Ray Fisher stories, Page 56
Brentwood Firecreacker 5K readies for 36th edition
It’s back, and it returns with much anticipation and fanfare. The 36th annual Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run, which begins and ends at Brentwood Towne Square and annually kicks off Brentwood’s Fourth of July holiday festivities, takes place at 9 a.m. on July 4. The 3.1-mile race course runs on Brownsville...
Thomas Jefferson athletes turn focus to collegiate sports
They’ve all experienced athletic success at the high school level. A talented group of 13 seniors at Thomas Jefferson plans to continue playing in college. “This has been one of the most successful sports seasons in TJ history,” athletic director Bill Cherpak said. “Just about every team and/or individual made...
Czerwien was a man of all seasons for Brentwood
Add Nick Czerwien to the distinguished list of names of Mark Reider Award winners at Brentwood. It’s a storied list, for sure. Recent recipients include Evan Vickless (2018), Dorian Bowie (2017), Patrick Carr (2016), Connor McWilliams (2015), Justin Vickless (2014), Jason Pilarski (2013), Josh Mackin (2012), Cory Bauer (2011) and...
Gateway’s Majocha caps high school career with WPIAL award
Gateway’s Brendan Majocha has proven to be a class act on and off the field. A two-sport standout for the Gators, Majocha recently was named a scholar-athlete scholarship recipient by the WPIAL and was honored May 13 at a banquet at the DoubleTree in Green Tree. “Brendan is the type...
Wolf caps 3-sport Brentwood career with 9 letters
Abby Wolf packs a ton of talent into her 5-foot, 3-inch frame. Wolf, a three-sport senior athlete at Brentwood, didn’t miss a beat whether in the gym for basketball or volleyball, or on the softball diamond. Wolf was “Miss Consistent” for the Spartans in all three sports, reeling nine varsity...
Big 33 Football Classic an ‘amazing experience’ for Thomas Jefferson’s Serapiglia
Perhaps it was only fitting that a four-year starter in the Thomas Jefferson football program capped his high school career at the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic. Tulsa commit Dom Serapiglia participated in the all-star event May 27, competing for Pennsylvania against a team of Maryland all-stars. The Pennsylvania all-stars...
Czerwien, Wolf honored by Brentwood boosters
Brentwood seniors Nick Czerwien and Abby Wolf won’t soon forget the 63rd annual Brentwood High Athletic Boosters all-sports banquet. Czerwien and Wolf landed top honors at the event held May 28 at Brentwood High School. Czerwien received the Mark Reider Award, which is presented to the top male senior athlete...
Gateway boys lacrosse team lives up to motto
“Making History” was established early as the Gateway boys lacrosse team’s motto. “And they did just that,” first-year coach Dan Alexander said. Among the Gators’ accomplishments this season en route to a 9-6 record: • Defeated Greensburg Central Catholic and Indiana for the first time in program history; • Received...
Baldwin’s O’Malley twins combine for 6 medals at WPIAL championships
The O’Malley twins will be long-remembered in Baldwin track and field lore. Seniors Brendan and Bailey O’Malley reeled in six medals between them at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships May 16 at Slippery Rock. Brendan proved to be unstoppable in his specialties, taking first place in the...
Gateway softball falls short in Class 5A opening round
Gateway won four of its final five regular-season games to clinch a WPIAL softball playoff berth for the second year in a row. The Gators, seeded No. 12, were hoping to carry that momentum into their first-round Class 5A playoff game May 16 against No. 5 Trinity. The contest was...
Versatile Mackenzie Zang helps lift TJ softball into playoffs
Her name might be last on the alphabet chart, but her hitting style ranks first on her team. Junior utility player Mackenzie Zang led the Thomas Jefferson softball team in hitting during the regular season with a .463 batting average. She finished with a team-high 25 hits in 54 at-bats,...
South Hills notebook: Thomas Jefferson baseball excels under 1st-year coach
Notebook items from around the South Hills: • Thomas Jefferson’s baseball team won four consecutive games down the home stretch to finish in a tie for first place with Ringgold in Section 3-4A. Under the guidance of first-year coach Tim Vickers, the Jaguars ended the regular season with an 11-3...
Griener leads Brentwood to 5th straight WPIAL playoff berth
Brandon Griener could be considered the “big man on campus” if he played a different position on the Brentwood baseball team. Instead, Griener, a senior pitcher/catcher, is known more as the “big man behind the plate” for the Spartans. The three-year starter led Brentwood to a fifth consecutive WPIAL playoff...
Sopata a consistent force for Baldwin baseball
Andy Sopata proved to be Mr. Consistent for the Baldwin baseball program. After hitting .393 last season, the senior center fielder posted a .396 batting average this spring. Sopata led the Highlanders in batting average, at-bats (53), runs (17), hits (21), doubles (six), stolen bases (13), on-base percentage (.459) and...
Baldwin softball keeps streak of section titles alive
Their drive for five came to fruition on the final day of the regular season. For the fifth consecutive year, Baldwin’s softball team has won or shared a section championship. This year, it took a tense 1-0 win at Bethel Park for the Highlanders to climb into a tie for...
Gateway track expects strong WPIAL meet
Gateway should be well-represented at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships May 16 at Slippery Rock. For the girls, senior Mary Kromka qualified in both hurdles events, and seniors Shelly Jones and Sarah Corrie advanced in the shot put. Jones was hoping to qualify in the discus, and...
Brendan O’Malley earns 4 medals in final Baldwin Invitational
Brendan O’Malley’s focus at the 46th annual Baldwin Invitational on May 3 centered around achieving a memorable performance. Mission accomplished. Not only was it unforgettable for the Baldwin senior, it was spectacular. O’Malley earned four medals, taking first in the 400-meter dash (49.61 seconds) and long jump (23 feet, 6...
Norwin girls cruise to another county track title
The Norwin tracksters — particularly the girls team — shifted into cruise control April 27 at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships. The Norwin girls dominated at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, more than doubling their closest competitors in team points and repeating as county champions. The Knights racked up 130...
Franklin Regional’s Todero leaps into spotlight at WCCA meet
Franklin Regional’s Rayna Todero leaped into the spotlight at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association outdoor championships. The Panthers sophomore took first place in the girls triple jump at the invitational held April 27 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, hitting a mark of 37 feet, 3 inches. Todero has proven that...
Thomas Jefferson’s Maheshwari looks forward to PIAA singles tournament
Yash Maheshwari, a talented junior athlete at Thomas Jefferson, repeated as a section champion and WPIAL finalist in boys tennis this season. “Yash is one of the top players in WPIAL Class AA and has qualified for state singles for the second time,” said Chuck Correll, TJ’s veteran coach. “Yash...
Brentwood track teams turn focus toward big-meet success
The Brentwood girls track and field team wrapped up its section season with a 6-2 record. “We are in the midst of a really solid season,” said coach Mike Cramer prior to the WPIAL playoffs. Seniors Natalie Murrio, Rebecca Dirling and Quintasia Streeter and junior Mandy Race have led the...
Gateway searches for consistency during WPIAL playoff push
It’s been a case of feast or near-famine for the Gateway softball team. In their six wins, the Gators scored an average of 14 runs per outing. In the five losses, Gateway averaged 2.4 runs per game. “We have been working every day on hitting,” said Scott Lewis, the Gators’...
Thomas Jefferson softball recovers from mini-skid to win 3 straight
Thomas Jefferson’s softball team experienced a blip on their midseason radar, losing two games in section play. But the Jaguars recovered and logged a 9-2 overall record into the second half of their Section 2-4A schedule. A WPIAL finalist and PIAA semifinalist last season, Thomas Jefferson opened the year with...
Thomas Jefferson baseball heads into second half of section play on roll
Thomas Jefferson ended the first half of its section schedule as one of the hottest baseball teams in the WPIAL. The Jaguars won six of seven games in early April, including a 1-0 Section 3-4A victory April 18 at home against rival Belle Vernon. Junior hurler Dylan Mallozzi was masterful...
Columbus’ scoring helps Norwin girls lacrosse to impressive start
Maura Columbus is a steady goal-scorer for the Norwin girls lacrosse team. Through nine games, the senior midfielder had accounted for a team-high 23 goals, which included a seven-goal outburst April 18 in a 14-13 win in overtime against Indiana. Columbus scored five goals against Baldwin and Hempfield and four...
