Joe Sager stories, Page 5

Derry’s boys volleyball team wants to play for the WPIAL Class 2A title. Sitting atop the WPIAL coaches association rankings for the past five weeks, the Trojans are favored to reach the championship match for the second season in a row. However, coach Shawn Spencer knows that’s not a given...

With no senior starters, Hempfield’s boys volleyball team feels pretty good about its future. The Spartans are pretty pleased with the present, too. Hempfield is off to a 3-0 start in a rugged WPIAL Section 3-3A. The Spartans opened with wins over Armstrong (3-1), Penn-Trafford (3-2) and Penn Hills (3-0)....

Now is the time for Latrobe to make a run through the boys volleyball postseason. With 10 starters back and a senior-laden roster, the Wildcats have high hopes. “We always set our goals high, but we have to be realistic,” Latrobe senior Reed Fenton said. “We definitely have the opportunity...

Derry’s boys volleyball team began the season ranked among the top WPIAL Class 2A teams. However, the Trojans will find out just exactly where they are — and where they need to be — after a daunting start to the season. They opened with a 3-1 loss to Northeastern, which...

North Catholic’s girls basketball team is known for its offensive production — and rightfully so. With three 1,000-point scorers in Tess Myers, Kylee Lewandowski and Dani Short, the Trojanettes, who have the WPIAL’s second-best offense at 67.4 points per game, can light up the scoreboard. However, the team boasts one...

North Allegheny sought perfection Tuesday night. The Tigers found it as they shut out Peters Township, 3-0, to capture the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup championship at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “Tonight, they played as good as we’re going to play,” North Allegheny coach Mike Bagnato said. “It is...

Offense wins championships, too. Montour proved that Tuesday night as the Spartans rolled to a 6-3 win over South Fayette in the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup championship game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “It’s unbelievable,” Montour captain Richie Froehlich said. “I am so proud of everyone. This is...

The final surge was the difference for Pine-Richland. The Rams scored the last three goals in a 3-minute, 21-second span in the third period Monday night to post a 7-5 win over Upper St. Clair in the PIHL Class AA Penguins Cup championship at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “It’s...

Plum’s boys volleyball team hopes the rebuilding project is a quick one. The Mustangs finished 2-12 last year while laying a foundation for this season. With only four seniors graduated from that team, there is more experience on the court this spring. “Things are going pretty well, so far. We...

Upper St. Clair’s Quinn Giacobbe and Franklin Regional’s Olda Virag put on a show within a show Wednesday night. The two seniors both scored four goals for their team, but Giacobbe’s final one was the biggest. He found the back of the net with 8 minutes, 53 seconds left in...

Once was enough for Pine-Richland — the Rams weren’t about to let Latrobe come back again. It happened Feb. 4 when the teams met during the regular season. Pine-Richland lost a 2-1 lead after two periods but eventually won 4-3 in a lengthy shootout. This time, the Rams scored three...

After years of being one of the top-seeded teams in the PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs, Franklin Regional is relishing its underdog role this postseason. The Panthers (12-8) served noticed they are a force with a 2-1 upset win over Mars in the first round. It set up a semifinal encounter...

Any victory in the Penguins Cup playoffs is a good one. For Latrobe, it was especially pleased with its 4-1 win over Hampton. Coach Josh Werner was encouraged with the Wildcats’ all-around play and the balanced scoring they delivered to advance to Wednesday’s Class 2A semifinals against Pine-Richland at 7...

How will Belle Vernon’s softball team fare without Bailey Parshall? That’s the question on everyone’s mind when it comes to the Leopards. Last summer, Parshall wrapped up her dominant high school career in the pitching circle by leading Belle Vernon to a third WPIAL title in her four years. With...

Belle Vernon’s baseball team enters the season with many questions. The Leopards just hope they can get out onto the practice field to address them before games begin. The squad was confined to indoor work for much of last season because of the weather. “Things have been going well. This...

Hempfield entered Monday night’s PIHL Penguins Cup Class 2A quarterfinal as the classification’s top scoring offense. However, it was Pine-Richland’s offense that took over. The Rams scored the first five goals, including four in the game’s first 8 minutes, 31 seconds, to post an 8-4 win over the Spartans at...

With his shooters struggling in the first half, Joe David remained confident heading into the second half. After all, the veteran Mt. Lebanon boys basketball coach knew it was a matter of time before the shots would start to fall. That happened in the third quarter as the Blue Devils...

Christiane Frye hoped to reach 1,000 points in her high school basketball career. The Central Valley senior just didn’t know she’d eclipse that milestone while sending her No. 2-seeded Warriors to their first WPIAL Class 4A championship appearance. Frye tallied a team-high 14 points to help Central Valley rally past...

Latrobe has waited almost a year to get back to the PIHL Penguins Cup Class 2A playoffs. The Wildcats’ last visit wasn’t pleasant as Quaker Valley stunned Latrobe, 1-0, in overtime in the first round. It’s a defeat that still resonates with the team. “Last year was a heartbreaking loss,...

The Franklin Regional hockey team’s first goal was to reach the postseason. Now, the Panthers can focus on contending for their third PIHL Penguins Cup championship in the past four years. “It’s that time of the year,” Panthers junior forward Kevin Cakanac said. “It’s just exciting knowing you have a...

The offense was cold for North Allegheny’s girls basketball team Friday night. However, the defense was hot. The Tigers overcame a sluggish offensive performance to stave off Upper St. Clair’s upset bid with a 33-26 win in a WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals at West Allegheny. North Allegheny (22-1), the two-time...

Norwin’s hockey team achieved its first goal: qualifying for the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup playoffs. The Knights hope to check off more accomplishments on their list. “Any team that makes the playoffs has a shot of getting to the championship. That’s the mentality you have to have,” Norwin junior...

Burrell’s girls bowling team picked up nice Valentine’s Day presents on Thursday: WPIBL championship rings. The Buccaneers edged Butler, 2-1, for the title at AMF Noble Manor Lanes in Crafton. “This is incredibly special,” Burrell senior Carlee Hummel said. The victory avenged a loss to the Golden Tornado for last...