Kickoff ’26: Union Scotties

It’s been a tough last two years for the Union Scotties; struggles to field a full team in Class 2A over the last two seasons led to a 3-15 stretch that concluded with a 0-9 record in 2025.

“They’re a little bit chippy, a little bit angry,” said new Scotties head coach Dave Commesso. “There’s fight in these kids, I feel like that will translate into a little bit of swagger this year.”

Commesso, a first-time head coach, takes over for Kim Neidbala as the acting head coach and athletic director. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator for the last four seasons. It was an opportunity he’s never envisioned. Neidbala resigned prior to the start of heat acclimation week and is moving across the state.

Commesso worked as an assistant coach at the college level at California (PA) for three seasons and worked as an assistant coach for 16 years, including a stint under his brother Mike, from 2013-2017, at Shenango. His father, Lew, was the head coach of Mohawk from 1997-2002.

Under Neidbala, the Scotties won the WPIAL Championship in 2022 and finished as a state runner-up that same year. Neidbala also led the team to their last playoff appearance in 2023.

“I’ve always been a coordinator,” said Commesso, a Mohawk and Westminster graduate.  “I’ve leaned on [their experiences] going through the process to build from the foundation up.”

The team returns to Class 1A and the Big 7 Conference with a new head coach and something to prove.

Five of the Scotties nine losses in 2025 were decided by a touchdown or less, including a 28-22 overtime loss to Beaver Falls.

Also, in two of those losses, neither team reached double digits, including a season-ending 6-2 loss to New Brighton.

“I was so proud of these guys last year because they never gave up,” said Commesso. “Even though they didn’t see the results they wanted, they played to the wire or in overtime.”

25 players are slated for the Scotties roster through heat acclimation, a lean number even for a program in the smallest classification; Nine seniors dot the roster who have started in the past few seasons.

“We got a nice young crew coming through; we’ll plug them in with our senior leadership,” said Commesso.

Returning players include Gianni Million, Zion Waters, and Robin Nohay, who look to help the team as senior leaders this season. Issac Casciato and Colton Cox will run the line on both sides. Dual-threat Stephen Lane will step in as quarterback.

The Scotties lost three players via transfer to New Castle, Jordyn Kelly, Swayzee Reighert and Armontae Booker

Million led the Scotties in rushing last season, with 484 yards and 3 touchdowns. Waters was the leading receiver with 20 receptions for 203 yards.

Waters added an interception on defense. Colton Cox had two sacks, that tied for the team lead.

Commesso feels the support and pride in the community and knows it’s a great opportunity to get Union back to the winning ways of 2022 and 2023.

“It’s everything about it that made me want to come back and stay there. I know I couldn’t be in a better place right now.”

Union opens the season on the road at Sharpsville.

Kickoff ’26: Wilmington Greyhounds

Competing for District 10 titles is a habit for Wilmington. They’ve won 15 titles total, and they’ve made the championship game in each of the past two seasons, winning in 2024.

The loss to Greenville in the 2025 title game, 25-22, is what’s driving this Greyhound team to get back to the top of the district and a deep state playoff run.

“That game left a bad taste in our mouth,” said Wilmington head coach Brandon Phillian. “One of our team beliefs is being humble and hungry; it’s made them hungry for the season ahead.”

Phillian, a graduate of Wilmington and Westminster College, took over as the head coach from former head coach Terry Verrelli in 2018. He had been on the staff since 2007 and was a defensive coordinator for 6 seasons prior.

He continued the winning tradition, with district titles in each of his first three seasons and district title game appearances in each of his first four seasons.

The 2022 and 2023 were the first down seasons of his tenure, going 3-7 and 4-6. He’s put the program back on the track towards title contention.

“To learn from Coach Verrelli and be allowed to continue the tradition is very special to me,” said Phillian. “It’s a blessing to have that opportunity.”

Their acclaimed Wing-T has been the key to a punishing run game. Five Greyhounds rushed for 250-plus yards last season. Only one player part of the quintet, Freddie Zehetner, graduated.

The Greyhounds attack is led by All-State selection Chase Mitcheltree, who raced for 1,354 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Mitcheltree has 2,821 career rushing yards and 44 total touchdowns. He has a chance to break school records in both categories [4,451 yards and 71 touchdowns are the records, respectively].

“He’s a threat to go the distance anytime he touches the ball,” said Phillian. “He’s got a great combination of speed and power.”

Juniors Cael and Cam Kettering also contributed to the team on both sides of the ball. Cael was one of the leading tacklers, picked off two passes, and rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns. Cam was the second-leading rusher, with 507 yards rushing and six scores.

Rowan Miller split the quarterback duties last year and looks to be the primary quarterback this season. He threw for 272 yards and four touchdowns and added 296 yards on the ground and six more touchdowns. Both were strong defensively as well.

Play on the lines on both sides will be key for the Greyhounds; senior lineman Jaran Lorenz, who started some games as a junior, is the leader.

“He had a really strong finish to his junior campaign,” said Phillian. “We’re expecting big things from him, and we’re already seeing big things.

Other seniors expected to contribute are Liam Crowley, Jackson Hornbeck and Timmy Wilcox, Zack Shaw and Blake Hetrick.

“It’s a great group and one that the coaches and I are really excited to work with, said Phillian. “You get contributions all over the field at various levels.”

Wilmington will open the season at Slippery Rock.

PIAA Class 1A Softball: Union Uses Big Sixth Inning to Return to State Finals

WEST MIFFLIN – With the struggles offensively for the Union Scotties through five innings, most would think you would have to set up for a final post-game speech.

“It was pretty bleak there, I was setting up for my last speech of the season”, said Doug Fisher, Union Scotties head coach. “But I knew in my heart they would come back”

Union brought 11 batters to the plate and knocked eight hits and seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, to get their first lead of the game. The Scotties held on for an 8-6 win over Berlin Brothersvalley to return to the state championship game for third time in the last four seasons.

Through the first five innings all the scoring belonged to the Mountaineers. The Scotties we’re set down in order three of the first five innings. They had only 1 hit and reached base with one walk and one hit batter.

Most of the damage was done by Coral Prosser of Berlin, who made base in 4 plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with four runs scored, three of them in the first five innings and one in a wild seventh inning.

Audra Hankee scored on a run in the third inning and Sam Walker got the Mountaineers within 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th.

The top of the sixth, the first six Scottie batters in the order get a hit. Liv Williams would lead off with a single and later score thanks to a throwing error in left field.

Then the biggest blow was a crucial two-run home run by Irelyn Fisher to right field that was a no-doubter off the bat, putting the Scotties within one run.

There have been big innings this season by the Scotties, but with the stakes attached to it this may have been the biggest inning of the season.

“We we’re so confident after the first three batters came up and we kept going and going”, said Irelyn Fisher who went 1-for-3 with a walk.

After Fisher’s home run, still with no outs, the Scotties with a single by Liv Benedict and double by Neveah Hunt, paved way for a 2 RBI double by Maggie Joseph to give Union their first lead.

They would get an RBI single from Samantha Confer and Liv Williams as the lineup would turnover to complete a titanic inning for Union that ended with a 7-4 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Ireland Fisher had a lead-off walk and would score on a sacrifice fly for a 8-4 lead.

Berlin Brothersvalley would plate two runs, one aided by an error at short. The final run score including on a sacrifice fly,double play that would end the game as a 9-3-5 putout ended the game.

“I didn’t want these seniors ending their career anywhere but on Penn State’s field,” said Coach Fisher. “We’re there now, so that’s our goal and that’s the speech.”

PIAA 2A Softball: Spartans Run Their Way to 1st State Title Game Appearance

WEST MIFFLIN – One hump was finally cleared with Laurel defeating Neshannock in an elimination gamelast week, now the next was here, get their first victory in the state semifinals.

Through 6 innings, the Spartans we’re able to nurse a 6-5 lead, with the Everett Warriors in hot pursuit with a potential chance to walk it off, if the offense didn’t come through.

After an RBI groundout from Maddie Evans to extend the lead by one, Ivy Pancher blasted a 2-run home run to dead center off of reliever Anna Cooper field to give the much-needed insurance runs for a 9-5 win and book that elusive trip to the state championship game.

“That one was a no-doubter, I thought it was going to bang off the scoreboard”, said Bill Garroway, Laurel’s head coach. “That was a big stress reliever for sure. She took some aggression out on the ball.”

They’ll face either [1-1] Bristol or [7-4] Chartiers Houston in the PIAA 2A Championship on Friday at 11 AM.

Laurel was able to get hits from their first two batters at the plate with Maci Lang scoring on Lexi Krol’s RBI single, and Hayden Seifert scored om a wild pitch.

Alexis Bair would knock in an RBI scoring leadoff batter Pancher to add to an early advantage through 1.5 innings.

Then the Warriors would start their offense in the bottom of the second, with 5 hits and 8 batters heading to the plate, Kassi Howstare would score on an RBI double, and Anna Cooper would plate a run to cut the Spartans lead to 1 through 2 innings.

The third and fourth innings would begin a stretch where Laurel would get a leadoff runner to 3rd base and strand them there. Good base running by leadoff hitters we’re huge as 4 stolen bases and 1 wild pitch helped them continually gather runners in scoring position.

They had another leadoff baserunner make it to third and finally broke through in the fifth with Hailey Fell scoring on a sacrifice fly after notching her second straight double and advance on a wild pitch.

A second straight sacrifice fly by Maddie Evans scoring Lexi Krol pushed the lead to 5-2.

“Those leadoff runners usually score 80 percent of the time”, said Garroway. “You saw how the last three innings went. We did what we preached all year, put the ball in play and pressure the defense.”

After leaving five on base through the first four innings, Laurel only left one through the
remainder of the game.

A run-scoring single by Anna Cooper in the bottom of the fifth scoring courtesy runner Lydia McCahan kept the Warriors in the running. The Spartans countered back with a sacrifice bunt for an RBI by Hayden Seifert scoring Alexis Bair kept them ahead through 5.5 innings.

A big bottom of the sixth made it nervous times for Laurel. A leadoff single by Gabi Dadetto had her come home on an RBI double by Morgan Bowser, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Addy Wood.

Addy Wood was tabbed with the loss as the starting pitcher for the Warriors, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and striking out 1 in 5 innings. Anna Cooper pitched 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk and struck out 1.

Everett would get no closer than within one run, because of the work of Laurel’s Riley Balcom, who earned the win, allowing 12 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 3 walks and striking out 2.

“She was a bulldog today,” said Garroway. “We don’t change; we keep doing our thing. Riley will throw strikes, we play strong defense, put the ball in play and run the bases smart and aggressively.”

Turf Wars II delivers hard-hitting outdoor card to Highmark Stadium crowd

Light rain briefly fell during Turf Wars II on Saturday at Highmark Stadium, but there were no light punches in the forecast for the seven fights on the card. Four of the bouts ended via TKO.

The main event of the evening featured the event’s promoter, Bill “Hutch” Hutchinson (21-3-4, 10 KO) vs. Roman Duarte Marquez (5-6, 5 KO) in an eight-round bout for the UBF Welterweight Championship.

Marquez, a late replacement opponent, was no doubt a formidable challenger, but there was too much skill and pace from Hutchinson.

“We studied this whole camp for a southpaw,” said Hutchinson. “I wanted to feel out his speed and timing, then in the second round, get him out of there.”

He pressured Marquez from the outset, and Marquez was able to battle and get out of the first round. Marquez had a burst of aggression quelled by Hutchinson, who continued to tee off Marquez in the corners.

Finally, a right jab to the body then a hook floored his opponent, and Hutchinson earned the TKO victory at 2:55 of Round 2, ending a spectacular night of boxing.

“I don’t want to go out there and have a point contest,” said Hutchinson. “So when (fans) come to my fights, they can expect that.”

Shane “The Savage Gentleman” Chojnacki and Martin Udavcak squared off in a special three-round exhibition to open the night. One-minute rounds gave the fight good energy, and both had a solid showcase.

Chojnacki, looking to follow up a knockout win in Turf Wars I in March, went for the finish in Round 3, but Udavcak, out of Boyce Boxing Gym, battled back.

The main card opened when Jerome Baxter (5-0, 2 KO) of Penn Hills kept his undefeated streak going with a first-round TKO victory at 1:10 over Keenan Raymond (5-12-4, 2 KO).

Raymond went 3-0-1 in his last four fights, looking to be a formidable opponent for Baxter early on. However, a body blow caught him and he fell between the ropes. As he got up, he appeared to hurt his knee and could not answer the 10 count.

The knockout of the night went to Aliquippa’s Paul Palombo (7-0, 1 KO), who faced Justin Howard (2-3) of Alabama in a six-round middleweight matchup.

Howard won two of his last three fights coming into the matchup, and Palumbo was also rolling, unbeaten in his pro career.

It was a dominant performance by Palombo, who credited his camp with trainer Tom Yankello for his success. Howard tried to make waves early, but when Palombo got going, it was only a matter of time.

“We worked hard in this camp,” Palombo said. “I was due for a knockout.”

Palombo’s jab set up a big right hook to floor Howard, who got up from the first knockdown. He tried to make it out of the first round but couldn’t survive another right hook by Palumbo deep in the blue corner to end the contest at 2:28 via TKO.

Tommy “Boom Boom” Parker (2-1, 2 KO) had a raucous crowd in his corner, taking on John Brewer (4-14-1) in a middleweight fight. It sounded like the entire North Side had come down to the stadium to see him fight.

“It means the world to me; if I didn’t have the support, I wouldn’t be who I am,” said Parker. “They make it all worth it.”

He went the complete four rounds in the fight, with Brewer taking some big combos, including two in the final round. He earned the victory via unanimous decision, showcasing his skill and confidence.

“(Brewer) brought his A game and he’s tough as nails,” said Parker. “Most of the shots, if I hit others with that, they are going to sleep.”

Performance of the night honors went to Salvatore “Triple Dog” DeSimone (3-0, 1 KO), who faced Raymond Goodine (0-1) in a super featherweight bout. DeSimone, a Montour grad like Hutchinson, looked to stay undefeated.

DeSimone was aggressive and never relented, putting on a master class of combos and defense against his opponent.

DeSimone never seemed to let Goodine ever get a clean combo through and picked up a unanimous decision victory.

“We planned to be patient, use the jab and feel out the range,” said DeSimone. “I wish I got the finish.”

After the intermission, Ed Latimore (13-1-1) picked up a TKO victory in a heavyweight matchup over Jorge Armando Martinez (4-11).

Latimore, after recently publishing his newest book “Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business,” quickly led his opponent to that hurt business with attacks to the body that had Martinez wincing early on.

He got his opponent into the corner and continued to unload with the referee calling the bout at 2:38 of the first round.

Hutchinson said the first outdoor show in the series of events was everything he ever dreamed, with another show planned for the fall.

“We’re gonna get right back on the horse,” Hutchinson said. “We’ll be back in the gym and finalize something in November.”

The Pitt marching band drumline and Steelers pregame DJ, Galiffa, supplied the energy of the entire night. Pittsburgh rapper Big Jus also performed before the main card.

Veteran Pittsburgh boxer brings 'Turf Wars' Saturday night fight card to Coraopolis

Bill “Hutch” Hutchinson, 36, of Pittsburgh, started boxing at 13. He’s been a pro for 12 years with a record of 20-3-4, nine victories by knockout, and has been a part of world-class events in the city and the country.

“I’m starting to catch my wind, and I’m starting to make a lot of strides,” said Hutchinson, a graduate of Montour. “I’m now fighting at a world-class level.”

Now, he’s making strides to bring world-class boxing to Pittsburgh as the headliner and promoter of Turf Wars, the first of a multi-year, multi-event agreement with two venues in the Pittsburgh area.

The first show is Saturday at AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis. The first bell is at 7 p.m.

Hutchinson will take on veteran Mexican boxer Saul Corral (31-23-0, 20 KO) in the main event; it’s his first fight in Pittsburgh since January 2022.

“He’s a blood-and-guts kind of warrior, and the fans are going to have nothing but fun watching it,” said Hutchinson.

Hutchinson has experience in promoting shows. He was part of the promotion team with Pinnacle Fighting Championships, run by Matt Leyshock, featuring MMA and boxing cards he fought on.

“I was very active and involved at that time. I stayed in the background because I was fighting on them”, said Hutchinson.

In addition to local boxing cards, he’s appeared in events promoted by legends like Lou DiBella and Don King.

In his last fight in June 2023, he showcased grit in a 10-round decision loss to Adrien Broner on a King-promoted card in Miami.

He learned from all of those promoters that you can’t cut corners when you are fighting and you can’t do it when you are promoting either.

“You want the people to have a good time,” said Hutchinson. “This is very much going to be an experience for the fans. It will be very much an event, not just a fight.”

Live musical performances by local artists and the University of Pittsburgh drumline will be featured alongside the night of boxing.

Hutchinson said negotiations had a lot of back and forth, but the agreement came together because of the ability of the venues and himself to put on significant events.

“We are marketing and investing together,” said Hutchinson. “This is a joint venture that we expect to see become very fruitful for the future of combat sports and Pittsburgh.”

Undefeated locals Jerome Baxter (4-0-0) and Danny Bodish (3-0-0) are featured fighters. An MMA pro with four wins, Cheyenne Hall will debut in the squared circle, and MMA fighter and professional wrestler Shane “The Savage Gentleman” Chojnacki will return to boxing.

Chojnacki, 39, has appeared in local pro wrestling shows and All Elite Wrestling and is a personal trainer. He’s undefeated in three professional MMA fights and competed in grappling tournaments.

Going through a divorce, he felt in his spirit that he should return to the sport — a friend of Hutchinson from when he began training in MMA and boxing 20 years ago. The opportunity to try again in boxing has touched his life.

“I’ve been training at multiple gyms daily,” said Chojnacki. “I was thinking I’ll call it quits if nothing happens, and here we are, making a run for it in the last hour.”

He last had a boxing match in 2016, losing by decision, and is excited for the chance to return to the ring to get a victory. He’ll fight an opponent 12 years his junior, Igor Da Silva, at heavyweight.

“I’m in the best shape of my life right now,” said Chojnacki. “It’s time to return to this one and bring good, high-quality boxing.”

Turf Wars will have a future show at Highmark Stadium sometime this summer. It will be the first boxing show in a significant Pittsburgh sporting venue since November 2014, at the then-Consol Energy Center. He plans for the match cards and spectacle to be even more prominent in future events.

“The reality is, I have some big, big plans for future events,” said Hutchinson. “March 1 is just the appetizer.”

Steel Valley runs away from South Allegheny football team in rout

No. 5 Steel Valley and No. 4 South Allegheny were among the better offensive squads coming into a de facto second-place game in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference.

The Gladiators scored 48.5 points per game in their last four games, and the Ironmen averaged 47.8 points in their previous five games.

Lately, the Ironmen have been feeling the love — brotherly love, to be exact — with Da’Ron and Donald Barksdale.

“To have my brother out there, it’s like a dual-threat battle,” said Donald Barksdale after the game. “I get the ball; he’s able to score. If he gets it, I’m able to score.”

It was all in the family for the Ironmen again, as the Barksdale Brothers amassed all of Steel Valley’s points in a 45-7 victory. The victory granted Steel Valley second place in the conference and South Allegheny third place.

Donald Barksdale kicked off the festivities with a 38-yard run for a score on the opening drive.

Early on, the Gladiators benefited from penalties when they drove deep into Ironmen territory. Steel Valley stopped them short of the end zone twice, including on their own 1-yard line.

“We shot ourselves in the foot there,” Ironmen coach Ray Braszo said. “We gave them a lot on those drives, and we’ll work on it.”

The Ironmen (7-3) immediately cashed in with a 99-yard drive kick-started by a 42-yard run out of the shadow of their goal line by Donald Barksdale. The drive was capped by a 2-yard run by Da’Ron Barksdale to put the Ironmen ahead 13-0.

Another stop gave them the ball in the last two minutes of the half, and Da’Ron and Donald teamed up for an 86-yard pass to take a 20-0 lead on the second and final passing attempt by Steel Valley before the halftime break.

The younger brother was initially hesitant about returning to the quarterback spot a few weeks ago, but he wanted to turn Steel Valley’s fortunes after a 1-3 start.

“Sometimes you have to put some things first,” Da’Ron Barksdale said. “I want to win. I’m not used to having a losing season.”

South Allegheny (8-2) opened the second half with an 82-yard kick return from Hunter Molanick, which gave it a spark and cut into the deficit 20-7.

“A lot of stuff was self-inflicted, and they make things hard,” South Allegheny coach Bryan Hanson said. “We wanted to control what we can control.”

The Gladiators were dealing with four players out, including starting receiver Tyreke Chatman, before tonight’s game.

“It’s a learning lesson,” Hanson said. “Take it in stride and understand the perspective of the season.”

The Ironmen finished the game with 25 straight points. Da’Ron Barksdale scored on a 93-yard run and finished with 10 rushes for 153 yards, two rushing touchdowns and the 86-yard scoring pass to his brother.

Donald Barksdale scored the final three touchdowns, scoring on a run after Del Shields recovered a fumble in South Allegheny territory and a reverse took Steel Valley to the 1-yard line.

He finished with an 85-yard punt return and an 83-yard run to complete the scoring. He had 14 attempts for 208 yards and three touchdowns, adding the receiving score and return for five total scores.

“They work together so well,” Braszo said. “They do a great job of running our offense.”

Michael Manna wins Battle of the North Side at Fall Fisticuffs VI

Five professional fights and one exhibition were a part of a competitive night of boxing at Fall Fisticuffs VI, presented by Integrity Fighter Management from the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Saturday.

The Battle of The Northside II was the match of the night. Michael “The Pittsburgh Bull” Manna (6-5-0, 4 KO) and Joey Turk (4-0-1, 1 KO) was a rematch of Turk’s victory in July.

The crowd packed into the Casino was at a fever pitch for the two Northsiders. A feeling-out process early through Round 1 gave a slight edge to Turk, who followed up with a strong Round 2. Turk had good combos, including a few jabs and a right hook through a Manna counter.

Through it all, Manna was setting up with the jab and managed to put shots on the body. His strategy from the July fight to this matchup in late October remained unchanged.

“It just didn’t work out for me (that night),” Manna said. “I threw some opportunities, and they were there.”

Round 3 was a much-needed round for Manna as he was urgent with his striking, throwing straight rights and his looping right hook. Round 4 looked to be on the road to a draw as Turk and Manna traded shots.

The shining moment came in the final 10 seconds of the round when Manna caught Turk with a right hook that put him on the mat.

“When I knocked him down, I got upset,” Manna said. “I didn’t want that. I hoped he was all right.”

Turk returned to his feet and was ready for more action, but the final bell sounded. The fight lived up to the billing, and Manna won the rematch by unanimous decision, 39-36, 38-37 and 39-36. Early thoughts for a third fight at The Priory are already blooming.

The performance of the night went to Teddy Mrkonja Jr. in his professional debut, taking on fellow Kevin Hicks of Virginia, also making his debut. Mrkonja, a decorated amateur, used his speed and movement and attacked the body of Hicks.

“All of the hard work over the past three months has paid off,” Mrkonja said. “It all came to fruition.”

The plan was to go to the body and use his speed. He overwhelmed Hicks, who did his best to quell the attack.

“We’re going for the body open upstairs,” Mrkonja said. “I figured I’d be quicker with the age advantage.”

He downed Hicks with another body shot, and referee Ernie Sharif called the fight at 2:24 of the first round.

Knockout of the night went to Devon Siegfried (2-0, 2 KO), who faced Christopher Crockett (1-2, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio. Siegfried, a police officer from Ellwood City, has shown knockout power.

It was an unorthodox start to the match, with Crockett attacking almost immediately, with some shots looking more like a street fight than an organized boxing match. At one point, he got clipped by an incidental punch to the back of the head.

Siegfried said he felt embarrassed about the “stanky leg” he went through and gave credit to his opponent.

“I remember looking down at my feet. My feet were kind of like doing that,” Siegfried said. “He came out super hot, and I’m a notoriously slow starter.”

After a talk with his trainer, Jack Maine, between rounds, Siegfried roared back to his regular form. He scored a knockdown with a right hook to Crockett.

His opponent returned to his feet, but Siegfried continued his work with a left hook that staggered the Ohio fighter and forced a TKO stoppage at 1:11 in the second round.

A three-round exhibition fight between CC Clark and Tommy Parker occurred before the main event. Parker, a member of Manna’s Northside Athletic Club, took the exhibition on 24 hour’s notice after Clark’s opponent had to withdraw. The two excited the crowd with their showmanship, asking the opposing fighter to hit them with all they had.

Dancha showcased power and skill with three knockdowns of Rutkowski, earning his first U.S. victory via TKO at 2:15 of the first round.

The lone fight that went past four rounds was a six-round heavyweight clash between Moses Johnson (9-1-2, 7 KO) of Huntington, N.Y., and Lemir Isom Riley (3-1, 1 KO) of New Cumberland.

The two fighters showed some strong skill, with the fight nearly exclusively fought head-to-head. Johnson won via unanimous decision, 58-55, 58-56 and 58-56.

The night opened with the U.S. debut of Ivan Dancha (1-0, 1 KO) from Lviv, Ukraine. He won gold at the 2015 Ukrainian national championships. He took on Anthony Rutkowski (0-1) of Grand Rapids, Mich..

Dancha, with fellow Ukrainians Lyubomyr Pinchuk, a cruiserweight contender and world No. 3-ranked WBA super-bantamweight contender in attendance, showed the Pittsburgh area crowd that the Ukraine to Pittsburgh fight pipeline is alive and well.

North Side natives make good friends, better opponents on boxing card at The Meadows

Boxing, at its core, is a sport built from differences.

Usually, two guys who grew up together and trained together never square off in the ring for more than sparring.

“We’re doing something that’s typically not being done,” said Michael Manna (6-5, 4 KO), 40. “I think 100% that it’s how it should be.”

Manna and fellow North Sider Joey Turk are in a rematch dubbed “The Battle for The North Side II” for Integrity Fighter Management’s sixth annual “Fall Fisticuffs” professional boxing event at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Saturday.

The first fight in the same venue this past July was a highly anticipated match between the two friends, where Turk picked up the victory in a four-round unanimous decision.

“It was an entertaining fight,” said Turk (4-0-1, 1 KO), also 40. “The referees didn’t break us up once. To be in there with another good boxer was a good experience.”

The rematch has even more anticipation, so it will headline the card.

“Both guys were in great shape. It was a quality first fight,” said Michael McSorley, the event promoter. “They wanted (to fight again). Putting it together wasn’t too tough.”

Both have similar career starts, deciding to go pro before it was “too late” and using their skills to teach people about the sweet science.

The two first met through mutual friends in the North Hills. They both started training at the Exercise Warehouse in Bloomfield with Mark Machi, a trainer and the president of the Allegheny Mountain Association of USA Boxing.

“I’ve known them both for a long time,” Machi said. “I knew Joey’s father and Mike’s grandfather.”

One of the memorable moments of their friendship came when Manna was jumped at Denny Park. Turk came to his aid and told him to get out of there. A quintessential fighter, he refused to leave.

“He always was there,” Manna said. “Any time he needed something, he called me.”

When Manna decided to make his pro debut in 2018, it was Turk he called for sparring. When Turk debuted in 2022, Manna wrapped his hands and was in his corner.

The first match meant a lot to Manna, who was returning to boxing in Pennsylvania for the first time since a “retirement” fight against Ryan Covert in November 2019 at Printscape Arena at Southpointe.

He fought four times in West Virginia before fighting in the area again. Coming to the ring with “All My Life” by Lil Durk and J. Cole was more than an entrance song.

“I had some things in my life that were a mess,” said Manna. “God showed me who was for me and who wasn’t. After a while I thought, ‘Why did I retire?’”

He went beyond the round limits of four to eight and even 10 rounds and showed he wasn’t done yet with a 2-2 record.

He found another purpose in boxing by starting his nonprofit boxing gym, the Northside Athletic Club, in 2021. All the money he gets from this fight and every fight goes towards teaching people the craft and allowing them to compete as amateurs.

“I fight for my guys here,” said Manna. “They’ve become my family, and it’s a supportive place.”

Turk is a personal trainer and boxing coach at the Exercise Warehouse, where he started boxing. He says the best part of professional boxing is the influence he has on people.

“I’m 40 years old and in the best shape of my life,” said Turk. “It’s never too late to pursue a dream or get in the best shape of your life.”

His class has people of all ages with a mix of strength, conditioning and boxing, and a soundtrack of gloves hitting pads and throwback R&B jams. Every once in a while, he shows his skills for eager volunteers.

“After my second session here, Joey had me box,” said Joey McManus, one of his biggest hypemen. “I had on the body protector, and he threw a straight right to the chest that vibrated through the pad.”

Both men are interested in continuing their professional boxing journeys after this match. We could see the third fight in a familiar area if the interest is there.

“The North Side, I would love for it to be at The Priory,” said Turk. “I’m not opposed to it. As long as there’s a demand, I’ll supply.”

Peters Township shuts down Upper St. Clair in Class 5A clash of top-ranked teams

No. 1 Peters Township and No. 2 Upper St. Clair have built a rivalry on tough play and defense, and through one quarter Friday night, it looked like that trend would continue.

However, the Indians struck first and continued to strike on their way to a 31-0 victory over their Route 19 rivals in a matchup of the top two teams in the Trib HSSN Class 5A rankings.

Peters Township coach T.J Plack gave credit to his players on the defensive side of the ball.

“We have a couple of great guys that run our defense,” Plack said. “We have the type of players that can play fast and physical.”

Senior defensive back Elliot Schratz had a game to remember, recording the first two interceptions of his life, including a 51-yard pick-six that gave his team a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

“I saw him run a comeback and his break was slow, so I knew I could make a break on it,” Schratz said.

On the next drive for Peters Township (5-0, 2-0 in the Allegheny Six Conference), a big completion from Nolan DiLucia to Nick McCullough for 45 yards set up a 24-yard field goal by Carter Shanafelt to make it 10-0.

One of the turning points of the game came late in the second quarter. On a fourth down play, after Peters Township didn’t bite on a hard count, Upper St. Clair (4-1, 1-1) looked like it would take a delay of game penalty and try to pin the Indians deep in their own territory for the second time in the half.

But Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko elected to keep his offense out to try to pick up a first down. Quarterback Ethan Hellman’s number was called on a run play and the Indians stopped him and took over at midfield with 2:22 left in the half.

After advancing further thanks to a defensive pass interference, DeLucia rifled a bullet to Shanafelt on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Panthers got the ball first in the second half. Evan Taylor helped out the USC cause with a few good runs and a 22-yard catch to put the Panthers in the red zone.

Nearing the goal line, Upper St. Clair running back Mason Chambers fumbled just before he broke the plane. The ball wobbled out of the end zone for a touchback.

DiLucia and the Indians added to their lead with a 53-yard catch and run for Nick Mcullough, making it 24-0 in the third quarter. On a fantastic night for the sophomore slinger, DiLucia went 21 of 28 for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

The lone downer for DiLucia was an interception by Niko D’Orazio for USC in the second half.

It continues a great run for DiLucia over the past three games, starting with a conversation with his coach after the Trinity game.

“I understood after that game, I had to work on some things,” said DiLucia. “All my guys helped me on that journey and we did our work.”

McCullough was the beneficiary of his performance, earning five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Vinny Sarconne capped the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Peters Township will face Baldwin in conference play next week, while Upper St. Clair will take on Class 6A Mt. Lebanon in another South Hills clash.

Pitt wrestler runs MMA record to 3-0 with submission win at Brawl in the Burgh 17

Nine of the 12 fights ended by knockout or submission at the 247 Fighting Championships’ Brawl in The Burgh 17 on Saturday night at the Monroeville Convention Center.

The submission of the night was a highly contested honor, but the nod went to Pitt wrestler James “Las Vegas” Lledo (3-0), who trains with Stout PGH. He ended his novice amateur MMA career with a bang, stopping Manuel Bell (0-2) in 29 seconds of the first round with two crushing slams, followed by an arm triangle to get the finish.

The knockout of the night was contested as well, but it went to a fighter who handled business in the first round. Chase “The Croatian Crowbar” Boyde (6-3) took on a formidable challenger in Dez Ford (5-4). There could have been an exciting fight, but Boyde hits like his nickname suggests. One punch stunned his opponent, then a series of crowbar-like strikes on his downed foe led to a stoppage 20 seconds into the first round.

The performance of the night went to Edgar “Cowboy” Parilla (2-0), a favorite of the convention center crowd. He wanted for the choke all night, but his opponent, Colton Musgrove (1-1), managed to ward him off to end the first round. Parilla would not be denied in the second. Parilla got a takedown and managed to sneak in a slick rear naked choke that took Musgrove out 28 seconds into the round.

The fight of the night saw Lucas “Sniper” Seibert (5-0) face Cameron “Molerat” Allgeier (6-2). Seibert, a former West Virginia walk-on wrestler, kept a picture on his phone of Allgeier’s 247 bantamweight championship since he decided to commit himself to mixed martial arts.

It seemed like Allgeier would show that he was cut above through the first round. Seibert got to striking with his jab to set up his takedowns on the more experienced fighter. Every minute that passed brought out more confidence in the young fighter, and a Superman punch leading to a takedown was one of the many shining moments for him.

He scored the victory and the 247 amateur featherweight title by unanimous decision.

Stout PGH fighters went 4-1 on the night. In addition to Lledo, fellow Pitt wrestler Geoff “Juice” Magin (4-1) also picked up a title victory, capturing the 247 amateur light heavyweight title by split decision over Ohio’s top MMA prospect, Nick “Nasty” Nash (5-1).

“Goat” James Padmore (3-0) picked up a TKO victory 18 seconds into the second round over Adam Caldwell (2-1). All of Padmore’s victories are by knockout. The lone loss was Miguel Francisco (4-3) via TKO to Jacob Wiggins (4-2) at 2:22 of the first round.

Only one of the 12 fights was a professional matchup. Justin “The General” Patton (4-3) seemed to be on his way toward picking up a victory over his opponent, Kyle Zimmick (1-1). He had managed to cut his opponent on his hairline in the first round and ran out of time on a possible submission in the second. But Zimmick caught Patton in a guillotine and stopped him at 3:06 in the third round.

In other fights:

• Demar Mathis (1-2) defeated James Stevenson (0-2) via TKO at the end of Round 2. Doctor stoppage due to an issue with Stevenson’s eye.

• Noah Gaudello (1-0) defeated Falco Teti (0-2) via TKO at 1:53 in Round 2.

• Caprice Hall (0-1-1) and Glenn Christner (1-2-1) fought to a majority draw. Judges scored it 29-27 for Hall, 29-27 for Christner and 28-28.

• Logan Fink (3-1) defeated Drew Landefeld (2-3) by rear naked choke at 2:13 in Round 2.

Pitt wrestlers, WVU grad headline MMA fight card at 'Brawl in The Burgh 17'

From Left to Right, James Lledo, Geoff Magin, Lucas Seibert, and Mke Wilkins at Stout PGH in the Strip District.

Wrestling is a huge part of a mixed martial artist’s repertoire. If fighters don’t grow up on the mats, they invest time to enhance this part of their game.

“The two pathways in wrestling post-college are coaching or competing, looking to make an Olympic and World team,” said Mike Wilkins, a professional MMA fighter and trainer at Stout PGH. “Mixed martial arts provide a great avenue for them to continue to use their craft.”

Three fighters from Stout — James Lledo, Geoff Magin and Lucas Seibert — represent a new guard of wrestlers who simultaneously trained or competed in both disciplines.

On Saturday, the trio of wrestlers from local colleges will compete at Monroeville Convention Center for 247 Fighting Championships’ “Brawl in The Burgh 17.”

“It’s huge for us to be able to get these amazing athletes who have dedicated themselves in crafting a new outlet to putting their skills on display,” said Hunter Homistek, general manager of 247 Fighting Championships.

Lledo (2-0) and Magin (3-1) are redshirt sophomores at Pitt. They both took a fight before competing in the USA Wrestling Nationals U23 trials in May.

With some downtime in their schedule before the wrestling season restarts, their day consists of lifting weights in the morning, class in between, wrestling practice in the afternoon and working at Stout PGH in the Strip District at night.

“I think for any other college athlete or college student, they do summer internships for their future career after sports,” said Lledo, a Lower Merion native. “We’re setting ourselves up for the future and getting a jump start on what we want to do when wrestling’s over.”

Lledo is excited about continuing to the next level of his career. His final fight at the novice level of amateur MMA is against Manuel Bell (0-1). Novice fights consist of three two-minute rounds with restrictions on ground-and-pound fighting.

“It’s weird taking someone down and not being allowed to punch them,” said Lledo. “My last fight would have been over quickly. Now (the novice stage) will be over. I’m excited.”

His teammates are in the advanced stage, where fights have three 3-minute rounds.

Magin, a Quaker Valley graduate, did a year of college wrestling at Franklin & Marshall before the covid-19 pandemic. He took a year away from school, opting against online classes.

“I started here at Stout, did three fights,” Magin said. “I lost my last one because I was not good at wrestling.”

He returned to school to improve his wrestling and transferred to Pitt.

“The wrestling program is really good, especially since the upper weights are tough,” Magin said. “We had a national champion at 197 (Nino Bonaccorsi), and the room was full of savages. You can’t help but get better at wrestling.”

Magin will take on Ohio’s top MMA prospect, Nick Nash (5-0), for the vacant light heavyweight championship.

From Westerville, Ohio, Seibert (4-0) walked on at West Virginia. He couldn’t get the amateur fights while competing in college wrestling, but he did begin his training during that time and aims for the highest level of his new career.

“I always shoot for the stars,” said Seibert. “I shot for Division 1, and I’m gonna shoot for the UFC.”

He graduated in May and moved to Pittsburgh three days later, committing full-time to MMA. His next fight, against former 247 bantamweight champion Cameron Allgeier (6-1) for the vacant featherweight championship, will be a year after his debut.

“My whole MMA career has been developing under Stout, and it’s coming full circle,” said Seibert. “I had a picture of Cam’s belt on my phone when I decided to fight in MMA.”

Of the 15 scheduled fights Saturday, 14 will be amateur bouts. And 247 Fighting Championships will hold a grappling supercard the night before, featuring some of the world’s best Brazilian jiujitsu competitors.

Wilkins, a Woodland Hills and Waynesburg graduate, will be in the corner for five MMA matches and 10 grappling contests over the two days. He’s confident he will go undefeated as the corner man Saturday.

“I just really love training these guys,” Wilkins said. “They come in with a good base and attitude to work and want to get better.”

With eye toward MMA career, Greensburg native Mataeo Garner makes pro boxing debut

When Mataeo “Top Ape” Garner, 26, of Greensburg, competed in his first jiu-jitsu tournament at 21, he knew his future would be in combat sports.

“My favorite part of the process was just learning, I guess I would say, like learning about my game,” Garner said. “Knowing that I have the potential to do this.”

He’s continuing that process as a professional fighter and just competed in his first professional fight, a boxing match at The Grand Hall at The Priory on March 17.

Garner competed in amateur boxing and mixed martial arts for four years, winning two MMA titles and a boxing championship.

Living with his mother, a paramedic, she worked long hours. To keep him busy, she got him a mentor who would take Garner to The Power Center gym when he was younger. He sparred there until the gym closed permanently.

“All I can remember is wanting to spar and fight kids,” Garner said. “I didn’t take it too seriously.”

Garner had dreams of making the NFL. He played football and was part of the wrestling team at Southmoreland High School and, after graduating, played football at Valley Forge Military Academy and College before transferring to Alabama A&M.

After college, he pivoted to combat sports, and after competing in the jiu-jitsu tournament, he scheduled his first amateur MMA fight. What he loved the most about the career change was the spectacle.

“They promote it like a pro show,” Garner said. “They make you feel like you’re there, but you’re not (a professional yet).”

As an amateur, Garner went 5-3, with first-round victories and fight of the night awards, and his losses came by decision.

“He was pretty hard-nosed right away,” said Gary Young, owner and head trainer at Demolition Fight Team in Findlay, Ohio, where Garner trains. “He took a boxing match against the more experienced and bigger guy and got a draw.”

He planned on going pro in November, and after his final amateur fight this past January, Garner and his team quickly found his first opportunity: a boxing match.

It’s no secret Garner plans on a career in mixed martial arts, but they took the opportunity for the boxing match before focusing entirely on the former.

“Every MMA fighter should have some boxing experience because every fight starts on the feet,” Garner said. “If you can’t take your opponent down, you must learn to fight on the feet.”

The plans were finalized in February for him to take a cruiserweight fight against fellow debuting fighter Devon Siegfried of Ellwood City.

He trained at the 3rd Avenue Boxing Gym in Downtown Pittsburgh and Boyce Boxing Gym in Monroeville, working with striking coach Hiawatha “Boo” Hudson, who has trained up-and-coming talents in the area such as Johnny Spell, who is 8-0.

Hudson had known Garner since he was a baby, but he lost contact after moving away from Greensburg. Garner’s dad knew he was a boxing coach and reintroduced him.

“Boo really knows his stuff,” Young said. “We knew he was in good hands.”

Listed at 5-foot-9, Garner gave up 5 inches to the 6-2 Siegfried. It was a turbulent first round for Garner, as he withstood several flurries from Siegfried and hung in there against a more experienced fighter.

Garner’s second round showed more promise as he flashed his potential.

It all crashed in the next round against the former Golden Gloves champion. Siegfried caught him with a right cross, and Garner could not answer the 10-count, ending the fight at 1 minute, 5 seconds in the third.

“A couple of my boxers fought Devon,” Hudson said. “He had the game plan, but when you get hurt, you revert to what you truly know.”

Despite the loss, Garner is optimistic about his career and future. He plans to make his professional MMA debut between late April and June.

“Now I know what it feels like to finish,” Garner sad. “Now I can just go out there and be a free spirit and fight my (butt) off.”

At age 35, Springdale's Jordan Zlacki making strides in professional boxing career

As the middle child in a family of nine brothers and sisters, Jordan “The Croatian Warrior” Zlacki, 35, of Springdale always needed to be tough. Whether in Springdale or Florida, where he moved before high school, he would always get into scraps.

“I got into my fair share of street fights,” Zlacki said. “I went into the gym, and (boxing) helped mature me.”

He’s now a full-fledged professional boxer, competing in eight fights and going 3-5 since turning pro in 2018.

Zlacki tried but never really got involved with sports in high school. He thought of boxing earlier in life, but the journey didn’t begin until he was 20.

One of his co-workers at his contracting job liked his work ethic and asked him if he was interested in boxing. He went to James 5:16 Center in Tarentum, about 10 minutes from his house.

“I went to the gym. I started sparring the same day,” Zlacki said.

His first boxing coach was Jim Kobert, the owner of James 5:16 Center, who started training young fighters in 1998.

“He had real talent and ability and wanted to learn,” Kobert said. “I never let anybody in a ring I didn’t feel comfortable with.”

Even with the closing of James 5:16 in late 2022, Kobert remains in Zlacki’s corner at fights. He’s been Zlacki’s coach since he was an amateur.

“Each one of his fights was very close,” Kobert said. “Though he should have been a state champion (as an amateur).”

As an amateur, Zlacki often would square off against fighters under the direction of Bill Wolfe, trainer at Butler Cubs Boxing Gym.

Wolfe has known Zlacki for 10 years. In addition to his fighters competing against him, he occasionally would come up to the gym and spar against the amateurs and professionals.

“We always knew when we trained against Jordan, you had to be in shape,” Wolfe said. “You had to be tough, and we had a lot of good fights against him.”

After the closing of James 5:16, Zlacki decided to train at Butler Cubs for his next professional fight. It was a new start for Zlacki. His opponent was Eric Palmer, a veteran with over 10 years and 35 professional bouts.

Zlacki was on a four-fight losing streak. Three of the losses went to decisions, and one was a TKO that resulted from a cut above his eye.

He was ready for the St. Patrick’s Day clash.

“I felt like a million bucks,” Zlacki said. “He was feeding me good positive energy all camp.”

The two battled in a jam-packed Grand Hall at The Priory on March 17. Zlacki went the scheduled four rounds with a renewed vigor against his opponent from Uniontown.

His game plan regularly includes punishing shots to the body, peppering opponents with his signature right hook to the body.

With his fianceé, Amber, watching from the left of the blue corner he was assigned to, he picked up a split decision victory, ending his losing streak.

“It was my favorite fight in his career. It was a big win for him,” Wolfe said. “He just needs to be disciplined and (keep) in control, and he can play with anybody.”

At 35, his professional boxing future is still up in the air. A possible rematch with Palmer would give him the first six-round fight of his career in the spring or summer.

He’s confident he can get another win against Palmer, but he has a big decision in his career.

“At this point, you’re in or out, I could fight till I’m 40,” Zlacki said. “As I’m getting older, I know that I can’t be taking (long) breaks.”

South Fayette celebrates 1st Pennsylvania Cup championship

On a special day for hockey all across the Commonwealth, special teams were extra special in the Class 2A Pennsylvania Cup championship game between Penguins Cup champion South Fayette and Flyers Cup champion Pennsbury.

The teams combined for three power-play goals and three short-handed goals through two periods.

South Fayette scored two goals, 1 minute, 13 seconds apart, then added an empty netter for a 7-4 victory and its first state hockey championship.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it before,” South Fayette coach Matt Schwartz said of the special teams impact.

Both teams were searching for a first in this championship game. The Falcons (18-7-0) were seeking their first Pennsylvania Cup since 1985 as a member of Class 2A.

The Lions (19-3-2) won their first Penguins Cup five days ago and were looking to double up with their first state championship.

The game started with Pennsbury getting the first chances against Lions goaltender Allen Schraeder. Brendan MacAnish capitalized on a rebound from a shot by Logan Doyle to get the game’s first goal 13:40 into the first period.

South Fayette returned the favor with a few chances, and drew two penalties on Pennsbury for a 5-on-3.

Much like their semifinal of the Penguins Cup playoffs, the Lions gave up a short-handed opportunity in that situation. Justin Marlin and Macanish combined on a 2-on-1 to make it 2-0 for the eastern Pa. champions.

The Lions countered back on the same power-play with goals less than a minute apart by Nolan Murphy and Tyler Brandebura to even the score at 2-2.

“We stuck to the process,” Schwartz said. “We saw an opportunity to get one back.”

Soon after, South Fayette answered with its own short-handed goal as a blocked shot by Dylan Walsh sprung Jackson Brandebura and Braydon Reighard for a 2-on-1 that Reighard finished for the Lions’ first lead of the game with 2:31 left in the first.

South Fayette then got a goal off a turnover from one of its top scorers, Wes Schwarzmiller, to take a 4-2 lead.

“Our game plan was to get as many pucks on the net as possible,” Schwarzmiller said.

The Falcons would not go away. While on the power-play, Marlin picked up the puck after his initial shot hit off teammate Logan Doyle and dispatched a backhander that found a way past Schraeder at 9:40 of the second.

MacAnish picked up his second assist of the game, and then he scored Pennsbury’s second short-handed goal and his second. The senior blocked Brayden Imler’s shot and had a breakaway from his defensive blueline to tie the score once more at 4-4 at 1:01 in the second.

“He’s showed why he’s the guy,” Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley said. “He will go down as one of the best players to come through the program.”

He had two goals and four points in the game and finished his season with 75 points.

Going into the third period, both teams knew only blatant penalties would be called. All six infractions were called before intermission.

“We were expecting 5-on-5 play,” Schwarz said. “We got pucks deep and stuck to the process.”

There was a little weathering of the storm for the Lions as Schraeder made a big save on a clean opportunity in the slot. Last year’s third-stringer quelled most Pennsbury threats as he saved 29 on 33 shots.

“Coach trusted me the whole way through the end of the season,” Schraeder said. “We had a little rough streak, but once the playoffs kicked in, so did I.”

His counterpart on the other side, Aaron McDaniel was able to make big stops, too, with 29 saves on 35 shots.

The game-winning goal was just too tough to stop. Schwartzmiller, after hitting the crossbar on a faceoff earlier in the third, took a wrist shot from just below the left circle on a sharp angle and buried it high over the glove to give South Fayette a 5-4 lead with 2:57 remaining.

“I had that shot twice throughout the game, and I thought I’ll give it another go,” Schwartzmiller said. “It was the most exciting moment of the game for me. I wasn’t expecting it to go in.”

Then, Murphy scored 1:26 later from the left dot to the same high glove for the insurance marker for the Lions.

“That fifth one was unstoppable,” Daley said. “We started pressing, it’s tough, but it’s the kind of risk you take when you’re down.”

Brayden Imler secured the championship with an empty-netter for South Fayette with a minute remaining.

“Just couldn’t be prouder of our guys and how they’ve competed,” Schwartz said. “They bought in and did everything we asked. I couldn’t be prouder.”

South Fayette Advances to Penguins Cup Final

Everyone was asking if sixth-seeded Latrobe could capitalize on the most significant rebound in PIHL history after its first-round loss turned into a win when Bishop McCourt was forced to forfeit a 2-1 overtime victory.

Early shots and hits belonged to Latrobe, which looked to make things different for a No. 2 South Fayette team that had beaten them twice in one-goal games in the regular season.

“That first period was exactly what we wanted,” said Latrobe coach Josh Werner.

Behind 23 saves from Allen Schraeder, the Lions slammed the door shut.

After surrendering the first goal, South Fayette (17-3-2) scored four consecutive times to take a 4-1 victory and advance to the PIHL’s Class 2A Penguins Cup championship game.

“We knew we’re going to play a good, difficult team,” said Lions head coach Matt Schwartz. “Given the circumstances of what happened and how they got a new lease on life.”

South Fayette had three chances on the power play early in the first period and couldn’t capitalize. Peyton Myers for Latrobe got the best opportunity on a breakaway but couldn’t gather the puck for a shot.

“They’ve got a good power play. It was a lot of game planning,” Werner said. “We saw some things on film we could take advantage of, which definitely paid off.”

In the second, Latrobe got its first power play, and it was a good one with multiple deflection tries. South Fayette’s Tyler Brandebura had a big blocked shot.

Latrobe struck first with a wrist shot from Jacob Hannah, assisted by Fletcher Harvey and Nik Manolakos, to open the scoring at 5:32 in the second period.

“Getting that first one was important as well,” Werner said.

South Fayette continued working and managed to strike with two goals in the second period. Wes Schwarzmiller slammed home a rebound off a Brady Fleck shot from the point at 9:19 to tie the score and a Trevor Dalessandro scored, assisted by Robert Chiappetta and Dylan Walsh, with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

“We knew we were coming back no matter what,” said Schwarzmiller, who scored two goals.

In the third period, Latrobe got some chances but could not capitalize as South Fayette continued its dominance in the second half of the game.

After Reid West was called for hooking, South Fayette went on the power play for the fourth time. The Lions finally converted. Dalessandro got his second of the night off a rebound from Brayden Imler’s shot off of J.M Krajc’s chest protector.

“We tried to control (on earlier power plays) and wait for our shot,” said Dalessandro. “We knew we had to get shots on the net and pepper the goalie.”

Latrobe pulled their goaltender Krajc, who made 28 saves, with four minutes left, but Schwarzmiller potted his second into the open net a minute later to seal it.

“We have the opportunity that no team from South Fayette has done before,” said Schwartz. “It’s one step closer and 51 minutes to accomplish our goal.”

Tribune-Review contributing writer Tyler Polk contributed.

Union comes alive in 4th quarter, tops Aquinas Academy for 1st WPIAL title

The old adage says it’s tough to beat a team three times in the same season, and coming into the WPIAL Class A girls basketball championship game, No. 1 Union had defeated No. 3 Aquinas Academy twice this year.

Aquinas Academy looked like it was going to prove the saying true, taking a one-point halftime lead and leaving Scotties leading scorer Kelly Cleaver frustrated with only three points in the first half.

But the Scotties came to life with a dominant fourth quarter, winning their first WPIAL championship with a 52-35 victory Saturday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

With the score knotted at 29, Union scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter as part of a 26-5 run to pull away.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Union coach Rob Nogay said. “The hard work these girls put in the summertime, fall and winter — I couldn’t be more excited for our team.”

Cleaver returned the compliment to her coach, giving him credit for a second-half change in strategy that led to Union’s fourth-quarter surge.

“They played a triangle-and-two and compressed the post,” Cleaver said. “Coach made an adjustment and had me bring the ball up and it freed me up.”

The first quarter had a lot of early stage fright for both offenses as the teams struggled to 6-4 first frame with Union (18-6) in the lead.

Even more frightening for Aquinas Academy (16-9) was the loss of senior guard Bella Hite, who suffered an apparent knee injury when she was bumped with 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Hite, who sang the national anthem before the game, was carried off the court.

Most teams would feel down with one of their best players unable to return, but it lit a spark under the Crusaders. Stepping up in her place was freshman guard Ellie Junker, who scored 11 points in the second quarter for Aquinas.

“We were already playing for Bella,” said Junker, who finished with 14 points. “But after that, everything we did on the court on offense and defense had to be for her.”

Aquinas Academy continued an inspired effort with the team’s leading scorer, freshman guard Tess Doer, taking over the slack when the Scotties ran a box-and-one on Junker. She scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half to help keep the score even at 29 points to begin the fourth.

“We were looking to continue to do what we did in the first half and move the ball,” said Crusaders coach Chris Lebakken. “I thought our shots were open. They were decent. They just weren’t falling in that fourth quarter.”

Union’s defense is the second best in the classification at 34.1 points allowed per game, and the Scotties showcased that sparkling number, holding Aquinas to 1-of-12 shooting from the field in the final frame.

“We just needed to calm down, close out and get back to our game,” Nogay said.

With Cleaver firmly entrenched at point forward, it allowed sophomore guard Kylie Fruehstorfer to come alive in a big way in the second half.

“I was feeling hot and we needed to make shots,” said Fruehstorfer, who scored 15 of her 20 points in the second half. “I just kept shooting and they were going in.”

Cleaver, who finished with 14 points, also managed to get fellow senior forward Zoe Lepri involved as she had all 10 of her points in the second half.

“It’s just the way we play basketball and the way we practice,” Nogay said. “We don’t play for ourselves. We’re out there representing Union and we’re representing Lawrence County.”

Union will play Clarion, the fifth-place team in District 9, and Aquinas Academy will face Juniata Valley, which placed third in District 6, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs next Saturday.

Watch an archived video stream broadcast of this game on Trib HSSN.

Upper St. Clair wins slugfest with Bethel Park, making 1st WPIAL finals in 11 years

When rain is the forecast, old-school football is on the horizon.

No. 5 Upper St. Clair certainly brought that to the table in a 17-7 victory over No. 1 Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Friday night, but frankly, these two teams might have played just as hard-charging a game even in perfect fall weather.

“I think we probably would have been more balanced if the weather didn’t do what it did,” Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko. “But in the end, it worked out for us, so we’ll take it.”

The Panthers advanced to the WPIAL championship game for the first time since 2011. They will meet Pine-Richland next Saturday at Norwin.

The teams combined for 16 straight runs to begin the game through the pouring rain at Big Macs Stadium in Canonsburg.

In the end, the passing game made the most significant difference, and once again, it was another hero of the day for Upper St Clair (10-2)

Ethan Hellmann, the freshman quarterback replaced on the final drive by Julian Dahlem in last week’s thriller against Gateway, caught lightning in a bottle.

He connected with Cody Marn, who did the rest of the business in a 74-yard catch and run on the Panthers’ first drive of the second half. Hellmann went 3 for 5 for 135 yards.

“We knew we weren’t gonna throw a lot,” Hellmann said. “We ensured we got consistent passes and ones we can make.”

Both teams used their workhorse backs early. Jamaal Brown for USC and Austin Caye for Bethel Park (10-2) caused a quick-moving first quarter.

In the second quarter, USC senior receiver Aidan Besselman scored on a reverse for the game’s first touchdown.

The biggest story of the game might have been Caye’s injury in the first quarter.

Caye was on crutches for the rest of the game and did not return. It was another crushing blow to the Black Hawks, who were already without Ryan Petras, who has been out since the final game of the season against Peters Township.

Caye being out led to extended touches for Gavin Moul and Blake Striegel, who had some success, but it felt like too much for the Bethel Park offense to overcome.

Sophomore quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer tried to make things happen with his arm, but the rain affected him throughout the game as four attempts were nearly intercepted.

“It affected us, but both teams dealt with injuries and rain,” Bethel Park coach Brian DeLallo said. “Their kids played hard, and their coaching staff did a great job.”

Similar to their game on Oct. 7, Bethel Park did have a long drive in this game, taking nearly eight minutes off the clock when Pfeuffer punched in a sneak for the Black Hawks’ only score.

Going into the second half, the Hawks owned time of possession until Brown took over. He had 87 of his 129 yards after halftime, and along with Aiden Conn’s 61 yards in the second half, they helped USC take back an edge in time of possession, which finished 25:52 to 22:08.

“We knew they were a physical team, and we wanted to match their physicality and better it,” Brown said. “The line did a great job the whole day.”

Bennett Henderson hit a 19-yard field to extend Upper St. Clair’s lead early in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve got 25 (seniors),” Junko said. “To see them get to this point, it means the world to me.”

High-end Pittsburgh summer basketball league features fierce competition, fun trash talk

Chaz McCrommon, who played for Robert Morris, warms up before a DREAM PRO-AM game this summer.

Every Monday through Thursday afternoon during the summer, Gilmore Cummings comes to A Giving Heart Community Center, a small, gritty gym located on Climax Street in Allentown, to prepare for the night’s basketball games.

“I want to build a culture for the pros and college kids here in Pittsburgh,” Cummings said. “There aren’t many big leagues for the pros and college kids to play.”

He founded the DREAM Pro-Am in 2018 along with Averill “Ace” Pippens, his head coach for the Steel City Yellow Jackets, a semi-professional basketball team in the American Basketball Association.

The pro-am’s acronym stands for Discipline, Realize, Excellence, Achieve, Motivation.

The league’s players range in stages of their basketball careers, from overseas professionals to those out of pro basketball but still wanting to lace up.

“(The league is) reach out or invitation only, and it’s as far as I’m going to go,” Cummings said. “I want the best league and the best of the best competing.”

Some of the best to compete on Western Pennsylvania’s high school and college teams — such as Ashton Gibbs, DeJuan Blair, DeAndre Kane, Matty McConnell, Mike Young Jr. and Lance Jeter — have played in the league.

“My favorite year of the pro-am was 2020,” Cummings said. “It’s messed up to say because of covid, but the gym was packed, and everyone, even guys from Pitt, were playing. It was everybody’s entertainment.”

Fans can come down to A Giving Heart for $5 and see some of the best basketball in any city’s summer leagues. Games are played at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. with a mashup of NBA, ABA and FIBA rules in two 20-minute halves.

Most players in the DREAM Pro-Am have played since the league’s inception, such as Gerald “Scoot” Warrick III, a member of 2004 PIAA champion Penn Hills.

“I’m enjoying every moment, being 35 years old, still able to run up and down the court and compete and have a good time,” said Warrick, who plays for the Harlem Wizards and has played overseas. “Let the kids see how the pros do it.”

Warrick brings his son, Gerald IV, to every game he plays. Like father like son, basketball is in his blood as well.

“He loves basketball and works hard every day, ” Warrick said. “He’s why I stay in shape and keep my head on this court.”

Warrick played for Cummings’ team, Bo-Gang, for the previous three seasons. This season, Cummings plays for the Heatmakers alongside a rising senior at Penn Hills, Daemar Kelly.

Warrick has enjoyed the opportunity for the past and present of the Indians to play together.

“I showed him the right way so he doesn’t make some of the same mistakes I made,” Warrick said. “He’s going to go a long way.”

Kelly’s coach at Penn Hills, Chris Giles, played in the DREAM Pro-Am in 2020.

High school players are rare in the league. Cummings limited entry to players in the summer before their senior year.

It was just in time for his cousin, Keandre Bowles, the second all-time scorer at Woodland Hills with 1,240 points, to join the league.

“It made me a lot better just as far as the competition level, the grown-man strength and the height with the pros in here,” said Bowles, who recently finished his redshirt sophomore season with Dodge City Community College (Kan.).

The proof is in his outstanding senior season with Woodland Hills. According to the school’s record books, he scored the most points by a Wolverine in a season (693), including a program-high 43 points against McKeesport in January 2019.

Bowles is on RNDRT with the league’s other rising senior, Brandon Davis of the defending WPIAL champion Laurel Highlands.

“I’ve played against Keandre and “Scrap” (Amante Britt), the twins (Tim and James Jackson) and all the pros like Mike Young since I was a kid,” Davis said. “It’s nothing new to me.”

The league’s culture is summed up as go hard or go home. Every player gives effort like they’re fighting for their basketball respect in front of their peers.

Other teams would come down on nights they aren’t scheduled to play just to see the games in person.

“We’ve got good teams coming out and playing good teams. It makes other teams come out to watch the great games,” Cummings said. “We got the fans, the video and the bragging rights.”

One of Cummings’ teammates on Bo-Gang and the Yellow Jackets, Jason Arrington, dove for a loose ball near the spectator side of the court in a Monday game against the Bridge City Jazz.

He risked possible injury right in front of the broadcast table and fans like he was still playing for the ABA national championship this past April.

It was one of the many plays discussed at the night’s end after Bo-Gang picked up the victory over Bridge City. A big group of players was standing in the alleyway on Climax Street, discussing the hotly contested game after the final match finished at 10 p.m.

Some players played in the game. Others either stuck around after their games or only showed up to watch this game.

“(Bridge City does) do this every time they lose,” said Finesse Harris, who runs the mini-concession and paid entry to the pro-am’s games.

Brandon Johnson, one of Cummings’ teammates on the Yellow Jackets, was a part of the losing team and led the massive discussion about the Jazz’s third loss this season.

“I kept telling Gil, don’t let that loss fool y’all, everybody 0-0 when the playoffs start, ” said Johnson, a part of the last graduating class from Schenley High School. “We were talking (trash) for two hours after the game, the whole time going crazy.”

One of the featured parts of the league’s culture is the opportunity to trash talk after a victory. The DREAM Pro-Am’s Instagram is filled with game highlights, but the most significant part is the postgame interviews.

The winning team gets to talk about its victory in an uncensored video that shows their personality.

“That’s where you can see some of the players’ humor,” Cummings said. “After you won a big victory and fought hard, you get to talk trash.”

Cummings said his goal for the DREAM Pro-Am is to show the world that Pittsburgh has players and share Western Pennsylvania basketball culture worldwide. He’s excited about the playoffs starting this week in the league’s most competitive year yet.

“It’s a fun atmosphere, fun that you could bring your family down. We’ve got food and snacks,” Cummings said. “If you want to see good basketball, come down to A Giving Heart.”

Professional, Amateur Fights Scheduled for Boxing at Washington County Fairgrounds

A red-hot summer for Pittsburgh Boxing continues with Gionta Management's return to the Washington County Fairgrounds for Battle at The Fairgrounds III on July 2nd. Doors open at 5 PM, and the first bell is at 6 PM.

The card allows the amateur competitors to fight alongside their professional peers, as the card will feature the amateurs in the undercard before moving to the pros.

“I think it's good to have it all mixed,” said Derek Gionta of Monroeville, the promoter for the card. “It excites the amateurs to fight on the undercard of some of these pros.”

The amateur fights feature talent competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament in Ellwood City’s Devon Siegfried and Stanley Davis of Akron.

“At 185 [pounds], it’s a little harder to find opponents, especially at the open level,” said Gionta. “They decided to fight, neither hesitated, and they know they’ll come out of it better.”

Another amateur bout is a women’s match between Pittsburgh’s Ashley Harner and Lauren Michaels of Altoona. Harner fought Donya Shodja at Integrity Fighter Promotion’s Spring Slugfest V in March.

The professional side of the card will also feature a women’s super-middleweight match between Mary Casamassa of Wexford (1-0) and LeAnn O’Malley of Las Vegas (1-2).

Casamassa won in her first professional fight against Jozette Cotton in May at the Murraysville SportZone.

The Pitt engineering student said the most important thing she learned from her first professional match was to relax.

“When I got [in the ring], it was still a fight,” said Casamassa. “It felt quite similar. You’d say a little bit more excited.”

Pittsburgh boxing has been on the rise, and over the last year, women’s boxing is well on its way here. Casamassa hopes to show the kids, especially the girls in attendance, that they can also be a fighter.

“It’s one of the reasons why I love my gym is we have so many kids there and honestly motivates me more,” said Casamassa. “I take it as an honor to show kids that side of boxing.”

Also representing Pittsburgh on the card is Washington PA’s “Sweet Child” Matt Conway (20-3 9 KO), looking to bounce back from a tough loss in January to Avery Sparrow for IBA Super Featherweight World Championship and the PA Super Featherweight Championship.

He will take on Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira Dos Reis (24-8 19 KO) in a lightweight clash.

The loss came via a standing TKO in the 10th round, giving him his first-ever loss in the Pittsburgh area, his previous defeats happening in Nevada.

Gionta said Sparrow was his best opponent in his career, and both were engaged in a classic. Since that loss, he continued his training with little time off.

“Avery's a really good fighter, and Matt stayed on his feet the entire fight,” said Gionta. He’s gonna carry that same mentality in this next fight. He’s blue-collar.”

Gionta highlighted the third scheduled pro fight between Willie Shaw (13-3 9 KO) of Oakland, CA, and Philadelphia’s Tyrone Crawley (7-1).

Both fighters are from out of the area, so it’s for the hardcore boxing fan or the casual fan interested in learning about more pros. Something he always tries to bring to his shows for the hometown crowd.

“It's a good matchup, and it will allow the fans to see neutral fighters go out here in Pittsburgh,” said Gionta. “Those have turned out to be some of our best matchups since I started [promoting].”

Tickets are $40 at the door. For more information on tickets, call 412-759-0407.

Parts of this article was used for a piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.