WPIAL rules North Catholic baseball player ineligible after transfer

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 9:08 PM

The WPIAL ruled North Catholic junior Jake McKee ineligible for the upcoming baseball season after transferring from New Brighton.

The WPIAL held a hearing Thursday. WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said the hearing panel found validity in testimony from New Brighton that indicated McKee’s transfer was at least partially motivated by athletics.

McKee is ineligible in baseball for one year but can appeal the decision to the PIAA.

• In a separate hearing, Uniontown sophomore Isaac Ellsworth was made fully eligible to play basketball this winter after transferring from Albert Gallatin.

• New Castle sophomore Damian Harrison was one of 10 transfers granted eligibility based on paperwork alone.

Harrison (6-5, 180), who plays football and basketball, transferred home from Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage. Seltzer said Harrison is fully eligible to play basketball for New Castle this winter. However, under PIAA rules, he is ineligible for the 2024 football playoffs after playing football this fall at Kennedy Catholic.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, New Brighton, New Castle, North Catholic, Uniontown