Red Raiders finish 2nd in 54th Marty Uher Vulcans Invitational
Uniontown had four finishers in the top 25 to place second in the team standings in the 54th Marty Uher Vulcans Invitational on Saturday at Roadman Park on the campus of PennWest California.
The Red Raiders’ Logan Davis finished 13th overall in a time of 19:25.30 and teammate Matthew Page was 14th in 19:31.90. Bridger Hug crossed the finish line in 23rd place with a time of 20:07, and Lorenzo Carei was 25th in 20:10.20. Zachary Fisher rounded out Uniontown’s top five in 26th place at 20:10.20.
Patrick Foster (20:21) and Stephen Chapley (21:06.40) were the sixth and seventh finishers for the Red Raiders.
Uniontown scored a team total of 98 points, but were edged for the gold by Indiana, who finished with 95. South Fayette was third in the teams standings with 111 points.
Freeport’s David Kristine won the individual race with a time of 17:44.20. The Little Indians’ Kaiden Branan was second in 18:22.70 and West Greene’s Joel Grimes led the local contingent in third place with a time of 18:31.50.
Belle Vernon’s Leonidas Soto was fifth in 18:41.70, and California’s Carter Kent placed eighth in 18:59.20 before Davis and Page crossed the finish line.
The Pioneers’ Kameron Hackney was 15th in 19:42.10 and Waynesburg Central’s Will Maxwell was 21st in 20:02.50.
Albert Gallatin’s Brock Mace cracked the top 25 in 22nd with a time of 20:03.80.
Belle Vernon’s Brooklyn Steeber and Lily Walsh were the fourth and fifth finishers in helping the Leopards to third place in the team standings in the girls high school race.
Steeber finished in a time of 22:39.50 and Walsh came in at 22:43.60. Teammate Delaney Fretts was 15th in 24:01.40.
Lilah Steeber (39th in 25:43.30) and Kallyn Misenhelder (44th in 26:07.30) finished fourth and fifth for Belle Vernon, who had 92 team points. Indiana won the team championship for a sweep with 80 points. South Fayette was second with 84.
Connellsville’s Abigail Zavatchan was 10th in 23:22.20 and Uniontown’s Sadie Hostetler finished 20th in 24:21.10.
SOCCER
PAUL SASKO KICKOFF CLASSIC — The hosts earned a victory and a draw in their two matches on Saturday and Sunday in the annual event that is held at Belle Vernon’s James Weir Stadium in Rostraver Township.
The Leopards edged Laurel Highlands, 2-1, on Saturday in boys action. In his first game back following an injury, Jesse Sobczak found the back of the net in the second half to break a 1-1 tie against the Mustangs (0-1-0). Chris Showman assisted on Sobczak’s tally.
Anthony Sawa set up Jordan Jerome in the first half for Belle Vernon (1-0-0, 3-0-1). Leopards keeper Morgan Bunch made three saves.
Matt Kolencik scored for Laurel Highlands in the first half. Jack Nairn assisted on Kolencik’s tally.
Daniel O’Neal stopped eight Belle Vernon shots.
The Mustangs travel to Penn-Trafford (1-0-0, 1-1-0) this evening in a non-section match at 7:30.
Sawa scored for the Leopards in their match on Sunday against Thomas Jefferson (1-1-1) that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bunch made six saves against the Jaguars, who tied the match with a tally in the second half.
Belle Vernon is at Uniontown (2-0-0) tonight at 7 in non-section play.
The Leopards jumped out to an 8-1 lead over Beth-Center on Saturday in girls play and cruised to a 11-1 triumph.
Raegan Sobczak recorded a brace in the first half and registered the hat trick in the second 40 minutes.
Teammate Payton Walsh scored two goals in the first half.
Chessa Mertz, Ali Watson, Troy Teegarden, Kennedy Curcio, Heather Nicklow and Aurora Bastedo all added one goal apiece for the home squad.
Three Belle Vernon (1-0-2) split time at keeper.
Sobczak scored in the second half for the home team in a 1-1 draw with Pine-Richland (0-2-2). Saylor Lee assisted on the tally.
“It was a very defensive game for us, and every single player dug deep today and did their job,” said Belle Vernon coach Tracy Lovett after the match with Pine-Richland. “That was a very talented Quad A team, and I am very pleased with the end result, and I am very proud of my team.”
The Leopards travel to face Baldwin (3-1-0) tonight in non-section play at 7:30.
BROWNSVILLE 12, CARRICK 0 — The Falcons had their own version of “Friday Night Lights” in a non-section triumph over the Raiders at Redstone Field in Republic.
Gloria Kovscek had a hat-trick and added an assist for Brownsville, who improved to 4-0-0 in overall play. The sophomore has 11 tallies in four matches this season.
Teammate Avianna Hernandez had a brace and three assists. Addy Brown also had two goals.
Ellie Haddad, Riley Rohland, Blair Long, Lexxi Gregg and Addison Burnsworth had one goal apiece. Haddad and Rohland each had a helper.
Maria Duda, Arabella Keefer and Bree VanDivner had one assist apiece.
Senior Ava Rohland earned the clean sheet.
The Falcons host McKeesport (0-1-0) on Tuesday in non-section play before they welcome in South Allegheny (0-1-0, 0-3-0) to Redstone Field two days later in another non-league match.
Brownsville opens Section 2-1A play at California (0-0-1) on Sept. 14 prior to a showdown with defending WPIAL Class A champion Bentworth (3-0-0) on Sept. 16 at Ellsworth Athletic Field in a section battle.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
FCCA TOURNAMENT — Belle Vernon defeated Uniontown in two competitive sets to win the Fayette County Coaches Association (FCCA) Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Laurel Highlands High School.
The Leopards and Red Raiders were in the same section for several seasons, but Uniontown has moved to Class 5A, as the PIAA now has six classifications for girls volleyball. Belle Vernon is in Section 2-4A, while the Red Raiders are in Section 2-5A.
Geibel Catholic dominated pool play, but Uniontown defeated the Gators in the semifinals. The Leopards topped defending FCCA champion Brownsville in the other final four.
The Gators, who are in Section 2-1A, will play one Fayette County school in Calvary Chapel Christian, which is located in Brownsville, but the remainder of their section slate is against schools in other counties.
Connellsville, who will compete with Albert Gallatin and the Red Raiders in section action, won third place in the “silver bracket” with a victory over Carmichaels. The Mikes are in Section 4-2A.
The Mustangs and Belle Vernon are in the same section. Brownsville is in Section 4-3A.
Results in the FCCA tournament don’t count for or against overall records, as the matches are adjusted in the effort of time to ensure the event is completed.
Section play will begin this evening in the WPIAL.
BOYS GOLF
LAUREL HIGHLANDS 195, CONNELLSVILLE 222 — The Mustangs opened up the second half of Section 2-3A play with a triumph over the Falcons on Friday at Pleasant Valley Golf Club.
Laurel Highlands (6-0, 6-1) was scheduled to play Elizabeth Forward (6-0) on Thursday, but the match was postponed due to inclement weather at the Warriors’ home course, Youghiogheny Country Club. The contest will be rescheduled, as it must be completed for team playoff implications.
The Mustangs’ Dan O’Neal paced the field in shooting an even-par 35 on the front 9. Teammate Kayden Smith carded a round of 38.
Ryan Revak shot a 40, while Damon Revak, Aiden Milsom and Andrew Gallick all finished their rounds at 41. One score of 41 wasn’t used, as the top five is what counts towards the team total.
Connellsville (2-5, 3-7) was led in scoring by Braydon Rockwell’s round of 40. Teammate Owen Show shot 41 and Hunter Hughes 42. Aiden Lindstrom (47) and Eli Bryner (52) rounded out the home team’s scoring.