isn't over, which means a baseball player like Justin Bianco of Peters Township or track specialist like Trinity's Mike McClelland could enter the discussion.
Follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak
As long as that game seemed - and watching a contest when one of the contestants shortest third-down attempt was a third-and-7 can seem like an eternity - the year has passed by rather quickly.
There have been outstanding performances, team and individual. Peters Township soccer swept the boys and girls WPIAL Class AAA titles. The girls team went on to win PIAA gold. South Fayette dominated WPIAL Class AA football competition. Monessen won a WPIAL boys basketball championship, playing up in classification no less.Here
Yep, it's been a year to remember.
But it;s not over, not until the final team plays and not until the Observer-Reporter names Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year.
Here's a few names who come to mind as possibilities (if you need a refresher on accomplishments, let me know):
Zach Barnes, Washington; Nick Bolias, Monessen; Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette; Dakota Conway, California; T.D. Conway, California; Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township; Austin Hancock, Peters Township; Jon Krall, Carmichaels; Josh Patterson, South Fayette; Josh Valentic, Trinity.
The spring season isn't over, which means a baseball player like Justin Bianco of Peters Township or track specialist like Trinity's Mike McClelland could enter the discussion.
Follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak
Monday, May 9, 2011
Rivals releases Top 100 for 2012
Rivals.com has released its list of the Top 100 high school football players in the Class of 2012. The WPIAL has a representative in Hopewell's Rushel Shell, ranked No. 33. Shell has offers from Alabama to Penn State to Pitt and West Virginia, and everywhere else in between.
For the full list of the top 100, click here.
For the story, click here.
For the full list of the top 100, click here.
For the story, click here.
New twist to rivalry
Washington High School boys track and field will compete for a WPIAL Class AA team championship Thursday afternoon at West Mifflin High School. The Prexies are certainly no strangers to the team championship.
Wash High last made the final in 2006, and last won the team title in 2000. There were a couple other championship appearances in between as Washington has remained one of the better track teams in the WPIAL.
South Fayette, one of Wash High's bigger basketball rivals and an emerging football nemesis, also qualified for the team championship.
It's a new twist to one of this area's best sports rivalries for sure.
It also begs the question, what are the area's premier rivalries? When it comes to tradition, does Charleroi-Monessen top the list? Does it get more intense than Trinity vs. Canon-McMillan?
For my money, the area's premier rivalry between schools is Canon-McMillan and Trinity.
Wash High last made the final in 2006, and last won the team title in 2000. There were a couple other championship appearances in between as Washington has remained one of the better track teams in the WPIAL.
South Fayette, one of Wash High's bigger basketball rivals and an emerging football nemesis, also qualified for the team championship.
It's a new twist to one of this area's best sports rivalries for sure.
It also begs the question, what are the area's premier rivalries? When it comes to tradition, does Charleroi-Monessen top the list? Does it get more intense than Trinity vs. Canon-McMillan?
For my money, the area's premier rivalry between schools is Canon-McMillan and Trinity.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Benefit dinner for Michael Spartz
Michael Spartz played basketball and baseball at Canon-McMillan High School and was a member of the Big Macs' 2008 PIAA Class AAAA championship team.
Spartz is a student at Penn State, where, in April, he was a victim of an assault that left him seriously injured. Spartz, 21, was in intensive care for a short time after he was discovered unconscious at the bottom of an exterior stairwell at an off-campus apartment building. It is believed that Spartz was pushed down the stairs and wasn't discovered for five hours.
There will be a spaghetti dinner benefiting Spartz on Friday, May 13 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Canon-McMillan High School.
The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the C-M athletic office during school hours or at the door. Takeout orders are also available.
Fore more information, please call dave at 724-554-8160, Debbie at 724-822-6041 or Rick at 724-229-4320.
Spartz is a student at Penn State, where, in April, he was a victim of an assault that left him seriously injured. Spartz, 21, was in intensive care for a short time after he was discovered unconscious at the bottom of an exterior stairwell at an off-campus apartment building. It is believed that Spartz was pushed down the stairs and wasn't discovered for five hours.
There will be a spaghetti dinner benefiting Spartz on Friday, May 13 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Canon-McMillan High School.
The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the C-M athletic office during school hours or at the door. Takeout orders are also available.
Fore more information, please call dave at 724-554-8160, Debbie at 724-822-6041 or Rick at 724-229-4320.
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