WPIAL softball championships headed to Peterswood Park for 2019

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | 6:47 PM

The WPIAL softball championships are headed to Peterswood Park in Peters Township next month.

The WPIAL planned to return to Cal (Pa.), but Lilley Field remains under renovation and unavailable. So the WPIAL board voted Wednesday to pick Peterswood over bids from Pitt, Seton Hill and Upper St. Clair’s Boyce Mayview Park.

The games are May 29-30.

The WPIAL used Seton Hill last season, and the board liked the venue but had concerns about the view for fans watching the championship. The board also expressed concerns about parking at Pitt on two weekday afternoons.

The decision is for one season.

Scholar-athlete winners

The WPIAL announced the 20 winners of its annual scholar-athlete scholarship contest. Each receives $1,000 and will be honored at a banquet May 13 at the DoubleTree in Green Tree.

The 10 girls winners are Blackhawk’s Mady Aulbach, Freeport’s Allison DeJidas, Fox Chapel’s Marisa Hardiman, West Greene’s Madison Lampe, Shady Side Academy’s Mary Lau, Hampton’s Anastasia Russ, Butler’s Elizabeth Simms, Beaver County Christian’s Margaret Townsend, South Fayette’s Helina Vanbibber and Ringgold’s Anna Vogt.

Winning the boys scholarships were Carmichaels’ Matthew Barrish, Greensburg Salem’s Cameron Binda, Indiana’s Joseph Bujdos, Derry’s Dominic Deluca, Hopewell’s Connor Forrest, Shady Side Academy’s Nicholas Lauer, Waynsburg’s Daniel Layton, Gateway’s Brendan Mojocha, Seneca Valley’s Jake Stebbins and Springdale’s Mike Zolnierczyk.

WPIAL board reorganizes

The WPIAL board voted to keep its officers in place for another year: Chartiers Valley assistant superintendent Scott Seltzer remains president, North Hills superintendent Patrick Mannarino is vice president and Hopewell principal Mike Allison is treasurer.

The WPIAL announced election results at Wednesday’s annual meeting. Among the 10 elected board seats, the only change was the addition of Seneca Valley athletic director Heather Lewis. Mars athletic director/football coach Scott Heinhauer didn’t win re-election.

WPIAL member schools vote to decide who is on the board.

Sinning stepping down

Bill Sinning has overseen WPIAL officials since 2006, but the retired basketball referee will leave that task to someone else next year.

Sinning informed the PIAA he won’t seek an eighth term as the Male Officials Representative for District 7. His current two-year term ends June 30, 2020. Sinning assigns and reviews officials for all boys sports in the WPIAL. The position makes him a member of the WPIAL board of directors and the PIAA officials council.

The PIAA will hold an election later this year to find Sinning’s replacement. Officials from District 7 chapters will vote for Sinning’s successor.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.