Five county baseball teams clinch postseason spots

The WPIAL baseball playoffs are on the horizon, and a quintet of Westmoreland County teams have already snagged postseason berths. With less than two weeks left in the regular season, Greater Latrobe, Kiski Area, Yough, Greensburg Salem, and Greensburg Central Catholic have clinched. In Class 4A, the Wildcats top Section 2 with a mark of 7-1, while the Cavaliers are tied atop Section 4 at 6-2. In Class 3A, the Cougars lead Section 4 at 8-0, while the Golden Lions are just behind at 7-1. Lastly, the Centurions are third in Class 2A Section 3 at 6-2. Other teams that are currently in the top four in their sections include Hempfield Area and Norwin in 6A Section 2, Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford in Class 5A Section 1, Belle Vernon Area in Class 4A Section 2, Derry Area in Class 3A Section 3, and Ligonier Valley in Class 2A Section 3.

Norwin shines at WCCA track and field

The Centennial installment of the Westmoreland County Coaches Association (WCCA) track and field championships took place last Thursday, and the Norwin boys and girls both reigned supreme. At Latrobe Memorial Stadium, the Knights won the Class 3A competitions, Greensburg Central Catholic took first in the Class 2A girls, while Greensburg Salem captured gold on the 2A boys side. The Norwin boys compiled 147 points, winning eight events, while the Knights girls amassed 143 points, narrowly edging Hempfield Area, which scored 137. Individual accolades went to Peyton Murray and Liz Tapper, both of Hempfield Area, who were named the field MVPs, while fellow Spartan Owen DeMatt and Kiski Area’s Eliza Miller garnered the track MVPs.

Bisignani honored, Wildcats top volleyball rankings

The latest Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association rankings were released on Monday, and Greater Latrobe remains atop Class 2A. The Wildcats boys stayed in first, ahead of Seton-Lasalle. Additionally, Greater Latrobe sophomore setter Eric Bisignani was honored as among the Class 2A Players of the Week. Meanwhile, Derry Area tumbled out of the rankings in Class 2A, as the Trojans fell from their No. 6 spot last week. A trio of Westmoreland County teams cracked the rankings in 3A, led by Penn-Trafford, which ranks third, down one spot from last week. Conversely, Norwin moved up one spot to fifth, while Hempfield Area fell two places down to seventh. Two weeks remain in the WPIAL regular season, and the Wildcats and Warriors have already secured playoff berths.

Valley tops boys tennis contenders

The WPIAL boys team tennis tournaments begin this week, and six Westmoreland County teams are in the mix. Valley is the best seeded team in the county, as the Vikings are No. 4 in the Class 2A bracket. Valley will host No. 13 Ringgold on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday in the bracket, No. 12 Kiski Area will face fifth-seeded North Catholic at Graham Park, while No. 15 Burrell will travel to second-seeded Quaker Valley. The winning teams will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday. In Class 3A, eighth-seeded Franklin Regional tops the area teams, as the Panthers will host No. 9 Taylor Allderdice on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, No. 12 Norwin will compete on the road at fifth seed Shady Side Academy, while No. 15 Penn-Trafford will face second-seeded and host Fox Chapel Area.

Saint Vincent’s Kirsch retires as AD

After 40 years guiding Saint Vincent College athletics, Father Myron Kirsch, O.S.B. announced his retirement as athletic director last week. A 1969 graduate of Saint Vincent, Father Myron guided Bearcats athletics through the introduction of female sports beginning in 1983, as well as the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA Division III from 2006 to 2010. The college also upgraded numerous athletic facilities during his tenure, including renovations at the Carey Center and the construction of Chuck Noll Field. Until the next AD is selected, Saint Vincent COO and executive vice president Dr. Jeff Mallory will assume the position.