Bill Beckner stories, Page 67
Pitt, Penn State among schools courting Hempfield thrower Peyton Murray
Recruiting is beginning to ramp up for Peyton Murray. The senior shot put and discus thrower at Hempfield has been contacted by a number of Division I college programs and has drawn four scholarship offers with more likely on the way. Indiana was his first offer, followed by Iowa. This...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: When Penn-Trafford, Gateway meet, ‘this game is a big deal’
Fierce rivals Penn-Trafford and Gateway appear to be rounding into form just in time for another encounter. The Warriors (3-3, 2-0) will host Gateway (3-3, 3-0) in the annual “Battle for the Bell” game at 7:30 Friday night. This will be one of the few times where, at least in...
Jeannette girls soccer team wins for 1st time since 2019
The Jeannette girls soccer team did something Wednesday night it had not done since 2019: It won a game. Lindsay Jordan and Grace Stein each scored two goals as the Jayhawks defeated Valley, 4-1, in a nonsection game in New Kensington. Jeannette dumped a winless streak that had reached 52...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 6
Class 5A Big East Conference Gateway (3-3, 3-0) at Penn-Trafford (3-3, 2-0) 7:30 p.m., Friday, Warrior Stadium, Harrison City Last week: Gateway 63, Hempfield 21; Penn-Trafford 56, Norwin 28 Last year’s result: Gateway 21, Penn-Trafford 10 Who will get to ring the bell after this game? It’s the annual “Battle...
Elizabeth Forward’s Mya Morgan blasts past field to win WPIAL golf championship
Sophomore Mya Morgan had to miss a tryout for a school musical because she was competing in the WPIAL girls golf championship. Instead, Morgan landed the starring role on the golf course Wednesday. The musical is “Big Fish.” Her performance was more like something out of “Jaws.” Morgan, a sophomore...
Blue-collar approach works wonders for Mt. Pleasant boys soccer
Mt. Pleasant boys soccer players don’t do a lot of trash talking during games. In fact, they don’t do a lot of talking at all. Floyd Snyder, the team’s 16th-year coach, called them a “reserved group.” But he loves their approach. “They are not showboaters,” Snyder said. “They are bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work,...
Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Greensburg Central Catholic junior unleashes ‘screamer’ of a goal
It started with an innocent throw-in by Greensburg Central Catholic deep in Ligonier Valley territory. It ended with junior Jackson Vacanti delivering a nominee for goal of the year. His game-winner that propelled the Centurions to a 2-1 victory came with seven seconds left in regulation. GCC coach Ryan Kanner...
Plum boys rally from 2-goal deficit to avoid soccer upset vs. Latrobe
Everything seemed to be going right for Latrobe, until it wasn’t. Visiting Plum erupted for three second-half goals to avoid an upset and overcome the Wildcats in a 3-2 Section 4-3A boys soccer victory Tuesday night. Plum recovered nicely from its first 2-0 deficit of the season, staging a great...
It’s quality over quantity as Greensburg Central Catholic girls battle low roster numbers
Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls soccer team will play a game for the first time since Sept. 20 when it visits Seton LaSalle on Wednesday night. The Centurions (5-1), ranked No. 3 in the WPIAL and No. 6 in the state in Class A, had to postpone three consecutive games —...
Westmoreland County girls soccer notebook: Mt. Pleasant climbs to top of rankings
There is a new No. 1 team in Class 2A. Mt. Pleasant (10-2), which has won 10 straight — all shutouts — since a 2-0 loss to 3A No. 2 Moon, slid ahead of North Catholic and Avonworth. A result between those teams also led to the Vikings’ ascent to...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Area grads in running for Campbell Trophy
A local trio with on- and off-the-field smarts are up for one of college football’s major awards. Lehigh senior offensive lineman Christian Jablonski (Ligonier Valley), Allegheny senior wide receiver Declan O’Brien (Norwin) and Washington & Jefferson senior linebacker Justin Johns (Franklin Regional) are on a list of 201 semifinalists for...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: P-T golfer Nick Turowski can join exclusive company with win
Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski is primed to become a two-time WPIAL golf champion. And if he wins Monday, he will join elite company. Turowski would become just the second two-time winner from Westmoreland County. He could live like a King for a day. Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer won back-to-back titles in...
Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Southmoreland’s Taylor Doppelheuer, Yough’s Isaac Pacacha
Taylor Doppelheuer School: Southmoreland Class: Junior Sport: Volleyball Claim to fame: Doppelheuer has been a dominant force on the front line for the undefeated Scotties (11-0), who are tearing past opponents. They are No. 6 in the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 2A rankings. The 6-foot middle hitter had...
Westmoreland high school football notes: Jeannette’s Sanders keeps rolling despite cast
Noah Sanders’ stat line Friday night looked like this: Six carries, 151 yards, two touchdowns, one arm. The Jeannette senior running back has been playing with his right forearm in a thick, black cast. He broke his thumb in the Charleroi game in Week 4. “My thumb got pushed back...
Jeannette starts fast, wins 4th straight with victory over Riverview
Once the odds-on favorite most weeks, Jeannette is more dark horse these days as the football team continues to heal from a couple of thin years. But that is fine with the Jayhawks, who are regaining their footing week by week, game by game and win by win. Don’t look...
Jeannette starts fast, wins 4th straight with victory over Riverview
Once the odds-on favorite most weeks, Jeannette is more dark horse these days as the football team continues to heal from a couple of thin years. But that is fine with the Jayhawks, who are regaining their footing week by week, game by game and win by win. Don’t look...
Canon-McMillan boys soccer scores upset of No. 3 Norwin
Both boys soccer teams had given up 10 goals coming into their latest Section 2-4A matchup. But only one of them kept that total intact. Canon-McMillan, led by its coach with Westmoreland County ties, notched a goal in each half and locked down on defense throughout in a 2-0 upset...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Elizabeth Forward coach set to face old pals at Southmoreland
Peering across the field and trying to get a win against his buddies will be an interesting proposition for John DeMarco. There was a time when Southmoreland losing was the last thing he wanted to see. DeMarco, the first-year football coach at Elizabeth Forward, will lead his No. 2 Warriors...
Franklin Regional girls smother Penn-Trafford
Franklin Regional had eight players arrive late for Wednesday night’s warmups because of a National Honor Society event. As a result, kickoff was delayed 10 minutes. The Panthers probably didn’t need the extra time to loosen up. They looked ready from the start. Junior Abby Paterline had the only goal...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 5
Class 5A Big East Conference Franklin Regional (3-2, 0-1) at Plum (2-3, 0-2) 7 p.m. Friday, Mustang Stadium, Plum Last week: Franklin Regional 55, Shaler 7; Gateway 49, Plum 14 Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 31, Plum 28 Neighboring teams usually fight for the last word when they meet on...
Greensburg Central Catholic forced to postpone 3rd straight girls soccer game
With only eight or nine girls available to play because of illness and injuries, Greensburg Central Catholic had to postpone its third straight girls soccer game. The Centurions, ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class A, were scheduled to host No. 2 Springdale on Wednesday night, but the game has been...
Latrobe boys soccer team turning into overnight success
It’s going on 10 p.m., and the lights are still on at Rossi Field. There is a chill in the air, and the players can see their breath. But nobody is complaining. The boys soccer team at Latrobe likes its night practices as much as it does a signature win....
Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Franklin Regional’s Bayne puts best foot forward in 2 sports
Joey Bayne has tried just about every sport. Each one has brought about some measure of success. “Soccer was the first sport I played when I was like 4,” the junior from Franklin Regional said. “I played baseball until I was 10. I also did wrestling, swimming, basketball and golf....
Belle Vernon boys break in new formation, roll past section rival Yough
Belle Vernon must have noticed when this week’s boys soccer rankings came out — WPIAL and state — and it did not make the cut. No top five, no top 10 … no love? “It’s not really something we talk about,” coach Al Yeschenko said. “Maybe the kids know, I’m...
Mt. Pleasant girls use creative, up-tempo style to leave opponents in the dust
In order to play soccer the way the Mt. Pleasant girls play, you have to be ready to run. There aren’t many teams with the wall-to-wall speed the Vikings possess. Not many teams can turn an ordinary pitch into a five-lane highway in hyperdrive. “To play that way, you have...
