Westmoreland high school notebook: Andrisko takes over as Belle Vernon baseball coach

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 4:44 PM

Taylor Andrisko is the new baseball coach at Belle Vernon.

The district approved his hiring at last week’s board meeting.

Andrisko replaces Tony Watson, who was not retained despite guiding the Leopards to the WPIAL semifinals last season.

Andrisko was the coach at California High School for the past three seasons. His decision to leave the Trojans was not made without consternation.

“It was a long process,” Andrisko told the Mon Valley Independent. “Once I found out the position was open, I talked it over with my staff, and we decided to go for it. We absolutely loved California — the kids, the community, the administration — which made the decision very difficult. But how often is a Quad-A baseball job close to home going to open? I decided it was worth throwing my hat in the ring.”

Andrisko, a former assistant at his alma mater, Charleroi, went 27-32 at California and reached the WPIAL Class A championship in 2023.

“We are excited to welcome coach Andrisko and look forward to the continued growth and success of our baseball program under his leadership,” BVA athletic director Matt Humbert said.

Watson led Belle Vernon to its first section title in over a decade in 2024.

Andrisko said he won’t face a rebuild with a proven program.

“This is a unique situation,” Andrisko said. “Yes, Belle Vernon graduated a ton of important seniors, but the roster has talent from top to bottom, seniors down to freshmen. Even at the middle school and youth levels, they’re doing a tremendous job. I couldn’t be more excited for my staff and I to get our hands on this program and put our fingerprints on it.”

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Golf sites announced

The WPIAL golf season is underway, and the league recently announced championship sites for the individual and team postseasons.

The breakdown is as follows:

Boys: Sept. 15, 16, 17, 18 — Section qualifiers; Sept. 22 Class 3A individual first round at Willowbrook Country Club; Class 2A first round at Hill Crest Country Club; Sept. 29 — Class 3A individual championship, Butler Country Club; Sept. 30 — Class 2A individual championship, Valley Brook Country Club; Oct. 6, 7 — Team semifinals; Oct. 9 — Team championships, Cedarbrook Golf Course; Oct. 20, 21 — PIAA individual championships, Penn State Golf Course; Oct. 22 — PIAA team championships, Penn State Golf Course.

Girls: Sept. 16, 17, 18 — Section qualifiers; Sept. 23 — Class 3A/2A individual first round at Seven Oaks Country Club; Oct. 1 — Class 3A/2 individual championships, Sewickley Heights Country Club; Oct. 9 — Team championships, Cedarbrook Golf Course; Oct. 20-21 — PIAA individual championships, Penn State; Oct. 22 — PIAA team championships, Penn State.

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Low round

Latrobe golfer Jack Sacriponte had his best scoring round of the season Tuesday in a home match against Hempfield at Latrobe Country Club.

Sacriponte made four birdies, four pars and a bogey for a 3-under-par 32 as the Wildcats won 183-210 to move to 4-0.

Noah Dixon (36), Nate Meeder (36) and Jeremy Lazarchik also posted rounds in the 30s.

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Record run

Record are meant to be broken, even in scrimmages.

Hempfield senior Ryan Ewing won the race and broke a school record as the Spartans topped host Connellsville, 15-40.

Ewing’s time of 17 minutes, 28.58 seconds to set the new mark.

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Recruiting

Penn-Trafford senior tennis player Mia Williams will continue her playing career at Skidmore College, a Division III powerhouse program in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

She also considered some Division I programs. Her other choices were Ithaca, Lehigh, Middlebury, Merrimack and Bowling Green.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Hempfield, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford