Westmoreland County softball notebook: Wildcats do double duty on gridiron, diamond

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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The best girls flag football teams in the WPIAL will probably be the ones with the most multi-sport athletes.

One thing is for sure: Latrobe’s team has some good softball players.

Natalia Scekeres and Morgan Maiers are among them. Scekeres is the quarterback, and Maiers is a rangy wide receiver for the Wildcats, who started the season 3-0.

Scekeres has 11 touchdown passes. She is one of four softball players in Latrobe’s starting seven.

“The softball players have been key contributors to our success with flag football. I want to thank the softball coach for allowing them to play,” Latrobe flag football coach Mackenzie Livingston said. “They have all the skills to be successful in flag because it’s similar to softball. They have great hand-eye coordination, quick speed, agility and mental toughness.”

On the diamond, Latrobe (3-1) had an explosive win over Ligonier Valley. The Wildcats won 18-9 with 18 hits. Maiers went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs, Sara Blossey went 4 for 4 with a double and three RBIs and Scekeres had three hits, including a double, triple and three RBIs. Julianna Bulebosh added three hits.

Honoring Kalp

Hempfield coaches and players honored late coach Bob Kalp, who died last week at age 80.

The team — coaches and players — showed up to the viewing Wednesday in their blue uniforms.

The team also plans to pay tribute to the legendary coach, who led the program to seven WPIAL titles and four PIAA titles, with their play on the field.

“I honestly dedicate every season to him,” Spartans coach Tina Madison said. “He built this, and we plan to honor him by continuing to keep Hempfield as a top WPIAL contender.”

2 over 1

No. 2-ranked Penn-Trafford took down No. 1 Shaler, 6-1, when the teams met Wednesday in Harrison City.

The Warriors lost to Shaler in last year’s WPIAL 5A championship 2-1 in 11 innings before rallying to win the PIAA title.

In the rematch this week, Shaler did not throw ace pitcher Bria Bosiljevac, who beat Penn-Trafford in the WPIAL final. That also was the case last year during the regular season when Penn-Trafford beat the Titans, 11-1.

Last weekend, Bria Bosiljevac pitched a no-hitter against Hempfield in a 2-1 Shaler win. She struck out 17.

Games to watch

Section play begins Friday around the WPIAL. One game to watch is Norwin at Hempfield in Section 1-6A.

Others include Latrobe at Franklin Regional and McKeesport at Penn-Trafford in Section 1-5A, Indiana at Derry in Section 1-4A, Ringgold at Belle Vernon in Section 2-4A and Ligonier Valley at Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland at Deer Lakes in Section 1-3A.

Yough hits the road

Yough will play at the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Force, Tenn., beginning Friday.

The Cougars will open against Licking Valley (Ohio) at 1 p.m. They will take on Pickering North (Ohio) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

They will play two games Sunday: 11 a.m. vs. Clinton-Massie (Ohio) and 3 p.m. vs. Martin County (Ky.), before one last game at 9 a.m. Monday against Dublin Jerome (Ohio).

Numbers game

23: Hits Greensburg Salem had in a 21-3, three-inning win over Highlands.

11: Runs Greensburg Salem scored in the first inning.

30: Combined runs in Ligonier Valley’s 19-11 win over South Allegheny.

39: Combined hits for Ligonier Valley and South Allegheny (13 for extra bases).

51: Total runs for Latrobe in four games (12.7 rpg).

27: Home games Hempfield has won in a row at Robert D. Kalp Field.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough