Chris Harlan stories, Page 16

Mt. Lebanon senior David Shields, a talented left-handed pitcher and outfielder, was named Monday as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year. Shields is the first WPIAL player to win the award since Latrobe’s Zach Kokoska and Plum’s Alex Kirilloff won in consecutive years in 2017 and ‘16. A...

North Allegheny coach Andrew Heck could’ve blamed his team’s state playoff loss on the dreaded WPIAL hangover, but instead credited the craftiness of a left-hander who threw a one-hitter. Wilson pitcher Matt VanOstenbridge needed only 84 pitches to finish off an efficient 2-0 win over host North Allegheny in the...

Jordan Geist, who smashed records as a high school thrower for Knoch’s track team, caught a mid-week flight home from Europe so he could be inducted Friday night into the WPIAL Hall of Fame. He was overseas competing in Germany and the Czech Republic and hopes to fly back across...

Jordan Geist, who smashed records as a high school thrower for Knoch’s track team, caught a mid-week flight home from Europe so he could be inducted Friday night into the WPIAL Hall of Fame. He was overseas competing in Germany and the Czech Republic and hopes to fly back across...

Plum and Seneca Valley will host doubleheaders Monday in the first round of the PIAA baseball playoffs. The PIAA released sites and times on Friday. In all, 19 WPIAL teams qualified for the state playoffs. WPIAL champions Penn-Trafford in Class 5A and Bishop Canevin in A have games Monday at...

David Posey wasn’t the starting pitcher drawing no-hit talk before the WPIAL finals, yet the North Allegheny senior walked off the mound at Wild Things Park with a zero on the scoreboard. All eyes were on Mt. Lebanon ace David Shields, who had no-hit North Allegheny here a year ago,...

2024 WPIAL Class 6A baseball championship No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (18-4) vs. No. 3 North Allegheny (16-6) 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wild Things Park, Washington On the air: TribLive HSSN How they got here: Mt. Lebanon defeated No. 8 Butler, 5-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 5 Seneca Valley, 11-5,...

A 14-inning game in the WPIAL finals is almost unthinkable, but Avonworth catcher Mason Metz thought the outcome might go down as the biggest surprise from Tuesday night’s marathon. That’s because his underdog Antelopes won. “They saw a No. 7 next to our name, said we didn’t play anyone in...

2024 WPIAL Class 4A baseball championship No. 6 North Catholic (16-4) vs. No. 9 Indiana (13-9) 4 p.m. Wednesday at Wild Things Park, Washington How they got here: North Catholic defeated No. 11 Elizabeth Forward, 8-0, in the first round; No. 3 West Mifflin, 4-0, in the quarterfinals; and No....

SHIPPENSBURG — Before the state track championships started, Fort Cherry’s relay team of Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke, Shane Cornali and Matt Sieg got a text from the school’s basketball coach. His message was simple: The third time is the charm. “And we got it done,” Sieg said. The school’s football...

SHIPPENSBURG — Hampton’s Dale Hall won a state title in the 800 meters Saturday at the PIAA track championship, a year after winning gold in the 1,600 meters. Winning two different events shows the senior’s versatility. In fact, Hall wants to next try the 2,000-meter steeplechase next Friday during “Night...

SHIPPENSBURG — Winning gold medals at Seth Grove Stadium is somewhat of a tradition for the Robinson sisters, one that Hayzes was more than excited to join Saturday. The Avonworth/Northgate senior earned her first by winning the 100-meter dash at the PIAA Class 2A track championship, joining sisters Hunter and...

SHIPPENSBURG — Drew Griffith won his second PIAA gold medal and broke a state championship record Saturday, but unlike a day earlier, the Butler star didn’t take a run at any national marks. He’ll save that for summer. The senior won his second title in two days at the PIAA...

SHIPPENSBURG — After crossing the finish line at Seth Grove Stadium, distance runners are ushered to the infield turf where they can go in a few different directions. Some make their way toward the shade of their team tents, which Freeport’s Michael Braun did a year ago. But this year,...

SHIPPENSBURG — Mohawk’s Jaxon Schoedel was stuck in a slow heat for the 1,600 meters a day earlier, but the 3,200 meters had everybody in one big group Saturday. That’s how he likes it. “Yesterday was about racing the clock and today was about racing one of the best distance...

SHIPPENSBURG — Lifelong gymnast Nadia Constantakis remembers being a newcomer to the Pine-Richland track team, working out with the sprinters and having a revelation. “I wanted something more exciting,” she said Friday, thinking back to her sophomore year. “When I was looking around the track, I saw the pole vaulters...

SHIPPENSBURG — Fox Chapel’s Rowan Gwin wasn’t at Seth Grove Stadium last year for the state track championships, but his mind was. “I think I watched the times on my phone and was mad I wasn’t here,” said Gwin, who missed most of last season with a leg injury. “The...

Canon-McMillan’s Rose Kuchera is traveling this week to the state track championships where the senior needs just one more medal to complete her triple jump collection. She already has silver and bronze. “Sophomore year I got third and last year I got second, so it really would be nice to...

Aliquippa will remain in Class 4A football next season, a Beaver County judge ruled Thursday. The school district won the first battle in its lawsuit against the PIAA when Common Pleas Judge James Ross granted Aliquippa’s request for a preliminary injunction. As a result, the football team for now will...

The WPIAL has set its championship and consolation schedule for the baseball playoffs with games May 28-29 in Washington. The finals are played at Wild Things Park and the third-place games are next door at Washington & Jefferson’s Ross Memorial Park. The six-game championship schedule starts with the Class A...

North Allegheny’s Michael Hershberger is a hitter always eager for opportunities, said his coach, who called on the junior in a big spot Tuesday night. In the eighth inning of a tied semifinal, Hershberger delivered a pinch hit two-run single that let North Allegheny complete its late rally and defeat...

After splitting a pair of one-run games in section play, the WPIAL lined up Fox Chapel and Penn-Trafford for a playoff rubber match that was almost as tight. Penn-Trafford’s Brandon Roher pitched six scoreless innings, and closer Hunter Brown escaped a jam in the seventh to win the matchup that...

The WPIAL board ushered in a new group of officers Monday with Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer selected to serve as president. Mt. Lebanon athletic director John Grogan was tabbed as vice president and Brentwood principal Jason Olexa will serve as treasurer. Hempfield’s Tom Evans remains secretary. Geyer was...

Former WPIAL track standout Ayden Owens-Delerme, a qualifier for this summer’s Olympic Games, was among 13 individuals selected for induction into the North Allegheny Athletics Hall of Fame. The school’s athletic department announced the 2024 class May 16. Also selected for induction were athletes Caroline Wrigley (golf), Abby McKiernan Tevis...