Baseball
Jeannette Stuns Rival Greensburg CC for 1A Baseball Gold
May 31, 2017
On Wednesday, May 31, 2017 history was made for the Jeannette High School baseball program. The Jayhawks won their first WPIAL Championship in program history defeating the Greensburg Central Centurions 7-3. Greensburg Central Catholic struck first in the bottom of the 3rd inning scoring two runs. Centurion Nicholas Ruggeri led off the inning by walking and working his way to second on a stolen base. Neal McDermott scored Ruggeri from second with a RBI triple and later scored on a throwing error. Jeannette would strike next in the top of the 4th inning. Eric Hall tallied a one-out single and Blaze Tran followed suit notching a single to advance Hall from first to third. Seth Howard drove in Hall from third with a RBI single.
Blackhawk Blanks South Park for 4-A Baseball Crown
As is the case with tightly contested title games, one inning can be the difference between championship gold and being left behind as the WPIAL runner up. South Park starter Kyle Thompson took a no hitter into the fourth inning and appeared to be en route to a gem of a performance, but not before Blackhawk got to him in the bottom of that very inning en route to a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night at Wild Things Park in Washington (PA). Blackhawk's Nick Cerani and Michael Turconi had back-to-back hits in the bottom of that fourth inning, before Mark Engel bunted them over to secure runners on second and third.
California Outlasts Freedom to Win WPIAL 2-A Title
May 30, 2017
All year, the California Trojans baseball team has relied on their pitching and defense to win games. A solid defense keeping the score low has allowed the Trojans offense to scatter runs over seven innings of play. On Tuesday, it took more than seven innings. California scored two runs in the top of the tenth inning to claim a 3-1 victory over Freedom in the WPIAL Class 2A Championship on Tuesday at Wild Things Park in Washington. The victory gave the Trojans their fifth WPIAL Championship in program history, ranking fifth all-time.
Golden Panthers Again as Riverside Wins 3-A Title
Last year, it took nine innings and only one run to give the Riverside Panthers the Class AA crown with a 1-0 win over Neshannock. In 2017, it was a new class and opponent but the end result was still the same as the Panthers cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Mount Pleasant Vikings at Wild Things Park to take the 3A baseball trophy back to North Sewickley Township. It is the fifth WPIAL title for Dan Oliastro's team, he has racked up four state titles as well in an amazing 49 year career. Christian Cicchinelli was the winning pitcher, allowing a run and three hits over the first six innings. The senior also got the job done at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI singles.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tyler Falk
April 25, 2017
Riverside has a baseball heritage that is nearly unparalleled in the WPIAL. The Panthers have captured an array of championships and produced even more standout players. Tyler Falk is among those standouts who has not only won multiple titles at Riverside, but is now excelling at the college level at Clarion University. He's this week's feature for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Falk was a two-sport athlete at Riverside, as he was a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and basketball. He truly excelled on the diamond, though, as he contributed to a pair of record-setting campaigns.
MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/24/2017
April 24, 2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including a NEW #1 team in Class 6-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (11-1) (Last Week #2) 2) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (7-4) (Last Week #4) 3) NORWIN KNIGHTS (9-2) (Last Week #5) 4) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (9-2) (Last Week #1)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/23/2017
April 23, 2017
We head into the second half of section play on the diamonds as we pay a sweltering farewell to the month of April this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball including coverage of several Hometown Softball broadcasts. We also have WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse, plus another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes and Carlow Sports Talk ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 24th: TALK SHOW - Carlow Sports Talk at 8:30pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Montour vs Chartiers Valley at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Hampton vs North Hills at 7:00pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 04/21/2017
April 21, 2017
Blackhawk baseball coach Bob Amalia has had talented pitchers before. Only a few years ago he had Brendan McKay, who came close to breaking a national scoreless streak record. But now Amalia is blessed with a stable full of pitchers who are putting up remarkable statistics for an undefeated team. “So far, so good. We’re trying to just go one game at a time,” said Amalia. “But as a staff, this is the best I’ve had.” Blackhawk has a 12-0 record and the Cougars’ statistics make eyes pop: * Blackhawk has allowed only eight runs in 12 games, including six earned runs. * The Cougars have seven shutouts and allowed only one run in four other games. Four of the runs allowed came in one game against New Castle.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Tyler Smith
April 17, 2017
Tyler Smith was a dominant starting pitcher and standout infielder at Penn-Trafford High School several years ago. Smith is now excelling on the diamond at Canisius College, although he's doing so as a relief pitcher. Smith is this week's profile for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Smith played three years of high-school varsity baseball with the Warriors, helping guide the team to playoff appearances in each of those seasons. In 2012, the Warriors went 10-9-1, losing to Upper St. Clair in the opening round of the Quad-A playoffs. That season, Smith batted over .400 at the plate as a sophomore.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/17/2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including another NEW #1 team in Class 5-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (8-0) (Last Week #1) 2) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (9-1) (Last Week #2) 3) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (9-1) (Last Week #6) 4) CANON-McMILLAN BIG MACS (5-4) (Last Week #8)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/17/2017
After enjoying a basket of goodies, you can enjoy the end of the first half and the start of the second half of spring sports section action this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball including coverage of Hometown Softball. We also have WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse and WPIAL boys volleyball, plus another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 17th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Deer Lakes vs Hampton at 4:00pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Girls Lacrosse - Shady Side Academy vs Fox Chapel at 7:00pm on the North Allegheny Sports Network at MSAsports.net
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Connor Coward
April 10, 2017
The Seneca Valley baseball team has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years, including winning titles in 2012 and 2014. Paramount in that success was Connor Coward. Coward, who is now pitching for Virginia Tech, is this week's feature for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Coward's prep career was incredibly impressive, as he was a three-year letterwinner for the Raiders, beginning in 2012. That season, Coward was primarily used as a position player, as the team compiled a mark of 18-5. Included in that record were WPIAL Class Quad-A playoff victories against Upper St. Clair and Central Catholic. In the title game, Coward started in the outfield, as his squad prevailed 5-3 against Mount Lebanon.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/10/2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including NEW #1 teams in both Class 6-A and Class 5-A. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (6-0) (Last Week #6) 2) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (6-1) (Last Week #2) 3) NORWIN KNIGHTS (3-1) (Last Week #1) 4) BUTLER GOLDEN TORNADO (3-1) (Last Week #4)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/10/2017
While you may spend a lot of time hunting Easter eggs, you won't have to spend a lot of time searching for quality high school sports sports coverage this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball including coverage of Hometown Softball. We also have WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse, plus another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 10th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Pittsburgh Central Catholic vs Pine-Richland at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Plum vs Norwin at 4:00pm on MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 04/08/2017
April 8, 2017
A star hurdler is emerging in girls track and field at Oakland Catholic, but the last time we heard much of her, she was at Penn Hills. Jayla Ellis is a sophomore at Oakland Catholic who has run the 100-meter hurdles in 14.1 seconds this spring. According to WPIAL girls track and field historian Jim Faiella, that is the second-fastest time in the history of the WPIAL. Lindsay Dolan of Center ran 14.1 in 2006. Ellis burst onto the WPIAL track scene a year ago, winning the 100 hurdles as a freshman and finishing fourth in the state. But Ellis attended Penn Hills last year. She transferred to Oakland Catholic for her sophomore year.
Aliquippa Snaps 107-Game Baseball Losing Streak
April 3, 2017
Streaks are meant to be broken. On Friday night, it was the Connecticut women's basketball team that had a 111-game winning streak snapped in the Final Four on a buzzer-beater. On Monday afternoon, another triple-digit streak came to an end. On a dreary day in Herman, Pennsylvania, the Aliquippa baseball team defeated Summit Academy 5-4, snapping a 107-game losing streak for the 'Quips dating back to April 21, 2008. It has been a long time coming for an Aliquippa program synonymous with victory in Western Pennsylvania. Boasting a record 16 WPIAL football championships and the active lead with 12 WPIAL basketball titles, it is difficult to imagine their spring sports program to be any different.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/03/2017
Each week during the 2017 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all six classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2017 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network. CLASS 6-A Top Ten: 1) NORWIN KNIGHTS (2-0) (Last Week #1) 2) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (5-0) (Last Week #4) 3) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (5-0) (Last Week #6) 4) BUTLER GOLDEN TORNADO (1-1) (Last Week #2) 5) BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (2-1) (Last Week #5)
Coaches Corner – Brian Dzurenda
In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts. This week features head baseball coach Brian Dzurenda of the Serra Catholic Eagles. Coach Dzurenda is in his 18th year coaching at his alma mater. He has led the Eagles to WPIAL championships in 2009, 2010, and 2016. He has also led Serra Catholic to a record three straight PIAA state championship games from 2009-2011, claiming state gold in 2011. Let’s take a look inside Coach Dzurenda’s corner:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/03/2017
Spring has sprung as we not only hit April, but also the start of section play on the district diamonds this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL baseball section contests along with WPIAL softball as we begin our coverage of Hometown Softball with a record 11 schools, plus we begin our WPIAL boys lacrosse coverage and debut WPIAL Diamond Notes for another season on Tuesday evenings ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 3rd: WPIAL High School Baseball - Laurel Highlands vs Franklin Regional at 4:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Hampton vs North Hills at 7:00pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.netThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/27/2017
March 27, 2017
It's all about the transition. We make the transition of broadcasting winter sports to spring sports as march transitions into April this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We begin our spring scholastic sports coverage with a handful of WPIAL baseball games, a WPIAL softball contest and a WPIAL boys volleyball match, plus one more winter sports event with the Quigley Classic girls and boys high school basketball games ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 27th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Bishop Canevin vs West Allegheny at 4:30pm on MSAsports.net Tuesday, March 28th: No Broadcast Wednesday, March 29th:
