Sports
Scholastic Notebook – 04/15/2016
April 15, 2016
This is the second year that North Hills has scheduled almost all of its home baseball games in the evening. But this is the year the stars are shining brightest for North Hills. North Hills has been one of the surprise teams of WPIAL baseball. Look at the always loaded Northern area section of Class AAAA (Section 1) and you’ll see North Hills alone at the top of the standings. Wow. Look at the MSA Class AAAA rankings and you’ll see North Hills near the top at No. 3. Gasp. The reason for the surprise is North Hills has never been associated much over the past decade or so with winning baseball. The last time the Indians finished above .500 in the section was 2003. Their last section championship was 2002.Hometown Softball Recap – West Mifflin Titans – 04/14/2016
April 14, 2016
In the ultra-competitive Class AAA Section 3, outcomes are often decided by just a handful of key plays. On Thursday, a throwing error by West Mifflin proved to be the difference-maker, as Thomas Jefferson scored a 3-2 victory against the host Titans. The resurgent Jaguars, who scored wins over both Belle Vernon and Trinity this season after failing to qualify for the postseason last year, gained the upper hand early, as they plated a run in the first inning on a double steal.WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2016
April 13, 2016
A current NBA player, a former Parade All-American girls basketball player, two dominant teams and four highly successful coaches highlight the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2016. This is the 10th class for the WPIAL Hall of Fame, and selections were announced Wednesday at a news conference at the Heinz History Center. Inductees will be honored at a banquet at the Green Tree Doubletree June 10. A Hall of Fame committee selects inductees in five categories: athlete, coach, team, contest official and contributor. The WPIAL also inducts a Heritage Award winner and a Courage Award winner. Here is the 2016 class: ATHLETESMSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Volleyball – 04/13/2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten boys volleyball teams in the WPIAL in both classifications every Wednesday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on Wednesday and Friday for updated results and standings on your exclusive home for the 2016 WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net Section records in parenthesis. WPIAL CLASS AAA TOP TEN: 1. BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (4-0) (Last Week #1) 2. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-0) (Last Week #2) 3. NORWIN KNIGHTS (5-0) (Last Week #3)
Chris Gladden & Luke Ross Win WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Crowns
Stakes were high at Shady Side Academy on Tuesday afternoon as the WPIAL crowned Chris Gladden and Luke Ross as its first champions of the spring season on the tennis courts.Hometown Softball Recap – Chartiers-Houston
An early offensive onslaught lifted Charters-Houston (3-3, 1-1) to a 16-0 mercy rule victory over Avella (0-2, 0-1) on Tuesday afternoon in Houston. The Buccaneers plated 12 first inning runs and added four more in the second inning in a victory that took just 53 minutes and was called after the top of the second inning. Kaitlyn Dittrich picked up the win for Charters-Houston, allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters, including the final six she faced.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Softball – 04/12/2016
April 12, 2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten softball teams in the WPIAL in all four classifications every Tuesday 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 WPIAL Softball Playoffs sponsored by Carlow University, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA TOP TEN: 1. HEMPFIELD SPARTANS (4-0) (Last Week #1) 2. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (6-0) (Last Week #2) 3. SHALER TITANS (6-0) (Last Week #3)2016 WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Results
In the end, the top-seeds in the district boys singles tennis playoffs were left standing with the gold. Chris Gladden of Canon-McMillan captured his first WPIAL Class AAA title while 2014 WPIAL Class AA champion Luke Ross of Sewickley Academy beat 2015 winner Luke Phillips of Carlynton to win district gold for the second time in three years. Robby Shymansky of Fox Chapel and Sam Sauter of Sewickley Academy won the two consolation matches Tuesday afternoon to qualify of for the state tournament next month in Hershey. Here are ALL of the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Championships. The broadcast of the consolation and championship finals can be heard archived on the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Jayne Oberdorf
For the better part of the past decade, the name Oberdorf has been associated with Greensburg-Salem athletics. Most recently, Claire Oberdorf was a standout for the Golden Lions, particularly on the softball diamond and the basketball court. Before Claire, though, her older sister Jayne guided Greensburg Salem to gold. Jayne, who now pitches at Marist College, is profiled for the WPIAL Alum Q&A. Jayne Oberdorf was a four-year contributor for the GS softball team, both at the plate and in the circle. As a pitcher, she compiled a sterling record of 48-8, with more than 500 career strikeouts. Her junior and senior campaigns, she was recognized as an All-State performer, as well as Player of the Year.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/11/2016
April 11, 2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all four classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including a NEW #1 team in Class AAA. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2016 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA TOP TEN: 1. PLUM MUSTANGS (4-0) (Last Week #1) 2. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-1) (Last Week #3) 3. BUTLER GOLDEN TORNADO (4-1) (Last Week #2)MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Lacrosse – 04/11/2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten boys and girls lacrosse teams in the WPIAL in both divisions every Sunday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for final match results with weekly broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2016 WPIAL Boys and Girls Lacrosse Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.netThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/10/2016
April 10, 2016
Not only does the mercury rise as the week progresses, but the action on the diamonds, fields and courts do as well this week here on the MSA Sports Network. Our first spring high school sports championship takes place with the 2016 WPIAL Boys Singles Tennis Championships. We also have plenty of WPIAL section action from both baseball and softball along with WPIAL boys volleyball, WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse, plus the debut of Rappin' on Racin' along with another edition of WPIAL Diamond Notes ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 11th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net
Hometown Softball Recap – Elizabeth Forward Warriors – 04/06/2016
April 6, 2016
Sarah Turek pitched a complete game, four-hit shutout and went 3-for-3 with an RBI at the plate, leading Elizabeth Forward (4-1, 1-0) to a 5-0 win over rival West Mifflin (4-3, 0-2) on Wednesday in Forward Township. Turek, a senior and Muskingum University recruit, struck out four Titans batters and retired the final 13 batters she faced. Hitting ninth in the order, Turkek formed a nice 1-2 punch with freshman leadoff hitter Taylor Ludwick, who crushed a third inning home run and drove in another run with a double in the sixth inning.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Boys Volleyball – 04/06/2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten boys volleyball teams in the WPIAL in both classifications every Wednesday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings. Log on Wednesday and Friday for updated results and standings on your exclusive home for the 2016 WPIAL Boys Volleyball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAA TOP TEN: 1. BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (3-0) 2. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (3-0) 3. NORWIN KNIGHTS (3-0) 4. SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS (2-1) 5. PENN-TRAFFORD WARRIORS (2-0)WPIAL Boys Tennis Individual Singles Sectionals
The field for the 2016 WPIAL Singles Tennis Championships were finalized Tuesday with the championship and consolation matches in each section. The top three players from each section qualify for the district singles playoffs which take place on Monday and Tuesday of next week. WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 1: Championship: Rochan Ramesh (Franklin Regional) over Turner Price (Penn-Trafford) 6-1, 6-2 Consolation: Kevin Lee (Penn-Trafford) over Alex Ferraccio (Kiski Area) 6-3, 6-1 WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 2: Championship: Jared Issacs (North Allegheny) over Ben Vinarski (Pine-Richland) 6-1, 6-4 Consolation: Logan D'Angelo (Moon) over Richard Hofmann (North Allegheny) 6-2, 6-3)MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Softball – 04/05/2016
April 5, 2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten softball teams in the WPIAL in all four classifications every Tuesday 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 WPIAL Softball Playoffs sponsored by Carlow University, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA TOP TEN: 1. HEMPFIELD SPARTANS (2-0) (Last Week #1) 2. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-0) (Last Week #2) 3. SHALER TITANS (4-0) (Last Week #4)
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Courtney Patterson
April 4, 2016
Last week, the spring season of WPIAL Alum Q&A commenced with a profile of a baseball standout. This week, the focus shifts to the ladies, with former McKeesport and current St. Vincent College softball player Courtney Patterson. Patterson was a stalwart during a very successful run for the Tigers between 2011-2014. As a sophomore in 2012, the infielder helped guide her squad to an 8-4 mark in Class Quad-A Section 2. The following season, McKeesport was flawless in section action, as the Tigers boasted a 12-0 mark, with a record of 17-5 overall. That season, the team also scored a first-round playoff triumph, 11-10, against Baldwin.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Baseball – 04/04/2016
Each week during the 2016 regular season, MSA Sports will rank the top ten baseball teams in the WPIAL in all four classifications every Monday at www.MSAsports.net Here are this weeks rankings...including NEW #1 teams in both Class AAAA and Class AA. Log on every day for updated standings and game broadcasts on your exclusive home for the 2016 WPIAL Baseball Playoffs, the MSA Sports Network at MSAsports.net WPIAL CLASS AAAA TOP TEN: 1. PLUM MUSTANGS (3-0) (Last Week #2) 2. BUTLER GOLDEN TORNADO (4-0) (Last Week #7) 3. NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (2-1) (Last Week #1)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 04/03/2016
April 3, 2016
We hope to fight off that nasty chill in the air with red hot coverage of the spring high school sports season this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have plenty of WPIAL section action from both baseball and softball along with WPIAL boys volleyball and girls lacrosse, plus the debut of the new WPIAL Diamond Notes weekly show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, April 4th: WPIAL High School Baseball - Baldwin vs Peters Township at 7:00pm on MSAsports.net WPIAL High School Baseball - Knoch vs Hampton at 3:45pm on the Hampton Talbots Sports Network at MSAsports.netScholastic Notebook – 04/02/2016
April 2, 2016
The Pittsburgh Central Catholic football team won WPIAL and state titles this past season with a team that had five seniors sign with NCAA Division I-A colleges. Those talented players will never again wear the Vikings blue and gold, but Central Catholic is a must-stop for college recruiters again. It has become apparent that Central Catholic’s 2017 team will again be loaded with another handful of seniors who will play major-college football.
