Sports
Hometown Softball Recap – South Side Rams – 04/28/2017
April 28, 2017
The South Side Rams softball team clinched the Class 2-A Section 4 title Thursday afternoon at home by defeating the Shenango Wildcats 9-3. Senior McKenna Smith, the winning pitcher, pitched a complete and delivered a three run double. Senior Hunter Hand contributed a two-run homer and a run scoring double for the Rams while Junior Regan Hozak had three hits and drove in two as South Side remained undefeated. For Shenango, Jacqui Baker stroked two home runs and drove in all three Wildcats runs. South Sided Beaver is now a perfect 11-0 overall and 10-0 in section play. Shenango falls to 8-4 overall and 5-4 in the section.Fox Chapel & Sewickley Academy Boys WPIAL Tennis Champs Again
One of the longest championship dynasty's in WPIAL history continued on Thursday as Sewickley Academy swept past Indiana 5-0 to win the WPIAL Class 2-A boys team tennis title. The championship is the 13th in a row for the Panthers and 21 of the last 24 2-A crowns since their first district championship in 1993. While it pales in comparison, Fox Chapel won their second straight Class 3-A title with a victory over top-seed Peters Township. Here are ALL of the final results from the 2017 WPIAL Boys Team Tennis Playoffs. 2017 WPIAL CLASS 3-A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Fox Chapel Foxes 4 - Peters Township Indians 1 WPIAL CLASS 3-A Semifinals:Hometown Softball Recap – Blackhawk Cougars – 04/26/2017
April 26, 2017
The Blackhawk Cougars were rolling to a five game winning streak after a 3-1 win over Ambridge on Monday. But with most teams, there are as many lows as highs in a season and the Cougars suffered their second straight loss and more importantly a key tiebreaker with the 8-6 victory by the visiting New Castle Red Hurricanes on Wednesday. The Cougars rallied from a four run deficit in the seventh to knot the game at 6, but could not stop the Canes from plating two in the 8th. New Castle is now 3-6 overall and 3-4 in section.Hometown Softball Recap – Latrobe Wildcats – 04/25/2017
April 25, 2017
Greater Latrobe finally got back to what they know best. Winning. After a four game slide that dropped the Wildcats to under .500 overall and already two section loses, Greater Latrobe rebounded for a 12-2 victory over Penn Hills on Tuesday in Class 6A Section 2 matchup Graham Sabota Field in Latrobe. Greater Latrobe (5-5, 4-2 in section) had lost consecutive games to Hempfield, North Allegheny, Yough and Norwin, with the most recent loss coming this past Monday and found themselves on a losing streak heading into the game against Penn Hills.Hometown Softball Recap – Elizabeth Forward Warriors – 04/25/2017
Dancing through raindrops throughout the afternoon, Elizabeth Forward (6-6, 5-3) was unable to overcome seven fielding errors and a hot-hitting South Fayette team, dropping a 16-11 shootout in Class 4-A Section 2 action Tuesday. South Fayette (9-5, 5-4) was led by James Madison recruit Sara Jubas, who reached base five times, including four hits, five runs scored and an RBI. Lexi Yates added three hits and a pair of RBI and Delaney Ging blasted a 7th inning grand slam for the Lions.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Softball – 04/25/2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten softball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Tuesday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Softball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) HEMPFIELD SPARTANS (12-0) (Last Week #1) 2) BALDWIN HIGHLANDERS (8-2) (Last Week #5) 3) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (6-2) (Last Week #4) 4) BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (6-3) (Last Week #2)
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tyler Falk
Riverside has a baseball heritage that is nearly unparalleled in the WPIAL. The Panthers have captured an array of championships and produced even more standout players. Tyler Falk is among those standouts who has not only won multiple titles at Riverside, but is now excelling at the college level at Clarion University. He's this week's feature for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Falk was a two-sport athlete at Riverside, as he was a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and basketball. He truly excelled on the diamond, though, as he contributed to a pair of record-setting campaigns.
MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/24/2017
April 24, 2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including a NEW #1 team in Class 6-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (11-1) (Last Week #2) 2) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (7-4) (Last Week #4) 3) NORWIN KNIGHTS (9-2) (Last Week #5) 4) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (9-2) (Last Week #1)Coaches Corner – Tricia Alderson
April 23, 2017
In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/23/2017
We head into the second half of section play on the diamonds as we pay a sweltering farewell to the month of April this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball including coverage of several Hometown Softball broadcasts. We also have WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse, plus another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes and Carlow Sports Talk ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 24th: TALK SHOW - Carlow Sports Talk at 8:30pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Montour vs Chartiers Valley at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Hampton vs North Hills at 7:00pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 04/21/2017
April 21, 2017
Blackhawk baseball coach Bob Amalia has had talented pitchers before. Only a few years ago he had Brendan McKay, who came close to breaking a national scoreless streak record. But now Amalia is blessed with a stable full of pitchers who are putting up remarkable statistics for an undefeated team. “So far, so good. We’re trying to just go one game at a time,” said Amalia. “But as a staff, this is the best I’ve had.” Blackhawk has a 12-0 record and the Cougars’ statistics make eyes pop: * Blackhawk has allowed only eight runs in 12 games, including six earned runs. * The Cougars have seven shutouts and allowed only one run in four other games. Four of the runs allowed came in one game against New Castle.
Hometown Softball Recap – South Side Rams – 04/19/2017
April 19, 2017
The South Side Rams (7-0, 7-0) stayed perfect in their 2017 campaign as they banged out twelve hits in beating the Neshannock Lancers at South Side High School on Wednesday afternoon. Senior SS Hunter Hand led the way offensively, collecting three hits in as many official at-bats, driving home four runs and scoring four runs, including the decisive 11th run in the bottom of the 8-run 5th inning.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Softball – 04/18/2017
April 18, 2017
lEach week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten softball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Tuesday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including NEW #1 teams in Class 4-A and Class 2-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Softball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) HEMPFIELD SPARTANS (10-0) (Last Week #1) 2) BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (4-1) (Last Week #2) 3) LATROBE WILDCATS (4-2) (Last Week #3)
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tyler Smith
April 17, 2017
Tyler Smith was a dominant starting pitcher and standout infielder at Penn-Trafford High School several years ago. Smith is now excelling on the diamond at Canisius College, although he's doing so as a relief pitcher. Smith is this week's profile for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Smith played three years of high-school varsity baseball with the Warriors, helping guide the team to playoff appearances in each of those seasons. In 2012, the Warriors went 10-9-1, losing to Upper St. Clair in the opening round of the Quad-A playoffs. That season, Smith batted over .400 at the plate as a sophomore.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/17/2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including another NEW #1 team in Class 5-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (8-0) (Last Week #1) 2) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (9-1) (Last Week #2) 3) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (9-1) (Last Week #6) 4) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (5-4) (Last Week #8)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/17/2017
After enjoying a basket of goodies, you can enjoy the end of the first half and the start of the second half of spring sports section action this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball including coverage of Hometown Softball. We also have WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse and WPIAL boys volleyball, plus another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 17th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Deer Lakes vs Hampton at 4:00pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Girls Lacrosse - Shady Side Academy vs Fox Chapel at 7:00pm on the North Allegheny Sports Network at MSAsports.netHometown Softball Recap – Hempfield Spartans – 04/14/2017
April 14, 2017
The Hempfield Area Spartans remained undefeated by edging section rival Greater Latrobe 3-1 at Hempfield Area High School on Thursday. Two Spartans runs in the bottom of the third proved to be the deciding factor, as Hempfield's pitcher Morgan Ryan made that led stand over the final four innings. As a result of the highly-anticipated matchup in Class 6A Section 2, the Spartans improved to 5-0, and 9-0 overall. Conversely, the loss dropped Greater Latrobe to 3-1, and 4-2 overall.Hometown Softball Recap – Hempfield Spartans – 04/13/2017
April 13, 2017
The combination of experience, timely hitting, nearly flawless pitching and a championship pedigree courtesy of the Hempfield softball team was more than Penn Hills could handle as the Spartans cruised past their WPIAL Class 6A Section 2 opponent 16-1 on Wednesday night at Hempfield. Hempfield, the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions, looked to be in midseason form as it scored seven runs in the first inning and added 2, 3 and 4 in the second, third and fourth as the game was stopped in the fourth inning. That first inning outburst from the Spartans (8-0, 4-0 in section) was a combination of a formidable lineup and costly mistakes from a young Penn Hills team that was tenacious but clearly overmatched.Hometown Softball Recap – Baldwin Highlanders – 04/12/2017
April 12, 2017
In a coaching matchup between father and daughter, it was Vince Sortino and Baldwin that prevailed against Peters Township and Nicole Davis. Dad's Highlanders edged daughter's Indians 2-1 in a 6A Section 1 tilt at Baldwin High School. For the first four innings, pitching and defense prevailed, as both squads were held off the scoreboard. Peters Township (2-3, 3-3) opened the contest with a pair of singles against Baldwin hurler Addie Tagg, but Tagg stranded two runners to escape the frame unscathed. On the other side, Peters Township pitcher Kylie Hartbauer was equally impressive, as she allowed just two hits in the first four innings.Hometown Softball Recap – North Hills Indians – 04/12/2017
In Hometown softball action, the North Hills Indians take a tough loss at the hands of the Pine-Richland Rams by a score of 9-5 Tuesday afternoon in the North Hills. The Rams have a juggernaut offense and scored individual runs in the first 2 innings and led 2-0 in a close game after 2 innings. In the top of the third they would take a 3-0 lead on a 3 run HR by Brie Horrell to go up 5-0. North Hills would rebound and plate three runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. With 2 outs Madison Postervio walked, Aidan Harrison singled and Mekenzie Saban hit a 3 run HR to cut the lead to 5-3.
