Oct 2, 2009 7 min read

Richard David shot a 3-over 38 Thursday afternoon as Laurel Highlands clinched a Division I, Section 2 playoff berth with a 200-243 victory over visiting Southmoreland at Duck Hollow Golf Club. The Mustangs (12-2) improve to 11-2 in the section with only one match remaining, on the road against Connellsville at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Belle Vernon has one loss, to Laurel Highlands, while Mount Pleasant, with three losses, needs the Falcons to upset the Mustangs.

Nate Nesser finished with a 39, while Laurel Highlands teammate Alex Ashton shot a 40. Ben Sutton carded a 41, and Zach Collins closed the scoring with a 42. Dave Byers’ 43 wasn’t used.

“The just worked hard. They’re starting to gel at the right time,” said Laurel Highlands coach Mike Smith. “I hope we can carry that momentum into the playoffs.”

Chip Smith was the low man for the Scotties (1-11, 2-12) with an 8-over 43. Cory Nicklow (46), Daniel Wright (47), John Rypczyk (52), and Brandon Yuhouse (55) also factored into the scoring. Joe Martin’s 57 was thrown out.

Jefferson-Morgan 217, Waynesburg Central 220 – The Rockets positioned themselves for one of the two Division II, Section 8 playoff berths with a key victory over the visiting Raiders at Greene County Country Club.

Jefferson-Morgan (12-3) improves to 9-2 in the section with only Carmichaels remaining on the schedule. Waynesburg Central (11-3) is now 8-2 in the section with matches with Carmichaels and Washington.

California is also in the mix with just two section losses and remaining matches against Brownsville and Washington.

The Rockets’ Zach Berkstresser was team medalist with a 3-over 36. Josh Kokoska finished with a 41, and Alex Rush shot a 42. Brandon Faieta’s 46 and Joe DeFrancesco’s 49 rounded out the scoring. Brendon Edwards’ 52 wasn’t used.

“We didn’t shoot well today, but we just shot a little better than they did,” said Jefferson-Morgan coach John Curtis. “Today’s one we had to have. My sophomores – Zach Berkstresser, Alex Rush, and Brandon Faieta – all came through today. That’s a good thing.”

The Rockets’ Ben Virgin was medalist with a 1-over 37. Aaron Haywood and Loren Dukate both shot 45. Rick Kalsey finished with a 46, and Matt King closed the scoring with a 47. Emily Rohanna’s 50 was thrown out.

Connellsville 228, Frazier 228 (Connellsville wins playoff) – The Falcons’ two golfers combined to shoot 23 on the two playoff holes while the Commodores finished with 26 to give the visitors a non-section road victory at Linden Hall Golf Course.

The Falcons’ Tyler Broadwater shared medalist honors with teammate Johnny Leonard with a 6-over 42. Eric Harrer finished with a 44, and Tyler Stillwagon shot a 47. Luke Giles closed the scoring with a 53.

D.J. Hudik was the low man with a 43. Robert Gondura and Nick Hawranko both shot 45. Tyler Rock carded a 47, and Zach Smalich finished with a 48.

Beth-Center 227, Brownsville 269 – Austin Smith and Akex Antonio each shot 39 to lead Beth-Center to a section win at Carmichaels.

Tyler Sabatula and Matt Sabatini shot 48 and 49, respectively, for the Bulldogs. Brock Hartley carded a 52.

Nick Calvaresi led Brownsville (2-11, 2-10) with a 44 and Derek Lent shot a 52.

California 197, Washington 258 – David Beck and Bill Langley each shot 37 to lead California to a section win at Cedarbrook Golf Course.

Zac Edmiston shot a 40 and Tyler Van Olst added a 41 for California (15-2, 12-2). Domonic Roach carded a 42.

Geibel Catholic 215, Jeannette 240 – Shawn Erdely carded a 36 and Ryan Robson shot a 39 to lead Geibel to victory at Pleasant Valley Golf Course.

Mike Noonan and Ryan Lucostic each carded a 44 for the Gators (3-8, 2-8). Patrick Herbert added a 52.

Belle Vernon 197, Uniontown 240 – Bo Lustig shot a three-under 33 at Willowbrook as Belle Vernon defeated section opponent Uniontown.

Kyle Naden carded a 38 and Tyber Lustig shot a 39 for the Leopards (12-1, 11-1). Brad Antal shot a 43 and Kirby Manown added a 44.

Mason Fordyce led Uniontown (6-9, 5-8) with a 44 as Ben Sampson and Josh Nelson each carded a 47. Zach Nelson and Ryan Fike carded 51 each.

Southmoreland 3, Washington 2 -Southmoreland swept singles play Thu to pick up a Section 1-AA win over Washington.

Kaylie Schroyer defeated Kenisha Brown, 6-0, 6-0. Chelsea Pence won against Kashmere Patterson, 6-1, 6-3 and Cassie Eiford defeated Donyisha Wooley, 6-1, 6-1.

Geibel Catholic 5, California 0 – Max Kovalchuk scored four goals, two in each half, as Geibel rolled to a Section 1-A win at home.

Kovalchuk opened the scoring 30 seconds into the game as Geibel (8-3, 6-3) held an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal. Daniel Dix scored the other goal at 11:20 of the first half.

William Little made six saves for California (5-7-1, 3-5-1).

West Mifflin 6, Albert Gallatin 1 – Robby Douglas scored a hat trick in the first half as West Mifflin built a 4-0 lead by halftime in a Section 4-AAA game.

Nate Pisciottano also scored in the first half for West Mifflin as Tyler Carrol added a goal in the second and the last goal came on a corner kick.

Albert Gallatin (4-9, 1-7) scored on a deflection at the 27:48 mark of the second half. Ryan Jenkins made 16 saves.

Winchester-Thurston 5, Brownsville 1 – Winchester-Thurston tied the game late in the first half before pulling away in the second to secure a Section 1-A win.

Brandon Bailey opened the scoring at 5:23 to give Brownsville a 1-0 lead. Joe Pahula scored the other Falcon goal at 25:12 of the second half.

Brownsville 3, McGuffey 1 – Karly Peton scored 19 service points and two kills as Brownsville earned a Section 7-AA win at home.

Emily Konter scored 12 service points, six kills and 14 assists for Brownsville (7-5, 3-4). Brownsville won the first two matches, 25-18 and 25-11, before dropping the third match by a score of 25-20. The Lady Falcons won the fourth match, 25-17.

Karmen Bruschi scored nine service points and eight kills as Gina Perry added nine service points, four kills and three blocks. Stephanie Crable scored 14 service points and a pair of assists as Chevelle Stoken added seven service points and four kills.

California 3, Mapletown 2 – California won in five games at home over section for Mapletown.

Mapletown won the first and third matches, 25-15 and 28-26.

California won its matches by scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 15-6.

Robin Jones had seven digs as Kristi Guritza had four aces and seven assists for Mapletown (1-8, 1-6). Nicole Wagner had five assists.

Laurel Highlands 3, Waynesburg Central 0 – Tessa Sova had 10 digs, seven kills and two service aces to lead the Fillies to a Section 7-AA win on the road.

Ashley Peton and Janelle Cooper had seven digs each as Marissa Erminio had nine kills for Laurel Highlands (6-3, 6-0).

Emily Bosworth had 10 digs, five kills and a service ace for Waynesburg (5-7, 2-4). Jordan Higgins had eight digs while Michelle Fox had four kills, six digs and two blocks.

Upper St. Clair 3, Albert Gallatin 0 – The Lady Panthers swept past visiting Albert Gallatin, winning in three sets, 25-16, 25-13, 25-6. The Lady Colonials fall to 0-7 in Section 2-AAA and 2-9 overall.

Albert Gallatin 27, Frazier 28 – The Colonials edged the visiting Commodores for a non-section victory.

Albert Gallatin’s Calvin Fenton won the race in 18:39. Frazier’s Sawyer Palonder finished second in 18:47 with the Colonials’ Kale Oldland third in 19:52. The Commodores had the next two places in Brandon Mathews (19:59) and Garrett Baber (19:59).

Albert Gallatin (2-3) has a rescheduled Section 2-AAA meet today at Round Hill Park against host Elizabeth-Forward and Ringgold. Frazier goes to 6-5 overall.

Neither team had five girls to score. The Lady Colonials’ Savannah Ardabell finished first in 25:01.