Sports
Riverside Freshman Skyler Fox Wins 2016 WPIAL 2-A Golf Title
September 29, 2016
Despite his youth, Riverside's Skyler Fox showed no signs of freshman nerves, as he made par on the 18th hole to secure the 2016 WPIAL Boys Class 2A Individual Championship. Fox, who also had the best qualifying round last week, shot a two-over 72 to claim gold at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. Holding a one stroke lead entering the tee box on the par-4 final hole, Fox hit his drive to the right of the fairway, into the rough. He produced a spectacular second shot that found the green, though, which allowed him two opportunities with the putter. Although his first attempt on a downhill lie traveled past the cup, Fox sank a short uphill putt to conclude his incredible round. He shot a 36 on both the front and back nine.Chicks Picks for Week Five
Welcome to Week 5 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks spends more time than she would care to admit trolling Amazon for her next potential purchase. Last week, Chick’s Picks stumbled upon a plethora of crystal balls. Tempted by the allure of the shiny, new prognosticating tools, Chick’s Picks decided that a bit of research would not hurt. Her guilty conscience set in right away, as she struggled with the desire to upgrade her equipment despite more than 15 years of loyalty to her current crystal ball. Chick’s Picks decided to consult an expert – The Boss.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Volleyball – 09/29/2016
Here are the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL girls volleyball rankings in all four classifications for the week of September 26th...including a NEW #1 team in Class 1-A. You can check out the new rankings every Thursday through the regular season with weekly matches heard live and archived, including Hometown Volleyball broadcasts each week. You can also listen to exclusive coverage of the 2016 WPIAL Volleyball Playoffs in October ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. Section records listed. WPIAL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CLASS 4-A: 1) UPPER ST. CLAIR PANTHERS (6-0) (Last Week #1)Big Game Hunting for Week Five 2016
Week Five and the drive to stay alive is no jive, if you can make it you will arrive, where you want to be. Keeping that sentence there because, as bad as it is, it did not trigger any grammatical or spelling errors in the Microsoft Word software and, I like it. Week Five has great matchups including a preview of what many think could be the eventual championship game in AAAAAA. Before we get to week five though, WOW!!!! What a night at Dormont Stadium in week four, Beaver and Darius Wise and, Keystone Oaks and Alex Smith put on a show for the ages. John Lee and I were there for the 77-49 win for the Bobcats and it was nothing short of breathtaking for everyone in attendance.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Soccer – 09/28/2016
September 28, 2016
Here are the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL boys soccer rankings in all four classifications for the week of September 26th...including a NEW #1 team in Class 4-A. You can check out the new rankings every Wednesday through the regular season with weekly matches heard live and archived, including Hometown Soccer broadcasts each week. You can also listen to exclusive coverage of the 2016 WPIAL Soccer Playoffs in October and check out the Pro Grass Boys Soccer Player of the Month in September, October and November ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL BOYS SOCCER CLASS 4-A: 1) SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS (8-0-1) (Last Week #2)
Baldwin Highlanders Hometown Volleyball Broadcast Recap – 09/27/2016
September 27, 2016
Baldwin came into the season the two-time defending WPIAL Girls Class AAA volleyball champions. They were also riding a 40-match winning streak against WPIAL opponents. Both of those facts meant that Baldwin hadn’t lost much over the last two seasons, let alone get swept in straight sets, but that’s what happened in this match as the Black Hawks came on the road and took all three games in this 4A Section 2 matchup at Baldwin. The first set started as a back-and-forth game and was tied at 5-5 before Bethel Park went on a 5-0 run and never trailed again in posting a (25-21) victory. Maddie Sgattoni paced Baldwin in the opening game with 5 kills and an ace, but Bethel Park used consistent hitting and serving from Stephanie Kazalas to capture the win.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Soccer – 09/27/2016
Here are the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL girls soccer rankings in all four classifications for the week of September 26th. You can check out the new rankings every Tuesday through the regular season with weekly matches heard live and archived, including Hometown Soccer broadcasts each week. You can also listen to exclusive coverage of the 2016 WPIAL Soccer Playoffs in October and check out the Pro Grass Girls Soccer Player of the Month in September, October and November ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL GIRLS SOCCER CLASS 4-A: 1) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (7-0-1) (Last Week #1)WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Four 2016
As the 2016 football regular season nears the halfway point, several teams have already positioned themselves in a great spot for the playoffs. Other teams, meanwhile, have begun to play with desperation as they cling to postseason aspirations. To that point, this week's top plays feature a perennial powerhouse that used a comeback to secure a much-needed win, a controversial finish to a thriller in 6A, a historic shootout among two top teams in 3A, and the decisive score in a defensive struggle. Without further adieu, here are the plays that stood above the rest. 1. Franklin Regional 24, Armstrong 20
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Catherine Ferragonio
September 26, 2016
While Norwin's girls basketball team has garnered headlines recently for winning back-to-back WPIAL championships, the Knights' girls volleyball program has been very accomplished in recent seasons, as well. Just a few years ago, Norwin's Catherine Ferragonio established herself as one of the top players in the district, and helped guide the Knights to a section crown and playoff success. Now, Ferragonio is showing her abilities at Clarion University. She's profiled in this week's installment of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Football – 09/26/2016
Each and every Monday during the regular season, the MSA Sports Network will rank the Top Ten seven in 6-A and top ten football teams in each of the other five classifications. Here are the rankings following Week Four of the 2016 high school football season. WPIAL CLASS 6-A WPIAL FOOTBALL TOP SEVEN: 1. PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (4-1) (Last Week #1.....Week Five - host #2 Pine-Richland on MSA) 2. PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (4-1) (Last Week #2.....Week Five - at #1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic on MSA)2016 WPIAL Football Standings – 09/26
Here are the latest WPIAL football standings through Week Four of the 2016 high school football season. Once again this year, we have added points for and points against as well as the updated WPIAL tiebreaker points for all 122 WPIAL teams. Standings are updated after Friday and Saturday's scholastic gridiron action each week. Click on each team to see all of their results along with their remaining schedule for the 2016 season. (Top 4 teams from both conferences in 6-A, 5-A and 4-A qualify for the playoffs) (Top 2 teams from the three conferences in 3-A along with two third place wild cards qualify for the playoffs) (Top 5 teams from the three conference in 2-A and 1-A along with one sixth place wild card qualify for the playoffs)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 09/25/2016
September 25, 2016
We close out the month of September and welcome in what will be a busy October with our first WPIAL championship of the new school year this week here on the MSA Sports Network. The high school football season hits the midway point of the regular season with Week Five and The Network has 31 WPIAL football weekend contests starting with the MSA Sports pregame Show Friday at 6pm and concluding with the WPIAL Scoreboard Show Friday at 9:30pm.MSA Sports Saturdays Scholastic Starz for Week Four
Both of the Saturday afternoon football games in the WPIAL in Week Four matched teams with postseason expectations trying to stay near the top of their respective conferences taking on teams that were trying to snap losing skids that already have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. In the end, the two favorites were victorious thanks to a couple large performances on the ground. Jayvaun Shears - McKeesportWPIAL Football Scores for Sat 9/24
September 24, 2016
Last week was the lightest Saturday football schedule in the WPIAL for the 2016 season. This week, we doubled our total for the second lightest scholastic slate in the district this year. It would have been another one-and-done this week if not for a Homecoming game special in Class 5-A. So Week Four has now concluded with a pair of WPIAL afternoon football games that were heard here on The Network. WPAIL CLASS 5-A Big East Conference: McKeesport Tigers 52 - Plum Mustangs 24 (MSA) WPIAL CLASS 1-A Eastern Conference: Bishop Canevin Crusaders 35 - Riverview Raiders 0 (MSA)MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights for Week Four
When it comes to arithmetic, I am at about the same level as Jethro Bodine from the famed Beverly Hillbillies. It's all about 'Gozintas'. If you are left scratching your head at the first sentence, let me explain. three Gozinta six two times. Four Gozinta 24 six times. And so on and so forth. Last night around the WPIAL, high school football teams were putting up numbers as if they were playing Techmo Bowl (pre Madden for you youngsters) instead of actual football on actual playing fields. The first Autumn Friday of the season saw scoreboards lighting up like it was a Christmas tree on the first day of winter. Needless to say, the more points scored, the more players were 'Gozinta' the end zone.WPIAL and City League Football Scores for 9/23
September 23, 2016
One week after the busiest Friday of the WPIAL football regular season, we followed up with the second busiest high school gridiron slate of the 2016 campaign. With one-third of the season in the books, we are starting to get a feel for who is in the playoff chase for good and who is prepping that spoilers cap for an October debut. Week Four also marked the first Friday of Autumn. Let the Fall fun begin!! Here are all of the final results. CLASS 6-A Northern Seven Conference: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 42 - Seneca Valley Raiders 14 (F) North Allegheny Tigers 49 - Butler Golden Tornado 7 (F)Scholastic Notebook – 09/23/2016
At Mapletown, Rush rushes. A lot. Dylan Rush is a junior running back at Mapletown who has enjoyed a big season so far. He is the second-leading rusher in the WPIAL with 1,027 yards. The only running back who is ahead of him is Armstrong’s Zane Dudek, who has 1,201. Rush stands only 5 feet 9 and weighs 180 pounds. You have to wonder how strong Rush’s back is, because he is carrying the Mapletown team on it. Rush’s number of carries isn’t on the high side. It’s on the ridiculous side. In four games, Rush has carried the ball 147 times. That’s 36.8 times a game. The rest of Mapletown’s team has 31 carries. On top of that, Mapletown has thrown 22 passes – and Rush has attempted seven of them.Chicks Picks for Week Four
September 22, 2016
Welcome to Week 4 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks spends many days on the road, particularly early in the season. Her surging popularity demands her presence at various high schools throughout the WPIAL. This past Friday, though, Chick’s Picks thought that she should probably make some time to visit with The Boss at MSA Sports World Headquarters.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Girls Volleyball – 09/22/2016
Here are the MSA Sports Top Ten WPIAL girls volleyball rankings in all four classifications for the week of September 19th...including another NEW #1 team in Class 4-A. You can check out the new rankings every Thursday through the regular season with weekly matches heard live and archived, including Hometown Volleyball broadcasts each week. You can also listen to exclusive coverage of the 2016 WPIAL Volleyball Playoffs in October ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. Section records listed. WPIAL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CLASS 4-A: 1) UPPER ST. CLAIR PANTHERS (5-0) (Last Week #2)Big Game Hunting for Week Four 2016
September 21, 2016
Welcome to week four of the WPIAL football season. Upon the conclusion of this week's games we will have played exactly as many weeks of regular-season football as will remain. Yes, half way already. Football is like a really good chili-cheeseburger, before you realize it, and have time to really savor it, you’re almost done with it. I double checked that information with in-house MSA Sports Network Chili Cheeseburger Expert Robert “Bobby O” Orkwis before I just threw it out there and he did confirm. Week four and we start to see some separation, finding out who are the contenders and who are the pretenders continues as we go Big Game Hunting!
