West Point softball drops opener of World Series

West Point softball 12U suffered a narrow setback in its opening contest at the Little League World Series on Sunday. West Point lost 2-1 to Willcox (Arizona) in the double-elimination tournament in Greenville, North Carolina. Willcox pitcher Hattie Macumber racked up 15 strikeouts in the victory, while Willcox scored both of its runs in the fourth stanza. Morgan Maiers notched the lone RBI for West Point on an infield single, scoring Piper Hoppel. Jaylyn Luft was the hard-luck loser in the circle for West Point, as she permitted just three hits, issuing a pair of walks while striking out four. With the setback, West Point drops to the elimination bracket, and will play on Tuesday morning.

Belle Vernon legion falls in state tourney

Belle Vernon baseball suffered a season-ending loss in the Pennsylvania Legion State Tournament last Monday. A day after edging host Murrysville at North Allegheny, Belle Vernon dropped a 5-3 outcome to Northeastern in an elimination game. Jake Wessel walked and scored in the second inning for Belle Vernon, but Northeastern responded to take a 4-1 edge into the sixth inning. Despite runs by JB Crovak and Jaxson Bozek, a late rally came up short for Belle Vernon. AJ Wardropper took the loss on the mound, giving up four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. Belle Vernon finishes the season with a record of 19-4.

Quashnock hired for Southmoreland wrestling

Terry Quashnock was approved as the new head coach for Southmoreland wrestling last week at the school’s board meeting. Quashnock fills the void left when previous coach Dan Boring stepped down earlier this summer after six years at the helm of the Scotties. Boring amassed a record of 60-32 with the Scotties, including a playoff appearance in Class 2A this past campaign. During Boring’s entire tenure at the helm of the program, Quashnock served as an assistant coach. Prior to Southmoreland, Quashnock was a coach with Yough.

Tarpley ruled eligible to compete for GCC hoops

Anthony “A.J.” Tarpley, who transferred into Greensburg Central Catholic for the upcoming school year, was ruled eligible for both the basketball regular season and playoffs last week. Following a hearing last Monday, the WPIAL deemed Tarpley eligible for the 2024-25 season, citing no evidence of athletic intent for his transfer. As a freshman in the winter, Tarpley produced 13.8 points per game for Greensburg Salem. PIAA rules typically prohibit players who transfer after the start of 10th grade from competing in postseason play for their first year at their new school. Last season, the Golden Lions went 4-17, while the Centurions compiled a record of 24-4.

DP Harris named AD at Saint Vincent College

After serving as the interim Director of Athletics for the past year at Saint Vincent College, DP Harris will assume the role on a permanent basis, the school announced last week. Harris will continue to serve as the Bearcats men’s basketball coach, as well. Harris, a Saint Vincent grad, began his coaching career with the Bearcats as an assistant in 1995, and became the head coach in 2003. After a brief stint as head coach and associate director of athletics at Saint Thomas University in Florida, Harris returned to SVC for the 2022-23 basketball campaign. A Saint Vincent College Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Harris oversaw numerous athletic facility improvements last school year.