High school notebook: Franklin Regional volleyball digs helping cancer research

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 29, 2018 | 8:30 PM

Thursday night’s girls volleyball match at Franklin Regional will carry playoff implications in Section 1-AAA. But there will be more at stake.

The Panthers will make it an event as they host their 10th annual Dig Pink night to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

The event raised more than $1,600 last year for the Side Out Foundation.

Franklin Regional plays Greensburg Salem at 7:30 p.m.

The volleyball boosters will raffle off Steelers tickets and gift baskets, and will sell Dig Pink T-shirts, as well as pink-colored concession items. Fans are asked to wear pink.

Runnin’ Rams

Ligonier Valley is no stranger to large point totals and big plays in football, but the Rams (6-0) might have even impressed themselves with their offensive output Friday night. Ligonier Valley, the No. 2 team in the state in Class 2A, thumped Purchase Line, 67-20, and had to make some more room in the school record books.

Senior quarterback John Caldwell threw for 402 yards and seven touchdowns — both records — and senior wide receiver Aaron Tutino caught 12 receptions for 285 yards — two more records — and five touchdowns.

Tutino added to his memorable night by being named homecoming king.

“It was a good night … a lot of fun,” Tutino said. “We don’t talk about records a lot but when it’s brought to your attention by your coaches, they want you to break them, it feels a lot better.”

Rizzo selected

Norwin senior football player Gianni Rizzo was invited to play in the Blue-Grey All American Bowl on Jan. 14 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Rizzo has been a standout on both sides of the ball for the Knights, as a receiver and rusher, and as a linebacker, which he plans to play at Youngstown State.

Soccer guys

A couple of local golfers who played in the WPIAL postseason have something in common. Mt. Pleasant’s Sam Napper and Jake Caldwell of Belle Vernon also play for their schools’ respective soccer teams.

Big nonconference game

It is rare for a WPIAL football nonconference game, especially one in Week 6, to come with so much hype. But Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Jeannette has all the bells and whistles of a Week 9 conference game.

Jeannette (6-0) is No. 1 and OLSH (6-0) No. 4 in Class A.

“It’s a big matchup and another thing that’s weird about it is that we’ve never played them,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said.

Monessen improved

Monessen football had a rare down season a year ago, finishing 3-8 despite making a 16-team WPIAL Class A playoff field that will be pared down to eight this season. But the Greyhounds look primed to make the top eight this time — on full merit — as they already have passed that win total.

Fifth-ranked Monessen is 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the Tri-County South. The team had missed the playoffs three straight years before qualifying last year and is 13-26 the last four years. The Greyhounds beat Class A preseason No. 5 California, 30-20, in their opener, and followed with wins over Springdale and Jefferson-Morgan. They lost to first-place West Greene, 24-6.

Second-year coach Mike Blainefield is a Monessen alum. He was a four-year starter for the Greyhounds before graduating in 2004 and playing at Georgetown.

Hempfield wins tourney

It’s not even October, but the Hempfield hockey team is rearing to start the PIHL season.

The Spartans won the preseason Greensburg Salem tournament last week, securing the title with a dramatic comeback victory over West Allegheny in the championship at Kirk Nevin Arena.

Hempfield trailed 5-0 with about seven minutes to play but exploded for six goals to pull out a 6-5 victory in overtime. Daniel Pronin, Matt Traczynski and Jared Gerger each scored two goals. Gerger had the winner, only hours after he played in a WPIAL golf tournament at Hannastown Golf Club.

Two down, two to go

Of the four senior standouts pictured on the cover of the Tribune-Review Westmoreland “Gameplan” preview tabloid, two have committed to Division I college programs.

Rizzo picked Youngstown State in early August and Latrobe lineman Trent Holler committed last week to East Carolina. That leaves Norwin safety Jayvon Thrift and Jeannette receiver/defensive back Marcus Barnes, both of whom remain on the market.

Thrift has offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Indiana, Youngstown State and others. Barnes’ suitors include Holy Cross, all three military academies, Robert Morris, St. Francis (Pa.), and others. Neither have indicated plans to commit soon. Thrift said he has not crossed any schools off his list yet, while Barnes said he will likely wait until after the season to decide.

Hoops tourney set

Basketball season is a long way off but the teams and schedule are set for the annual Westmoreland Sports Shootout at Seton Hill. Organizer Allen Deep announced the matchups for Jan. 26, calling is the “best possible field.”

There are six games, the first two girls matchups and the last four featuring boys teams. The schedule has Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Greensburg Salem (girls), 2 p.m.; Norwin vs. Hempfield (girls), 3:30; Serra Catholic vs. Penn Hills (boys), 5; Greensburg Salem vs. Greensburg C.C. (boys), 6:30; and Jeannette vs. Penn-Trafford (boys), 8.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.