Westmoreland high school notebook: Belle Vernon freshman gets D-I offer

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 5:27 PM

Belle Vernon’s Aubrey Brown is only a freshman, but she already has Division I college coaches interested in her game.

The 6-foot-1 forward, who made an immediate impact at the varsity level last season for the Leopards, received a scholarship offer last week from Kent State.

Brown averaged 10.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.2 blocks in her first season, helping Belle Vernon make the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

Belle Vernon coach Cornelious Nesbit said colleges like Brown’s upside and versatility. She has shown in WPIAL and AAU play with the Western PA Bruins she can play inside and out.

“It is her athleticism, the ability to rebound out of her area, and her shot blocking,” Nesbit said. “Her stepping out and shooting the 3-ball, plus her ability to finish at the rim. In college, she projects as a stretch-four in a lot of coaches’ systems, plus she can guard multiple positions. They also like her toughness.”

Brown had 10 double-doubles last season, including a game where she pulled down 16 rebounds.

Softball finals set

Hempfield and Penn-Trafford will play back-to-back WPIAL championship games Wednesday at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field.

Both are No. 1 seeds and will play No. 2 seeds.

Hempfield (20-1) will take on Seneca Valley (16-3) at 2:15 p.m. in the Class 6A final, followed by Penn-Trafford (20-2) and Shaler (17-4) at 4:30 for the 5A championship.

Hempfield is chasing its ninth WPIAL title, Penn-Trafford its first.

Norwin or go home

Norwin’s baseball team will go for its third WPIAL title when it faces Seneca Valley at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Class 6A title game at EQT Park in Washington.

The Knights (14-8), who are the No. 4 seed, last won a title in 2016. Seneca Valley (16-6), the No. 3 seed, has four titles, the most recent coming in 2014.

Only the WPIAL champion in 6A will qualify for the PIAA playoffs.

Consolation prize

Two Westmoreland baseball teams will play for third place in their classes leading up to the PIAA playoffs. One faces a must-win game, the other is playing for seeding.

Both third-place games are at Washington & Jefferson’s Ross Memorial Park in Washington.

Belle Vernon (16-7) will play Central Valley (12-11) at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Class 4A, with the winner advancing to the state tournament.

Greensburg Central Catholic (18-3), meantime, will take on Eden Christian (15-5) at noon Wednesday to determine the third- and fourth-place teams from WPIAL Class A. Both already have secured state berths.

Hoyas offer Crosby

Greensburg Central Catholic junior football standout Samir Crosby continues to add Division I scholarship offers. Crosby, a versatile playmaker who has lined up at quarterback, receiver and defensive back, received his latest offer from Georgetown of the Patriot League.

Crosby, who has said he wants to play wide receiver in college but is open to defense, is up to 10 D-I offers.

Kanner resigns

Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer coach Ryan Kanner is stepping down after two seasons.

He finished 14-19-1 with two WPIAL Class A playoff appearances.

Kanner wants to spend more time with his family but said his decision was made after “weeks of reflection.”

Sinclair to W&J

Former Franklin Regional standout Owen Sinclair parlayed an extra year of prep football into an NCAA Division III opportunity.

Sinclair, who spent a season at The Kiski School in Saltsburg, will continue his playing career at Washington & Jefferson.

A player in the mold of former Franklin Regional and W&J star linebacker Justin Johns, Sinclair (6-1, 225) had 64 tackles, 20 for loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles last season.

Recruiting

• Several Belle Vernon athletes signed with colleges. They include basketball player Tommy Davis (Westmoreland County Community College), swimmer Tim Reda (Maine Maritime Academy) and football player Kole Doppelheuer (Cal, Pa.).

• Penn-Trafford baseball player Robbie Andrews will play at Westmoreland County Community College.

• Hempfield’s Brayden Gerst, a junior linebacker, picked up a Division II offer from Wheeling.

• Three Hempfield cheerleaders will continue their competitive spirit careers at Slippery Rock: Sarah Sarge, Rose Bishop and Abby Colchagie.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Penn-Trafford