Bill Beckner stories, Page 28

It looks like Franklin Regional found the perfect man for the job. Mike Feorene checked all the boxes the district was looking for when it sought out a coach for its inaugural boys volleyball team, which will take the court next spring. Feorene not only guided the Panthers’ girls team...

New Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson will be a guest speaker for a large group of boys underclassmen basketball players Tuesday at RIZE Sports in Leetsdale. Players will be practicing that night for the underclassmen games, which are a lead-up to the annual Roundball Classic senior all-star games set for...

She had just thrown her third straight no-hitter — the second in a row in the WPIAL playoffs — and Ligonier Valley senior Cheyenne Piper was just as dumbfounded as her opponents. “I just know when I got the first out, we came together and said, OK, 20 more,” the...

Penn-Trafford couldn’t break a tie in a tight, four-team Section 1-5A race for first place. But the Warriors had no problem snapping a knotted score in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A baseball playoffs. Once they did, it was on to the next round. The seventh-seeded Warriors battled...

Connellsville had runners at first and second with one out in the top of the seventh inning, and Franklin Regional pitcher Blake Bertucci quickly fell behind in the count to Matt Firestone. Three balls and no strikes. A touch-and-go, one-run lead in the playoffs rested squarely on Bertucci’s shoulders, but...

Even in the playoffs, teams are paying the Piper. Ligonier Valley softball pitcher Cheyenne Piper continued to erase hitters with her tricky movement and change of speeds as she twirled her second straight no-hitter, this one a perfect game. Piper, a senior Westminster commit, blanked Keystone Oaks, 8-0, as she...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals 2-Ligonier Valley (14-5) vs. 10-Ellwood City (15-4) 4 p.m. Thursday at Plum Winner plays: Winner of 6-Central Valley (12-2)/3-South Park (17-1) in semifinals (date, time, site TBD) Players to watch: Sydnee Foust, Ligonier Valley; Amber McQuiston, Ellwood City Extra bases: Ace Cheyenne Piper continued...

Like most games, Central Valley softball players knew the assignment. Coach Shannon Sullivan and her staff like to analyze opponents down to the finest details. They know tendencies. “We had girls watching film during study hall,” Sullivan said. “We chart pitches and do our homework on teams. We know what...

No hits, no problem. Sixth-seeded Jeannette didn’t get a hit against Northgate on Tuesday but took advantage of the Flames’ miscues to score four unearned runs and move on in the WPIAL Class A softball playoffs with a 4-0 victory in the first round at West Mifflin. “It wasn’t pretty,...

Class 6A Quarterfinals 5-Norwin (8-10) vs. 4-Pine-Richland (11-9) 4 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway Winner plays: 1-Hempfield (18-1) May 22 in semifinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Bailey Snowberger, Norwin; Mackenzie Gillis, Pine-Richland Extra bases: Norwin is looking to right the ship after two losses to Pine-Richland in section play...

Record-breaking wide receiver Declan O’Brien isn’t done catching passes yet. After a brilliant three-year run at Allegheny, the Norwin product is planning to play a fifth season at a higher level. O’Brien, an All-Region 2 First Team player as a senior, is joining Delaware as a preferred walk-on. O’Brien will...

With one swing and a sharp ping to center, trepidation turned to triumph for Alyssa Schaffold. The Shaler sophomore cracked a bases-loaded single up the middle to score junior Olivia Sachs in the bottom of the seventh as the fifth-seeded Titans walked off No. 12 Franklin Regional, 3-2, in the...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A First round 2-Ligonier Valley (13-5) vs. 15-Keystone Oaks (8-9) 4 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway Winner plays: Winner of 10-Ellwood City/7-Burrell on Thursday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Cheyenne Piper, Ligonier Valley; Kylie Stahl, Keystone Oaks Extra bases: Ligonier Valley has yet to...

WPIAL playoffs Class 5A First round 4-Penn-Trafford (12-5) vs. 13-Bethel Park (10-9) 5 p.m. Monday at West Mifflin Winner plays: Winner of 5-Shaler (14-3)/12-Franklin Regional (10-8) on Wednesday in quarterfinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Cam Ponko, Penn-Trafford; Becky Gillenberger, Bethel Park Extra bases: Penn-Trafford defeated Bethel Park early...

Samir Crosby has his third Division I scholarship offer for football. The Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore playmaker added Buffalo to his list, which also includes UNLV and Miami of Ohio. Crosby (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) played a variety of positions last season for GCC, including receiver, running back, quarterback and defensive...

Makayla Etling School: Southmoreland Class: Junior Sport: Softball Claim to fame: Etling, a catcher for the playoff-bound Scotties (14-2), has been on an offensive tear as the team’s leadoff hitter. Over a four-game stretch, she is 13 for 17 with four doubles, two triples, four home runs and 13 RBIs....

One of the WPIAL’s most prolific scorers over the past couple of years will be part of Roundball Classic history. For the first time, the annual all-star basketball games will feature multiple underclassman games for juniors and sophomores. Belle Vernon junior Zion Moore was selected to play in the Rising...

For the first time officially, the annual Roundball Classic all-star basketball event will feature multiple underclassmen games for juniors and sophomores. Rosters were announced for the “main event” game, the Rising Stars feature game, which will be 8 p.m. May 26 at North Allegheny. The Blue team will be coached...

Hempfield has won eight WPIAL softball championships. During five of those title runs, the Spartans opened the playoffs as a No. 1 seed. Now they will try to make it six. Defending champion Hempfield (18-1) was awarded the top seed in Class 6A when the pairings were announced Thursday. A...

As a winning streak began to stretch out like salt water taffy from a preseason trip to Myrtle Beach, Mt. Pleasant baseball coach Chris Firmstone became less surprised. Three straight section sweeps and a nonsection win took the streak to seven — but it was not a lucky seven. “We...

Neither coach seemed too concerned about it, but they also did not discount the value of getting the top seed. It’s only a number, they consented. Hempfield’s Tina Madison and Marlesse Hames of Seneca Valley basically agreed there isn’t much difference between the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in the...

Though he has won section, WPIAL and PIAA boys basketball championships, Jim Nesser is quick to point out he also has guided teams through rough patches, covering both ends of the spectrum in a coaching career that spans four decades. “I have been to the top, and I have been...

Greensburg Salem felt it could have done more with its 15 hits and slew of opportunities on the base paths. As it turned out, the Golden Lions did just enough to extend their season. Despite leaving 10 on base and getting mixed up in several base­running miscues, Greensburg Salem clinched...

Seton Hill locked up its second straight PSAC West Division baseball championship with a two-game split against Gannon. Senior Andino Vecchiolla earned the 3-0 win in Game 2, the final game of the regular season, working five innings, while freshman Owen Henne, grad student Jack Oberdorf (Greensburg Salem), junior Max...

Admitting he needed to get a better grip on his academics while continuing to improve his game, Andrew Muraco took a roundabout way back to Division I baseball. But here he is, back on the doorstep and raring to go again. The former Franklin Regional standout and WPIAL championship game...