Baldwin volleyball clinches section title

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 20, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Notes and quotes from around the Baldwin athletic landscape:

• The girls volleyball team clinched first place in Section 2-AAAA earlier this week with its 3-1 win at Moon.

Team members consist of seniors Marissa Meis, Brenna Green, Brianna Phillips, Emelia Zandier, Alana Price, Erica Blanner and Megan Moskiewski; juniors Kerri Herron, Rachel Stofanak, Sydney Milan, Flannery Larson and Mackenzie Meis; and sophomores Riley Lenard, Mia Hampsay, Allison Murray, Anna Baloh and Ally Schenk.

“I am so pleased with the way we've played this season,” coach Chris Kelly said. “Many outside of our program thought this would be a down year for us. These girls just wouldn't allow that to be the case. We are not satisfied with our accomplishments. We're excited about the postseason, and look forward to the challenges that come along with the playoffs.”

The Highlanders improved to 10-1 in section play with one match remaining on their schedule.

• The boys soccer team played perhaps its best game of the season on senior recognition night.

The Highlanders blanked Bethel Park, 2-0, as senior goalkeeper Joe Hughey posted the team's first shutout of the year.

Prior to the game, eight senior team members were recognized: Hughey, Ryan Carr, Laun Thar Eh, Devlin Iaquinta, Vishal Kharel, Damian Pfaff, Janvier Ramson and Valon Rexhepi.

“Joe Hughey played great in goal coming up with big saves, and the defense was solid in front of him,” coach Allen Duda said. “I felt our midfield really helped with keeping possession of the ball and distribution. Bethel Park played tough defense, and has a very good counter attack. It was a great game to watch.”

Ramson and freshman Joey Moeller netted goals for the Highlanders off assists from Thar Eh and junior John Ziegler.

• Senior Alina Stahl led the girls soccer team in scoring for four consecutive years, ending her high school career with 91 goals.

Stahl, a West Virginia recruit, scored 28, 25, 18 and 20 goals in her four seasons at Baldwin.

“Although our season didn't go as well as we would have wanted it to, it was still so much fun,” Stahl said. “I've had a blast playing at Baldwin these past four years and know the team has a lot of potential.

“Now, I plan to get ready for WVU by getting in good shape, and just playing and practicing a lot to improve on my weaknesses.”

• The girls soccer team also defeated Bethel Park, 5-1, on its senior recognition night.

Stahl connected for a hat trick, while seniors Katie Deiley and Isabella Kenny chipped in with one goal apiece. Another senior, CharliAnn Hooper, was the winning goalkeeper.

Senior team members this year consisted of Rebecca Case, Deiley, Katie Doyle, Megan Flavin, Kelsey Heenan, Hooper, Haley Huber, Kenny, Isabella Rossa and Stahl.

• Frank Owusu and Leila Crawford were named 2017 homecoming king and queen at Baldwin.

Owusu is a 6-foot-2, 193-pound senior who starts at tight end on the football team. He also is a forward on the basketball team.

Crawford is a senior cheerleader.

• Taylor Dadig, a senior shortstop on the softball team, has been recognized as a member of the Wendy's High School Heisman program for student-athletes who excel in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

Dadig, a George Mason recruit, has a 4.4 GPA and is ranked seventh in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, Special Olympics program and Math League.

A starter at shortstop since she was a freshman, Dadig was an all-state and all-section selection last spring, and was named to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 10 in softball. She collected her 100th career hit last season.

Dadig will pursue a civil/infrastructure engineering degree in college.

• There are 20 female volleyball players in the Baldwin Athletic Hall of Fame

They are, with their year of graduation, the following: Vida Kernich Komer (1983), Olga Cambest (1987), Karen Fetsko (1987), Diane Wilds (1989), Julie Fernacz (1990), Sue Reiff (1990), Laurie Flynn (1991), Kelly Kovach (1991), Lori Frisco (1993), Abby Slovonic (1993), Jen Pafford (1995), Jen Flynn (1996), Kristie Veith (1996), Katie Leaf (1997), Becky Galati (1999), Mandy Altomari (2000), Ashley Green (2001), Erin Trageser (2001), Katie Barker (2002) and Tawnya Storino (2004).

Kernich Komer, Kovach, Flynn and Leaf were inducted for both volleyball and softball.

• Sophomore running back Angelo Priore rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries in the football team's 19-13 conference loss at Fox Chapel.

Priore scored on a 76-yard touchdown jaunt in the second quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Stahl hit on 7 of 15 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown. Senior wideout Nick Lachut hauled in a 31-touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

• Phillips, a senior middle blocker on the girls volleyball team, was a member of a dance group at Gemini Gymnastics & Dance during her freshman and sophomore years.

• The Mingo Classic, which is hosted annually by the Baldwin boys and girls cross country teams, was held last week at Mingo Creek Park.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin