Spartans set record with PIAA win

Hempfield Area has been the gold standard for WPIAL softball for more than a decade, and the Spartans further solidified that distinction with another state title last week. Courtesy of their 5-4 victory against Owen J. Roberts in the PIAA Class 6A Championship on Friday at Penn State University, the Spartans have won the most state crowns of any WPIAL team. The triumph marked the fifth PIAA title for Hempfield Area, breaking a tie with Neshannock for tops in the district. Hempfield Area’s titles have all come in the largest classification, beginning in 1999 in Class AAA. The Spartans won the Quad-A crown in 2016, and reigned atop Class 6A in 2017 and 2018.

Jayhawks fall in title game of Cunningham Memorial

Playing as the host of the Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament over the weekend, Jeannette came up just short of winning the event. The Jayhawks suffered a 66-60 loss against Ringgold in the title game of the event on Saturday at Jeannette High School. Rising seniors Markus McGowan and Jayce Powell paced Jeannette with 22 points and 21 points, respectively, against the Rams. Earlier on Saturday, Jeannette edged Penn-Trafford 61-57 in the semifinals, as Powell poured in 26 points, while Ringgold ousted Hempfield Area 49-42. Jeannette also knocked off Yough 56-31 on Thursday, while Ringgold steamrolled Norwin 69-33. Takeo Tolliver, who scored 24 points for Ringgold in the title game, was tabbed as the Tournament MVP.

Bushy Run tops D31 standings

With three full weeks elapsed in the District 31 American Legion baseball season, Bushy Run sits atop the standings. The Beavers boast a perfect mark of 7-0, which translates to 27 points. Last week, Bushy Run won via forfeit against Hempfield East on Tuesday, edged Mount Pleasant 10-7 at Penn-Trafford High School on Wednesday, and bested host Lower Burrell 8-1 at ABC Field on Friday. The 14th Ward, which is 5-2, is in second place with 24 points. Meanwhile, Mount Pleasant (1-6-1, 19 points), Unity (2-5, 18), Young Township (3-3, 18), Latrobe (4-0, 16), Plum (3-2, 16), Lower Burrell (2-3, 14), and Hempfield East (1-6-1, 12) round out the standings, while Homer City has yet to play a game due to the PIAA baseball tournament.