Bill Beckner stories, Page 170

Today’s games Boys Class 3A first round Ligonier Valley (23-3) vs. Carlynton (15-9) 1 p.m. at Greater Johnstown Winner plays: Winner of Fairview (23-2) and Beaver Falls (14-8) on Wednesday in second round Coaches: John Berger, Ligonier Valley; Mike Kozy, Carlynton Players to watch: Michael Marinchak, Ligonier Valley; Chauncie Mickens,...

Another indoor track and field season, another award for Maddie Holmberg. Holmberg, a Penn State senior and Hempfield alum, was named the United Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year. She is a repeat winner of the award, which has a lot of...

Forgive Southmoreland girls basketball coaches and players for not knowing what to expect in the PIAA playoffs. This is their first time in the state tournament, but don’t expect uncertainty to bother the Scotties much. All coach Brian Pritts knows is his WPIAL runner-up team looks like it is ready...

Today’s game Boys Class 4A first round Belle Vernon (19-7) vs. Clearfield (15-8) 7:30 p.m. at St. Marys High School Winner plays: Winner of Lancaster Catholic (23-3) and Ringgold (14-10) on Tuesday in second round Coaches: Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon; Nathan Glunt, Clearfield Players to watch: Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon...

Chris Fite offers high praise for Jake Biss, his steely-eyed point guard at Shippensburg. But the feeling is mutual when it comes to Biss’ respect for his coach. Fite and Biss, both Latrobe alums, were lauded by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on Thursday, Fite as the coach of the...

Ask Belle Vernon players about their runner-up finish in the WPIAL, and they immediately get defensive. The Leopards (19-7) think the result against Highlands (22-3) could have been different — or at least, closer — in last week’s WPIAL Class 4A championship had they amped up their effort on defense....

Joe Salvino won two PIAA basketball championships, in 1988 and ’89, when he coached at Monessen. Both times, the Greyhounds were the third-place team to come out of the WPIAL. “We didn’t win the WPIAL either time,” said Salvino, who coached Monessen for 34 years and also won six WPIAL...

Penn State senior Maddie Holmberg captured her first indoor track and field conference title by winning the pentathlon over the weekend at the Big Ten Indoor Championships at SPIRE Institute. Holmberg, a Hempfield alum, finished with 4,274 points to become the Nittany Lions’ second conference title winner in the pentathlon....

Brody Jackson led Pitt-Greensburg to one of its best regular seasons in the history of the men’s basketball program. On Tuesday, he was recognized for the accomplishment as he was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year. His counterpart, Hayley Schaetzle, received the same conference honor on...

Saint Vincent’s Jenna Lafko was lauded for a terrific junior season as she was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Lafko averaged 13.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, and led the Bearcats (19-7) in assists (95) and steals (78). Junior Madison Kollar (Latrobe) joined Lafko as...

Chelsea Bisi was hoping for an encore at Penn State, a follow-up to a breakthrough softball season that saw her clear the fences with an effortless swing as she produced offense just about every game. Bisi hit 13 home runs and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Conference Freshman...

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference basketball playoffs will tip off today as teams built toward a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Here are the tournament schedules and a breakdown of each bracket: Men First round West 1-IUP (25-2) — Bye 2-Mercyhurst (19-7) — Bye 5-Gannon (14-12) at 4-Cal...

All season, Southmoreland has celebrated defense. Taking charges, ripping away steals and blocking shots were reasons to revel as the team made emphatic stops on the opponents’ end of the floor. But the Scotties want to celebrate something else: a championship. While their magical WPIAL season came to an end...

It is far from finished, but Belle Vernon already can look back on a successful 2019-20 sports year. With the boys basketball team making it to the WPIAL Class 4A championship, the Leopards were well-represented in the district postseason in recent months. The basketball team had not played in the...

Storied. Perennial power. Gold standard. Labels like that follow programs with the ilk of North Catholic — programs that win, reload rosters and win some more. Those are labels teams such as Southmoreland long to have attached to its name. The Trojanettes girls basketball team added another piece of hardware...

Penn-Trafford is renovating its baseball field in Harrison City and the project includes artificial turf for the infield. But there also are plans for a special memorial to honor a former Warriors standout pitcher. The Penn-Trafford Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) are having a “Give It Your All” online apparel...

Jared Hartman is as grateful as he is delighted as Belle Vernon prepares to play for a WPIAL boys basketball championship. The Leopards senior forward looks back to the spring and summer of 2018 with a bittersweetness that can only be measured in setbacks and successes. “I was pretty down,...

College basketball conference tournaments are underway in the region and March Madness is on the horizon for Division III programs. Here is a look at the playoffs in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Men PAC Semifinals Tonight ( 7 p.m.) 6-Saint Vincent (13-13) at 1-Grove...

Overcoming the stigma of playing a perennial powerhouse can be just as important as matching baskets with one. It also could be the key intangible that drives an upset. Southmoreland is 24-0 but is a decided underdog heading into its first WPIAL girls basketball championship game Friday night at Petersen...

Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino did not speak to his players about New Castle’s success in the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs or the Red Hurricanes’ reputation as a storied program. He didn’t see a need to oversell his team’s semifinal opponent. “The kids know all of that already,” the veteran...

Senior forward Sarah Pisula could have typed a text message and sent it in the time she had to line up a pair of 3-pointers early in Monday night’s playoff game. Instead, she dialed it up from long distance. Freshman teammate Olivia Cernuto, a fast-rising point guard, followed her lead....

Julian Batts plays college basketball out of state, so friends and family usually can watch his games only online. But Batts played a game close to home — as close as the schedule would allow — and achieved a career milestone for the wacthful eyes of local fans. Batts, a...

Today’s game Boys Class 4A Semifinals No. 6 Belle Vernon (18-6) vs. No. 7 New Castle (17-7) 6 p.m. Wednesday at North Allegheny Winner plays: No. 1 Highlands (20-3) or No. 5 Blackhawk (13-10) at 1 p.m. Saturday in championship at Petersen Events Center Coaches: Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon; Ralph...

You might consider anything Southmoreland’s girls basketball team did after the quarterfinals a bonus. Gravy, as they say. After reaching the WPIAL semifinals for the first time and earning their first PIAA playoff berth, the Scotties already had earned a prime spot in scrapbooks and a firm place in school...