Neshannock awarded 5th straight Class 2A Trib Cup
One of the best runs in WPIAL history came to an end this spring when the Neshannock softball team fell one win short of a fifth consecutive WPIAL Class 2A championship. However, the good news for Lancers fans is that another title run continues. Neshannock captured a fifth straight Class...
Shaler’s Bria Bosiljevac headlines Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association all-state team
The Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association Monday announced its players and pitchers of the year and revealed its all-star teams for the 2026 season. As usual, WPIAL representation was strong across the board. Shaler’s Bria Bosiljevac was tabbed the overall state pitcher of the year, while catcher Irelyn Fisher...
Valley News Dispatch softball all-stars: Sophomore Emersyn Jones a power player for Knoch
Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year Emersyn Jones So., SS/P, Knoch The Knoch softball team suffered a rare shutout loss on the final day of March. The Knights collected just five hits that day and fell 6-0 to Section 1-4A rival Indiana. But sophomore shortstop Emersyn Jones and the...
A-K Valley WPIAL baseball playoff capsules for May 18, 2026
WPIAL baseball playoffs Class 4A Quarterfinals 8-Knoch (13-8) vs. 1-Indiana (15-4) 4 p.m. Monday at Gateway Winner plays: Winner of 13-Derry (8-9)/12-Hampton (13-8) in semifinals Wednesday (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Carter Beres, Knoch; Charlie Manzi, Indiana Extra bases: These Section 3-4A rivals split their season series, with Indiana...
Owen Proskin leads Plum boys track and field team in huge day at WPIAL championships
Owen Proskin flashed a smile while holding a loaf of cinnamon bread and glancing down at the gold medal around his neck as he stepped off the 110-meter hurdles medals podium Thursday at the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships at Slippery Rock University. Fourth last year in the...
Alle-Kiski Valley athletes ready for rescheduled WPIAL track championship
Jaden McCray ruled the javelin runway at the Pine-Richland Invitational on May 1, winning the event with a top distance of 174 feet, 10 inches. The Apollo-Ridge senior finished 10 feet clear of the field, and his personal-best that day set him up for a defense of his WPIAL Class...
A-K Valley WPIAL softball preview capsules for May 14, 2026
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A First round 6-Burrell (10-8) vs. 11-Charleroi (5-12) 3 p.m. Thursday at Norwin Winner plays: 3-Mt. Pleasant (13-4) on Monday in quarterfinals (site and time TBD) Players to watch: Shelby Novak, Burrell; Lyla Brunner, Charleroi Extra bases: A win for Burrell on Thursday would give it...
WPIAL track and field championship preview: Young distance stars run into spotlight
What do you get when a freshman phenom and sophomore sensation get together? One of the most-anticipated races of the WPIAL track and field championships. Two young distance stars will go head-to-head Thursday at Slippery Rock when Peters Township freshman Katie Froelich and South Fayette sophomore Angela Zeng battle it...
Knoch softball team looks to continue rolling as postseason begins; 9 A-K Valley teams set for WPIAL playoffs
The last time Knoch didn’t appear in a WPIAL softball playoff tournament, the current group of seniors were 6 years old. The Knights (16-2) have produced some memorable postseason victories in that run, and they hope to do it again as they start this year’s journey as the No. 2...
AK Valley high school athletes of the week: Apollo-Ridge’s Mikaila Ditty, Leechburg’s Dylan Whitlinger
Mikaila Ditty School: Apollo-Ridge Class: Sophomore Sport: Softball Claim to fame: Ditty went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles, two triples and three RBIs as Apollo-Ridge (4-4, 3-2) defeated Shady Side Academy, 11-5, in Section 2-2A on Monday. She followed that with three more RBIs and a home...
2026 Valley News Dispatch boys basketball all-stars
Valley News Dispatch Boys Player of the Year Evan Moore 6-3, Jr., G, Deer Lakes With the NCAA Tournament now at the Elite Eight, the journey through the first few rounds defined just what March Madness is all about with several low seeds busting some brackets. The Deer Lakes boys...
2026 Valley News Dispatch girls basketball all-stars
Valley News Dispatch Girls Basketball Player of the Year Riley Stephans 5-8, Sr., G, Plum Riley Stephans took the ball near midcourt, dribbled a few times and then unleashed a shot from 3-point range. The bank was open for business, and the ball went in. Plum beat Freeport at the...
2026 WPIAL Class 2A softball preseason breakdown
It would seem Neshannock would have a tough time topping its 2025 championship season that ended with WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A championships and a 26-0 record. But that could have been said for the past four seasons. The Lancers have won four straight district championships, are riding a 52-game...
Rosters set for 29th Cager Classic at Highlands
The 29th annual Cager Classic, featuring senior basketball players from Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland counties, is set for March 28 at Highlands. Practices will be 6 p.m. March 26, the skills competition 7 p.m. March 27, and the games — 5:45 p.m. for the girls and 7:45 p.m. for...
4 Clairton players among 16 from WPIAL named to PSFCA East-West Small School all-star game
WPIAL and PIAA Class A champion Clairton had four players named to the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association small school West roster. The small school teams were released Monday, and the big school roster will be announced Tuesday. The West squad featured 16 players from WPIAL schools who will play...
Rochester fights off Apollo-Ridge rally to move into Class 2A quarterfinals
Last year, the Rochester girls basketball team had to make a long trip to Kiski Area to open the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. The Rams, as the No. 10 seed, used a big second-half rally in that game to defeat Riverview. As a better seed this year — No. 5...
A-K Valley high school basketball playoff preview capsules for Feb. 17, 2026
Girls Class 2A First round 12-Apollo-Ridge (12-10) at 5-Rochester (12-9) 7 p.m. Tuesday Winner plays: Winner of 13-Riverview (10-8)/4-Fort Cherry (15-5) on Friday in quarterfinals (site/time TBD) Players to watch: Madison Hughley, Apollo-Ridge; Tia Yellock, Rochester Layup lines: Apollo-Ridge finished Section 4 play in a three-way tie for second place...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: Apollo-Ridge’s Madison Hughley, Burrell’s Ryan Wass
Madison Hughley School: Apollo-Ridge Class: Sophomore Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Hughley scored 26 points to lead the Vikings (12-10, 6-4) to a 59-46 Section 4-2A win over Frazier on Monday night. She then scored 17 points in a 40-36 win against Riverview on Wednesday and 21 in a victory...
Go mode: Navarah Smith scores 31 for Jeannette in victory over Apollo-Ridge
The switch came on, just when Jeannette needed it. The Jayhawks were dull offensively early in a rematch with visiting Apollo-Ridge and needed somebody to sharpen the blade. Senior guard Navarah Smith has done it many times before, so she was glad to oblige again. “When I look at the...
A-K Valley boys basketball notebook: Teams battle for playoff positioning in Section 1-4A
It’s been quite a battle this winter among area boys basketball rivals in Section 1-4A. The Alle-Kiski Valley-centered section has been a slugfest the past month and a half as teams contend for playoff berths and positioning. Knoch (14-2, 8-0), the No. 1 team in the TribLive HSSN Class 4A...
2025 in A-K Valley sports: WPIAL, PIAA champions highlight calendar year
This year was the setting for many memorable moments where Alle-Kiski Valley athletes and teams shined with championship performances and accomplishments in all arenas of competition. Athletes again were able to pay off many hours of dedication and determination to not only reach but to surpass their goals. The year...
2 WPIAL players selected for 2025 Class 2A all-state football team
Southern Columbia, the dominant team in PIAA Class 2A football for more than a decade, loomed large again Wednesday when the all-state team was announced. The reigning state champions from District 4 had five players earn all-state honors and the Tigers’ Jim Roth was named coach of the year. In...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Dec. 22, 2025: Norwin, Upper St. Clair set for rematch
Three days before the big man comes sliding down the chimney looking for a midnight snack, there are plenty of treats on a busy night of WPIAL girls section basketball Monday. One standout clash pits the 2024 WPIAL Class 6A champions against the 2025 Class 6A winners of gold when...
With 4 starters returning, Apollo-Ridge girls aim to challenge for section title
There is a great deal of optimism surrounding the Apollo-Ridge girls basketball team, which returns four starters and several other key contributors after a trip to the WPIAL playoffs last season. “I think the group of girls that we have gets along really well from top to bottom,” Vikings second-year...
With experienced roster back, optimism grows for Apollo-Ridge boys
The Apollo-Ridge boys basketball team has endured some lean years recently in terms of wins and losses, but coach Greg Fox sees a program on the rise with experience throughout the lineup this season. “The summer and offseason were very productive for the players who put in the time,” said...
