Westmoreland campus clippings: Norwin grad Thrift transferring to Youngstown State

Jayvon Thrift said transferring will bring his college football career, one that still is getting off the ground, “full circle.”

That is because the school where he is headed to is the place where he initially planned to play.

Thrift, a Norwin graduate, is leaving West Virginia to join the team at Youngstown State, the school to which he verbally committed coming out of Norwin.

“It’s been a long road, and it’s only the beginning of my career,” Thrift said in a social media post. “That’s why I believe everything happens for a reason. I came full circle.”

He changed his mind and opted to take a preferred walk-on offer from West Virginia, but the 5-foot-10, 192-pound safety did not play in a varsity game for WVU after a redshirt year in 2019.

He entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month and announced Tuesday his plans to join YSU, a move that will reunite him with former high school teammate Gianni Rizzo, a redshirt freshman linebacker for the Penguins who saw increased playing time this season.

Baseball

Gannon: Junior pitcher Deven Judy (Belle Vernon) picked up All-PSAC first team honors after a strong season for the Golden Knights. Judy was 3-6 with a 3.27 ERA and led Gannon to two upset wins over top-25 teams. He limited opponents to a .242 average. He had two shutouts and 66 strikeouts.

La Roche: The Redhawks planned to honor late pitcher Tre Cunningham (Jeannette) with a moment of silence prior to Wednesday’s AMCC championship game against visiting Penn State Behrend. Cunningham was killed in a motorcycle accident in July, 2020. The former three-sport standout was a talented pitcher who was expected to make an impact at La Roche.

Saint Vincent: Sophomore outfielder Jordan Sabol (Penn-Trafford) and senior pitcher Tom Bash were named to the All-PAC first team. Senior outfielder T.J. Dailey and senior utility man Matt Evans made the second team.

Seton Hill: Grad student outfielder Tommy Pellis (Greensburg Central Catholic) was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, while sophomore shortstop Owen Sabol (Norwin) was tabbed the conference division’s rookie of the year, and veteran leader Marc Marrizaldi was named coach of the year.

Pellis also made the first team, along with three teammates. The others are senior outfielder Derek Orndorff, senior first baseman Tyler Peterson, junior infielder Isaiah DiAndreth (Hempfield), and senior designated hitter Jordan Fiedor (Hempfield).

Sabol earned second-team honors, along with senior pitcher Ben Vicini.

Pellis is hitting a team-best .415 with 51 hits, 49 runs, 14 home runs and 40 RBIs. Sabol has a .375 average, 25 RBIs and 22 steals.

Marizzaldi, who led the Griffins to their second PSAC West title, has more than 600 career wins.

Seton Hill, division champs for the first time since 2014, will host Bloomsburg at noon Friday in the first game of the best-of-3 PSAC championship series.

Washington & Jefferson: Sophomore Tyler Horvat (Penn-Trafford) was named the PAC Newcomer of the Year after a breakthough season for the Presidents. He has helped W&J (36-1) into the NCAA Division III Tournament as a two-way player. Horvat is hitting .367 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 32 runs. He also is 9-0 as a pitcher with a 1.55 ERA and was named the PAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Westmoreland County CC: Freshman Jared Wagner (Mt. Pleasant) was named the NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Week. Wagner pitched in the first game of the Region XX championship series and earned a complete-game victory as the Wolfpack earned a berth into the district title game at Rockingham College.

Softball

Seton Hill: Three Griffins were selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Teams. Freshmen pitchers Logan Hartman and Lauren Dellett and senior outfielder Jenna Osikowicz made the Atlantic Region first team. The players, all of whom made the All-PSAC West first team, are now eligible for All-America honors.

Osikowicz was the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, while Hartman was the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year.

More accolades followed the same trio. Osikowicz and Hartman made the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region first team, while Dellett was selected as a second-teamer.

Men’s golf

West Virginia: Senior Mark Goetz (Greensburg/The Kiski School) shot a 6-under 66, the lowest round by a WVU player in the NCAA postseason, during the second round of the NCAA Regional at The Sagamore Golf Club in Noblesville, Ind. He was set to play the final round Wednesday, tied for fourth at 4-under 140.

He jumped up 29 spots with his record-setting round.

Goetz made two eagles and four birdies in the second round. He is competing against nine other players over 54 holes with the low scorer not on an advancing team moving on to the NCAA Championship May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Men’s track & field

Duquesne: Junior Matt Busche (Franklin Regional) won the 800-meter run at the Atlantic 10 Championships at George Mason. Busche’s time of 1 minute, 50.12 seconds broke the school record of 1:50.90 set by Tim Majewski in 2009.

Seton Hill: Junior Sam Hartman will compete at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships May 27-29 at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. He qualified in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles.

His times in both events rank sixth in the nation. Hartman won PSAC titles in both and was the athlete of the meet at the conference finals.

Men’s lacrosse

Saint Vincent: Sophomore midfielder Caleb Hawkins, sophomore Brody McMahon and grad student short-stick middie Zack Novelli were named to the All-PAC first team. Three Bearcats made the second team: sophomore attackers Jordan Billet and Jacob Visalli and freshman defender RJ Kenna.

Football

James Madison: Head coach Curt Cignetti announced changes to his staff for the 2021 season, including moving Mike Shanahan (Norwin) to offensive coordinator. Shanahan, who played at Pitt, joined JMU in 2018 and worked as a wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.