Scholastic Notebook – 04/24/2012

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 | 12:20 PM

The Ellwood City baseball team fell from the ranks of the unbeatens last week when it dropped a 1-0 decision to Riverside. But Ellwood City still might be having the most impressive season of any team in the WPIAL – at least in terms of statistics.

Ellwood City is now 12-1 on the season. In 12 of those 13 games, Ellwood City has given up two runs or fewer. Five of the wins have come by shutouts.

Christian Kerns has been the main stopper for Ellwood City this season. He had been 13-0 over the past two seasons until taking the loss against Riverside. Anthony Carusone also has been stellar on the mound.

Ellwood City and Riverside are now tied for the Section 5 lead. Maybe Ellwood City is smarting a little after going 15-5 last season, but missing the WPIAL playoffs.

The Undefeateds:

Only three teams are undefeated in WPIAL baseball and four in WPIAL softball. A school having a terrific spring in both sports is Norwin.

The Knights are 10-0 in baseball and 10-1 in softball. Both teams have been exceptionally strong on offense – and their run-scoring statistics are very similar.

In 10 games, the Norwin baseball team has scored 103 runs. In 11 games, the Norwin softball team has scored 107 runs.

Heading into Tuesday’s action, the other two undefeated baseball teams are California (11-0) and Bentworth (9-0). The undefeated softball teams are Seton-LaSalle (7-0), Deer Lakes (11-0), Neshannock (10-0) and Sto-Rox (11-0).

Run Forrest, Run:

Seneca Valley’s Forrest Barnes was one of the top running backs in WPIAL Class AAAA football last season. Now he’s making a name for himself running on a track.

Barnes has the No. 2 times in all of WPIAL Class AAA track in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He has run the 100 in 11.0 seconds and the 200 in 22.31.

Oh, Brother:

The title line for the Washington boys track and field team this spring might be: “Twins Peak.”

Twin brothers Dustin and Austin Fuller are having big seasons. Dustin has the No. 1 time in WPIAL Class AA in three different events – 400 dash, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. His brother, Austin, is No. 2 in the pole vault.

Incidentally, there are two Wises who are having big seasons for the Washington boys and girls. Josh Wise is No. 1 in the high jump while Alyssa Wise is No. 1 in the 100, No. 2 in the 200 and No. 4 in the 400. But the Wises are not related.

More Honors for Hagy:

Luke Hagy has been a decorated athlete at Mount Lebanon, earning plenty of all-star recognition for his talent in football, basketball and baseball. Now he has been recognized by the WPIAL as a scholar-athlete award winner.

Hagy is one of four WPIAL seniors who have received a $5,000 scholarship from the WPIAL. The others are Asa Equels of Beaver, Margo Malone of North Hills and Sarah Miller of Quaker Valley.

Eight other boys and eight other girls will receive a $500 scholarship. The eight boys are Quaker Valley’s Nathaniel Fox, Norwin’s Ryan Boccabella, Penn-Trafford’s Zach Emerick, Central Valley’s Chad Phillis, Butler’s Nate Snodgrass, Freeport’s Sean Carson, North Allegheny’s Matt Buerger and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Greg Ott.

The eight girl winners are Avonworth’s Lauren Mayernik, Indiana’s Veronica Bujdos, Leechburg’s Paula McCorkle, Penn-Trafford’s Marisa Siergiej, Apollo-Ridge’s Alexis Orlowski, Fort Cherry’s Margo Darragh, Northgate’s Savannah Paladin and Butler’s Marissa DeCola.

Seventy-six boys and 80 girls submitted applications for the scholarships.

Coaching News:

Shaler High School Chris Siegle has been hired as the new football coach at Shaler High School.

Siegle is a former Shaler standout quarterback who has been an assistant coach at Milford Academy in New York, as well as Hampton University. He also was a graduate assistant at Florida International.

Also at Shaler, Paul Holzshu has decided to return as boys basketball coach. Holzshu had been contemplating retirement.

Melissa McQuade has decided not to return as Shaler’s basketball coach. McQuade, a former Shaler star, served as Shaler’s interim coach this past season after Eric Mozzetti stepped down because of health reasons. McQuade helped Shaler reach the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals, but decided against a return.

Two MVP Performances:

Pittsburgh Central Catholic basketball star Lincoln Davis has played in two all-star games this spring, and was selected MVP in both.

After winning MVP honors at the Hoops For A Cure Game one week earlier, Davis was the MVP for the Class AAAA All-Stars in the Roundball Classic Saturday night at Geneva College after scoring 15 points in an 87-83 win against the Class A team. Davis recently signed with Division I Fairfield.

The Class A MVP was Lincoln Park’s Devontae Watson.

In the other boys game in the Roundball, Class AA defeated Class AAA, 102-96, as Beaver Falls’ Sheldon Jeter and Frazier’s Robert Gondura were selected MVPs for Class AA after scoring 18 and 15 points, respectively. Blackhawk’s Nick Martin scored a game-high 20 points and was MVP for Class AAA.

In the girls games of the Rounball Classic, Class AA defeated Class A, 87-79. Riverside’s Sam Weir scored 19 points and was Class AA MVP. Fort Cherry’s Beka Bellhy had 28 points and was Class A MVP.

In the other girls game, Class AAA defeated Class AAAA, 83-74, as Allderdice’s Janay Bottoms scored 16 points and was Class AAA MVP. Mount Lebanon’s Liz Tommasi had 16 points and was Class AAAA MVP.

Recruiting:

Monessen’s Chavas Rawlins has turned into a heavily-recruited quarterback.

Rawlins, a 6-foot-4 junior, has some scholarship offers from major colleges and might make a decision in the next few weeks. Tennessee recently offered him. He also has offers from Pitt, North Carolina and West Virginia, among others.

Where Are They Now?

Former Schenley basketball star D.J. Kennedy recently signed an NBA contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and will finish the season with the Cavaliers. Kennedy had been playing with the Erie BayHawks in the NBA D-League.

Peters Township graduate Jim Rider is having another nice season for the Kent State baseball team. Rider has started all 38 games for Kent State, which has a 22-16 record and an 11-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Rider is hitting .337 (56 of 166) with 19 doubles, three home runs and 27 RBIs.

Tags: Allderdice, Bentworth, Blackhawk, California, Deer Lakes, Ellwood City, Fort Cherry, Frazier, Lincoln Park, Washington