Softball
2013 MSA Sports Hometown Softball Program Salute – Bethel Park Black Hawks
April 3, 2013
This is the first year for Bethel Park as part of the MSA Sports Hometown Softball Program. The Black Hawks finished in fourth place in Class AAAA Section 4 last year with a 4-6 record. They finished 10-10 overall. While Bethel Park hasn't made the playoffs since 2009, the 10 wins last season was a big step in the right direction after the Black Hawks won a combined 11 games overall in 2011 and 2010.Bethel Park athletic director Amy Scheuneman provides some information on the 2013 Bethel Park Black Hawks.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/01/2013
April 1, 2013
We welcome the start of April in the hopes that warm weather is not far down the road as the spring sports gain some momentum this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We HOPE to have the start of our WPIAL high school and college baseball and softball coverage along with high school and women's college lacrosse, plus WPIAL boys volleyball action as well this week here at MSAsports.netMonday, April 1st:Men's College Baseball - West Liberty vs Slippery Rock in Game One of a Doubleheader at 1:00pm on MSA-SRU at MSAsports.netMen's College Baseball - West Liberty vs Slippery Rock in Game Two of a Doubleheader at 3:30pm on MSA-SRU at MSAsports.net Tuesday, April 2nd:WPIAL Softball – 2013 Softball PREVIEW
March 30, 2013
Canon-McMillan in Class AAAA, Montour in Class AAA and Deer Lakes in Class AA are all ready to defend their WPIAL softball crowns. One thing we know even before section play begins is there will be a new champion crowned in Class A. Chartiers-Houston, winners of back-to-back Single-A crowns and five of the last eight titles, have moved up to Class AA for the next two years.Here is a look at the new section alignment, players to watch in each class and the pre-season MSA Sports Top Ten in each classification.2013 WPIAL SOFTBALL RE-ALIGNMENT:WPIAL Softball – 2012 Softball REVIEW
In 2012, one softball team successfully repeated as WPIAL champions while another won their second title in three years. The other two that sat atop the district softball hill a year ago celebrated their first ever WPIAL golden crowns. The in the PIAA playoffs, a team that didn't even qualify for the WPIAL finals ended up as the lone District 7 team to win a state softball crown. Before we look ahead to the 2013 campaign, here is a look back at the 2012 WPIAL Softball season.2012 WPIAL FINAL STANDINGS:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/25/2013
March 25, 2013
We officially kick into the spring high school and college sports season with snow in this final week of March this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We HOPE to have the start of our WPIAL high school softball coverage along with women's college lacrosse featuring Slippery Rock University, plus it's the season finale of the WPIAL Roundball Report this week here at MSAsports.netMonday, March 25th: WPIAL High School Softball - Carmichaels vs West Greene at 4:30pm on the Greene County Sports Network at MSAsports.net {PPD}2011-2012 WPIAL and PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS on PARADE
July 6, 2012
What better way to celebrate America's Birthday and the end of another school year than with a parade. It has been another great high school sports year. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the 2011-2012 school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2012-2013, we look back at all the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - Montour SpartansClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsCity League - University Prep PanthersPIAA Class A - Clairton BearsNeshannock, CB South, Big Spring & Fannett-Metal Win 2012 PIAA Softball Crowns
June 19, 2012
They didn't win a district title, but they celebrated a state softball championship. The Neshannock Lancers lost one game all year, to eventual champion Deer Lakes in the WPIAL Semifinals. They needed a consolation game victory to even make the PIAA softball playoffs. Now they are wearing golden state crowns after beating Warrior Run in 8 innings. Here are ALL the final scores from the 2012 PIAA Softball Playoffs, including the four state softball championship games at Penn State University.2012 PIAA CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:Central Bucks South Titans 1 - Bishop Shanahan Eagles 0 in 9 InningsPIAA CLASS AAAA Semifinals:
2012 MSA SPORTS DIAMOND DOLLS SOFTBALL ALL-STARS
June 15, 2012
Since the pitching rubber for girls softball was moved back a few feet last season, pitchers don’t dominate to the same extent in this sport. But pitchers still dominate this year’s MSA Sports Diamond Dolls all-star team. The team is made up of the top 10 players in the WPIAL, regardless of position. It is picked by the MSA Sports staff. This year’s all-star team is made up of eight pitchers. Two of the eight pitchers won WPIAL championships. Here is a look at this 2012 Diamond Dolls. MSA SPORTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KAITLYN KUTCHMAN Montour P Sr.
Neshannock Wins First Ever PIAA Class AA Softball Gold
It took a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Neshannock Lancers to their first PIAA softball championship with a 4-3 victory over the Warrior Run Defenders at Beard Field on Friday afternoon.PIAA Softball Class A, Class AAAA and Class AAA Finals Recaps
The PIAA softball championships are took place Friday at Nittany Lion Softball Park on the campus of Penn State University. Here are recaps from the Class A, Class AAAA and Class AAA state softball finals.PIAA CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP: Fannett-Metal Tigers 1 - Southern Columbia Tigers 0PIAA Class AA Softball Title Game Preview
June 14, 2012
Just like baseball, it is slim pickings for the WPIAL in PIAA championship play. Only one team is taking the trip to Penn State, the Neshannock Lancers will make their first venture ever for championship gold. Here is a preview of that game, all the action can be heard right here on the MSA Sports Network.Neshannock Lancers (23-1) vs. Warrior Run Defenders (24-2) Friday at 3PM on the MSA Sports Network A match up of first timers in the state championship game, neither team has played for a PIAA title.Neshannock Head Coach: Tracy KimmelPIAA Softball Semifinals Recaps for Monday
June 11, 2012
It was a rough day for WPIAL softball champions on Monday, fortunately for Neshannock fans, the Lancers did not win a district title this spring. Canon-McMillan, Montour and Chartiers-Houston all lost, however Neshannock will carry the WPIAL banner to Penn State as the Lancers play for a Class AA state softball title on Friday. Here are recaps from all four Western Finals in the PIAA Softball Playoffs on Monday afternoon.A special thanks to Mark Uriah, Josh Rowntree, Mike Azadian and Bob Gregg for their help on these recaps.PIAA CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 01/11/2012
As the state high school baseball and softball postseason winds down, so does the 2011-2012 high school sports season this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have coverage of the Semifinals and select Championship Games from both the PIAA baseball and softball state playoffs along with pro baseball featuring the Class AA Eastern League's Altoona Curve and the Frontier League's Washington Wild Things, plus all of the news from the auto racing world with Rappin on Racin ALL here at MSAsports.netMonday, June 11th:TALK SHOW - Rappin on Racin at 6:00pm on MSAsports.netPIAA High School Baseball Playoffs: Class AAA Semifinals - West York vs Blackhawk at 3:00pm on MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 06/11/2012
Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia must decide whether or not to bring back standout pitcher Brendan McKay on only three days rest for the PIAA semifinals Monday. But Blackhawk’s opponent also has an ace who pitched a complete-game Thursday. Blackhawk (22-2) will meet West York (21-4) in a Class AAA Semifinal 3 p.m. Monday at Hollidaysburg. West York features Kaden Hepler, who will be pitching Division I college baseball next year at Winthrop. Hepler has been superb this season with a 12-0 record. He has a 0.54 ERA and has struck out 116 in 78 1/3 innings. He has allowed only 46 hits.PIAA Softball Quarterfinals Recaps for Thursday and Friday
June 8, 2012
It was a mixed bag for the six WPIAL softball teams on Thursday in the PIAA Quarterfinals. Three teams were victorious, including two district champions, one saw their season come to an end, one was in the lead when the game was suspended and another didn't even see a first pitch. Here are recaps from the PIAA Quarterfinals on Thursday involving those six WPIAL teams.Thanks to Brandon Showers and Bob Gregg for their help on these recaps.PIAA CLASS AAAA Quarterfinals:PIAA Softball First Round Recaps for Tuesday, June 5th
June 6, 2012
It was a rough day Monday for PIAA baseball and softball opening round contests as Mother Nature wiped out most of the action with games delayed until Tuesday. However, the west had a clean slate on Monday...with the exception of two softball games played at Penn State University. Rain suspended one game and postponed the other, forcing two for Tuesday in Happy Valley. Here is a recap of both of those First Round contests.Thanks to Todd Brown for his help on these recaps.PIAA CLASS AA First Round:PIAA Softball First Round Recaps for Monday, June 4th
June 4, 2012
Hatboro-Horsham, Philipsburg-Osceola and Minersville were joined in the state softball winners circle last year by one WPIAL team, the Valley Vikings in Class AAA. Valley did not qualify for the postseason this year, but the 2012 WPIAL champs are all off an running in the 2012 version of the state softball tournament. Here are recaps from the First Round of the 2012 PIAA Softball Playoffs from Monday, June 4th.Thanks to Bob Gregg, Josh Rowntree and Jason Tennant for their help on these recaps.PIAA CLASS AAAA First Round:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 06/04/2012
With the district high school baseball and softball postseason behind us, the focus switches to the diamond state playoffs starting this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have coverage of the First Round and the Quarterfinals from both the PIAA baseball and softball state playoffs along with pro baseball featuring the Class AA Eastern League's Altoona Curve and the Frontier League's Washington Wild Things, women's pro football featuring the Pittsburgh Passion and mens semi-pro football featuring the Tri-State Steel Storm, plus all of the news from the auto racing world with Rappin on Racin ALL here at MSAsports.netMonday, June 4th:Scholastic Notebook – 06/01/2012
June 1, 2012
After Blackhawk’s Brendan McKay pitched a shutout in the WPIAL Class AAA championship Thursday, Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia said there is no stage too big for McKay. But as sophomores go, McKay has the entire stage to himself. The way McKay has pitched this season brings about a question. Has there ever been a sophomore pitcher in the WPIAL who has enjoyed this much success in one of the largest classifications? McKay, a sophomore left-hander, has been tremendous for a pitcher in any year, let alone one in his sophomore season. His statistics go beyond impressive.
