Softball
MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Softball – 04/08/2014
April 8, 2014
Each week during the regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten softball teams in the WPIAL in all four classifications every Tuesday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2014 WPIAL Softball Playoffs sponsored by Carlow University, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL Class AAAA: 1) Canon-McMillan Big Macs (4-0) (Last Week #1) 2) Latrobe Wildcats (4-0) (Last Week #5) 3) Seneca Valley Raiders (3-0) (Last Week Unranked) 4) North Allegheny Tigers (6-1) (Last Week #2)
Hometown Softball Program Salute – CHARTIERS-HOUSTON BUCCANEERS
April 7, 2014
Chartiers-Houston had another successful campaign last season in their first year of AA competition, finishing 19-2 and making it to the WPIAL Semifinals. However, with over half of last year's starters are not in the lineup this season as a young Buccaneers team looks to improve and learn quickly as they compete for a playoff spot in a competitive Class AA Section 2.
Hometown Softball Program Salute – ELIZABETH FORWARD WARRIORS
Although the Elizabeth Forward softball team is returning five starters, four of which are seniors, they are rebuilding in the circle with sophomore pitcher, Sarah Turek and her battery mate of freshman catcher Jessica Cartia. The Lady Warriors feel they will compete for the Class AAA Section 4 championship and look for another run at a WPIAL Championship in 2014. Returning EF starters are: Seniors - McKenna Kern moving from first base to second base Jen Keefer returning to center field Courtney Hrabosky returning to right field Ashley Baker moving from third base to left field And returning Junior shortstop - Caitlyn Arico.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/06/2014
April 6, 2014
With the hope for a much drier week, we have plenty of diamond action scheduled in this first full week of April this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have section play in WPIAL baseball, WPIAL softball, WPIAL boys volleyball and WPIAL boys lacrosse along with college baseball and women's lacrosse featuring Slippery Rock University, plus we have exclusive coverage of the 2014 WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Finals and another edition of The WPIAL Baseball Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 7th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Fox Chapel vs North Allegheny at 4:00pm on the North Allegheny Sports Network at MSAsports.netHometown Softball Broadcast Recap For Baldwin on 4/1/14
April 2, 2014
On a gorgeous, breezy day in the South Hills, the Brashear Bulls faced the Baldwin Highlanders on a dry, sunny softball field. Both teams are very young and are in a tight Section 4 AAAA division. However, consistent pitching and excellent offense made it look like an easy win for Baldwin.
Hometown Softball Program Salute – BALDWIN HIGHLANDERS
March 31, 2014
With one more year of experience, the young Baldwin Softball team looks to turn up in 2014. Lead by senior captain Melissa Paterni, Baldwin will compete and look for another run at the WPIAL championship.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/30/2014
March 30, 2014
As the mercury rises, we say so long to March and welcome in April this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the debut of WPIAL baseball along with WPIAL softball, WPIAL boys volleyball, WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse and college baseball featuring Slippery Rock University, plus we have the debut of the WPIAL Baseball Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 31st: WPIAL High School Baseball - Riverside vs Beaver at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Seton-LaSalle vs South Side at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - West Mifflin vs Belle Vernon at 5:00pm on MSAsports.netHometown Softball Broadcast Recap For South Side on 3/28/14
March 29, 2014
On a blustery day in Hookstown, the first Hometown Softball game of the 2014 season was played between the South Side Rams, and the Shenago Wildcats. Despite pre game rain, a damp field and gusting winds the visiting Wildcats win in come from behind fashion 5-3. These two teams are rivals in section 4 single A, and are expected to fight for the league title. As expected it was a battle decided by good pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting. Unfortunately for the Rams it was Shenango who did all three to perfection to pull out the victory.Scholastic Notebook – 03/28/2014
March 28, 2014
Baseball and softball teams were able to start playing games last week. But it’s never too early to look ahead – and there are two teams that have a chance to make history come late May. In baseball, Seneca Valley has been to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship game three years in a row, winning twice and losing last year. The Raiders could become the first WPIAL team in at least 70 years to make a championship game four years in a row. A check of WPIAL final game scores that go back to 1954, shows that no team has played in a championship game four consecutive years. Some teams have made it three years in a row. North Allegheny made it four of five years from 1990-94. Shaler made it four of five years from 1980-84.2014 WPIAL SOFTBALL PREVIEW
March 24, 2014
With a new season upon us and WPIAL section play scheduled to start for some on Monday, March 24th, MSA Sports takes a look at some of the softball players and the teams to watch for this 2014 campaign. Will anybody knock Canon-McMillan off their district and state perch in Quad A? Will Greensburg-Salem, Riverside and Neshannock be able to repeat as WPIAL champs this spring after winning district gold a year ago? Those are some of the questions that will be answered over the next six weeks. MSA Sports will have weekly rankings every Tuesday during the regular season, plus broadcasts and updated standings daily leading up to our exclusive coverage of the WPIAL Softball Playoffs only here on the MSA Sports Network.2014-2015 WPIAL Springs Sports Alignment
The WPIAL Board of Control has approved the final seasonal alignment starting next season as the district spring sports sectional alignment has been approved. The new alignment kicks into affect next spring for WPIAL Baseball, Softball, Boys Volley, Boys Tennis, Boys Track & Field and Girls Track & Field. Click on the respective link below to see the new set up for each section and classification starting in the Spring of 2015. WPIAL Baseball: http://www.wpial.org/stuff/14-15/bse/14-15%20bse%20align%20o2.pdfThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/23/2014
March 23, 2014
With winter sports and a busy week of state championships behind us, the spotlight shines on the change of seasons and spring sports as we wind down the month of March this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the debut of WPIAL softball, boys volleyball, girls lacrosse and college baseball featuring Slippery Rock University, plus the final edition of the WPIAL Roundball Report ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 24th: No Broadcasts Tuesday, March 25th: WPIAL Boys High School Volleyball - Shaler vs North Allegheny at 7:00pm on the North Allegheny Sports Network at MSAsports.net2013 WPIAL SOFTBALL REVIEW
March 20, 2014
In 2013, hitting and offense was the theme during the regular season was good old fashioned pitching seemed to be the difference in tasting playoff success. In the end, a pair of first time champions were crowned, a defending champ made it two in a row in the district and went on to win state gold and one of the top programs captured a sixth WPIAL crown. Here is a look back at the final standings and results from the 2013 WPIAL and PIAA softball playoffs on the brink of the start of the 2014 campaign. FINAL 2013 WPIAL STANDINGS:MSA Sports Countdown of Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2013 – #25 to #1
January 3, 2014
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. It's time to look back at another high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2013. Here is our entire countdown fr0m #25 through #1. #25 - Playoff Drought Ends In a year when the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a long Major League Baseball playoff drought, a long WPIAL football playoff drought also came to an end when in Week 9, the Avella Eagles clinched a WPIAL playoffs berth with a 55-14 thrashing of Bentworth to clinch fourth place in the Class A Tri-County South Conference.2013 WPIAL Team Champions on Parade
January 1, 2014
What better way to celebrate championships and the start of a new year then with a parade. It has been another great year in high school sports. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during 2013. As we get ready for another great scholastic year in 2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past year. Football: Class AAAA - Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings Class AAA - West Allegheny Indians Class AA - South Fayette Lions Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans PIAA Class AA - South Fayette Lions PIAA Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic TrojansMSA Sports Countdown of Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2013 – 12/31/13
December 31, 2013
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. It's time to look back at another high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2013. We continue our countdown with the five stories that ended up #10 through #6. #10 - Sto-Rox Cuts Spring Sports School district budget cuts led to Sto-Rox High School dropping its baseball and softball programs in late June. While the district is looking for a co-op with another school district for both programs, returning baseball and softball players can either move to another district, attend a private school or just not play this upcoming spring.MSA Sports Countdown of Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2013 – 12/30/13
December 30, 2013
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. It's time to look back at another high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2013. We continue our countdown with the five stories that ended up #15 through #11. #15 - Perfect Champions It was a rare Perfect Saturday at Heinz Field on November 23rd as all four WPIAL football champions crowned did so with no losses. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, West Allegheny, South Fayette and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic were all 13-0 as they were presented with the golden football on a snowy day on the North Shore, but both the Lions and Trojans were not satisfied with just a district title, they wanted to stake their claim to state gold as well.2012-2013 WPIAL Champions on Parade
July 16, 2013
We celebrated America's Birthday earlier this month with various parades and fireworks. You'll forgive us if we celebrate the 2012-2013 school year with just a parade and no pyrotechnics. It was been another great high school sports year in District 7 of the PIAA. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2013-2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - West Allegheny IndianaClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsBudget Concerns Lead to Sto-Rox Diamond Cuts
July 1, 2013
School district budget cuts have led to Sto-Rox High School dropping its baseball and softball programs for the upcoming school year. While the district is looking for a co-op with another school district for both programs, returning baseball and softball players can either move to another district, attend a private school or just not play next spring.Officials said there was talk about eliminating the entire athletic department before a proposal to just drop the two spring sports was passed on an 8-1 vote by the school board. Also part of the district wide cuts were eight teaching jobs and the school librarian.
