Harriers fare well at local invitationals
With the start of the cross country section schedule this week, local teams prepped for the action at invitationals hosted by California University of Pa. and Duquesne University, at the Schenley Oval. At the Red, White & Blue Invitational at Schenley, Connellsville’s Nick Miller was the first local runner to cross the finish line, placing 48th (for team scoring) with a time of 17:22. Nick Miller (127, 18:49), Nick Cico (160, 19:29), Seth Soberdash (177, 20:12), and Ryan Butela (181, 20:21) also factored in the Falcons’ scoring, 26th overall with 693 points.
Laurel Highlands’ Anthony Cecchini was right on Miller’s heels, finishing 51st in 17:24. Scott Thomas (152, 19:14), Phillip Cooper (155, 19:18), Tyler Geshay (157, 19:23), and Zach Eperjesi (166, 19:38) rounded out the scoring runs for the Mustangs, finishing 25th with 681 points.
The Fillies’ Jordyn Hartsek had the best overall finish of the local runners, placing 25th in 20:08. Counting in the final score of 536 points (and a 21st finish in the team scoring), were Brandi Liptock (106, 22:25), Amanda Parker (118, 22:43), Meredith Ulmer (142, 23:45), and Lauren Shull (145, 23:51).
Connellsville only fielded four runners so the Lady Falcons did not place in the team standings. April Shultz had the best finish, placing 131st with a time of 22:52. Kayla Booher was next in 141st place in 23:23, followed by Kensey Durst (159, 23:42) and Samantha Virgillo (184, 25:09).
Brownsville’s Cameron Coffey was the champion in California, finishing the 5K course in 17:09. The Falcons finished third in the 7-team field with 95 points. Jonathan Rohlf (4th, 18:24), Jason Bella (26, 20:24), Zach Hibbs (31, 20:52), and Greg Allison (33, 21:06) also factored in the team scoring.
Uniontown finished second to Trinity with 72 points, placing all five runners within 30 seconds of each other. Tommy Kegg and Brodie Kelley both finished in 18:42 with Kegg getting the edge for 11th place. Josh Nypaver (15, 19:03), Nathan Wagner (16, 19:05), and Torin Kelley (18, 19:15) also finished for the Red Raiders.
Geibel Catholic finished fourth with 114 points, one point ahead of Frazier. The Gators received top 10 finishes from Adam Siecinski (8th, 18:37) and Anthony Speeney (9th, 18:40). John McGrogan (28, 20:37), Daniel Dix (24, 21:13), and Taylor Nowicki (35, 21:34) also counted in the team scoring.
The Commodores were led home by Brandon Mathews in fifth place with a time of 18:30. Sawyer Palonder (22, 19:54), Ryan Kennedy (27, 20:29), Garrett Baber (29, 20:42), and Steve Cowen (32, 21:03) were counted in the team finish.
Albert Gallatin finished with 128 points, led by Richard Mazzocco’s 17th-place finish in 19:07. Ian Benninger was 11 seconds and two places behind. Kyle Oldland (20, 19:31), Kraig Martin (30, 20:45), and Robert Burnsworth (42, 24:26) also counted in the scoring.
Girls soccer
Mount Pleasant 4, Connellsville 1 – The Lady Falcons played Mount Pleasant tough in the fist half, but could not get by a difficult Lady Vikings squad in non-section action at Mount Pleasant.
The Lady Vikings scored two in the first half on goals by Nicole Malara (37:32) and Brianna Dombrosky (28:33). Stephanie Bell scored for the Lady Falcons with 7:33 left in the first half to cut the lead to 2-1 on a feed from Jenna Luczka.
Alyssa Dombrosky scored at 36:14, and Dombrosky added her second goal to give Mount Pleasant its fourth and final tally.
Jessica Ohler had 21 saves for the Lady Falcons, while Sarah Brown only faced five Connellsville shots and stopped four. Both teams are now 3-1 on the season.
College football
Otterbein 40 Bethany (W.Va.) 7 – Otterbein jumped out with 13 points in the first half and never looked back in defeating the Bison at Otterbein.
Although the Bison lost, several local players contributed as Laurel Highlands graduate Randy Rankin had two catches for 19 yards, one for a seven-yard screen pass from former Mustangs teammate Dan Pegg for Bethany’s only touchdown.
Laurel Highalands’ Dan Pegg was 17-of-29 in the game for 147 yards and one touchdown pass.
Waynesburg Central’s Nelson Mitzen, a Bethany junior, picked off one pass for the Bison that stopped on Otterbein drive and he also recovered a fumble that was forced by Tom Kisner.
Charleroi’s Ron Ermlick had a big sack for the Bison to turn the ball over on downs to stop a Otterbein threat in the first quarter.
Bethany returns to the gridiron next Saturday with its home opener against Kentucky Christian University, a first-year NAIA program, with a 1 p.m. kickoff.
College baseball
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus 13, Robert Morris 4; Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus 13, Robert Morris 1 – Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus easily defeated Robert Morris at the Colonials’ home field in the first game on their way to a doubleheader sweep.
Bobby Fulton (2-0) came on in relief and picked up the win for the Roaring Lions, who remained undefeated on the season. Fulton allowed two hits, struck out nine and walked five.
He also had two singles along with teammate Mike Newhouse. John Zites and Rich Miller had doubles and Miller drove in five runs.
After scoring 13 total runs in the first two innings, Penn State Fayette defeated Robert Morris in five innings during a non-section twinbill.
John Cherup (2-0) took the mound for the Roaring Lions, and worked five innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Bret King had three singles and Fulton had three hits with two doubles and a single.
Newhouse had two singles for Fayette, whose record now stands at 8-0 on the season while Robert Morris falls to 0-4. Fayette will be action today at Hutchinson Field with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.