Sports
Chicks Picks – Week Ten – 2014
October 30, 2014
Welcome to Week 10 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks attended the wedding of a dear friend last weekend. The lavish affair featured dinner entertainment by a celebrity musician. Awestruck by his performance, Chick’s Picks was determined to find an opportunity in this intimate setting to personally applaud the star. As guests began to mingle after dinner, Chick’s Picks spotted the celebrity packing up his equipment and headed his way. Before she could get out a formal introduction, though, the celebrity interrupted, “Wow, is that really you Chick’s Picks? You’re my idol! No one can prognosticate quite like you!”2014 Big Game Hunting – The Football Fourpack for Week 10
We live for the Highway to Heinz at Big Game Hunting. A short week of preparation for a do or die game puts coaches, players and yes, broadcasters to the test. But the accepting the challenge is enough!District College Football Preview for Saturday, November 1
Week 9 of the district college football slate was to see a battle for first place in the PSAC West with #25 California hosting Gannon on Saturday afternoon. But school officials announced Thursday afternoon that the Vulcans would forfeit the game to the Golden Knights after five players were arrested and charged after a violent incident outside of a local bar early Thursday morning. Interim President Geraldine Jones, in a release to the media, announced that she had asked that the game be cancelled. The five players have been suspended from the school and the PSAC informed Cal that they would forfeit the game.WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Nine 2014
Rivalry week was the final stop before we hopped on the Highway to Heinz. And boy, it did not disappoint. Big defensive plays, a massively important kick and one special play for a Valley Junior top the best plays of Week Nine. Before you load up the car for what will, for your team, hopefully be a lengthy ride, make sure you look back at the final stop of the regular season with the Plays of the Week:
A Tigers Tale: North Allegheny and Ellis Win WPIAL Field Hockey Gold
October 29, 2014
The Class AA top-seeded Ellis School Tigers won their first WPIAL crown since 2010 with a 1-0 victory over the defending Class AA champion Shady Side Academy Indians at Newman Stadium at North Allegheny High School on Tuesday night. Ellis School claimed its fifth overall title thanks in large part to the play of senior midfielder Mackenzie Haney who scored the only goal of the night with 4:25 remaining in the first half. Haney was a force offensively in the opening half, and turned her attention toward protecting the lead in the second half as the Tigers rarely permitted the Indians a good look inside the circle.
WPIAL Girls Volleyball Quarterfinals Tuesday Recaps
October 28, 2014
The Second Round of the district girls volleyball playoffs saw a defending champion stay alive by ousting the top-seed in Class AAA, a surprise run by a double-digit seed continued into Round Three and two powers in Class A move closer to yet another championship showdown. Here are recaps from all twelve Quarterfinals matches from Tuesday, all of which were heard here on the MSA Sports Network. A special thanks to Brandon Showers, Mike Azadian, Bob Orkwis, Sean Meyers, Mark Schaas, Cory Campano, Chris Lackner, Lou Rood, Buddy McKay, Lee Mohn and Greg Kuntz for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Quarterfinals:WPIAL Soccer Semifinals Monday Recaps
In the end, the WPIAL soccer steering committee did a pretty good job as the top seeds have progressed nicely through the district postseason. In fact, five of the six top-seeds will be playing for gold this weekend along with a pair of #2's, two #3's and a #5. The lone exceptions are the surprise runs of the #10 Canon-McMillan Big Macs in girls AAA and the #11 Freedom Bulldogs in girls A. Here are recaps from all twelve boys and girls WPIAL Soccer Semifinals matches on Monday as heard here on MSA Sports. All six title matches this weekend will also be heard here on MSA Sports. A special thanks to Mike Azadian, Brandon Showers, Adam Hoerner, Rob Longo, Mike Sackley, Cory Campano, Lou Rood, Greg Kuntz and Mark Schaas for their help on these recaps!PIHL Notebook – 2014-2015 Class B & C Preview
October 27, 2014
Welcome to another installment of “PIHL Notebook” as we wrap up our season preview four-pack with a look inside what used to be the Open Class. Instead, it will now be known as Varsity Division II, divided into Class B and Class C. It bears mentioning, as touched upon in our feature on the new alignment on October 6, only co-op teams are allowed in Division II. Class B is the cream of the crop, at least on paper. Defending Nailers Cup champion Harbor Creek headlines things, joined by four semifinalists from the 2014 Open Class Playoffs. Also in the mix is a Penn-Trafford squad down from Class AAA, a brand new “B Team” from Upper St. Clair, and a blast from the past in Meadville.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Football Playoff Teams – 10/26/2014
October 26, 2014
Every Monday during the regular season, MSA Sports ranks the top ten teams in each classification, which makes for great debate. This week, we don't rank, we seed the 16 playoff teams in each classification, much like the WPIAL steering committee will do on Monday. Only rules are the top two teams in each conference plus two third place teams in AAAA and AAA hold a First Round home game...and teams from same conference do not play in Round One. In the past couple of years, the WPIAL has used some creative seeding for stronger teams that were not hosting opening round games, but it doesn't appear that will be needed this year.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/26/2014
We are all set to cut the ribbon and take a ride on the 2014 version of the Highway to Heinz starting this week here on the MSA Sports Network. After the WPIAL Football Playoff Pairings Show on Monday, we'll be set for First Round action on Friday with ALL 32 games ONLY here on The Network starting with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding with the one and only WPIAL Scoreboard Show.District College Football Recap for Saturday, October 25th
Week 8 of the district college football slate saw an upset in the NEC, W & J continues to look for another PAC title and Geneva ended a long losing streak. Here are recaps of ALL the games, including two heard here on the Network: W & J 34 – Case Western Reserve 24 The 16th ranked Presidents remained unbeaten and on top of the PAC standings with the win at Cameron Stadium. Ryan Ruffing ran for 111 yards and scored four touchdowns in the win, three of those scores came in the second half, as the Presidents trailed 9-6 at the break.WPIAL Saturday’s Scholastic Starz for 10/25
Rivalry weekend came to an end Saturday, as did the 9-week District 7 regular season. Sure, teams that did not qualify could opt to play a 'Week 10' game to extend the season, but sadly, most schools pass on that opportunity to work on their game one final time in 2014. So it is that the curtain came down with two Class A rivalries on center stage, one in the AK Valley and and one in Beaver County. Here are the two players that shined brightest on a sunny afternoon. Nathan Block - South SideNorth Allegheny Repeats as Girls Team Tennis State Champions
October 25, 2014
Three District 7 girls tennis teams turned the PIAA Class AAA Final Four into a WPIAL block party, and in the end Saturday in Hershey, the defending champion was golden again. The North Allegheny Tigers defeated the Mount Lebanon Blue Devils in the state Semifinals, then ousted the Shady Side Academy Indians in a WPIAL title match rematch to win a second consecutive PIAA Class AAA state crown. The championship marks the 8th consecutive year that a WPIAL team has brough home gold in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs. Meanwhile the drought continues in Class AA where District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep was the winner. Both Sewickley Academy and Indiana lost in the state Quarterfinals on Friday leaving the WPIAL with only one Class AA state winner this century.2014 WPIAL & City League Football Standings – Week 9
Here are the FINAL WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League football standings through Week Nine of the 2014 high school football season...including the FINAL WPIAL playoff clinchings for the Highway to Heinz. This year we have added points for, point against and the updated WPIAL tiebreaker points for all 124 teams. Standings are updated after Friday and Saturday's scholastic gridiron action each week. Standings can be also seen on each teams football webpage here on the MSA Sports Network.WPIAL Week 9 Saturday Football Scores
Who needs two? The final two games of the nine week WPIAL football regular season took place on a pleasant Saturday afternoon in Western Pennsylvania. It was a fitting way to conclude rivalry week as well al long time rivals in the AK Valley and in Beaver County met to do battle with both game here on the MSA Sports Network. Here are the final scores from both contests as we say so long regular season and prepare for the postseason. WPIAL CLASS A Eastern Conference: Springdale Dynamos 28 - Riverview Raiders 12 (MSA) WPIAL CLASS A Big 7 Conference: South Side Rams 28 - Western Beaver Golden Beavers 6 (MSA)WPIAL Friday Night HighLights for 10/24
Rivalry week brought the curtain down on the Friday edition of the 2014 WPIAL football regular season as teams scrambled for playoff spots or playoff positioning. Another great evening weather wise brought forth another batch of sweet performances from players throughout all four classifications. For some, it was a final tune-up to Primetime and the district postseason. For others, it was one final time to shine before the uniforms and pads are turned in sometime next week. Here are the players who Rocked Out on Pink Out night around Southwestern Pennsylvania. T.J. Holl - Seneca ValleyFINAL 2014 WPIAL Football Playoff Picture
October 24, 2014
The 64 playoff football teams and their positions out of their respective conferences are now set. Only one Class A question remains as we head into the final day of the 2014 campaign. Now it is up to the WPIAL football steering committee to seed the 16 teams in each classification. Here are ALL of the final WPIAL playoff teams and their position through the final Friday of the regular season. CLASS AAAA Foothills Conference: Penn-Trafford Warriors (8-0) have clinched CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP McKeesport Tigers (7-1) have clinched Second Place Altoona Mountain Lions (6-2) have clinched Third PlaceScholastic Notebook – 10/24/2014
Has there ever been a WPIAL football regular season that was so perfect as this one? Probably not. Fourteen teams go into the final night of the regular season with undefeated records. Two of them play (West Allegheny at Central Valley). That means there could be 13 teams that finish the regular season with perfect records. That would be the most in the WPIAL in a long time. Possibly ever. Checking records going back 37 years, there has never been a WPIAL season with 13 undefeated and untied teams (there used to no overtime in WPIAL football).WPIAL & City League Week 9 Friday Football Scores
53 teams had clinched their ticket to ride on the golden highway starting next week, which left 11 spots up for grabs along with several conference titles, home field advantage in round one spots and increased seeding opportunities on the final Friday of the regular season. Some may call it Rivalry Week…we just refer to it as Decision Friday. With a tint of Pink Out magic in the air, here is a rundown of the results for the ninth and final Friday of the District 7 regular season. Games with (MSA) following can be heard live and archived here on The Network. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Foothills Conference: Altoona Mountain Lions 42 - Connellsville Falcons 6 (MSA) Plum Mustangs 42 - Latrobe Wildcats 7 (MSA)
