In the early going, Central Valley had been pounding the ball until section play started, that is. In the first five games, the Warriors had averaged 13 runs per game. Central Valley was 4-1 entering section play, having lost one of those high-scoring games 14-13 to New Brighton.

Last week, Central Valley won its three games by a combined score of 40-6 to close out its exhibition season. The Warriors have had a balanced attack as no one player has taken center stage.

Name: Austin Ross
High School: Beaver Area
Grade: 12    
Sport: Baseball

On this Sports Town softball Monday, we're bringing you photos of the Montour team. In these photos, we see the Spartans getting a 12-5 win over South Fayette. Montour (4-3) hosts Shalertoday.

softball

One of the toughest sections in the WPIAL to get a read on is Class AAA Section 2.

After WPIAL realignment the section changed drastically with Chartiers Valley moving out and Carrick moving in among other changes. After graduation osses, WPIAL champion Montour appeared to be in rebuilding mode. And after three weeks of on again off again weather, the section standings are difficult to read with some teams like Trinity only having played one game and a team like Montour having played seven games.

The preseason talk was that Ambridge was going to be a team to be reckoned with in the WPIAL this season. The regular season play has reinforced that opinion.

With eight starters back this year Ambridge looks like a well oiled machine early on. It has already has had five games postponed and that was probably good news for the opponents.

Name: Aimee Miller
School: Sto-Rox
Grade: Senior
Sport: Softball
Position: Pitcher/Outfielder

The following is a press release sent to Sports Town by Ron Ledbetter, Athletic Director of South Side Beaver High School:

PITTSBURGH (April 5, 2013) –  South Side High School has been voted Western Pennsylvania’s “Most Positive High School” for sports by Positive Athlete, an organization created by former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

South Side principal Anthony Paull and athletic director Ron Ledbetter will accept the award by Mr. Ward, along with 28 student-athlete winners representing a variety of boys and girls sports in a ceremony at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 20. WPXI Sports Anchor Rich Walsh and MSA Sports’ Don Rebel will serve as the Masters of Ceremony.

The following is a press release sent to Sports Town by Ron Ledbetter, Athletic Director of South Side Beaver High School:

PITTSBURGH (April 5, 2013) –  South Side High School’s Laura Kenderes has been voted Western Pennsylvania’s “Most Positive High School Athlete” in the sport of  Girl’s Cross Country by Positive Athlete, an organization created by former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

Kenderes will be presented the award by Mr. Ward, along with 27 other winners representing a variety of boys and girls sports in a ceremony at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 20. WPXI Sports Anchor Rich Walsh and MSA Sports’ Don Rebel will serve as the Masters of Ceremony.

“This is the second year for the Positive High School Athlete Awards, and the stories of our nominees continue to amaze me,” said Ward.  “I was always credited with having a positive influence on my team during my days with the Steelers, but the stories I hear about kids like Laura really inspire me to be a better person.”

The Beaver County Christian boys volleyball team won the seven-team North Hills Tournament on Saturday, April 6. The Eagles drew a bye in the first round after finishing as the top team in the preliminary round robin. The Eagles beat South Park 1-0 in the semifinals then beat North Hills 2-0 in the title match.

North Hills Tournament

Championship
Beaver C.C. 2, North Hills 0

volleyball

Below is a review of the West posts that appeared the week of Mar. 31-April 6

Sunday, Mar. 31
* Sports Town West Week in Review (Mar. 24-30)

Monday, April 1
* Burgettstown softball team looks to young players
* Aliquippa softball looking for something to build on
* WPIAL Class A door could be open for Sto-Rox softball team
* Ambridge softball team a dangerous darkhorse in Class AAA
* Softball: West Feature Athlete - Riverside's Kirsten Wilson

Tuesday, April 2
* Fort Cherry baseball team is rebuilding
* Ernie Banks would be proud of Ellwood City baseball team
* The early winner in baseball is the weather

reviews

There are 34 girls high school teams playing lacrosse in Western Pennsylvania that are ranked by Laxpower.com, the recognized authority about the sport among American high school and college teams.

Right now, the Moon Area High School girls team is playing pretty well, but the Tigers have suffered two hard luck losses en route to an 0-3 record.

This is the first year coach Cailin Fearon's team has competed in Division II of the WPIAL. In two previous seasons as an Independent, the Tigers were 3-3 in 2012 and played one game in their inaugural season of 2011.

Blackhawk High began the season with a 14-9 loss to Bethel Park in this past Tuesday's season opener.

The Cougars, who fell to Chartiers Valley in the 2012 WPIAL Division II girls quarterfinals, rebounded nicely with successive victories over Butler Area (8-4) and Winchester Thurston (11-3).

Name: Will Townsend
High School: Beaver County Christian School
Grade: 11
Sport: Boys Volleyball
Position: Opposite

volleyball

Ambridge, the No. 1 ranked team in the WPIAL in Class AA, is entered in the Northeastern Tournament on Saturday, April 6. The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. Below are the 30 participants.

Pool A - Red Land, Central York, Bethlehem Catholic, Governor Mifflin, Council Rock.
Pool B - Dallastown, Northeastern, Parkland, Warwick, Pennridge.
Pool C - York Suburban, Hempfield, Chambersburg, Red Lion, Whitehall.
Pool D - Susquehannock, Central Dauphin, Exeter, Freedom, Saegertown.
Pool E - Spring Grove, Cumberland Valley, Neshaminy, Manheim Central, Erie McDowell.
Pool F - Dover, Pennsbury, Ambridge, Garden Spot, State College.

volleyball

The Rams lost yesterday, 4-3 to Seton-LaSalle. But both teams played with stingy defense and shutdown pitching, even in spite of the cold. Sports Town was there yesterday, and video highlights are now up (click here to see them). But here, in the meantime, are the still photos. If you think it looks snowy in the photos, wait until you see the video...

baseball

With five starters returning from a team that finished tied for second in Class AA Section 1, Blackhawk coach Nathan Lowery thinks his team should be a contender this season.

“We’re expecting to do very well,” Lowery said. “We were second in the section last season and I feel we are an improved team. With heavy senior leadership, we should do quite well.

“We have high hopes of winning the section this year.”

tennis

Despite not having its full lineup take the court yet, Fort Cherry has won its first three matches of the season.

The Rangers have five starters returning from last season, led by sophomore No. 1 singles player Brennan McCann.

Another returning starter, senior Varun Thangavelu, will play No. 2 singles. Senior Jordan Palmer will usually occupy the No. 3 singles position, but he has played No. 2 due to absences in the lineup and is 3-0.

tennis

Name: Antonio Muia
School: Hopewell
Grade: 12
Sport: Boys Tennis

tennis

When Terry Borkovic stepped down as head coach of the Hopewell boys volleyball team, he immediately recommended assistant coach Jonathan Jones as his replacement.

"I wanted a Hopewell boy," said Borkovic, who has been boys and girls coach at Hopewell for the past 22 years. "I wanted somebody who is familiar with the tradition of successful athletics we have here at Hopewell.

"When I decided to step down, Jonny was the first person I called. When he expressed an interest in taking over, I recommended him to our athletic director."

volleyball

The Associated Press, on Beaver Falls basketball coach Doug Biega:

"Doug Biega, who guided Beaver Falls to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AA championships, was named the Pennsylvania Class AA coach of the year Wednesday by a panel of Pennsylvania sports writers, and six WPIAL players earned first-team honors in their respective classifications.

Biega's Tigers finished 28-3 and closed the 2012-13 season with an 18-game winning streak to win his second PIAA championship in 14 years at Beaver Falls."

basketball