Sports

North Catholic’s Dani Short scores over Central Valley’ Kaelyn Underwood during the 4A girls WPIAL Championship at Petersen Events Center.

North Catholic girls hope defense shines against Bethlehem Catholic

March 22, 2019

North Catholic’s girls basketball team is known for its offensive production — and rightfully so.

Bentworth promotes assistant Knabb to coach football team

Bentworth promoted assistant John “J.J.” Knabb to head football coach, said athletic director Brian Malecki.

Moon’s Jioni Smith steals the ball from Mars’ Michael Carmody during their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Monday, Mar. 18, 2019, at New Castle High School.

PIAA Class 5A boys championship breakdown: Moon vs. Archbishop Wood

PIAA Class 5A boys basketball championship

Peters Twp.’s Makenna Marisa drives to the basket past Bethel Park’s Emma Dzieggowski and Lauren Mullen during their game Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at Bethel Park High School.

PIAA Class 6A girls championship breakdown: Peters Township vs. Garnet Valley

PIAA Class 6A girls basketball championship

Moon coach Adam Kaufman fist bumps Donovan Johnson as time winds down in their PIAA Class 5A semifinal victory over Mars Monday, Mar. 18, 2019, at New Castle High School.

WPIAL title escaped Moon’s grasp, but PIAA championship now within reach

Moon faced a crossroads after the WPIAL finals, a moment when its basketball season could have gone many different directions.

Shaler’s Meghan Lacey competes during practice March 20, 2019 at Shaler.

Shaler Area softball makes move to Class 5A

March 21, 2019

Tom Sorce didn’t want any hopeful Shaler softball players doomed by the pressure of a 72-hour performance.

Shaler Area notes: Unified bocce team competes at state competition

The Shaler unified bocce team wrapped up its season last Wednesday at the state championships in Hershey.

Thomas Jefferson’s Max Shaw beats Hampton’s Justin Hart 3-2 in the 195lbs bout during the ACWT Saturday Jan. 19, 2019 at Fox Chapel Area High School.

Injuries slow Hart’s bid for state championship

Hampton wrestling coach Chris Hart preaches it: You always can take more from a loss from a win.

Hampton pitcher Tyler Bischke prepares for the 2019 season March 18, 2019.

Hampton baseball to rely on small, talented senior class

When first-year coach Kellen Wheeler sat down his five baseball seniors after he accepted the job last winter, he had a message: They’re going to play, and they’re all going to lead.

Chartiers Valley’s Megan McConnell fights for the ball with Penn Hills’ Ariana Dunson during semifinal WPIAL action Feb. 26 at Fox Chapel Area School.

Talented senior class helped guide Penn Hills girls basketball to PIAA tournament

After an early exit in the WPIAL playoffs last season, the Penn Hills girls basketball program had its sights on a championship run with a talented, veteran team.

Members of the 2018-19 Penn Hills girls bowling team include, from left, coach Mark Diehm, Lucy Urbansky, Tayler Parco, Ashley Hepler, Makayla Delo, Autumn Blair, Audrey Grainy, Irlynn Richardson and coach Nancy Lindsay.

Penn Hills girls bowlers build off state tournament appearance

It’s been five years since the Penn Hills girls bowling team qualified for the state team championships.

North Allegheny’s boys swim team celebrates after winnning a third straight state championship March 16, 2019, at Bucknell.

North Allegheny swim team revels in PIAA 3-peat

The North Allegheny boys swimming team got the three-peat at the PIAA Class AAA championship meet March 15-16 at Bucknell with some new faces.

High school scores, schedules for March 21, 2019

High Schools

Mars coach Dana Petruska and Deer Lakes coach Dave Petruska share a laugh during practice of the annual Cager Classic March 21, 2019 at Highlands High School.

It will be mom vs. son as Petruskas face off in Cager Classic All-Star game

No one ever picked up an easy win around the Petruska household, and those who were lucky enough to do so know they earned it.

St. Joseph’s Ava Swanson works out with the varsity team during practice March 19, 2019, at Kotecki Park in Lower Burrell.

St. Joseph softball seeking 3rd straight WPIAL playoff appearance

St. Joseph is coming off the two most successful softball seasons in school history, campaigns that established the Spartans as a high-caliber playoff team in WPIAL Class A, and they come into the spring with an important goal.

St.Joseph pitcher Hayden Mallin works out during a recent practice March 19, 2019, at Swartz Field in Freeport.

St. Joseph baseball team motivated to reach postseason

The smallest margin possible kept St. Joseph from reaching the WPIAL baseball playoffs last season, an excruciating result for a program that last reached the postseason at the turn of the millennium.