Westmoreland County H.S. notebook: GCC’s Sasha Hoffman out to defend section title

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, September 10, 2023 | 3:10 PM

The WPIAL girls tennis individual postseason begins Wednesday with section tournaments around the district.

Keep an eye on Greensburg Central Catholic junior Sasha Hoffman, a title contender in Class 2A.

A dominant player this season, Hoffman is 8-0 and has won 92 games while losing only two.

“She doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” GCC coach Chad Bossert said. “For her to play the way she plays, she has to be the complete package. It’s her mobility and all aspects of the game.”

Hoffman won the Section 1-2A title last year and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Ashley Close, 10-0.

A Greensburg Racquet Club member, Hoffman’s only game losses are to Derry senior Danielle Dominick and senior Amelia Miller of Southmoreland.

“She has set her goals on making states,” Bossert said. “She is focused on that.”

Hoffman, who is from North Huntingdon, also is a PIAA qualifier in track and field. She competes in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, and with relays.

Playing hardball

Yough hopes to hit home runs with big plays this season. Some baseball-turned-football coaches will try to make that happen.

Or, is it the other way around?

In a type of role-reversal, head football coach Ben Hoffer is also a baseball assistant. Dan Palm, the Cougars’ head baseball coach, is a football assistant.

Casey Teagarden also has joined the staff as offensive coordinator. Teagarden is a former Hempfield quarterback.

Aftanas coaching

Doug Aftanas, a former baseball head coach, has joined the staff of the Butler BlueSox of the summer collegiate Rust Belt League.

Aftanas has a lengthy resume. He was an assistant at Waynesboro from 1993-96 before becoming a WPIAL head coach at Norwin (1999-2003) and Valley (2015-16).

He also coached Arnold Legion in 2005 and Valley Legion from 2014-16.

Recruiting

Norwin soccer player Rick Zappone committed to play at Pitt-Greensburg. The senior center back is a co-captain for the Knights.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Norwin, Yough