Norwin notebook: Former Knights baseball standout wins Palomino World Series

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Summer baseball is more fun when it comes with some hardware.

Just ask Norwin graduate Justin Weaver.

While you were on vacation, he was on the fast track to a world series ring.

A member of the Youngstown, Ohio, Palomino team, Weaver celebrated a Palomino World Series title with 13 teammates who have WPIAL ties.

It was the first time a team from the east region won the championship outright.

Weaver, an outfielder for the AstroFalcons, added a bonus. He was named the tournament’s “Fastest Runner.”

“The experience is for sure something I will remember, meeting teams from places like Israel, Japan, Dominican Republic and Mexico,” Weaver said. “For some of the guys on my team, it was the first time meeting them, but it didn’t take long for us all the bond. Overall, it was a very fun time.”

Youngstown went 4-0 in the double-elimination series, defeating Mexico, 10-4, to clinch the title.

As for the sidecar award, Weaver had some fun with it.

“The fastest player award was a home-to-home timed race, so every team picked their fastest runner before the tournament and had them show off their speed to everyone watching,” he said. “I was honored to represent Youngstown in the event.”

Other WPIAL players on the team that also won its eighth Youngstown Class B championship in a row included Owen Henne, Jacob McGuire and Joey Perry (Pine-Richland), Colin Casteel (Butler), AJ Capizzi (Seneca Valley), Anthony Cordeiro and Kaijuan Baskerville (Central Catholic), John Chalus (Bethel Park), Ryan Apaliski (Hampton), Jack Lutte (Peters Township), Ron Harper (Riverside), Austin Lafferty (South Park), Ben Kern (West Allegheny) and Luke McCoy (South Side).

Martin honored

Norwin wrestling coach Kyle Martin was named the USA Wrestling Northeast Region Person of the Year.

Last month, Martin guided U16 boys and girls teams to national titles at the USA Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D.

A number of his Knights Regional Training Center members had successful tournaments, including incoming Norwin freshman Landon Sidun, who won a national title at 113 pounds.

Moose call

Norwin graduate Justin Moose, a familiar name on the world long-drive circuit, recently collected his first professional golf tournament win.

Moose took home the $10,000 first prize with a victory at the Hollywood Casino $5 Million Challenge at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.

Moose fired a 6-under-par 66 to win the 18-hole event over Frank Blazewick of Cranberry.

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

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