Chris Harlan stories, Page 18

Christian Lucarelli arrived at Riverside baseball practice with a clear, plastic sphere that was partially filled with water. The peculiar fitness tool, which has handles on the sides, is designed to strengthen core muscles. Lucarelli uses it while simulating the twist he does on the pitcher’s mound. “You’re supposed to...

The WPIAL has canceled eligibility hearings for Aliquippa sophomore Joseph “J.J.” Work and freshman Khalil Ellerbee, saying Central Valley no longer contests their transfers. The two students were among seven football players who transferred to Aliquippa from various schools in recent weeks. The hearings for Work and Ellerbee were scheduled...

Daiveon Taylor wasn’t traveling to Morgantown this weekend just to watch West Virginia’s annual Gold-Blue spring game. He was there to commit. “I had it planned all week,” said Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 227-pound sophomore linebacker who recently transferred from Bishop Canevin to Aliquippa. Taylor shared his decision with WVU head...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Mt. Lebanon, 13-3, 3 2. North Allegheny, 12-3, 1 3. Pine-Richland, 13-3, 4 4. Hempfield, 12-4, 2 5. Seneca Valley, 7-6, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. West Allegheny, 10-2, 2 2. Shaler, 11-3, 1 3. Penn-Trafford, 12-1, 3...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Seneca Valley, 14-0, 1 2. Hempfield, 12-1, 2 3. North Allegheny, 8-4, 4 4. Pine-Richland, 7-7, 3 5. Norwin, 7-8, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Armstrong, 12-1, 3 2. North Hills, 10-2, 4 3. West Allegheny, 14-2, 2...

Imani Christian junior R.J. Sledge won his third straight PIAA boys basketball title in March, but his ability to win a fourth next winter is in limbo. The WPIAL has scheduled a hearing for May 6 to decide whether the all-state player is eligible for his senior year. Imani has...

A month after winning a PIAA title, Blackhawk teammates Alena Fusetti and Aubree Hupp were among 19 WPIAL girls basketball players to earn all-state honors Friday. Blackhawk coach Greg Huston, who guided the Cougars to a 27-3 record in his first season, was voted as the state coach of the...

The North Allegheny boys and girls will try to repeat as WPIAL champions when the track and field team playoffs start Tuesday. The Tigers swept the WPIAL Class 3A titles a year ago, while the Quaker Valley girls and Greensburg Central Catholic boys will try to repeat as 2A champions....

North Allegheny and Sewickley Academy drew No. 1 seeds for the WPIAL boys team tennis tournament when brackets were released Thursday. North Allegheny (12-0) was seeded first in Class 3A ahead of No. 2 Gateway (9-0), No. 3 Upper St. Clair (10-1) and No. 4 Fox Chapel (9-1). Gateway defeated...

If the PIAA competitive-balance rule were nullified, “it would probably cause chaos,” the PIAA’s top administrator said Wednesday during testimony in a Beaver County courtroom. Schools are already planning homecoming celebrations and other special nights based on fall sports schedules, said PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi, who insisted that those...

Renowned orthopedic surgeon Patrick DeMeo, while testifying for Aliquippa in its lawsuit against the PIAA, said he wanted to see some numbers. “Show me the data,” said DeMeo, who wondered how the PIAA decided its competitive-balance rule doesn’t increase health risks for the teams forced to play against larger schools....

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Seneca Valley, 11-0, 1 2. Hempfield, 8-1, 2 3. Pine-Richland, 6-5, 4 4. North Allegheny, 5-3, 3 5. Norwin, 6-6, NR Out: Canon-McMillan (3-4, 5) Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Shaler, 9-0, 1 2. West Allegheny, 13-1, 2 3. Armstrong, 9-1,...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 9-1, 1 2. Hempfield, 12-1, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 10-3, 3 4. Pine-Richland, 12-2, 5 5. Seneca Valley, 6-4-1, 4 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Shaler, 10-2, 1 2. West Allegheny, 6-2, 2 3. Penn-Trafford, 9-1, 4...

In a stressful moment behind the plate, when the other team was trying to rally, Franklin Regional catcher Ryan Catello started hearing voices in his helmet. Well, at least one. The calming voice said, “Hey, it’s got to be strikes on this guy,” while reminding him the bottom of the...

Girls flag football was popular in southeastern states when Michelle Ruiz was teaching there earlier in her career, which motivated her to later make it an annual tradition for middle school kids at North Allegheny. But to her delight, the sport might soon become sanctioned statewide for Pennsylvania high schools,...

In meets from Boston to Los Angeles, record-setting runner Drew Griffith has wowed crowds from coast to coast over the past three months. On Friday, a crowd wowed him. The Butler senior marveled at the enthusiasm he felt from fans, coaches and fellow athletes as he nearly broke the 4-minute...

Just days after taking a recruiting trip to the West Coast, Peters Township’s Mickey Vaccarello decided to spend his college years in California. The junior linebacker committed to Stanford on Wednesday, choosing the Cardinal over a list of college offers heavy in high-academic schools. Vaccarello had nearly 20 offers in...

Girls flag football is on track to become the next sanctioned high school sport in Pennsylvania. A month after the PIAA crowned its first girls wrestling champions, PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said girls flag football has reached the 100-team threshold needed to move forward as an emerging sport. Lombardi...

A WPIAL hearing will decide the eligibility of two Aliquippa football players who transferred from rival Central Valley. The WPIAL board granted eligibility to three players who transferred to Aliquippa from others schools, but voted Wednesday to hold hearings for sophomore Joseph Work and freshman Khalil Ellerbee, said WPIAL executive...

A shoulder injury kept Tommy Zimmerman in the dugout for his team’s first 10 games, but the Pine-Richland senior finally got to bat Tuesday. With two on and two out, Zimmerman pinch hit and delivered a walk-off single in the eighth inning that lifted the Rams to a dramatic 5-4...

With his first child on the way, Corey Dotchin decided that a daily commute to Natrona Heights wouldn’t work anymore for him and his growing family. So the Highlands boys basketball coach has resigned after 12 years with the program, including the past three as head coach. He announced Monday...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Seneca Valley, 8-0, 2 2. Hempfield, 4-1, 1 3. North Allegheny, 2-1, 5 4. Pine-Richland, 3-4, 3 5. Canon-McMillan, 3-1, NR Out: Norwin (3-4, 4) Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Shaler, 6-0, 1 2. West Allegheny, 7-1, 2 3. Penn-Trafford, 5-2,...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 5-0, 1 2. Hempfield, 9-0, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 6-3, 3 4. Seneca Valley, 5-1, 4 5. Pine-Richland, 7-2, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Shaler, 8-1, 1 2. West Allegheny, 5-1, 2 3. Fox Chapel, 6-2,...

North Allegheny’s Izzy Costa had an upset stomach but was still was warming up for the long jump after running the 100 and 400 meters in a dual meet at Butler. It was just then that the PA announcer called all 200-meter runners to the track. Costa had considered sitting...

Giant Center in Hershey has hosted the state high school basketball finals for more than a decade, but could or should the PIAA championships go elsewhere? As it does every four years, the PIAA is accepting bids from basketball arenas around the state interested in hosting the championship games in...