Dave Mackall stories, Page 3
East Allegheny focused on erasing 1-9 memory
East Allegheny wishes it could forget that awful record, but the returning players and coaches won’t. Besides, they really can’t. One win and nine losses. “We went 1-9 last season,” Wildcats coach Frank Cortazzo lamented. “We don’t want to do that again.” Frankly, who would? “It’s sort of been the...
Defending WPIAL champ Avonworth hungry to take care of unfinished business
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 22. There’s been a bit of a sour mood lurking in the Avonworth camp, where the Antelopes play. They almost won it all in 2024, but close...
Revamped offensive line holds key to Greensburg Salem’s success
A new offensive line for the Greensburg Salem football team will be on display when the Golden Lions begin play Aug. 22 at Albert Gallatin. “I’m really excited to see what we can do,” junior quarterback Brody Chismar said. By the time the team plays its first home game at...
With 4-year starter under center, Trinity primed for another playoff season
Trinity has been making a lot of racket lately. Maybe it’s time for the Hillers to rumble. Armed with a four-year starting quarterback and a coaching staff oozing with confidence, the Washington-based school is marching into another season with a purpose. “We’re proud of what we’re doing here. And I...
Indiana banking on familiar coach to get program turned around
Hey, Indiana, an old acquaintance is back in town. Four years after setting out for Arizona, where he spent time as an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University, former longtime coach Mark Zilinskas will be back on the Indians’ sideline. He’s hoping to jump-start a program that hasn’t enjoyed a...
Derry appreciates importance of offensive line play
Quarterback Anthony Sacco, meet two-way tackle Aiden Piper. “We’ve met,” Sacco said, dryly. The two Derry juniors exchanged glances. Finally, they flashed what appeared as true smiles Friday on the final day of the PIAA’s mandated preseason heat-acclimatization week for high school football teams. Make no mistake, guys like the...
With big-time QB returning, South Fayette ready to tackle Class 5A challenges
Watch out for the little guy. Aside from a handful of schools being required to compete in a higher classification under the PIAA’s competitive-balance rule, South Fayette represents the smallest Class 5A program by male enrollment in the state. That the Lions are aligned with the WPIAL’s powerful Allegheny Six...
With experience at skill positions, Moon ready for another run in rugged Allegheny Six
In eight previous seasons as coach at Moon, Ryan Linn has seen his teams make a habit of flirting with greatness in the highly respected Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference. So, too, have others. And while the conference has had only Peters Township in 2023 win a WPIAL title during...
Ronald DeNunzio thanks ‘lucky stars,’ escapes serious injury from golf ball to head at Westmoreland Amateur
Two days after taking an errant golf ball to his head, Ronald DeNunzio was back at work and feeling fine following a short stay in the hospital. “I’m good. I’m OK,” the part-owner of DeNunzio Italian Restaurants told TribLive by phone Tuesday morning while making a food delivery to Norwin...
Fajt wins Westmoreland amateur; playing partner Ronald DeNunzio injured after being struck by golf ball
South Greensburg Mayor Kevin Fajt, one of the area’s top amateur golfers, insists on the value of his relationships with others more than just about anything else. Even a round on the links. While Fajt managed to capture his seventh title Sunday at the Westmoreland County Golf Association Amateur Championship...
As summer workouts end, Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel likes makeup of roster
A bouncing basketball caught the attention of Jeff Capel this week while the Pitt coach was sitting in his office at Petersen Events Center. What’s so strange about the sound of basketballs bouncing in a gym? Not a thing, unless, of course, no one was expected to be around. “I...
Andy Toole uses run to Horizon title, NCAA Tournament to rebuild Robert Morris’ roster
The piercing sound of his voice echoes above everything else. The fire in Andy Toole has been rekindled. The passion is there. Same coach. Different players. Nearly four months to the day after the Robert Morris men’s basketball team gave No. 2 seed Alabama a scare in the NCAA Tournament,...
Fox Chapel’s David Fuhrer II birdies final hole to win 125th West Penn Amateur
JOHNSTOWN — Chalk up another golfing victory for the Fuhrer family. David Fuhrer II, the youngest in a line of successful golfers to hit the region’s storied golf scene, sank a short birdie putt on the final hole Tuesday to break a three-way tie and capture the championship of the...
Winding college career brings ‘Big’ John Hugley IV back to the ‘Burgh
A mountain of a man with an adoring smile emerged Tuesday from the summer basketball workout at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse and cheerfully greeted a curious onlooker. “Can I call you ‘Big John?’ ” the visitor inquired. To which John Hugley IV responded: “Sure can.” Wait, are we talking about...
Oregon State transfer Damarco Minor answers Pitt’s help-wanted call at point guard
The Pitt men’s basketball team needed a point guard after All-ACC third-teamer Jaland Lowe’s transfer to Kentucky. Damarco Minor was happy to answer the call. A call in April, that is, from Pitt coach Jeff Capel that quickly convinced Minor to transfer in from Oregon State. “I’ve been in this...
Colby Weber shuts down Lampeter-Strasburg, sends Shaler back to PIAA championship game
CRESSON — Colby Weber and the Shaler baseball team are headed to another state championship game — their second in three seasons. Two years after winning a Class 5A title, the WPIAL champs, behind Weber’s three-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks, earned another trip to Penn State by ousting...
Indiana uses potent pitching, late-game offensive eruption to finish off Central Valley
Indiana’s deep pitching staff with three Division I commits presents a challenge for others to get enough work. Among them junior righthander Sullivan VanHoose. Given a golden opportunity Thursday in the PIAA quarterfinals, VanHoose efficiently passed the test. “Sully’s going to get there some day himself,” Indiana coach Dan Petroff...
Stars come out as New Kensington dedicates JFK Park courts to Valley basketball greats Flenory, Pipkins
The first day of June in New Kensington marked a nostalgic celebration at the city’s downtown JFK Park, bringing to it a collection of Who’s Who among friends and family of two city basketball legends. They had come to honor Baron “B.B.” Flenory and Tom Pipkins, two of the most...
Union’s Mia Preuhs no-hits Carmichaels to win pitchers’ duel in Class A title game
Union softball coach Doug Fisher didn’t appear ready Thursday to slap a dynasty label on his team just yet. Even as the Scotties, led by star right-hander Mia Preuhs’ fifth no-hitter of the season, were celebrating their third WPIAL Class A championship in four years, a 3-0 victory over Carmichaels...
Fear the beard: Sean Hudac pitches OLSH past Riverview in Class 2A baseball semis
With his free-flowing hair and bushy beard on display, Sean Hudac’s carefree approach to the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals Friday at Peterswood Park in Peters captured the spirit of No. 2 seed Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s baseball season. The Chargers, behind the senior right-hander’s first complete game, methodically...
Another no-hit outing from Tyler Samide leads Greensburg Central Catholic past Bishop Canevin in Class A
Sit down for this: On Tuesday, in a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal-round baseball playoff shortened to four innings, two teams totaled 17 runs, 17 walks and six errors. Oh, and there was a no-hitter, too, the second in a row for Greensburg Central Catholic, both by right-hander Tyler Samide. GCC...
Clutch outing from Nolan Wagoner leads Quaker Valley past Ligonier Valley in Class 3A 1st round
Nolan Wagoner’s first career complete game couldn’t have come at a better time for the Quaker Valley baseball team. “It was for these boys,” the senior right-hander said Thursday, glancing toward the Quakers’ dugout. “Wouldn’t have wanted to do it for anyone else.” Wagoner threw just 79 pitches (57 for...
Penn-Trafford volleyball sweeps Peters Township in 1st round
Surrounded by a group of former Penn-Trafford players, coach Jim Schall couldn’t stop smiling in the aftermath of the Warriors’ convincing, 3-0 blanking of visiting Peters Township on Tuesday night in a first-round WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball playoff. No doubt he was glad for their support. “These guys are...
Hempfield softball blanks top-ranked Seneca Valley, earns split of season series
Hempfield has produced an impressive list of softball pitchers, a fact that doesn’t elude current Spartans ace Riley Miller. The names include Jaci Kalp, Morgan Ryan, Lauren (Shaheen) Armanious and, of course, current coach Tina (Skelly) Madison. Kalp, whose 997 career strikeouts were once a WPIAL record, is the daughter...
Quaker Valley sweeps WPIAL Class 2A team track titles for 2nd straight season
As she was crossing the finish line well ahead of any challenger, Cecilia Montagnese flashed a smile and seemed barely winded after finishing first in the 3,200-meter run. The Quaker Valley senior counted it as just another routine day. Even though it wasn’t for Montagnese and the Quakers, whose girls...
