Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin’s O’Neil will play baseball for Mercyhurst

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 4:19 PM

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Matt O’Neil, a significant contributor and two-year letterman for Norwin baseball, will continue his playing career at the NCAA Division I level.

O’Neil recently announced a verbal commitment to Mercyhurst, which left the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for the D-I Northeast Conference in the fall of 2024.

O’Neil, a senior with one season of prep baseball remaining, was recruited as a pitcher.

Mercyhurst has established a recruiting pipeline to Norwin in recent years, with six Knights alums on the 2025 roster.

O’Neil also had interest from other D-I programs and from several in the PSAC.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play college baseball at the highest level,” the right-handed O’Neil said. “It was a hard decision based on the relationships that I formed with some of these schools and their coaches. In the end, Mercyhurst provided me with the perfect combination of athletics and academics. I also know some current and prior players who have had nothing but good things to say about the coaches and their program. All of these things played a role in my decision making.”

O’Neil, who also is an outfielder for the Knights, went 2-1 last season with a 2.24 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.

“Matt has worked very hard throughout his high school career both on the field and in the weight room,” Norwin coach Craig Spisak said. “His fastball velocity has improved each season, and his off-speed pitches have developed nicely. He has late break on his off-speed pitches which makes him very difficult to hit against.

“Matt will be an important part of our team this upcoming season.”

Uschock hired

Franklin Regional hired Maddie Uschock as softball coach. The former Hempfield standout replaces Jim Armstrong, who resigned after 23 years guiding the Panthers.

Uschock was a talented pitcher who helped Hempfield win four straight WPIAL titles and three consecutive and PIAA Class 6A titles.

She is one of only three Hempfield pitchers to win WPIAL and PIAA titles, joining Danielle Resovich and Morgan Ryan.

WCCA golf

The Westmoreland County Coaches Association boys golf championship will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday at Latrobe Elks Golf Club.

Kiski Area’s Max Mottura is the defending champion after shooting a 3-under-par 69 and edging Greensburg Salem’s Ryan Sikora in a scorecard playoff.

Kiski Area won the 3A team title, and Greensburg Central Catholic took the 2A crown for the third straight year.

Jack Sacriponte of Latrobe is another player to watch after he shot 73 to take fifth last year.

Single ladies

The WPIAL individual tennis postseason begins Wednesday with section singles tournaments.

The top four finishers at each site advance to the WPIAL singles championships Sept. 18-19 at Bethel Park. The 3A first round through semifinals will be at North Allegheny.

Junior Meriwether McCargo of Shady Side Academy returns as the WPIAL 3A champion. Penn-Trafford senior Mia Williams, the runner-up, also is back.

In 2A, senior Gabi Dusi of Belle Vernon returns to defend her title. Two of the four semifinalists in the 2A bracket graduated.

Ace in the hole

Greensburg Salem sophomore Luke Sikora brought a highlight home from a recent golf match at Grandview Golf Club in Braddock. He aced the par-3 No. 9 hole as the Golden Lions won 178-219.

Sikora, who hit a gap wedge from 125 yards, finished with a 1-under 33 on the front nine. Teammate Bryce Ferace added a 34.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Latrobe, Norwin