Sports
CTK ’16: WPIAL AAA 2015 Football Flashback
August 5, 2016
In the early part of this century, there was no better football program year in and year out than what Bill Cherpak had at Thomas Jefferson High School. The Jaguars won three straight WPIAL Class AAA titles from 2006 through 2008 plus had it not been for a stunning upset loss to Franklin Regional in the 2005 title game, it would have been five in a row for TJ, which also won the 2004 championship. The Jags also won three PIAA state titles from '04 to '08. Even in years they weren't winning district or state titles, they were winning conference crowns and going deep into the postseason. The golden drought had hit six years before Thomas Jefferson returned to the top in 2015. Here is a look back at the WPIAL Triple-A in 2015.Ackerman dominates, as Wild Things Fall to Evansville
August 4, 2016
The Washington Wild Things and Evansville Otters played game two of their three game series at Bosse Field Wednesday night. The offense couldn't get Anything going on the night as Hunter Ackerman dominated on the mound for the Evansville Otters as they would win by the score of 4-2. Sam Agnew-Wieland took the mound for the Wild Things making his fourth start of the season. He came out in the first and retired the first man of the inning before Josh Allen hit a solo shot over the left field wall, his eighth home run of the year, as the Otters took an early 1-0 lead. Agnew-Wieland would then settle down and get the final two outs of the inning.
CTK ’16 – WPIAL AAAA 2015 Football Flashback
Expansion is a big part of this upcoming year, so lets start by going back to the last time the PIAA and thus the WPIAL expanded to four classifications in 1980. While always seeming to be in the playoffs and part of the title discussion each year, it took Pittsburgh Central Catholic 23 years to win a district football title (they did win the first ever PIAA AAAA crown in 1988). However since that WPIAL crown in 2003, the Vikings have been kings of the castle five times now, with the one for the thumb coming last fall. Here is a look back at the WPIAL Quad-A in 2015. 2015 WPIAL QUAD-A HEADLINES:CTK ’16 – WPIAL Football Alignment Changes
August 2, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision last year to increase from four to six classifications in among other sports, high school football. With the increase in classes comes a change in the WPIAL Football Playoff format as well, with eight teams in 6-A, 5-A, 4-A and 3-A making the postseason (top four teams in each conference in 6-A, 5-A and 4-A and the top two teams in each conference plus two wild card teams in 3-A) with three weeks of playoffs and 16 teams qualifying in 2-A and 1-A (top 5 teams in each conference plus a wild card) with four weeks of postseason play. This will also be the alignment for the 2017 football season. Class 6ACOUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF 2016
August 1, 2016
The countdown to the start of the 2016 high school football season is underway. We have major changes this year with the expansion from four to six classifications and teams having the option to have a second scrimmage on Friday, August 26th/Saturday, August 27th or playing an actual non-conference game that has been labeled Week Zero. Week One is set for Friday, September 2nd/Saturday, September 3rd. Training camps for the new campaign open up in Western Pennsylvania on Monday, August 15th.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 07/31/2016
July 31, 2016
The start of August means one thing for high school football fans...the start of Countdown to Kickoff 2016 this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are live from Kennywood Park on Wednesday with the annual presentation of arrows during the MSA Sports/Kennywood Park Preseason All-Star Team Awards Show preceded by a special season preview during This Week in the WPIAL.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 07/28/2016
July 28, 2016
The action on the pro baseball diamond continues to sizzle as we close out the scorching month of July this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as the week begins with a series at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington against the Normal Cornbelters before the team hits the road this weekend against the Florence Freedom in Frontier League pro baseball, plus we have another great edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, July 25th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.netThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 07/21/2016
July 21, 2016
The action on the diamond for both the pro's and the youth heat up (and we really mean HEAT up) this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as this week they begin with a series at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington against the River City Rascals before hitting the road this weekend against the Southern Illinois Miners in Frontier League pro baseball. We also have youth baseball with the start of the Pennsylvania American Legion Western Regional Playoffs, plus we have another great edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.netThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 06/15/2016
July 15, 2016
It is the quietest seven days in the entire calendar year as the Frontier League hits its all-star break this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as they return to action after the break at CONSOL Energy Field in Washington to host the Southern Illinois Miners, plus another edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, July 11th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net Tuesday, July 12th: No Broadcasts
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – Sewickley Kings of Single-A Again
July 12, 2016
Sewickley Academy is once again on top of the Class A standings in the chase for the MSA Sports Cup after leapfrogging defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic. In fact, the Panthers and Centurions have been tagging in for titles the last five years with GCC winning in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 and SA claiming the Cup in 201--2011, 2013-2014 and now in 2015-2016. The championship for Sewickley Academy is the schools 9th in 13 years of the competition and was aided greatly by district and state championships in boys golf and boys tennis along with WPIAL crowns in boys cross-country and boys soccer.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A
July 9, 2016
For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A
July 7, 2016
In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A
July 6, 2016
Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 07/05/2016
July 5, 2016
As we come off the celebration of the United States of America's 240th birthday, we turn our attention to pro baseball this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as this week they hit the road at Joliet against the Slammers during the week before returning home to CONSOL Energy Field in Washington to host the Schaumburg Boomers in Frontier League action this weekend, plus a star-spangled edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, July 4th: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!
2015-2016 MSA SPORTS MALE ATHLETE of the YEAR
June 30, 2016
There is a reason why Erick Taylor has that “K” at the end of his name. His father had a best friend who was shot and killed many years ago, and the friend spelled his first name “Erick.” So Garth Taylor decided to give his son the same name in memory of his friend. Almost two decades later, the name Erick Taylor meant something special around WPIAL sports. It defined supreme athlete. Taylor has been named the MSA Sports Athlete of the Year for boys sports in the WPIAL in the 2015-16 school year. The award is selected by the MSA Sports staff.
2015-2016 MSA SPORTS FEMALE ATHLETE of the YEAR
Amanda Kalin is so talented that she could be a Division I college player in two different sports. On the high school level, Kalin is so talented that she is in a division all by herself – best athlete in the WPIAL. Kalin, who recently completed her junior year at Pine-Richland High School, has been selected the MSA Sports Athlete of the Year for the 2015-16 WPIAL school year. The 5-foot-8 Kalin had a superb junior year in both basketball and soccer. Her outstanding individual talent helped her teams thrive. Her extraordinary athletic ability is evidenced by how her college recruiting went in the past two years.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 06/27/2016
June 27, 2016
As the month of June melts into the month of July, we turn our attention to pro baseball this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as this week they return home to CONSOL Energy Field in Washington to host the Gateway Grizzlies and the Florence Freedom in Frontier League action, plus the final high school football all-star game of the summer and a star-spangled edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, June 27th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net
2016 MSA SPORTS DIAMOND STUDS
June 24, 2016
A first-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft, one of the winningest pitchers in WPIAL history, another pitcher who rarely gave up a run and a hitter who had one of the highest batting averages in WPIAL history. Those are a few of the players who highlight the MSA Sports Diamond Studs all-star team. The Diamond Studs are the top 10 players in the WPIAL, regardless of position. They are picked by the MSA Sports staff.
