Norwin notebook: Softball team secures playoff bid

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Norwin softball team is headed to the WPIAL 6A playoffs again.

The Knights (8-10) finished 8-8 in section and had one nonsection game left, at Class 5A No. 1 Penn-Trafford on May 8, before the postseason.

Norwin picked up late-season wins over Mt. Lebanon and North Hills after snapping a four-game losing streak. The Knights were also awarded two forfeits from Woodland Hills, which didn’t have enough players to finish the season.

“I think we’re building (towards the playoffs),” Norwin coach Brian Mesich said. “We have to hit better. I think when we play our A game, we can play with the stronger teams.”

Semifinal success

The Norwin girls track and field team made quick work of its opponents in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals to continue an impressive run of success.

The Knights advanced to the finals for the eighth straight time since 2017. There was no season in 2020.

Norwin beat Pine-Richland, 101-49; Plum, 110-40; and Laurel Highlands, 134-10.

“Our performances have been extremely strong, and our team mentality is the strongest this year than past years,” junior distance runner Annie Czajkowski said. “No one really speaks about winning individually, but we all talk about how badly we want to win together as a team. I think that sets us apart. We always have been looked at as a stronger team but never looked at as the strongest. This year is different because we know how capable we are of winning the WPIAL, both girls and boys together.”

The boys team reached the finals with one-sided semifinal wins over Plum (110-40) and Ringgold (126-24).

Knights shine

Despite a lengthy weather delay, the Norwin girls put on a show at the Baldwin Invitational.

A trio of sophomores shined in the 1,600-meter run. Anna Dansak took first, Addison Farrah was second, and Jillian Ryba was sixth.

Senior Anna Rakvic placed fourth in the 3,200.

Junior Alexandra Oestreich was sixth in the triple jump. Senior Alexis Heller was second in the javelin.

Freshman Benjamin McBride won the boys’ 1,600 in a time of 4 minutes, 28.68 seconds. Freshman Alexander Barrett was fourth.

Sophomore Alex Irwin placed second in the pole vault, while Callum Turner took second in the discus.

Nicolas recommits

Norwin senior track standout Eliezer Nicolas has found a new college destination after he decommitted from Division I Saint Francis, which announced plans to drop to NCAA Division III.

He was one of the first Red Flash recruits to pull the plug, entering the transfer portal on the same day the news broke.

Nicolas committed to the University of Tampa of the Division II Sunshine State Conference.

College scene

Updates on Norwin athletes playing in college:

Baseball

Mercyhurst: Senior Jake Bazala was named a Northeast Conference Prime Performer after an impressive outing. He pitched all nine innings — 123 pitches — and struck out six in a 3-2 win over Wagner. Bazala was 5-3 with a 4.80 ERA, 63 Ks and 17 walks in 60 innings.

Senior Jayden Walker scored two runs and drove in another, while senior Eric Chorba had a hit and Bazala struck out seven and scattered six hits in seven innings of a 9-5 win over Norfolk State.

Pitt: Junior Jake Kendro ripped an RBI single for his ninth RBI of the season, as the Panthers rolled past Akron, 11-0.

Pitt-Johnstown: Redshirt junior Justin Turcovski blasted a two-run home run in a 7-6 win over Cal (Pa.).

Saint Vincent: Sophomore Jacob Auld hit a pair of home runs as the Bearcats clinched a berth into the PAC playoffs with a 6-3 win over Grove City.

Men’s track & field

Washington & Jefferson: Senior Hayden O’Brien finished fourth in the triple jump at the PAC Championships with a mark of 12.76 meters.

Women’s track & field

Saint Francis: Freshman Rosemary Gaydos placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:18.43 at the NEC Championships.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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