Ray Fisher stories, Page 35

Despite having only one senior, the Thomas Jefferson boys tennis squad posted a 6-1 record in Section 1-AA this spring. The Jaguars defeated the likes of Greensburg Central Catholic, Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant, Ringgold, Southmoreland and West Mifflin while losing section champion South Park. “I thought we had potential,” TJ...

Baldwin’s varsity hockey team recently wrapped up an amazing two-year run with an appearance in the state championship game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. The Highlanders advanced to the state finals by winning the PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup with a 2-0 victory over Franklin Regional on...

The Bethel Park girls lacrosse team has all the makings of a powerhouse unit. Through 10 games, the Black Hawks were 10-0, 7-0 in league play, with 195-38 overall scoring advantage — a differential of a 157 goals. “So far, we have done everything I knew we were capable of,”...

Under normal conditions, Bethel Park’s Alexa Psotka would be striving this year for her fourth consecutive appearance at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field finals. “Alexa qualified for the WPIAL championship as a freshman and sophomore, even making the final flight her sophomore year,” coach Mark Jacobs said. “She...

It’s not uncommon for the best of friends to be teammates in a particular sport. It’s rare that three of them become teammates at the collegiate level. Baldwin seniors and four-year varsity players Lexi Bernotas, Abby Marzina and Kayla Radomsky have committed to Chatham, a member of the NCAA Division...

The games of baseball and softball have many nuances — many rules and regulations, many intangibles. Each can be a game of inches — a double down the third-base line — or a game of feet — a towering home run over the fence. People who follow the sports as...

Olivia Westphal is recognized as one of the best Bethel Park basketball players in school history. “My four years at Bethel Park went extremely fast,” she said, “and I was fortunate to have very talented teammates throughout my four years.” A highly talented 5-foot-10 guard known for her deft shooting...

It was only fitting the two Class AA hockey heavyweights clashed in the state championship game Saturday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. In one corner was Baldwin, the Penguins Cup and PIHL titlists representing the western part of the state. In the other corner was Haverford, the...

Bethel Park baseball is striving for a banner season in 2021. And with ample reasons. The Black Hawks, section champions and WPIAL semifinalists in 2019, were among the favorites to win the Class 6A title a year ago. “My expectations were pretty high going into this season,” coach Pat Zehnder...

The Bethel Park softball team is one of the favorites this year to reach the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. The Black Hawks were ranked No. 2 in their division in the Trib HSSN preseason rankings and have since moved up to No. 1. And through five games, the Black...

With seven starters returning from 2019, the Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball team has high hopes for the 2021 season. “We set our expectations high with a lot of returning veterans,” coach Frank Staffen said. “There are still a lot of unknowns since the season was canceled last year. “The team...

Former Baldwin athletic director Vince Sortino joined the WPIAL staff July 1, 2020, assuming the full-time position of assistant to the executive director. In his new role, Sortino helps run the day-to-day league operations for District 7 and reports to the board of directors. Sortino, 58, worked 28 years at...

The 2019 boys volleyball season proved to be a true learning experience for then-rookie coach Milan Yekich at Baldwin. “Taking over for Eric Falcione was not only daunting, but filling huge shoes and years of experience that set the standards high at Baldwin,” Yekich said. “I am still trying to...

Thomas Jefferson’s baseball roster is a bit misleading. “We are a young team,” coach Tim Vickers said. “While there are nine seniors on the roster, only two of them had varsity experience (prior to this season). Our expectation is to simply get better every day.” The coronavirus pandemic that shut...

The Brentwood Spartans experienced a rocky start on the diamond, losing their first three games including back-to-back section defeats to Fort Cherry. Brentwood opened the season with three returning starters from 2019, along with six first-year players and four others. “Some of them were able to play over the summer,...

As Dorothy says repeatedly in the iconic movie “The Wizard of Oz,” there’s no place like home. Veteran coach Steve Bucci would agree, as he has returned to his roots to take over the Baldwin baseball team. Bucci, with WPIAL and PIAA titles on his resume, was hired at his...

Jonah Silverman is a unique two-sport athlete at Penn Hills. This spring, Silverman’s competing in track and field and baseball. And that’s after he participated in soccer and football in the fall, followed by a stint with the indoor track team this winter. “Even though I’ve played baseball since I...

Anthony Sciulli represents a blueprint for perseverance and overcoming obstacles. The senior right-hander has developed into the unofficial ace of the Penn Hills pitching staff. And that’s after going through years of injuries and diligent rehabbing. “My biggest influences on my athletic career are my mom and also the injuries...

There is no mystery behind the success of the Thomas Jefferson softball program. “We are looking to replace a talented group of seniors with highly talented freshmen, sophomores and juniors,” TJ coach Heidi Karcher said It sounds like the definition of a rock-solid, winning program that reloads rather than rebuilds....

Despite the cancellation of the 2020 softball season because of covid-19 restrictions, Brentwood still has four returning starters back. The Spartans appear to be strong up the middle with juniors Bailey Herrea (P/SS), Kellie Bruschi (SS/P) and senior Sidney Wuenschell (CF) back, along with a fourth returning starter in junior...

Baldwin softball coach Gina Fuchs is counting on junior shortstop Maleah Pacella to be the team’s linchpin this season, both offensively and defensively. Pacella hit .483 as a freshman in 2019 and can play either middle infield position. “I expect Maleah to anchor our defense at shortstop,” Fuchs said. “She...

Joe Mitlo has latched onto several integral roles this year on the Penn Hills boys volleyball team. He is a 6-foot-2 middle hitter, senior team leader, team captain, student-athlete, team player, a teaching tool at times, plus he is the coach’s son. “To be honest, I sometimes forget that I’m...

A trio of co-captains who play two sports but excel on the diamond — Josh Zambito, Anthony Sciulli and Josh Gerken — will lead the Penn Hills baseball team into this season. Zambito, a first baseman and pitcher, was a two-way lineman on the football team. His baseball skills are...

Thomas Jefferson grad Alyssa DeAngelo made a big splash in the Fairmont State women’s basketball program this season. A 5-foot-10 guard/forward, DeAngelo was named the Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year. “I was surprised when I saw the MEC awards come out. I was not sure what to expect,”...

Gateway’s softball team has taken a basic approach to the 2021 season, homing in directly on the game’s fundamentals. “We are working on the basics to be able to make the routine plays in the field and minimize mental mistakes,” coach Scott Lewis said. “We are working on hitting just...