Greg Macafee stories, Page 29
Busy Latrobe seniors nominated for excellence awards
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in an 18-part series profiling nominees for the Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete Excellence Awards. It’s been almost 14 years since Latrobe was without a Harter runner, and senior Rachel Harter enjoyed being the last. “Every single Harter child has been a runner from seventh grade...
Lower Burrell native signs with top collegiate bass fishing school
When Lower Burrell native Austin Aikins started fishing, he never could have imagined how his future would pan out. But the Central Catholic senior is ecstatic with how it has. While some high school athletes are looking for a college scholarship in sports such as football, baseball or basketball, Aikins...
Senior Spotlight: North Catholic standout proud of claiming WPIAL gold in two sports
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Just a few years ago, North Catholic senior Ryan Feczko arrived onto the Pittsburgh baseball scene as a young southpaw who led the Trojans to their first WPIAL baseball...
Senior Spotlight: Opportunity to play in college motivating Mt. Lebanon shortstop
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. From being a terror on the basepaths to a leader on defense, Mt. Lebanon senior Dante Borris has done it all for the Blue Devils. As a junior last...
Blackhawk alum Brendan McKay embracing life at the major league level
All athletes dream of the day they’ll step on the field at a professional stadium. They put in countless hours of work, sacrifice time with friends and family and do whatever it takes to make their dreams become a reality. On June 29 last year, Blackhawk graduate and Tampa Bay...
Plum graduate Alex Kirilloff healthy, excited for next step with Twins
In his first four years in professional baseball, Plum alum Alex Kirilloff has suffered plenty of ups and downs. After hitting .306 at the rookie ball level in 2016, the 15th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2017...
Senior Spotlight: After successful football season, Avonworth senior sticks with sport he loves
Jax Miller’s senior year got off to a pretty exciting start. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back ran for 2,362 yards and 29 touchdowns as the Avonworth football team turned in a 15-1 record, won a WPIAL Class 2A championship and finished as the state runners-up at Hershey. “It was definitely,...
Senior trio leaves lasting legacy at Cornell, aims to do same in collegeVideo
For the better part of the last decade, there probably wasn’t a time when you wouldn’t find Cornell seniors Kaden DiVito, Isaiah Langston and Zaier Harrison together. “We’re pretty much together at least once a day,” Harrison said. “This quarantine stuff has kind of slowed it down a little bit,”...
Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional catcher gets head start on future career during quarantine
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. While most high school students are at home, working on homework or training for college sports during the coronavirus pandemic, Franklin Regional senior Bryce Harper has been getting a...
USL extends 2020 season suspension for 3rd time
The United Soccer League announced the temporary suspension of the USL Championship season has been extended. On March 18, the league announced the season would be suspended until May 10. This came after the league — home to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds — decided to suspend the beginning of the season...
Riverhounds set to play in USL eCup: 2020 FIFA Edition
Virtual sporting events have become relatively popular during the coronavirus pandemic. The NBA held an NBA 2k20 virtual tournament where players from across the league faced off to see who was the best. MLB players are competing in an MLB The Show tournament with one representative from each team. Now,...
Burrell QB Alex Arledge stays positive during recruiting pause
Like so many other juniors throughout the country, Burrell quarterback Alex Arledge was looking forward to his spring and summer. During his junior season, Arledge’s first year starting, he completed 147 of 274 passes for 2,462 yards and 27 touchdowns. So the 6-foot-3 quarterback was expecting this to be a...
Senior Spotlight: South Fayette senior looking to improve after productive high school career
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. South Fayette senior Eli Snider has had quite the career as a Lion. While hitting .375 with 24 hits and 18 RBIs as a sophomore, he helped South Fayette...
Senior Spotlight: Hopewell pitcher aimed for return to WPIAL championship game
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years have been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Heading into his senior season, Hopewell pitcher Jake McGovern felt like this was the year for the Vikings. “I can’t tell you the emotions I was feeling. I...
Beadling SC joins the Girls Academy League
Beadling SC, an established soccer club in Western Pennsylvania, is starting to gain traction as one of the top clubs in the country. On Friday, Beadling announced that it would be joining the newly formed Girls Academy League as a part of its inaugural Mid-America conference for the upcoming season....
New A-K Valley coaches adapt to taking over programs during coronavirus pandemic
For high school football coaches, spring and summer are crucial to the development of their programs. It allows them to bring the team together in the weight room to get stronger, and it gives them time to install their schemes while building relationships with the players. That time is even...
Ligonier racer Garrett Smithley experiences iRacing successVideo
Over the past two months, sports leagues around the world have had to find a way to adapt because of the the coronavirus pandemic. Most leagues have suspended play. Some have brainstormed ways to restart their seasons, and others have come up with completely new ways to play their sports...
Freeport’s Isiah Bauman overcoming knee injury to play basketball at Point Park
Playing college football always was the goal for Freeport senior Isiah Bauman. After a junior season in which he was second on the Yellowjackets in tackles (73) and had two interceptions and seven deflected passes, his goal seemed like it was within reach. He said he was talking to a...
Senior Spotlight: Serra Catholic senior Mark Black was hoping for final run with teammates
Most WPIAL pitchers are probably disappointed they won’t have an opportunity to play baseball this spring. But, in hindsight, those same pitchers are probably a little relieved they won’t have to see Serra Catholic’s Mark Black step into the batter’s box. As a junior last season, the St. John’s recruit...
Senior Spotlight: Kiski Area outfielder sticking to routine while stuck at home
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Since the beginning of quarantine, Kiski Area senior Billy Perroz has been trying his best to stick to a routine. He wakes up a little later than normal —...
PA West Soccer Association cancels spring season
Another sports league has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday night, the Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association’s Youth Board decided because of different contributing factors surrounding the state-at-home order issued in Pennsylvania, the 2020 spring soccer season has been canceled. “Our youth board decided to cancel a...
Senior Spotlight: Freeport pitcher picks up an old hobby to pass time during quarantine
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Freeport pitcher and reigning Valley News Dispatch Baseball Player of the Year Jarrett Heilman is making the most out of quarantine. He’s taking long walks around Freeport with his...
Kiski Area’s Kenny Blake announces first Division I offer from Albany
Kenny Blake was a Swiss Army knife for the Kiski Area Cavaliers last season. On offense, he played running back, wide receiver and even took snaps in Kiski Area’s wildcat formation. In total, he produced 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns on the offensive side. On defense, he tallied 26 tackles...
Together again: Highlands guards commit to Point Park for basketball
Since they were young, Luke Cochran and Korry Myers have developed a special bond on the basketball court. From youth leagues to middle school to this winter, when they brought Highlands its first WPIAL championship since 1995, the guards have created an endless amount of memories. Most on-court relationships like...
Senior Spotlight: Mars pitcher using downtime to improve game before heading to college
With its season on the line a year ago, the Mars baseball team turned in one of its best performances of the year. In a four-hour, 11-inning battle, Mars defeated top seed West Allegheny in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. Fightin’ Planets senior Joey Craska pitched 5⅓...
