Sports
West Greene Rolls Past Char-Houston for First Ever WPIAL Softball Title
June 3, 2016
West Greene's Freshman centerfielder, McKenna Lampe, was confident at the beginning of the season that the young Pioneers could claim WPIAL softball gold for the first time ever. On Friday morning at California University's Lilley Field, dreams became a reality for West Greene (23-1) as they ran away with the WPIAL Class A Championship with a 12-3 win over Chartiers-Houston (14-8). The coin flip was the only thing that went wrong for the Pioneers on this day, as they were forced to bat first following the toss. But West Greene did not let that effect the way they played, as they started early. Madison Lampe singled with one out in the first and later scored virtue of a Bailey Benninger double to right center to start the scoring.2016 WPIAL Softball Championship Preview
June 2, 2016
The WPIAL softball championships have a trio of new faces this year. The championships will be played Friday at California University of Pa.’s Lilly Field and three of the eight participants have never been so close to WPIAL gold medals. Mount Pleasant, West Allegheny and West Greene are all making their first appearances in a championship game. Meanwhile, Hempfield, Baldwin, Ellwood City, South Park and Chartiers-Houston have all won at least one championship before. The games were rained out Thursday and rescheduled for Friday. Here is a look at each championship: CLASS AAAA: The game: Baldwin (13-3) vs. Hempfield (20-2), 2:30 p.m.2016 WPIAL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS Results
It was not a good championship for the favorites. All four higher seeds, including three top-seeds fell in the finals as gold was hoisted by a pair of #2-seeds, a #8-seed and a #14-seed. Four new champions were crowned as Norwin, Chartiers Valley, Riverside and Serra Catholic are celebrating district gold. Here are ALL of the results from the 2016 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs. All Results marked with (MSA) are games that can be heard archived on the MSA Sports Network. 2016 WPIAL BASEBALL CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Norwin Knights 7 - Plum Mustangs 3 (MSA) WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation:
Norwin Hands Plum First Loss in WPIAL Quad-A Finals Upset
The year of the upset continues in the WPIAL, however the nightcap of Wednesday action may have been the biggest shocker as the 14th seeded Norwin Knights defeated the previously unbeaten Plum Mustangs, 7-3. The Knights got off to a very hot start, a leadoff single by Dan Kiester was followed by a walk and a single by Reno Rainey loaded the bases early. Plum pitcher, Alex Kirilloff walked in one of those runs before Jonathon Pringee crushed a base clearing triple to give the Knights a 4-0 lead in the first. A few pitches later, Brad Lucas brought in Pringee on a hard single to give Norwin a 5-0 lead. Norwin pitcher, Chad Coles began his outing just as well as his offense, shutting down the Mustangs in order leaving the score 5-0 after one.
Big Inning Helps Serra Catholic Unseat GCC for WPIAL Class A Gold
June 1, 2016
The third time this season was the charm for the Serra Catholic Eagles (22-2). After dropping two decisions to the Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (15-4) earlier in the year, the Eagles responded in a big way with five runs in the fourth inning to claim a 6-3 victory in the WPIAL Class A baseball championship game at Consol Energy Park on Wednesday night.WPIAL Baseball Consolation Wednesday Recaps 2016
While district baseball gold was being handed out at CONSOL Energy Park again on Wednesday, state playoff berths were at stake next door at the Washington & Jefferson College Sports Complex. A pair of Class AAA and Class AA teams were hoping to win and continue their season into the state playoffs. Here are the recaps from the two games heard here on The Network. A special thanks to Mike Azadian and Jake Holmes for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Consolation:
Chartiers Valley Gallops Past Blackhawk for First Baseball Title
May 31, 2016
The Chartiers Valley Colts (16-7) won their first baseball championship in school history with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Blackhawk Cougars (18-5) In the WPIAL AAA Championship at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA. Cole Horew was the star on the mound for the Colts, pitching all seven innings with seven strikeouts and seven scattered hits, walking none. Chartiers Valley would threaten in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Dante Panucci doubled deep to left field. Horew then reached on an error, putting runners at second and third base. A walk to Joe Sibeto loaded the bases. But Blackhawk's Mark Engel induced Tristen Zimmer into an inning ending double play.
600 is Golden As Riverside Wins WPIAL Baseball Crown
It was thought that the WPIAL Class AA baseball championship game would turn into a pitcher's duel. The game lived up to that billing and then some. Riverside's Mike Boswell and Neshannock's Frank Fraschetti pitched over eight scoreless innings each, but it was the Riverside Panthers (20-2) came out on top, defeating the Lancers 1-0 in nine innings at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington.WPIAL Softball Consolation Tuesday Recaps
WPIAL softball gold will be decided on Thursday with all four district championship games at Lilley Field at California University of Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, it was time to decide which teams would join the finalists in the upcoming PIAA softball postseason. Here are recaps from all four WPIAL Consolation contests played at Cal U and West Allegheny Tuesday afternoon. A special thanks to Ed Troup, Steve Nagler, Kyle Dawson and Lee Mohn for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation:WPIAL Baseball Consolation Tuesday Recaps
While the spotlight was shining on the district championship games at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, there was important action going on right next door at Ross Memorial Park and the Washington & Jefferson College Sports Complex. A pair of battles in Class A and Class AAAA to determine third place in the district and a coveted spot in the upcoming PIAA state baseball playoffs. Here are recaps from those contests. A special thanks to Mark Uriah and Greg Kuntz for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation:
2016 WPIAL Baseball Championship Previews
May 30, 2016
For 75 percent of the teams in the WPIAL baseball championships, foes are familiar. Three of the four championships match teams that have already played once this season. Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Serra, and Neshannock vs. Riverside are title games between teams from the same section. Plum played Norwin in a non-section game. The Class AAA championship – Blackhawk vs. Chartiers Valley – is the only game where teams have not played before. All of the championship games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday at Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things and heard here on the MSA Sports Network. Here is a breakdown of the four championships: WPIAL CLASS AAAA:
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Brendan McKay
During the 2014 WPIAL baseball season, watching Brendan McKay was a must-see event. McKay, of Blackhawk High School, produced one of the best pitching streaks in high-school baseball history for the Cougars. Now at Louisville, the lefty hurler has continued his excellence on the mound, as well as at the plate, for the Cardinals. McKay is the focus of the final WPIAL Alum Q&A of the 2015-16 sports season.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 05/29/2016
May 29, 2016
A holiday weekend leads us right into Championship Week on the diamonds and the final WPIAL Finals of the 2015-2016 school year this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have Championship and Consolation action in both WPIAL Baseball and WPIAL Softball along with another full week of Washington Wild Things pro baseball, plus Rappin' on Racin' and the final edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes this spring on a special night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, May 30th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net Tuesday, May 31st:PIAA Track & Field Highlights – Day Two
It was a one-of-a-kind day for Dom Perretta. He pulled off an unassisted double and triple play. Perretta, a senior made history at the PIAA individual track and field championships Saturday at Shippensburg University. His double play came when he won the Class AA 800- and 1,600-meter runs. His triple play was that he won both events for the third year in a row. The effort put Perretta into the record book. He became the first runner in PIAA history to win both the 800 and 1,600 three consecutive years – in any classification. But Perretta did more than win both events again. He set a Class AA championship meet record in the 800 with a time of 1 minute, 50.10 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:51.96 set 29 years ago.2016 WPIAL BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS Results
The four year run atop of the WPIAL Class AA came crashing to a half for Ambridge in the schools eighth title match in nine years. The Bridgers hopes of a fifth straight district crown were snuffed out by Beaver County Christian as the Eagles captured their first WPIAL boys volleyball crown, In Class AAA, another first time winner walked away with gold as the Penn-Trafford Warriors swept past the Bethel Park Black Hawks, who settled for silver for the second time in four years. Here are ALL the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs. All results marked with (MSA) after are matches that can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network.2016 WPIAL GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYOFFS Results
For one school, its one for the thumb when it comes to district girls lacrosse titles. For the other, its just one, as in first ever championship. Mount Lebanon won the Division I crown, the schools second championship in three years and fifth in school history. Meanwhile, Blackhawk stayed true to its top-seed as the Cougars captured first time in school history. Here are ALL of the results from the 2016 WPIAL Girls Lacrosse Playoffs. Results marked with (MSA) are matches that can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network. 2016 WPIAL GIRLS LACROSSE DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 14 - Chartiers Valley Colts 9 (MSA)2016 WPIAL BOYS LACROSSE PLAYOFFS Results
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. For North Allegheny boys lacrosse, revenge is a dish best served Gold. After losing to Mount Lebanon in both the 2013 and last years Division I boys lacrosse district finals, North Allegheny edged the Blue Devils for the Tigers first ever district boys lacrosse title. In Division II, it was another defending champion falling to a first time champion as Mars knocked out Hampton for D-II gold. Here are ALL the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Playoffs. All results marked with (MSA) after them are matches that can be heard archived on the MSA Sports Network. 2016 WPIAL DIVISION I BOYS LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Penn-Trafford Sweeps Bethel Park for First WPIAL Boys Volleyball Gold
May 28, 2016
The Penn-Trafford Warriors claimed their first volleyball title with a straight-sets win against Bethel Park in the Class AAA Championship at Baldwin High School. Propelled by their success in extra points, the Warriors prevailed 33-31, 25-20 and 27-25. In a matchup of two teams looking for their first championship, top-seeded Penn-Trafford captured the opening set in dramatic fashion. The squads frequently exchanged leads, but the No. 3 Black Hawks pulled ahead 24-22 and appeared poised to take the upper hand. Three consecutive points staked the Warriors to the lead, though, and the sides continued to exchange blows until Penn-Trafford finally prevailed 33-31.
North Allegheny Finally Top Mount Lebanon For D-I Boys Lax Crown
The North Allegheny Tigers won their first ever boys lacrosse championship Friday night defeating Mount Lebanon 9-7 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. Mount Lebanon defeated the Tigers last year 9-8 in double overtime in last years finals and also won 18-5 early in the year. This night would be different. Mount Lebanon would control the first four minutes of the match and were finally rewarded with a goal from Brian Ward. The Tigers would call timeout and from then on things went North Allegheny's way. The Tigers would score three goals in 51 seconds and one with just 15 seconds left in period one to take a 4-1 lead. Scoring two goals each were Gavin Hagen and Wes Powell.
