Community Corner

Around the Rivers: A New Coach, A New Title and a New Patch Site

Here's a review of the week's headlines from around our region's Three Rivers.

, ,  and at times  as Western Pennsylvania turned out to observe Memorial Day and men and women who served the nation in war and peace.

Patch brought you plenty of other stories as well from Around the Rivers over the past week. Among them:

Find out what's happening in North Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 head football coach John Tortorea got reacquainted with his players at the  stadium, where he held his first mini-camp for varsity players.

Tortorea takes over from the Quakers' former head coach Bob Intyre, who  in April for personal reasons. He spent last season as an assistant coach under McIntyre.

Find out what's happening in North Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While this is his first head coaching job, Tortorea previously was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Thiel College in Greenville, Mercer County. He's also coached at Reynolds High School in Mercer County and at Cornell andCarlynton high schools.

“It’s an absolute blessing to be working with these young kids," he said of his Quakers players. "They are great, great, great kids.”

 

After a 16-3 season, the Seneca Valley Raiders baseball team won its first WPIAL title since 1994 after defeating top-seeded Peters Township 15-4 in the Class AAAA championship game at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA.

Good pitching by the Raiders' starting pitcher, junior Matt Smith, helped the team to win its first baseball title since moving up to Quad-A competition and second WPIAL title overall. The Raiders now head into the state PIAA playoffs, where they once again may face Peters Township.

“I’m so proud of this group because they’ve worked so hard,” Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega said. “And they made a pact. No excuses. No matter what the situation. So they’re a great team. I’m very excited for them.”

 

Officials with the Moon Golf Club asked the township  to permit them to delay two $60,000 lease payments, saying an unusually rainy spring has cost the club nearly $100,000 in revenue this year.

Wet spring weather has forced club organizers to shutter the 18-hole course more than a dozen times this year and has left it short of funds, according to Ralph Canterbury, a member of the , which leases the course from the township. The payments were due in June and July.

Moon purchased the former Bon Air Golf Course on McCormick Road in 2005 and leased it to the recreational authority under a 50-year agreement. The authority makes three $60,000 payments annually to the township under the terms of its lease.

, permitting the club to restructure its payment schedule after noting that otherwise it would be difficult for the club to operate for the rest of the season.

 

Richland's  learned she would bring another of her dreams to life in October when she performs with the Pittsburgh Opera

The 11-year-old who wowed the world last summer as she sang opera on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” will perform on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Benedum Center Downtown as part of a festive weekend that begins with Pittsburgh Opera’s season-opening performance of Verdi’s “La Traviata” on Oct. 15.

Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn said the company will present the 11-year-old singing sensation in concert at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.

“I am so excited to be singing with Pittsburgh Opera," said Evancho, who also will release a new CD,  on June 14. Her signature performances of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “O Mio Babbino Caro,”  “Nessun dorma” and other selections will headline the concert.

“It is quite unusual to hear a young girl with that level of warmth and roundness,” Hahn said. “We’re looking forward to welcoming a sold-out crowd, cheering for Jackie in her debut with us.”

On Saturday night, Jackie also  when she performed on "Britain's Got Talent."

 

Your news and information source expanded into Ross Township and West View this week, asPatch introduced its latest Western Pennsylvania site in the North Hills.

Local Editor , an experienced investigative reporter and editor, and her team of freelance writers will bring Patch's brand of comprehensive coverage and community conversation to residents of Ross and West View.  Please stop by to share your story ideas, leave a comment or just say hello.


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