Sports
WPIAL Baseball Consolation Wednesday Recaps 2016
June 1, 2016
While district baseball gold was being handed out at CONSOL Energy Park again on Wednesday, state playoff berths were at stake next door at the Washington & Jefferson College Sports Complex. A pair of Class AAA and Class AA teams were hoping to win and continue their season into the state playoffs. Here are the recaps from the two games heard here on The Network. A special thanks to Mike Azadian and Jake Holmes for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAA Consolation:
Chartiers Valley Gallops Past Blackhawk for First Baseball Title
May 31, 2016
The Chartiers Valley Colts (16-7) won their first baseball championship in school history with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Blackhawk Cougars (18-5) In the WPIAL AAA Championship at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA. Cole Horew was the star on the mound for the Colts, pitching all seven innings with seven strikeouts and seven scattered hits, walking none. Chartiers Valley would threaten in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Dante Panucci doubled deep to left field. Horew then reached on an error, putting runners at second and third base. A walk to Joe Sibeto loaded the bases. But Blackhawk's Mark Engel induced Tristen Zimmer into an inning ending double play.
600 is Golden As Riverside Wins WPIAL Baseball Crown
It was thought that the WPIAL Class AA baseball championship game would turn into a pitcher's duel. The game lived up to that billing and then some. Riverside's Mike Boswell and Neshannock's Frank Fraschetti pitched over eight scoreless innings each, but it was the Riverside Panthers (20-2) came out on top, defeating the Lancers 1-0 in nine innings at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington.WPIAL Softball Consolation Tuesday Recaps
WPIAL softball gold will be decided on Thursday with all four district championship games at Lilley Field at California University of Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, it was time to decide which teams would join the finalists in the upcoming PIAA softball postseason. Here are recaps from all four WPIAL Consolation contests played at Cal U and West Allegheny Tuesday afternoon. A special thanks to Ed Troup, Steve Nagler, Kyle Dawson and Lee Mohn for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation:WPIAL Baseball Consolation Tuesday Recaps
While the spotlight was shining on the district championship games at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, there was important action going on right next door at Ross Memorial Park and the Washington & Jefferson College Sports Complex. A pair of battles in Class A and Class AAAA to determine third place in the district and a coveted spot in the upcoming PIAA state baseball playoffs. Here are recaps from those contests. A special thanks to Mark Uriah and Greg Kuntz for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Consolation:
2016 WPIAL Baseball Championship Previews
May 30, 2016
For 75 percent of the teams in the WPIAL baseball championships, foes are familiar. Three of the four championships match teams that have already played once this season. Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Serra, and Neshannock vs. Riverside are title games between teams from the same section. Plum played Norwin in a non-section game. The Class AAA championship – Blackhawk vs. Chartiers Valley – is the only game where teams have not played before. All of the championship games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday at Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things and heard here on the MSA Sports Network. Here is a breakdown of the four championships: WPIAL CLASS AAAA:
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Brendan McKay
During the 2014 WPIAL baseball season, watching Brendan McKay was a must-see event. McKay, of Blackhawk High School, produced one of the best pitching streaks in high-school baseball history for the Cougars. Now at Louisville, the lefty hurler has continued his excellence on the mound, as well as at the plate, for the Cardinals. McKay is the focus of the final WPIAL Alum Q&A of the 2015-16 sports season.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 05/29/2016
May 29, 2016
A holiday weekend leads us right into Championship Week on the diamonds and the final WPIAL Finals of the 2015-2016 school year this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have Championship and Consolation action in both WPIAL Baseball and WPIAL Softball along with another full week of Washington Wild Things pro baseball, plus Rappin' on Racin' and the final edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes this spring on a special night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, May 30th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net Tuesday, May 31st:PIAA Track & Field Highlights – Day Two
It was a one-of-a-kind day for Dom Perretta. He pulled off an unassisted double and triple play. Perretta, a senior made history at the PIAA individual track and field championships Saturday at Shippensburg University. His double play came when he won the Class AA 800- and 1,600-meter runs. His triple play was that he won both events for the third year in a row. The effort put Perretta into the record book. He became the first runner in PIAA history to win both the 800 and 1,600 three consecutive years – in any classification. But Perretta did more than win both events again. He set a Class AA championship meet record in the 800 with a time of 1 minute, 50.10 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:51.96 set 29 years ago.2016 WPIAL BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS Results
The four year run atop of the WPIAL Class AA came crashing to a half for Ambridge in the schools eighth title match in nine years. The Bridgers hopes of a fifth straight district crown were snuffed out by Beaver County Christian as the Eagles captured their first WPIAL boys volleyball crown, In Class AAA, another first time winner walked away with gold as the Penn-Trafford Warriors swept past the Bethel Park Black Hawks, who settled for silver for the second time in four years. Here are ALL the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs. All results marked with (MSA) after are matches that can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network.2016 WPIAL GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYOFFS Results
For one school, its one for the thumb when it comes to district girls lacrosse titles. For the other, its just one, as in first ever championship. Mount Lebanon won the Division I crown, the schools second championship in three years and fifth in school history. Meanwhile, Blackhawk stayed true to its top-seed as the Cougars captured first time in school history. Here are ALL of the results from the 2016 WPIAL Girls Lacrosse Playoffs. Results marked with (MSA) are matches that can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network. 2016 WPIAL GIRLS LACROSSE DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 14 - Chartiers Valley Colts 9 (MSA)2016 WPIAL BOYS LACROSSE PLAYOFFS Results
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. For North Allegheny boys lacrosse, revenge is a dish best served Gold. After losing to Mount Lebanon in both the 2013 and last years Division I boys lacrosse district finals, North Allegheny edged the Blue Devils for the Tigers first ever district boys lacrosse title. In Division II, it was another defending champion falling to a first time champion as Mars knocked out Hampton for D-II gold. Here are ALL the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Playoffs. All results marked with (MSA) after them are matches that can be heard archived on the MSA Sports Network. 2016 WPIAL DIVISION I BOYS LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Penn-Trafford Sweeps Bethel Park for First WPIAL Boys Volleyball Gold
May 28, 2016
The Penn-Trafford Warriors claimed their first volleyball title with a straight-sets win against Bethel Park in the Class AAA Championship at Baldwin High School. Propelled by their success in extra points, the Warriors prevailed 33-31, 25-20 and 27-25. In a matchup of two teams looking for their first championship, top-seeded Penn-Trafford captured the opening set in dramatic fashion. The squads frequently exchanged leads, but the No. 3 Black Hawks pulled ahead 24-22 and appeared poised to take the upper hand. Three consecutive points staked the Warriors to the lead, though, and the sides continued to exchange blows until Penn-Trafford finally prevailed 33-31.
North Allegheny Finally Top Mount Lebanon For D-I Boys Lax Crown
The North Allegheny Tigers won their first ever boys lacrosse championship Friday night defeating Mount Lebanon 9-7 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. Mount Lebanon defeated the Tigers last year 9-8 in double overtime in last years finals and also won 18-5 early in the year. This night would be different. Mount Lebanon would control the first four minutes of the match and were finally rewarded with a goal from Brian Ward. The Tigers would call timeout and from then on things went North Allegheny's way. The Tigers would score three goals in 51 seconds and one with just 15 seconds left in period one to take a 4-1 lead. Scoring two goals each were Gavin Hagen and Wes Powell.
Beaver County Christian Ends Ambridge’s WPIAL AA Volleyball Run
The narrative was all too familiar before the championship of boys’ volleyball in Class AA. For the fifth straight season and for the eighth time in nine years, the Bridgers of Ambridge were in the house competing for a championship. They had won seven titles in the previous eight seasons, going 7-7 in their opportunities. But all good stories in sports come to an end eventually, and when the final volley was complete at Baldwin High School on Friday night, a new champion was crowned. A champion, in the Eagles of Beaver County Christian, whose name probably isn’t all too familiar for followers of the WPIAL. It was the first appearance for the team that hails from a school that has 33 male students enrolled in a volleyball championship game.
Mars Knocks Off Defending Champ Hampton for Boys D-II Lax Title
May 27, 2016
The Mars Fighting Planets, in just their fourth year or existence, captured the WPIAL Division 2 Boys Lacrosse by defeating defending champion Hampton 15-10 at Highmark Stadium in Station Square. It didn't take Mars long to jump on top as Andrew Moyer converted a feed from Joe Horvat just :32 into the match to give Mars a 1-0 lead. The Talbots answered as sophomore Ross Anderson BG beat Mars goalie Pat Morrow from 12-yards out off a assist from Luke Molingowski to tie the game at 1. Moyer netted his second of the game from 18-yards as a two-man advantage was ending to put Mars back in the lead before Richy Myros scored his first goal of the game to tie the match at 2-2.PIAA Track & Field Highlights – Day One
Is it really a 12-pound shot put in Jordan Geist’s hands? The way it sails on his throws, you’d swear it was a softball. Geist, a junior at Knoch High School, is the No. 1 high school shot putter in the country this spring and Friday he added some distance to his reputation as the best shot putter in Pennsylvania history. Geist set another meet record when he threw 74 feet, 3 ½ inches at the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University. He broke the 11-year-old Class AAA record of 70-0 set by Central Dauphin’s Ryan Whiting, who made the U.S. Olympic team in 2012.
Mount Lebanon Wins More WPIAL Girls Lacrosse D-I Gold
Senior attack Anna Albers scored 4 goals and added 4 assists and fellow senior Sophia Klaber added 4 goals of her own to lead the Mt. Lebanon to a 14-9 win over Chartiers Valley at Highmark Stadium, giving the Blue Devils their second championship in the past three years. The WPIAL Girls Division 1 title is the fifth title overall for Mt. Lebanon. Klaber and sophomore Cora Broadhurst scored the first two goals of the game and the Blue Devils never trailed against their Section 1 rival Chartiers Valley. Senior midfielder Maria Stamerra got the Colts on the board at the 7:09 mark of the first period with the first of her 6 goals in the game. But Albers on a step out move and sophomore Lexi Gibbons answered for Mt. Lebanon to make the score 4-1.
Big First Half Helps Blackhawk Win WPIAL Girls D-II Title
Blackhawk built a substantial lead in the first half, and held off a second-half charge, defeating Mars 7-5 to claim the school's first Division II Lacrosse Championship at Highmark Stadium. The top-seeded Cougars won the rubber match against the Fighting Planets, as the team's split their two regular-season tilts.WPIAL Softball Recaps From Wednesday, May 25th
May 25, 2016
The last missing pieces to the WPIAL Baseball and Softball Championship Week puzzle were filled in on Wednesday as eight Final Four winners had their ticket punched and they are headed out to Cally...California University of Pennsylvania that is where next Thursday, those eight teams play for district gold. The Final Four losers do not pack in it yet though as they will settle for a spot in their classes consolation game to play for a berth in the PIAA Playoffs and continue their season into June. Here are the Softball Semifinals summaries. A special thanks to Mike Azadian, Mark Schaas, Lou Rood, Jason Tennant, Sean Meyers, Bob Gregg and Lee Mohn for their help on these recaps. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:
