Derek Pyda

1 week ago | butlereagle.com | Derek Pyda

NORTH HUNTINGDON TWP — Time and time again, Seneca Valley was on the verge of scoring against Hempfield pitcher Riley Miller, but continued to come up empty. It was a theme that ended the Raiders’ season. Twelve runners left on base, seven of them in scoring position, doomed SV in a 1-0 loss to the Spartans in Thursday’s WPIAL Class 6A softball title game at Norwin High School. “We know her (Miller) well.

1 week ago | butlereagle.com | Derek Pyda

NORTH FRANKLIN TWP, Washington County — On a day when Ryan Rebholz needed to be great, he was even better. But late in Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 6A Baseball Championship game against Norwin, Seneca Valley’s junior pitcher found himself a bystander. A line drive off the bat of Tristyn Tavares had smacked off Rebholz’s right foot, forcing him to leave the game after allowing just two hits and no runs in 5.2 innings of work. “I’m not used to leaving a game,” Rebholz said.

1 week ago | butlereagle.com | Derek Pyda

DUBOIS — It appeared as though Karns City’s bats had come to life just in time against Bedford pitcher Ty Decker. The senior had entered Monday’s PIAA Class 3A baseball subregional playoff in the midst of KC’s three-run second inning and proceeded to retire 13 of the first 14 batters he faced. In the bottom of the seventh, the Gremlins plated a pair of runs on two hits to cut their deficit to a single run. The tying run was on second base and the winning run on first.

1 week ago | butlereagle.com | Derek Pyda

DUBOIS — Monday’s District 9 Class 3A softball championship game turned into a roller coaster ride. When it finished, so too was Karns City’s season. Tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Saint Marys’ leadoff hitter, speedy Addison Beimel, singled off Abigail Dunlap and stole second base. She moved to third on Taylor Gornati’s sacrifice bunt and scored the decisive run on a passed ball at Heindl Memorial Field.

2 weeks ago | butlereagle.com | Derek Pyda

SHIPPENSBURG — Mackenzie Magness stood on the artificial turf at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium basking in the glow of a PIAA Class 2A girls pole vault championship. Surrounded by reporters, the sophomore proudly displayed the state gold medal around her neck and held a small photo in her right hand. The picture was of Dylan Tarbi, a good friend of Magness who was struck by a pickup truck and killed in May 2024.