Monday's Westmoreland Sports Notebook
Written by: Westmoreland Sports Network
January 28, 2019
Tags: Joel Lonigro Dante Parsons Emily Brozeski Olivia Gribble Melina Maietta Megan Kallock Dustin Shoaf Dom DeLuca Cole Ferri Alex Walker Daniel Pronin Nicholas Lippa Cam Connor Jack Blumer Nick Delp AJ Corrado Austin Mele Danny McCarthy Mason Slahtovsky Logan Sherwin Paige Kalik Mason Fishell Jordyn Miller
Seton Hill Shootout included renewed rivalries, overtime thrillers
Seton Hill University played host to a basketball extravaganza on Saturday, as five marquee high-school matchups unfolded in Greensburg. The trio of boys contests included a double-overtime victory for Greensburg Central Catholic against Greensburg Salem, as well as a convincing victory for Penn-Trafford against Jeannette. In the Centurions OT win, Joel Lonigro netted a game-best 21 points, while Dante Parsons had 20 for the Golden Lions. The girls games featured a dominant performance by Norwin against Hempfield Area, while Greensburg Central Catholic again edged Greensburg Salem. The victory for the Knights marked their eighth-straight W. Emily Brozeski scored 16 points to lead the way, while Olivia Gribble added 15. Meanwhile, Melina Maietta propelled the GCC girls to the win, as she notched 24 points. Megan Kallock contributed 24 points, as well, in the setback for the Golden Lions. In the only game that did not include a Westmoreland County team, Penn Hills boys squeaked past Serra Catholic in a very entertaining game.
Yough's Shoaf, Derry's DeLuca choose Mercyhurst for football
Two of some of the top high school football players in Westmoreland County made their college choices in the last several days. First it was Yough's Dustin Shoaf then Derry's Dom DeLuca who each committed to Mercyhurst University to continue their academic and football careers. Shoaf won back-to-back WPIAL rushing titles the last two seasons for the Cougars. He also started on defense. He chose Mercyhurst over Seton Hill, California (Pa.), Slippery Rock and Mount Union. DeLuca, an all-state linebacker, was the unquestioned leader of a Trojans team that played in the WPIAL championship for the first time in school history in November. He had offers from Towson, Robert Morris, Lake Erie, California (Pa.) and Lock Haven. DeLuca is also a standout wrestler, earning offers from Bucknell and VMI.
Latrobe hockey wins first-place battle, Burrell chosen for national event
Greater Latrobe and Upper St. Clair entered last Monday’s showdown tied for first place in the PIHL Class AA Southeast Division, but at the end of the night, the Wildcats were alone at the top. Greater Latrobe notched a 2-1 win against the Panthers at Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg to take a two-point lead in the division. Cole Ferri scored a pair of second-period goals, courtesy of two primary assists from Alex Walker, and the Cats made the lead stand, despite a late surge from USC. Greater Latrobe next plays on Thursday, hosting Plum. Elsewhere in Class AA, Hempfield Area dismantled Penn-Trafford on Thursday, 13-2. The Spartans scored the first seven goals, and Daniel Pronin and Nicholas Lippa each netted hat tricks. Hempfield Area remains in third, with 20 points, while Penn-Trafford is in sixth, currently outside of the playoff picture. While the Spartans face a big challenge on the road against Upper St. Clair tonight, the Warriors aim to rebound with a matchup against Franklin Regional, which is also reeling after a 9-1 loss to undefeated Pine-Richland last Monday. The Westmoreland County showdown at Center Ice Arena at 6 p.m. will be broadcast on the Westmoreland Sports Network. In Class A, Norwin suffered a 7-1 setback against Bishop McCort on Tuesday, while Greensburg Salem blasted Kiski Area 12-5 on Thursday. The Knights, tied for third place in the East Division, host the fifth-place Golden Lions on Tuesday at 7:10 at Center Ice. In Division 2, Burrell rolled to another victory, 10-2 against Bishop Canevin. In addition to their PIHL success, the undefeated Bucs also will compete in the USA Hockey High School National Championship later this year. Burrell will play in the multi-day tournament for the open division in Cleveland Ohio from March 28 to April 1.
Kiski Area, Burrell wrestling win sections, earn top seeds
Knocking off the reigning champs on the mat has proven a difficult proposition this season in the for the rest of the WPIAL. In Class AAA, Kiski Area, the two-time defending district champs, earned the top seed for the upcoming team tournament. Meanwhile, Burrell earned the same distinction in Class AA, as the Bucs aim for their 13th-consecutive WPIAL crown. Last Wednesday, Kiski Area prevailed in the Section 1 tournament, edging Hempfield Area 40-24 in the finals. In the match, the Cavs overcame a 21-9 deficit, using three straight pins by Cam Connor, Jack Blumer and Nick Delp to close out the battle. Kiski Area also knocked off Greensburg Salem in the semis, 57-19. Likewise, Burrell bested Derry Area in the final of the Section 3 tournament, 46-14. The Bucs captured nine of the first 10 bouts against the Trojans, including falls by AJ Corrado, Austin Mele, Danny McCarthy and Mason Slahtovsky. In the semifinals, Burrell bested Elizabeth Forward 45-24. Hempfield Area earned the No. 3 seed in Class AAA, while Derry Area was seeded fifth in Class AA. Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Norwin, Southmoreland, and Valley also earned spots in the WPIAL tournaments. Tonight, Franklin Regional faces Peters Township in a preliminary-round match, with the winner facing Canon-McMillan on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday in Class AAA, Kiski Area faces the winner of South Fayette and Indiana, Greensburg Salem squares off against Thomas Jefferson, Hempfield Area meets the victor between Hampton and Chartiers Valley, and Norwin battles Butler. In Class AA on Wednesday, Derry battles South Park, Southmoreland meets Beth-Center, and Quaker Valley and Valley match up, while Burrell earns a bye.
Penn-Trafford dominates at WCCA swimming and diving
The Westmoreland County Coaches Association Swimming and Diving competitions last week belonged to the Warriors. Penn-Trafford captured the Class AAA boys swimming championship, finished second in the Class AAA girls event, and had individuals win both the boys and girls diving titles. Franklin Regional, Mount Pleasant Area and Belle Vernon Area also claimed gold during the two-day event. On Saturday at Derry Area High School, the Warriors boys edged Franklin Regional 387-363. It marked the second-consecutive county title for PT. The outcome was reversed on the girls side, as Franklin Regional narrowly defeated Penn-Trafford, 341-329. In Class AA, the Belle Vernon Area boys prevailed with 184 points, ahead of Mount Pleasant Area’s 148. However, the Vikings girls took the gold, outlasting Greensburg Salem 152-141. The previous day, Penn-Trafford’s Logan Sherwin and Paige Kalik took the top spots in diving. Sherwin’s score of 546.5 placed him comfortably ahead of second-place finisher Mason Fishell of Franklin Regional. Kalik, meanwhile, totaled 515.95, easily ahead of Jordyn Miller of Greater Latrobe, who scored 422.15.
PSU New Ken women’s basketball plays first games
Penn State New Kensington revived women’s basketball for its athletic program this year, and the Lions finally began their season last week. On Monday, New Ken dropped its opener against Penn State Greater Allegheny, 87-22. The Lions also lost their tilt on Wednesday at Penn State Fayette. The team includes three Westmoreland County natives, with a pair of Burrell alums – Brittney Wolford and Erika Finn – and Kiski Area product Sarah Heavner. Rich Marshall serves as the head coach. PSU New Kensington had been the only campus in the Penn State University Athletic Conference that did not have a women’s basketball team.