The New York-based Race of Champions Dirt Modified Series kicked off a three-race swing through Pennsylvania, Wednesday night at Penn Can Speedway in the northern part of the state with the $10,000-to-win "Clash at the Can."

That will be followed by Tuesday nights' Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships "School's Out Shootout" at Selinsgrove Speedway and the "Battle at Lincoln Speedway" on Wednesday night.

The "Clash at the Can" was the largest purse ever paid out for a feature event in the track's history and a packed grandstand and pit area at the 3/8-mile oval was a welcome site for event promoters Brett Deyo, Reed Miller and Al Wilcox.

58 RoC modifieds attempted to qualify for the event, with some surprises among the non-qualifiers, including Alan Johnson, Billy Decker, Tim McCreadie, Ronnie Johnson and Jerry Higbie Jr..

Danny Johnson drove to the lucrative payday, followed by Ryan Godown, Jeff Strunk, Billy Pauch Sr., Ryan Watt, Joey Grammes, Larry Wight, Matt Sheppard, Stewie Friesen and Jimmy Horton in the top ten. Most of these drivers are expected to be in action on Tuesday at Selinsgrove.

The "School's Out Shootout" at Selinsgrove Speedway has many extra bonuses included for the RoC drivers, along with the winner's check of $4,000 in the 35-lap feature event.

Geared toward the end of the school year, all students are welcome to take a ride around the track and through the pit area on a school bus driven by sprint car standout Phil Walter. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing action begins at 7:30.

The RoC Tour then heads to Lincoln Speedway the next night for the "Battle at Lincoln, Round 2," a 60-lap affair paying $5,000 to the winner. New Jersey's Ryan Godown was victorious in last year's event. The Mach 1 Chassis 358/360 sprint car 25-lap challenge is also on the card at the Hanover area facility.

Action around the area tonight finds Big Diamond hosting its three division show of modifieds, sportsman and roadrunners along with the vintage modifieds. Williams Grove Speedway presents a double open wheel program of 358 and 410 sprinters.

Action across the area Saturday night has Selinsgrove Speedway paying respects to the memory of a fellow racer as it hosts the 9th annual Joe Whitcomb Memorial for 358 sprint cars, along with the late models, pro stocks and roadrunners.

Whitcomb lost his life due to injuries suffered in an accident at the Snyder County oval on June 21, 2003. A winner in the 358 division at Selinsgrove Speedway as well as Williams Grove and Bridgeport Speedways, the Millersburg driver was well liked by his fellow competitors and was voted the Sportsman of the Year in 2001.

Previous winners of the Whitcomb Memorial include Nate Snyder of Halifax (2004); Kevin Nagy of East Brunswick, N.J. (2005); Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove (2006, 2007, 2008); Pat Cannon of Etters (2009, 2010); and defending winner TJ Stutts of Liverpool.

Lincoln Speedway hosts the Glenn Gohn/Darryl Gohn Memorial Saturday night for the 410 sprint cars, along with the 305 sprint cars and thundercars; Williams Grove host its three division Saturday Night Series of super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks; Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville presents a three division show of modifieds, limited late models and sportsman; The World of Outlaw Late Model Series visits the Hagerstown Speedway, and Port Royal hosts the 410 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and enduro dash cars.

In drag racing action, Maple Grove hosts the June Bug Classic Saturday for Volkswagen enthusiasts, and Sunday is Pontiacs at the Grove Day.

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to action this weekend with the 12th annual Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (TN) Dragway, the tenth of 23 events on the 2012 schedule.

(Kaminski covers auto racing for The News-Item)

There are plenty of medals, plaques and banners hanging around Southern Columbia.

Now the softball team has a chance to add to their names to the mix.

The Tigers will play Fannett-Metal at 10 a.m. today at Penn State's Beard Field in State College, and either way the Tigers are coming home with a medal. Only remaining to be determined is what color it will be.

The softball team's appearance in the state championship game caps off a year in which Southern's football team made it to the state title game, it's boys' basketball team made the state playoffs, two wrestlers earned trips to Hershey and a number of athletes went to Shippensburg University for the track and field championships and brought home three medals.

Across the board, Southern is the most accomplished overall

sporting school in our area, a point that ruffles the feathers of many outside the district either jealous of the Tigers' success or just plain petty.

For a school with six state titles in football, a baseball state title, A wrestling state title, several wrestling and track golds and now an appearance in the softball title game, the only thing left to wonder about is whether Southern is the best small school in the state when it comes to athletics.

Every athlete in the school is aware of football's success and that has created a sense of pride, but also one of not wanting to be left behind. Surely athletes in other sports see the benefit of football's success - the large crowds, the scholarship opportunities for players, the state-wide prestige - and they want that, too.

"At practice, we were talking about how we just wanted to get to the game to get a state medal," Southern Columbia junior Mallory Tomaschik said. "To do this for softball really means something, and to be able to put our names in with all the state finalists because that's what our school is known for."

No one at Southern takes the success for granted. Everyone, it seems, uses the previous season to re-energize the winning culture.

"We've had a lot of success," Tomaschik said. "All the teams are always working hard, even in the offseason, and I think that really helps."

But this team's success isn't just based on wanting to exceed the football team's run, this is because these softball players have put in many hours dedicated to the sport.

Unlike football, where an offseason is a necessity to recuperate and lift weights, the best way to improve in a round-ball sport is repetition.

The only way to get that at a higher level of competition is through travel teams. That doesn't mean participation on a travel team is a guarantee for success, but look around at Southern's team.

Tomaschik, Kirstin Blass and Kayla Lavella all play on the same team. McKenna Lupold and Megan Chaundy play together on another team, and that's just the players Tomaschik mentioned.

"We're always playing and it's really helped us," Tomaschik said.

Stadium Location

For those of you fluent in Penn State geography, Beard Field is located behind the Intramural Building with parking to the west of Beaver Stadium making the most sense. For those of you with GPS, the intersection of Park Avenue and University Drive will get you where you need to be.

Broadcasts

Not going to the game? There are several media outlets available for you to keep track of the action from State College.

Black Diamond Sports Network will be broadcasting live on the Internet at www.blackdiamondsports.net with Tom Ryan doing the play-by-play.

For those of you away from the computer, Jim Doyle's commentary can be heard on WHLM AM 930 as well as FM 94.7 and 104.3.

STATE COLLEGE - You can compare lineups, statistics, athletic ability, speed, quickness and all those things all you want, but a basic truth in softball, if not the basic truth, is this - most of the time the team with the best pitcher wins.

On Friday, at Beard Field at Penn State University, Fannett-Metal had the better pitcher.

Not by much, but by enough, which is why Fannett-Metal's Tigers beat Southern Columbia's Tigers 1-0 in the PIAA Class A state championship game.

Southern's Mallory Tomaschik wasn't at her best, but she pitched well enough to win most games. She gave up just three hits, all singles, and struck out five batters. Unfortunately, she walked six batters and hit another and on this

day, against this team and its pitcher, it wasn't good enough.

That's because Fannett-Metal's Blaire Lauthers, like Tomaschik a junior, was simply too much for Southern's hitters. She gave up just one hit, struck out 11, walked two and ended up facing just 22 batters, one over the minimum she could face in a seven-inning game.

Southern's batters, who looked a little nervous, helped Lauthers by swinging wildly at a lot of pitches. But Lauthers also was very good on her own. She threw hard, and picked up velocity as the game wore on. She struck out three of the final five batters and the other two grounded back weakly to her.

The game was reminiscent of Southern's offensive performance in the District 4 championship game against Northeast Bradford and the PIAA first round game against Minersville, when the Tigers struck out a combined 30 times.

"She had some good stuff, but we were swinging at some bad pitches," said Southern head coach Al Cihocki. "But she was quick and moved the ball around well."

The Tigers came close to getting some key hits, but even those were foul shots down the right field line, a sign that the Tigers' righthanded hitters were getting around late on Lauthers' pitches.

"That one in right field (by Tomaschik) was close and we were getting up to maybe start something if we could have gotten her on base," Cihocki said. "But all in all, their pitcher was the thing."

"Some of us who play in the summer have (played against Lauthers) but we really didn't remember her," said Tomaschik. "We just couldn't hit. They got a run and we didn't."

Lauthers said she felt she was getting stronger as the game went on.

"When that pinch-hitter (Angie Vought) came up (in the sixth inning), I just kind of zoned out," Lauthers said. "I didn't even realize it. I just pitched."

Lauthers also said the almost standing-room-only crowd didn't bother her.

"We come from a pretty small community, and most of it was here," Lauthers said with a smile. "I actually thought that was kind of cool. Then once we got a run, that always helps you to relax."

Fannett-Metal assistant coach Rick Lauthers, Blaire's father, said his daughter gets stronger deeper in the game if she's on her game.

"Usually, if we can scratch out a run or two, she gets tough," he said.

Some Fannett-Metal players, weren't going to get much chance to celebrate the first state championship by a District 5 team since McConnellsburg's girls basketball team won in 1991.

"They're supposed to ride us around on fire trucks when we get home," said Blaine. "But I have a softball tournament in (Charlottesville) Virginia I have to get to tomorrow, so I won't be able to party too much. I'm still in shock. I said to our center fielder (Megan Dougherty) in the dugout, 'I can't believe we did this.'"

Her dad said he thought his team had a little advantage by having played on the Penn State field before.

"We played a (first-round state playoff) game here last year, and I think the girls who were here felt more relaxed because of that," he said. "And from what I understand, this is the first time Southern's gotten this far. But I'll say one thing for Southern. They didn't get cheated out of their swings. They came up there hacking."

STATE COLLEGE - The difference between gold and silver was one pitch, one step, one run.

Southern Columbia learned the hard truth of state playoff softball Friday at the PIAA Class A state championship in a 1-0 loss to Fannett-Metal at Penn State's Beard Field - things get much tighter the bigger the prize is.

The season ends for Southern with silver medals and a 23-4 record, while Fannett-Metal won its first softball title thanks to a dominant pitching performance and an RBI-single from junior Blaire Lauthers, who barely beat out a throw for the single that scored Megan Dougherty in the fourth inning.

"That was really close," Southern Columbia head coach Al Cihocki said about the play that made all the difference in the game. "I couldn't tell, but it was a close play and he called her safe. They got the RBI from that person getting on."

The game came down to a pitching duel between Lauther and Southern Columbia's Mallory Tomaschik, and for most of it, both offenses were ineffective.

While Fannett-Metal had just three hits, Southern scratched out only one, and had two base runners thrown out trying to steal second.

"It all boiled down to getting a couple hits at the right time, and we just didn't get it done hitting-wise," Cihocki said.

"When you get to this point, it boils down to pitching. When a pitcher can shut you down, you've got problems."

Each team had runners reach during the first four innings, when the score remained tied 0-0, but each defense found ways to help out its pitcher.

Dougherty was barely scraped by a pitch from Tomaschik with the count 0-2 in the first inning, but a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout from Tomaschik and a grab by Erin Yoder in center field on a hard hit ball from Jenna Rhodes ended the inning.

Meanwhile, Southern's Kirstin Blass walked to start the bottom of the first, but was caught trying to steal second.

The third inning featured more nifty defense to keep the game scoreless.

Fannett-Metal's Melinda Hammond made it to first on a throwing error that sailed over first and, feeling adventurous, tried to take second, but was cut down when right fielder Kim Reigle backed up first on the throw and threw to Blass, who applied the tag for an out.

Southern saw the exact situation develop in third inning when McKenna Lupold walked to start the inning before Fannett-Metal's Naomi Fields threw her out at second.

"We tried to get them going and try to run on them," Cihocki said. "We had people on and we got them zinged right out. You have to gamble a little bit. We did and we got two kids thrown out at second. That's my call. I'm not here to lose the ball game, I'm here to win the ball game. If they're in there and we get a single, we're scoring a run."

Tomaschik then had to work out of a jam with runners on first and second in the fourth.

Southern had its best opportunity for runs in the bottom of the fourth when Taylor Hoffman led off the frame with Southern's only hit. Nicole Hoffman came in to pinch run and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Erin Troup before Lauthers got the next two outs to quash the rally.

Lauthers had 11 strikeouts and pitched to just one batter over the minimum.

Tomaschik, on the other hand, struck out just two Fannett-Metal batters and had trouble locating pitches as she walked six batters.

"I was surprised. I thought Mal had some taken away that were strikes, and I think that was sort of frustrating her," Cihocki said. "I said something to the ump, but he called some on their kid, too. Basically it evens out."

It was a walk to Dougherty after a nine-pitch at bat in the fifth that eventually led to the winning run.

Tomaschik got a quick strike on No. 2 batter Candice Cornell but the succession of a wild pitch, followed by a passed ball allowed Dougherty to move up to third. Cornell then popped up a bunt that was snagged by catcher Mary McGinley in foul territory.

That brought up Lauthers. Tomaschik worked her to a two-strike count, but the third pitch was hit deep in the hole between third and shortstop. Blass, Southern's shortstop, ranged to her right, backhanded the ball cleanly and came up throwing to first. The throw was on the mark, but half a tick too late and Lauthers was safe, while Dougherty crossed the plate.

One pitch, one step, one run.

Southern had one last golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh inning with the heart of the lineup at the plate. They went down in order.

"I knew it would be close," Cihocki said. "In the last inning at bat I said, 'Okay girls, it boils down to this.' We had the top of the order up and she just blew us away."

Game Summary

FANNETT-METAL (AB-R-H-BI) - Dougherty 1-1-0-0, Cornell 1-0-0-0, Lauthers 4-0-2-1, Rhodes 4-0-0-0, Burdge 2-0-0-0, Fields 2-0-1-0, Zeger 2-0-0-0, Hammond 3-0-0-0, Laye 2-0-0-0, Becker 0-0-0-0. Totals 21-1-3-1.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (AB-R-H-BI) - Blass 2-0-0-0, Tomaschik 3-0-0-0, Lavella 3-0-0-0, Hoffman 3-0-1-0, N. Hoffman 0-0-0-0, Troup 1-0-0-0, McGinley 2-0-0-0, Lupold 1-0-0-0, Yoder 2-0-0-0, Reigle 1-0-0-0, Vought 1-0-0-0, Chaundy 0-0-0-0. Totals 19-0-1-0.

F-M 000 010 0 - 1 3 0

Southern 000 000 0 - 0 1 2

Extra-base hits: None

IP H R ER BB K

Fannett-Metal

Lauthers 7 1 0 0 2 11

Southern Columbia

Tomaschik 7 3 1 1 6 2

Growth is sometimes slow and tough to see. Then there are times when it happens right before your eyes.

On Friday before 1,250 or so fans at Penn State's Beard Field, Southern Columbia lost the PIAA Class A state title game, 1-0, to Fannett-Metal, and while fans saw the tears shed on the field, writers huddled around Mallory Tomaschik in an indoor batting cage under the stands saw a definite maturity from the Tigers' junior, one she hadn't always displayed this season.

Tomaschik gamefully answered questions about the Tigers' loss after what was a remarkable ride through the state playoffs.

She even answered a question about what was her darkest moment all season.

On April 27, no one from Southern Columbia had much to say after Tomaschik's meltdown when the Tigers lost to rival Shamokin, 3-1, in eight innings for their first loss after 13 straight wins to start the regular season.

Her refusal to shake hands politely and then stomping off the field was typical behavior for some teenage girls, but atypical for the fun-loving Tomaschik. It wasn't an ugly scene, but one that made you shake your head and wonder what changed.

It was clear there was pressure from somewhere put on the junior pitcher, self-imposed perhaps, but it was also clear that Tomaschik wanted to and expected to win.

The average observer didn't know the history behind the angst.

"They were posting things about my home runs on the computer and directing it only at me," Tomaschik admitted. "Losing to them was even worse."

Then she morphed back, whether it was a change in tides or alignment of the stars, the smile that Tomaschik flashed so easily before came back, but it was a weary calm. The "Mallory Meltdown" could resurface at any time, but its easy to be polite when you're winning.

To her credit, Tomaschik, even in the most stressful of situations, never lost her cool again. Sure there was a roll of the eyes in the Muncy game when a power-hungry umpire upstaged her before a pitch, and there was a shake of the head as if she were doing movie-fight choreography when a Northeast Bradford batter stepped out of the box to call time when Tomaschik was in her windup, but on the whole, Tomaschik brushed it behind her like she does her braided ponytail.

Tomaschik however was tested Friday both during the game and especially afterward, and she passed with flying colors.

The facts are that she had pitched better in the postseason than she did in the state title game. She wasn't getting the Fannett-Metal batters to swing at pitches just out of the strike zone, and wasn't getting any help from the home plate umpire.

"Some of the pitches I thought were balls, but then there were some that were on an 0-2 count and that they should have been swinging at with two strikes, but I guess he thought differently," Tomaschik said.

"I was getting frustrated at that, and just the whole game in general."

And through it all, Tomaschik kept her composure. The medal the Tigers got was for second place, but Tomaschik, who everyone expected needed to carry Southern if it expected to win, handled herself like a champion.

"It's really hard," Tomaschik said about keeping her emotions in check. "My coaches are always on my case about that. I just want to win so badly, it's hard when nothing is going your way."

Being a talented pitcher with another year left to play a game she obviously loves - most people would call that having something going your way.

It's clear the Tigers' junior was closer to realizing that after a tough loss that meant something, rather than one that just seemed like it did in April.

Casey Inks Handicap

Champion: Sheldon Hostetter, Lebanon, 99. Sub-Junior: Hunter Szymanski, Kittaning, 98. Junior: James Alderfer, Royersford, 98. Veteran: Steven Fitch, Canton, 98. Sr. Veteran: Jack Kostkas, Tidioute, 87. Lady: Linda Loughran, Dover, 98.

Stephanie Sandler Doubles

Champion: Joseph Charnigo, Creston, Ohio, 100. Class AAA: Michael Blaisdell, Keene, N.H., 100. Class AA: David Clary, Phoenix, N.Y., 98. Class A: Todd Klikus, Beach Lake, 98. Class B: Robert Koefer, Whitehall, 98. Class C: Robert Warnick, Silver Spring, Md., 97. Class D: Brendan Doorly, Nazareth, 93. Sub-Junior: Adam Burke, McClellandtown, 95. Junior: Francis Myers IV, Edinboro, 97. Veteran: Emerson Bornman Jr., Oley, 100. Sr. Veteran: Frank Snyder, Mohrsville, 98. Lady: Deborah Ohye Neilson, North Brunswick, N.J., 97.

Sandler/Guerini Doubles

Champion: Steve Hawkins, Alexandria, Va., 200. Class AAA: Mike Endy, Gilbertsville, 200. Class AA: Scott Petitto, Burke, Va., 200. Class A: Kenneth Darroch, Aliquippa, 198. Class B: Brendan Doorly, Nazareth, 198. Class C: Norman Koontz, Reading, 197. Class D: Caleb Snyder, Parkton, Md., 197. Sub-Junior: Adam Burke, McClellandtown, 199. Junior: Justin Slater, Phelps, N.Y., 200. Veteran: Steve Sutton, West River, Md., 200. Sr. Veteran: Boyd Shepler, Shermans Dale, 198. Lady: Deborah Ohye Neilson, North Brunswick, N.J., 198.

Children's Miracle Handicap

Champion: Matt Bozart, York, 98. Sub-Junior: Ian Recla, Mahanoy Plane, 96. Junior: Francis Myers IV, edinboro, 96. Veteran: Steve Sutton, West River, Md., 97. Sr. Veteran: Mitch Moses, Allentown, 98. Lady: Janice Feaga, Marriotsville, Md., 97.

Colonial Class Doubles

Champion: James Johnston, Belle Vernon, 100. Class AAA: Chris Vendel, Rochester, N.Y., 100. Class AA: Patrick McCarthy, Dalton, Ohio, 99. Class A: Ian Darroch, Aliquippa, 97. Class B: Ral Challingsworth, Kersey, 96. Class C: Michael Dixon, White Haven, 95. Class D: Susan Owens, Tioga, 93. Sub-Junior: Ian Recla, Mahanoy Plane, 92. Junior: Justin Slater, Phelps, N.Y., 97. Veteran: James Wright, Unadilla, N.Y., 98. Sr. Veteran: Robert Lefever, Lancaster, 97. Lady: Stephanie Sandler, New Ringgold, 96.

Colonial Classic All-Around

Champion: Chris Vendel, Rochester, N.Y., 392. Class AAA: David Clary, Phoenix, N.Y., 391. Class AA: James Johnston, Belle Vernon, 391; Class A: Kenneth Darroch, Aliquippa, 390. Class B: Brendan Doorly, Nazareth, 384. Class C: Brian Breighner, Abbottstown, 378. Class D: Bert Schoonover, Centre Hall, 371. Sub-Junior: Adam Burke, McClellandtown, 381. Junior: Justin Slater, Phelps, N.Y., 390. Veteran: Steve Sutton, West River, Md., 392. Sr. Veteran: Ral Challingsworth, Kersey, 386. Lady: Deborah Ohye Neilson, North Brunswick, N.J., 390.

Hall of Fame Handicap

Champion: Joshua Zelina, Edinboro, 97. Sub-Junior: Aaron Hower IV, Elysburg, 88. Junior: Francis Myers IV, Edinboro, 96. Veteran: Jack Melitsky, Neshanic Station, N.J., 93. Sr. Veteran: John Brown, Doylestown, 97. Lady: Sheila Flint, Barker, N.Y., 92.

Hall of Fame Singles

Champion: James McMillen, Houston, Pa., 100. Class AAA: Martin Slobodnak, West Newton, 100. Class AA: Alan Deal, Petrolia, 100. Class A: Charles Austin, Edinboro, 99. Class B: Michael Waschitz, Monticello, N.Y., 98. Class C: Douglas Zeigler, Waynesboro, 98. Class D: Robert Gilbaugh, Lock Haven, 97. Sub-Junior: Max Shyda, Wernersville, 98. Junior: Casey Inks, Waterford, 99. Veteran: David Reinard, New Freedom, 99. Sr. Veteran: Walter Edworthy, Hanover, Ont., 99. Lady: Marilyn Lehrfeld, West Palm Beach, Fla., 96.

Media Handicap

Champion: Bert Schoonover, Centre Hall, 97. Sub-Junior: Max Shyda, Wernersville, 94. Junior: Casey Inks, Waterford, 96. Veteran: Fred Williams, Sugar Notch, 92. Sr. Veteran: Robert Mitchell, South Abington Township, 94. Lady: Stephanie Sandler, New Ringgold, 94.

Cabela's Singles

Champion: James McMillen, Houston, Pa., 100. Class AAA: Martin Slobodnik, West Newton, 99. Class AA: Todd Sauble, Martinsburg, W. Va., 100. Class A: Jan Diefenderfer, Robesonia, 100. Class B: Robert Oswald, Greenlawn, N.Y., 98. Class C: Thomas Bomba, Cambridge Springs, 96. Class D: Sheila Flint, Barker, N.Y., 96. Sub-Junior: Adam Burke, McClellandtown, 99. Junior: Alex Sauble, Martinsburg. W. Va., 99. Veteran: Edwyn Jacobs, Brooklyn, N.Y., 98. Sr. Veteran: Robert Reese, Cheswick, 98. Lady: Marilyn Lehrfeld, West Palm Beach, Fla., 99.

Cabela's Handicap

Champion: Dael Copeland, Hagerstown, Md., 96. Sub-Junior: Max Shyda, Wernersville, 91. Junior: Charles Bennett Jr., Montrose, 91. Veteran: Thomas Wolf, Tabernacle, N.J., 94. Sr. Veteran: Mike Poore, Fairfield, 94. lady: Margie Woods, Edinburg, 91.

Cabela's Doubles

Champion: Douglas Duncan, Tonawanda, N.Y., 197. Class AAA: Stephen Ollock, Mainesburg, 191. Class AA: James Flint, Barker N.Y., 193. Class A: Nathan Stabinski, Poland, Ohio, 193. Class B: Curt Saeger, Allentown, 185. Class C: John Vandine, Muncy, 188. Class D: Bert Schoonover, Centre Hall, 177. Sub-Junior: Ian Recla, Mahanoy Plane, 188. Junior: Kie Kababik, Townsend, Del., 196. Veteran: William Hazlett, Sarver, 193. Sr. Veteran: Bruce Edgreen, Port Allegany, 181. Lady: Janice Feaga, Marriottsville, Md., 176.

Preliminary High Overall

Champion: Charles Austin, Edinboro, 665. Class AAA: Martin Slobodnik, West Newton. 643. Class AA: James Johnston, Belle Vernon, 662. Class A: Robert Koefer, Whitehall, 658. Class B: Alec Sauble, Martinsburg, W. Va., 648. Class C: Thomas Bomba, Cambridge Springs, 644. Class D: David Becker, Manheim, 619. Sub-Junior: Max Shyda, Wernersville, 616. Junior: Charles Bennett, Jr., 654. Veteran: Bert Schoonover, Centre Hall, 642. Sr. Veteran: Bruce Edgreen, Port Allegany, 637. Lady: Marilyn Lehrfeld, West Palm Beach, Fla., 641.

Andrew Zborovsky Singles

Resident

Champion: Glenn Lash, Lowber, 100. Class AAA: Joel Etchen, Ligonier, 100. Class AA; Richard Painter, Baden, 100. Class A: Rodney Shyda, Wernersville, 100. Class B: Donald Schaffer Sr., Langhorne, 98. Class C: Daniel Schaffer, Newtown, 98. Class D: Robert Kuhn, Montrose, 95. Sub-Junior: Adam Burke, McClellandtown, 98. Junior: Tyler Nunes, Sinking Spring, 97. Veteran: Francis Koscelnak, Moscow, 100. Sr. Veteran: Robert Lefever, Lancaster, 100. Lady: Lisa Long, West Grove, 98.

Non-resident

Champion: Justin Slater, Phelps, N.Y.. Class AAA: Ronald Sutton, Owings, Md., 99. Class AA: Jerry Glisson, Williamston, Mich., 98. Class A: Hans Tresp, Bramalea, Ont., 99. Class B: Lorenzo Ospina, Brampton, Ont., 97. Class C: Frank Governale, St. James, N.Y., 96. Class D: Bob Grant, Farmingville, N.Y., 95. Sub-Junior: Brandon Sullivan, Arlington, Ind., 95. Junior: Kie Kababik, Townsend, Del., 99. Veteran: Keith Welch, Bath, N.Y., 98. Sr. Veteran: Kay OPhye, North Brunswick, N.J., 96. Lady: Laura Snyder, Parkton, Md., 97.

ELYSBURG - If it's any indicator, the number of competitors at the 2012 Pennsylvania State Shoot at the Valley Gun and Country Club is up this year, which means maybe the economy is actually getting a little better.

In a sport which is known for being fairly expensive, it would seem the recession of the past few years would have had some effect, and longtime tournament director Chuck Fritzges said that was indeed the case.

"But our entries are actually up a little bit this year over last year," Fritzges said on Saturday, as the week-long event began its cli-

mactic final two days with its biggest competitions. "Over the past four or five years, we've probably been down a good 10 percent, so maybe this year is a good sign."

Fritzges noted that like almost everything else, the price of equipment needed for trapshooting has risen.

"The price of ammunition went up, the price of targets went up, gasoline went up. I imagine hotel and motel prices went up, too," he said. "The whole process is more expensive now than it was four or five years ago, so if you're someone who hasn't had a raise in that time, you might think twice before spending money on shooting."

Fritzges was quick to add though, that the perception of the sport as being a wealthy person's sport was a little unfair.

"You don't have to be wealthy to do this," he said. "It's all a matter of how much you want to spend. A good shooter can break targets just as easily with a $500 gun as someone who has a $50,000 gun."

On the other hand, people with a lot more disposable income don't have to think twice about spending it, particularly if it's on an activity they love, and those people are a kind of insurance for the shoot. For example, recession or no, the recreational vehicle lot at the grounds is full.

"The RV lot is always sold out," Fritzges said. "That's sold out by April every year."

Fritzges said the shoot has had a successful week. The weather has been good for the most part, which is always a key factor. Last year's final event on the grounds, September's Westy Hogans, was canceled because of the flooding in the area at that time. T-shirts commemmorating that event as "The Shoot That Never Was" were a hot item this year at the shoot and sold out quickly.

"We could have had that shoot," Fritzges. "The grounds were all right. We had a couple of lakes out front but they wouldn't have caused any problem. But we had the same problem everyone else had - there was no way to get here. We had some people on the grounds already who were stuck here for three days because they couldn't get out.

"I live in Milton and I had to call here and say. 'If you want to have the shoot, we can do it, but I can't get there.'"

There is still the specter of a lawsuit clouding the future of the shoot. The Pennsylvania State Sportsmens Association (PSSA), which administers the shoot, has filed suit against the Valley Gun and Country Club for failure to abide by a 1995 agreement which would have transferred ownership of the grounds to the PSSA once all members of the gun club were no longer active. Northumberland County Judge William Wiest ruled not to dismiss the lawsuit in a ruling this past February, and the lawsuit apparently will go ahead.

The PSSA filed the suit in March, 2011, against the club and its officers, President John S. Mushalko Jr., Vice President Edward W. Rakaskie, Secretary Lamar Richie, all of Elysburg, and Andrew Panko, of Catawissa.

The PSSA contends the gun and country club agreed to not accept the introduction, election to or membership of any additional "A" members from the date of the agreement forward and that upon the death of the last of any existing "A" members, operation and all assets of the club shall be distributed to the PSSA. The PSSA contends that the gun and country club has been admitting new members.

The nine-day shoot which ends today is the biggest of four or five events the PSSA holds on the grounds each year, and usually attracts more than 2,000 shooters from the United States, Canada and other countries, along with spectators, and employs roughly 300 people, including many area high school students.

The complaint states that it has paid $550,000 plus all yearly taxes over the last 15 years, based on a payment of one cent for every clay target thrown on the grounds. The two entities evenly split the proceeds from any recovery of lead.

Mount Carmel Junior Baseball

Locust Gap 10, Kulpmont Wildcats 0

W: Logan Wills.

Locust Gap - Anthony Moser, double, 2 singles; Wills, double, single; Stephen Reiner, single, triple; Evan Salamone, 2 singles, 2 doubles; Zack Artman, single, double; Brad Shurock, single; Shawn Sheptock, single; Logan Artman, 3 singles. Wildcats - Julian Stellar, double.

Locust Gap 14, Kulpmont Wildcats 4

W: Evan Salamone.

Locust Gap - Anthony Moser, triple, single; Logan Wills, 2 doubles, 2 singles; Stephen Reiner, double, single; Salamone, 3 singles; Zack Artman, single; Brad Shurock, double, single; Gaige Jackson, single.

Locust Gap 3, VFW 1

W: Anthony Moser (12 strikeouts). L: Thomas Shultz.

Locust Gap - Anthony Moser, single; Logan Wills, single; Stephen Reiner, double; Evan Salamone, single; Zack Artman, single. VFW - Mike Balichick, single; Thomas Shultz, double; B. Shustack, single; T. Seltner, single.

Liverpool's T.J. Stutts won the Joe Whitcomb Memorial for the 358 sprint cars at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night.

His second straight win at the speedway was worth $2,071 in an event that honors the memory of the Millersburg driver who died on June 21, 2003 from injuries sustained in a racing crash at the speedway.

Stutts started third and drove by Jason Shultz off turn four for the lead on lap 21 of the 30 lap main event. Shultz nearly took the lead back over the final two laps, but settled for a close runner-up finish. Stutts won by just 0.61 seconds. Pat Cannon, Mark Smith and Colby Womer followed Stutts and Shultz.

Cannon set fast time with a lap of 17.508.

Danville's Steve Campbell, who started 11th, won his 44th career super late model feature and first of the season. He became the division's sixth different winner this season. Meade Hahn, point leader Jeff Rine, Bryan Bernheisel and Chad Davis completed the top five.

Rookie Hayes Mattern of Beavertown won his third career feature in the 15-lap pro stock main event. Ricky Bender of Jolliett won his second roadrunner feature of the season.

Selinsgrove will be in action on Tuesday with the Race of Champions (ROC) big block modified tour. The "School's Out Special" will be 35 laps and pay $4,000 to win. Racing starts at 7:30. The race is sponsored by Alexander Family Dealerships. The roadrunners are also on the program.

The speedway presents a regular show of 358 sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners on Saturday.

The ROC modifieds will compete in the Battle at Lincoln on Wednesday night at Lincoln Speedway. The 360 sprints will join the modifieds.

Keith Hoffman of Whitehall won the 358 modified feature at Big Diamond Speedway on Friday. Neal Williams, Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard and Craig VonDohren followed Hoffman.

Charles Webber won the sportsman modifieds and Joey Brennan won his third roadrunner feature of the season.

At Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night, it was Harrisburg's Chad Layton driving the Dave Middleswarth-owned sprinter to his first sprint car win of the season at the Juniata County track. He beat Daryn Pittman and Ryan Taylor. Coleby Frye of Dover won the super late model feature.

Brian Montieth won the Gohn Memorial at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday over Brent Marks and Fred Rahmer. Marks was the winner of the sprint car feature at Williams Grove on Friday night and Adrian Shaffer won the 358 limited sprints.

Scott Geesey won the super sportsman feature at the Grove, Randy Stoudt won the 358 limited late models and Craig Morgan won the street stocks.

New York's Tim McCreadie won the World of Outlaws late model feature at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Saturday.

Racing Recap

Friday

Big Diamond Speedway

358 Modifieds, 25 laps: 1. Keith Hoffman. 2. Neal Williams. 3. Doug Manmiller. 4. Duane Howard. 5. Craig VonDohren. 6. Jeff Strunk. 7. Ricky Yetter. 8. Glenn Strunk. 9. Gary Hager. 10. Rick Laubach.

Sportsman modifieds, 20 laps: 1. Charles Webber. 2. Tim Fitzpatrick. 3. Ray Woodhall Jr. 4. Billy Moyer Jr. 5. Wayne Witmer.

Roadrunners, 20 laps: 1. Joey Brennan. 2. Chip Kennedy. 3. Shon Elk. 4. Jim Kost. 5. Glenn Rowan.

Clinton County Raceway

305 Sprints, 15 laps: 1. Nathan Gramley. 2. Tom Worrick. 3. Reed Thompson. 4. Jeff Taylor. 5. Chuck Brion.

270 Micro Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Josh Stoyer. 2. Sean Stolz. 3. Sean McAndrew. 4. Denny Rinehimer. 5. Skeetz Hockenbroch.

IMCA Modifieds, 15 laps: 1. Jared Spalding. 2. Dale Schweikart. 3. Tom Krape. 4. Rich McNeal. 5. Abe Hostetler.

Trail-Way Speedway

358 Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Zach Euculano. 2. Shane Hoff. 3. Jeff Rohrbaugh. 4. Tim Wagaman. 5. Mike Bittinger. 6. Austin Hogue. 7. Kyle Moody. 8. Keith Prutzman. 9. Issac Sneeringer. 10. Steve Owings.

Heats: Rick Horn, Randy Whisler.

Extreme Stocks, 20 laps: 1. Dan Furman. 2. Chad Stine. 3. Adam Smith. 4. Tim Hahn. 5. Bill Foster.

Limited Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Nick McDaniel. 2. Robbie Carroll. 3. Tom Senseney. 4. Shawn Crunkilton. 5. Sarah Redmond.

Williams Grove Speedway

Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Brent Marks. 2. Cory Haas. 3. Danny Dietrich. 4. Greg Hodnett. 5. Fred Rahmer. 6. Rick Lafferty. 7. Lance Dewease. 8. Chad Layton. 9. Frank Cozze. 10. Daryn Pittman.

Heats: Michael Ruttkamp, Ryan Smith, Logan Schuchart.

358 Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Adrian Shaffer. 2. Pat Cannon. 3. Eric Tomecek. 4. Mark Smith. 5. Nate Hammaker. 6. Jay Galloway. 7. Ryan Wilson. 8. Amy Ott. 9. Aaron Eichelberger. 10. Denny Gross.

Heats: Shaffer, Cannon, Wilson.

World of Outlaws Sprints

River Cities Spwy., Grand Forks, N.D.

A-main, 40 laps: 1. Kraig Kinser. 2. Steve Kinser. 3. Craig Dollansky. 4. Donny Schatz. 5. Lucas Wolfe. 6. Mark Dobmeier. 7. Sammy Swindell. 8. Bill Rose. 9. Justin Henderson. 10. Joey Saldana.

Fast Time: Dobmeier, 10.516.

Heats: Dobmeier, Henderson, Saldana, Jason Linnell.

Dash: Kerry Madsen.

B-main: Bob Martin.

Saturday

Hagerstown Speedway

World of Outlaws Late Models

A-main, 50 laps: 1. Tim McCreadie. 2. Jamie Lathroum. 3. Gary Stuhler. 4. Gregg Satterlee. 5. Austin Hubbard. 6. Darrell Lanigan. 7. Rick Eckert. 8. Jason Covert. 9. Steve Shaver. 10. Tim Fuller.

Fast Time: Eckert, 18.600.

Heats: Clint Smith, Kent Robinson, Hubbard, McCreadie.

B-mains: Covert, Chub Frank.

Lincoln Speedway

Gohn Memorial

Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Brian Montieth. 2. Brent Marks. 3. Fred Rahmer. 4. Aaron Ott. 5. Danny Dietrich. 6. Brad McClelland. 7. Brian Leppo. 8. Jim Siegel. 9. Adam Wilt. 10. Ryan Bohlke.

Heats: Dietrich, Derek Sell, Leppo.

305 Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Kody Lehman. 2. Ryan Lynn. 3. Mike Wagner II. 4. Billy Ney. 5. Tyler Lebo.

Thundercars, 20 laps: 1. Duane Watson. 2. Wayne Dutterer. 3. Jason Townsend. 4. Mike Slaybaugh. 5. Will Walls.

Port Royal Speedway

Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Chad Layton. 2. Daryn Pittman. 3. Ryan Taylor. 4. Lance Dewease. 5. Dave Ely. 6. Michael Ruttkamp. 7. Dan Shetler. 8. Mike Wagner. 9. Jon Brennfleck. 10. Joey Hershey.

Heats: Shetler, Pittman, Ruttkamp.

Consolation: Daryl Stimeling.

Late Models, 20 laps: 1. Coleby Frye. 2. Scott Haus. 3. Tim Wilson. 4. Brett Schadel. 5. Andy Haus. 6. Waylon Wagner. 7. Mike Lupfer. 8. Derrick Casner. 9. Lindsey Barton. 10. Patrick Bryner.

Heats: Frye, Terry Naugle, Wilson.

Pro Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Dan Berry. 2. John Heane. 3. Shaun Miller. 4. Harold Ranck. 5. Kyle Parson.

Selinsgrove Speedway

Joe Whitcomb Memorial

358 Sprints, 25 laps: 1. TJ Stutts. 2. Jason Shultz. 3. Pat Cannon. 4. Mark Smith. 5. Colby Womer. 6. Derek Locke. 7. Davie Franek. 8. Josh Beard. 9. Cody Keller. 10. Larry Kelleher.

Fast time: Cannon, 17.508.

Heats: Shultz, Womer, Smith.

Late Models, 20 laps: 1. Steve Campbell. 2. Meade Hahn. 3. Jeff Rine. 4. Bryan Bernheisel. 5. Chad Davis. 6. Dave Zona. 7. Ken Trevitz. 8. Jim Bernheisel. 9. Matt Cochran. 10. Donnie Schick.

Heats: Tony Adams, Schick.

Pro Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Hayes Mattern. 2. AJ Hoffman. 3. Jason Smith. 4. Nathan Long. 5. Peanut Heintzelman.

Roadrunners, 12 laps: 1. Ricky Bender. 2. John Fowler. 3. Cory Long. 4. Brian Johnson. 5. Matt Lawrence.

Williams Grove Speedway

Super Sportsman, 20 laps: 1. Scott Geesey. 2. Jay Fannasy. 3. Frankie Herr. 4. Dave Socks. 5. Steve Fannasy. 6. Leroy Martin. 7. Russ Mitten. 8. Eric Walker. 9. Mike Enders. 10. Carmen Perigo Jr.

Heats: Tom Wycoff, Geesey, Herr, Bobby Hockenberry.

Consolation: Vance Yinger.

358 Limited Late Models, 20 laps: 1. Randy Stoudt. 2. Gene Knaub. 3. Travis Mease. 4. Matt Nailor. 5. Jared Miller. 6. Jake Jones. 7. Matt Henry. 8. Sam Gallagher. 9. Justin Ehrhart. 10. Larry Baer.

Heats: Knaub, Jones, Bernie Beard.

Consolation: John Ebersole.

Street Stocks, 15 laps: 1. Craig Morgan. 2. Kevin Sigler. 3. Sam Rial. 4. Paul Morgan. 5. Greg Diehl. 6. Tim Drawbaugh. 7. Walt Lemmon. 8. Pat McNeal. 9. John Greider. 10. Jeff Haag.

Heats: C. Morgan, Lemmon, Sigler.

World of Outlaws Sprints

Red River Valley Spwy., Fargo, N.D.

A-main, 30 laps: 1. Sammy Swindell. 2. Chad Kemenah. 3. Donny Schatz. 4. Jason Sides. 5. Kraig Kinser. 6. Craig Dollansky. 7. Joey Saldana. 8. Kerry Madsen. 9. Chris Shirek. 10. Cody Darrah.

Fast Time: Saldana, 12.566.

Heats: Austen Wheatley, Kemenah, K. Kinser, Swindell.

Dash: Swindell.

B-main: Bob Martin

COAL TOWNSHIP - Line Mountain defeated Shamokin-Mount Carmel 3-2 Monday at Bunker Hill in Susquehanna Valley Legion baseball.

Austin Snyder picked up the win, while Ryan Burns was the tough-luck loser.

Dan Adams and Matt Howerter had a single and double each for Line Mountain, while Wade Wetzel, Erik Smeltz and Kyle Mace all singled.

Theo Deptula, Ryan Burns, Brody Young and Zach Tocyloski each singled for S-MC.

Shamokin-Mount Carmel hosts West Snyder Wednesday.

Atlas Eshmont-Forti Tournament

Atlas 10, Anthracite 0

WP: Damon Dowkus (4 strikeouts). LP: Bruce Carl (6 strikeouts)

Atlas - Emily Yuskoski, triple, double, single; Trevor McDonald, triple, double, single; Joey Dudeck, home run, triple; Cody Chimlewski, triple, single; Hobi Forti, 2 singles; Logan Yuskoski, triple. Anthracite - Carl, 2 singles.

Undefeated Game Atlas 19 Mother Cabrini 9

WP: Damon Dowkus (4 strikeouts). LP: Gabe Klembara (3 strikeouts)

Atlas - Trevor McDonald, triple, double, single; Joey Dudeck, triple, 3 singles; Cody Chimlewski, double, 2 singles; Dowkus, double, single; Jacob Hartman, single. Mother Cabrini - Cassin Sandri, 3 singles; Klembara, 2 singles; Nate Grimes, 2 singles; Ian Paul, single; Gavin Wetzel, single.

Championship Game Atlas 8, Mother Cabrini 4

WP: Joey Dudeck (3 strikeouts). LP: Gabe Klembara (5 strikeouts)

Atlas - Dudeck, 2 doubles; Damon Dowkus, double, single; Cody Chimlewski, double, single; Trevor McDonald, single; Hobi Forti, single; Jacob Yetter, single; Preston Marlow, single. Mother Cabrini - Cassin Sandri, triple; Klembara, single; Nate Grimes, single; Nick Aurand, single.

MCJBL Major Scores

Atlas Fire Co. 15 Kulpmont Wildcats 5

WP: Dakota Albertson. LP: E. McCloud.

Hits: Atlas - Noah Berkoski, triple, 2 singles; Dakota Albertson, 3 singles; Bear Wagner, 3 singles; Tommy Reisinger, 2 singles; Joey Dudeck, 2 singles; Mickey Fiamoncini, triple; Damon Dowkus, single. Wildcats - Sean Casper, triple; Nick Troutman, single.

Atlas Fire Co. 13

Cabrini Angels 2

WP: Micky Fiamoncini. LP: Nate Freed.

Hits: Atlas - Bear Wagner, 3 singles; Mickey Fiamoncini, double, single; Noah Berkoski, 2 singles; Joey Dudeck, 2 singles; Tommy Reisinger, single; Trevor McDonald, single. Angels - Mark Wetzel, single; Evan Snyder, single.

Atlas Fire Co. 8

VFW 2

WP: Mickey Fiamoncini. LP: Jack Chapman.

Hits: Atlas - Damon Dowkus, 2 singles; Mickey Fiamoncini, double; Bear Wagner, double; Noah Berkoski, single; Joey Dudeck, single; Trevor McDonald, single; Nick Diminick, single. VFW: Thomas Schultz, double, single; Michael Balichik, single; Jack Chapman, single.

Linksters

At Pine Meadows

1. (226) - Frank Bartosic 90-(-14)-76, Stiney Kruel 90-(-14)-76, Henry Whetstone 90-(-16)-74.

2. (230) - Todd Dreher 83-(-12)-71, Phil Lafferty 103-(-20)-83, Joe McGovern 92-(-16)-76.

3. (232) - Tom Umbenhauer 85-(-13)-72, Tom Mahaffey 94-(-18)-76, Mike Spece 103-(-19)-84.

4T. (233) - Tom Takach 84-(-10)-74, Chick Schaeffer 94-(-17)-77, Don Adams 101-(-19)-82.

4T (233) - George Brommer 90-(-14)-76, Dick Fenstemacher 103-(-21)-82, Ray Bartosic 93-(-18)-75.

5. (240) - Paul Becker 99-(1-4)-85, Bill Griffin 96-(-21)-75, Frank Hlavaty 94-(-14)-80.

Closest to pin: Dick Fenstemacher, No. 7; Don Adams, No. 9; Chick Schaeffer, No. 13; Joe McGovern, No. 17.

Blind holes: Todd Dreher, 26.

Birdies: Ron Schneck, Henry Whetstone, Chick Schaeffer, Todd Dreher 4.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Veteran assistant coach Chris Zimmerman was officially named to replace the retired Joe Klebon as Shamokin Area's next boys basketball coach at Tuesday's meeting of the Shamokin Area school board, and Bill Callahan, assistant middle school principal who previously resigned as girls basketball coach, will coach the girls team for at least one more year.

The moves were made by unanimous vote and avoided what could have been a messy situation. Zimmerman previously had verbally accepted an offer to coach the girls team when it appeared that Klebon would remain as boys coach for another season. But when Klebon decided to retire last week, became the obvious choice for the boys position. Callahan was since persuaded to coach the girls for another season, which will be his eighth.

Zimmerman has served as an assistant coach to Klebon since joining the district as an elementary teacher in 2003. He is one of the top players in school history, having scored more than 2,000 points and leading the Indians to more than 100 wins in his four seasons as a point guard. He later played college basketball at Bucknell and Susquehanna.

"Hopefully, we'll keep building on the tradition that we have," Zimmerman said Tuesday night. Shamokin won seven Schuylkill League championships and eight District 4-AAA titles under Klebon, and the Indians have won 14 district championships since the Shamokin-Coal Township merger in 1965.

"I played here, graduated from here and have a lot of pride in the school," Zimmerman said. "I just want to carry on the tradition and we have the kids who are willing to put the time in to do that."

Zimmerman said he felt bad that he wouldn't get a chance to work with the girls team.

"I think it would have been okay either way," Zimmerman said. "People forget that I'm an elementary teacher so I'm dealing with younger kids, and girls, all the time, I'm not really a yeller and screamer but I am pretty intense. I had 22 girls at every workout at 8:15 in the morning for a week, so I think they would have been fine. I didn't like how everything happened but I'm glad coach Callahan decided to come back, I think the girls program will be fine."

Callahan will be paid $3,038.75, and Zimmerman $2,356 for their coaching positions.

Zimmerman said coaching has been something he's thought about doing ever since his high school playing days.

"I always kind of liked being in charge when I played," he said. "I almost thought of myself as a player-coach on the floor. I always felt it was important to be a leader on the court. When I was in college, I was always bothering coach (Pat) Flannery (at Bucknell) and coach (Frank) Marcinek (at Susquehanna) to learn things, and coach Klebon prepared me well since then. He let me do a lot."

Zimmerman said he has some people in mind as assistant coaches but wanted to wait to make sure they would all be okayed before he announced them.

Callahan returns

With summer being the prime time for team building and workouts, Callahan said he couldn't see the girls' squad being without a coach during this crucial time.

"You can't go all summer without a coach for organization purposes," Callahan said. "The kids don't deserve to be without a coach."

Callahan retired from coaching in March, following a season in which the Indians won the District 4 Class AAA title. Then he said he was retiring to spend more time with his family, which he still sticks to, but that the call to come back was hard to ignore.

"I meant what I said about my kids coming first was true," Callahan said. "But with the situation our district is in, this was my way to help out."

Assisting Callahan will be Courtney Scicchitano and Dana Rutkowski, who both played in the program.

The Board of Directors of the Shamokin-Mount Carmel Little League is proud to announce this year's All-Star teams. Each team will participate in a double-elimination area tournament for a chance to advance to the District 13 championship.

The 11-12 year old All-Star team is comprised of Cameron Britt, Maura Fiamoncini, Nathin Freed, Walter Kalinoski, Nathan Miller, Anthony Moser, Evan Salamone, Thomas Schultz, Tallon Strausser, Jacob Wolfe and Matthew Ziv. Alternates are Tucker Fegley, Michael Hood, Donovan James and David Quinn. The manager is Greg Rachau and coaches are Jim Britt, Jim Fiamoncini and Wayne Miller. Opening game is June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Bloomsburg Town Park field against South Columbia.

The 10-11 year old All-Star team is comprised of Dakota Albertson, John Ayers, Noah Berkoski, Jacob Carpenter, John Chapman, Avery Demko, Matthew Dimmick, Matthew Grabowski, Tommy Reisinger, Quinn Rollman, Max Tillett and Logan Wills. Alternates are Brock Evert and Gaige Garcia. The manager is Chris Carpenter and coaches are Brian Dimmick and John Chapman. Opening game is June 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Milton's Mary Byers Complex against the winner of Warrior Run and Snyder County.

The 9-10 year old team is comprised of Damian Baumerts, Aaron Christiana, Hayden Foor, Gavin Garcia, Davis Marshall, Micah Miller, Adam Sandri, Casen Sandri, Kolton Scholl, Jacob Thompson and Garret Timco. The manager is Mark Sandri and coaches are James Sandri and Aaron Christiana. Opening game is June 24 at 1 p.m. at Berwick's Ber-Vaughn Park against Bloomsburg.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin-Mount Carmel got timely hitting, good defense and a gutty pitching effort by Zach Tocyloski to down West Snyder, 9-1, in a Susquehanna Valley American Legion game Wednesday at Bunker Hill.

Six different batters drove in at least one run each as Shamokin-Mount Carmel improved to 4-7 overall, 2-7 in the league. Tocyloski worked five shutout innings despite being plucked in the back and elbow by his own catcher on a stolen base in the second inning.

"Give Zach a lot of credit," said Shamokin-Mount Carmel coach Joe Varano. "It was a hot day and that was kind of scary when he got hit. He got hit in the elbow and his fingers kind of went numb."

Shamokin-Mount Carmel scored single runs in each of the first two innings before chasing West Snyder starting pitcher Zach Mast with a six-run third. Austin Fry, who was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, got the inning started by hustling for a double on what should have been a bloop single. Walks to Ryan Burns and Jake Jones were sandwiched around a pair of strikeouts to load the bases. Steve Bressi was hit by a pitch, driving in a run, and Paul Gurba greeted reliever Alex Lash with a two-run single, making it 5-0.

"I thought Paul Gurba's hit was really big," Varano said. "We haven't been hitting. We've been getting two or three hits a game, four at the most. What we told the kids before the game tonight was for each of them to try to find a way to get on base some way at least one time. If they did that, chances are we could score some runs."

Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup did just that, and seven different players scored at least one run.

"These are good kids. They're just not bombers and with the wood bats, we're going to have to battle to score runs. Everyone contributed tonight," Varano said. "Our defense was pretty good, too."

Bressi reached base on a leadoff error in the fifth and eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Burns.

Darien Levi Craft relieved Tocyloski and pitched a scoreless sixth inning before West Snyder finally scored a run of Corey Langton in the seventh. Langton walked two batters and hit another in his inning.

Bailey Coder had two hits, including a double, for West Snyder.

Game Summary

WEST SNYDER (AB-R-H-BI) - Lorenz 3-1-0-0, Connahan 4-0-0-0, Zimmerman 3-0-1-0, Ebersole 0-0-0-0, Coder 4-0-2-1, Keister 3-0-1-0, Lash 4-0-2-0, Snook 2-0-0-0, Stem 2-0-0-0, Mast 1-0-0-0, Switzer 1-0-0-0. Totals 27-1-6-1.

SHAMOKIN-MOUNT CARMEL (AB-R-H-BI) - Deptula 3-1-0-2, Fry 4-1-3-1, Burns 2-1-1-1, Lesko 3-0-0-0, Jones 3-1-0-0, Tocyloski 0-0-0-0, Craft 0-0-0-0, Langton 0-0-0-0, Young 4-0-0-0, Bressi 3-2-0-1, Gurba 2-2-1-2, Pupo 2-1-2-1. Totals 26-9-7-8.

West Snyder 000 000 1 - 1 6 3

Sham-MC 116 010 X - 9 7 2

Extra-base hits: 2B - Lash; Fry.

IP H R ER BB K

West Snyder

Mast (L) 2.2 2 6 5 6 4

Lash 2.1 5 3 0 1 4

Connahan 1 0 0 0 0 1

Sham-MC

Tocyloski (W) 5 5 0 0 3 4

Craft 1 0 0 0 0 1

Langton 1 1 1 1 2 0

Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League

Major Division

Atlas Fire Co. 17 Cabrini Reds 2

W: Dakota Albertson. L: Lenny Kreski.

Atlas - Noah Berkoski, 3 doubles; Bear Wagner, double, 2 singles; Joe Dudeck, 3 singles; Mickey Fiamoncini, double, single; Damon Dowkus, 2 singles; Tommy Reisinger, 2 singles; Albertson, single; Trevor McDonald, single; Nick Diminick, single. Cabrini - Kreski, double; Ty Klembara, single; Jake Delorso, single.

Anthracite Fire Co. 3 Atlas Fire Co. 1

W: Talon Strausser. L: Mickey Fiamoncini.

Anthracite - Donovavn James, 3 singles; John Ayres, double, single; Talon Strausser, single; Noah Smith, single. Atlas - Fiamoncini, double; Noah Berkoski, single; Tommy Reisinger, single; Dakota Albertson, single.

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Area football player Eric Joraskie, who will be a senior for the Red Tornadoes this season, has reportedly given a verbal commitment to play at Northwestern University.

According to a report in the Bloomsburg Press-Enterprise, Joraskie reportedly told PurpleWildcats.com, a website devoted to Northwestern sports, that he gave a commitment after an unofficial visit to the campus on Tuesday.

Joraskie, who had 70 tackles, including nine sacks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery in Mount Carmel's 12-1 season in 2011, also had offers from Syracuse, Purdue, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Rutgers, Kent State, Maryland and Vanderbilt. At 6-4, 260, he is projected as a defensive lineman.

He also started on the offensive line and helped Mount Carmel produce two 1,000-yard rushers in a season for the first time since 1970. Joraskie was an Associated Press Class AA first team all-state pick.

Joraskie said he had also visited Pitt, Syracuse and Maryland, and that each school had lots to offer.

"I liked all of them ," he said. "But before I even started the process I had said that Northwestern was a school I would consider because of its combination of academics and athletics. Then when I visited, everything was perfect. The people were great, the campus was beautiful."

Northwestern's incoming freshmen players were on campus and Joraskie spent some time with Adam DiPietro, a Lancaster Catholic player who played against the Red Tornadoes in the state playoffs last year.

"All of the incoming freshmen were high character people," Joraskie said. "They all seemed like people you'd want to be around."

Mount Carmel head coach Carm DeFrancesco said that for all of Joraskie's football ability, he was interested in the academic aspect of the schools first.

"He's so concerned about academics," DeFrancesco said. "That's the way his family is and the way he was raised. He really had a tough choice. He had some really good schools to choose from. Purdue was really after him. Vanderbilt, Maryland, Rutgers, they're all great schools."

DeFrancesco said he thought Joraskie might be swayed by Northwestern.

"When I talked to him, he said he loved the campus, and I knew he would," he said.

"I just absolutely loved everything about (Northwestern), there's not a better place I've been," Joraskie was quoted by the website. "It has a beautiful campus, high-end academics, high-end football, has a small-town feel. Evanston is a great town and still has all the opportunities of Chicago. The people were the best part. Everything you'd want is there."

Ironically, Joraskie's not sure what academic area he'd like to major in.

"I just know that they're ranked 11th overall in the country for academics, so no matter what I choose it should be okay" Joraskie said. "I've kind of thought about physical therapy or athletic training because I like to work out a lot but I'm not sure yet."

DeFrancesco said Joraskie's combination of size, athletic and academic ability made him well sought after by recruiters.

"I had a coach from Syracuse in here to look at film and he stopped it about 20 seconds in. I thought something must be wrong and he said, no, he'd already seen enough. He said Eric had the best stance he'd ever seen from a high school lineman," DeFrancesco related.

"There was a play he made against Selinsgrove that all the coaches talked about. He got chop blocked, got back up to his feet real quickly and blocked a pass with a great vertical leap," DeFrancesco said. "That's what those guys are looking for, that combination of being a terrific athlete with size."

"Where were you in '62?" is the catch phrase this weekend at Berks County's Maple Grove Raceway, as the famed dragstrip celebrates its 50th Anniversary Spectacular Saturday with a mix of fuel, flames and fun.

Alfred Stauffer was approached by representatives from the Eastern Custom Car Association about building a track because they were looking for a safe place to race their high performance machines. Stauffer, whose family still owns the facility, cleared off what was originally a 1/5th mile dragstrip, which ultimately became the world class quarter-mile track we know today.

Many historic performances have been held at the Reading-area track including the first side-by-side four second top fuel pass by Joe Amato and Shirley Muldowney in 1989; Mike Dunn and Blaine Johnson were the first top fuel duo to eclipse 300 MPH and numerous NHRA national records have also been recorded at the track.

The event will feature a bit of everything that has built the track, from the local racer taking part in the weekly bracket series, to alcohol and nitromethane-powered funny cars, along with jet cars and dragsters. Saturday's program will feature super eliminator, pro eliminator and junior dragster classes beginning at 11 a.m. and specialty and collector car show at noon.

The buildup to the main event will begin at 6 p.m. with NHRA announcer Bob Frey serving as master of ceremonies for the prerace introductions. Members of Maple Grove's Walk of Fame - including the 2012 class of Don Prudhomme, the ECCA, Dale Pulde, Raymond Beadle and Frank Hawley - will be introduced along with all champions from the weekly Money Trail E.T. Series that began in 1971.

At the center of the main event, which starts at 7 p.m., is the Auto-Plus Cavalcade of Funny Cars. Eight nitro-powered cars will take to the track, including several favorites such as Pulde's War Eagle, Hawley's Chi-Town Hustler, Beadle's Blue Max and Peter Gallen's Poverty Stricken. Eight alcohol-powered funny cars, along with the jet funny cars of Al Hanna, K.C. Jones will have his two jet dragsters as well as Bob Motz and his famed jet truck.

The wild and wicked, and arguably the most famous fuel altered of all-time, "The Winged Express" will make its first appearance at Maple Grove since 1971 and a huge fireworks show will close out the night's festivities.

"The time has finally arrived for Maple Grove to celebrate its past, present and future," said MGR Vice President and General Manager Lex Dudas, who has planned this event since last fall with his staff. "This will definitely be a 'can't miss' show."

In dirt track action around the area this weekend, Big Diamond hosts a 40-lap special for the sportsman division, with the modifieds and roadrunners joining the action tonight. Williams Grove Speedway hosts another open wheel doubleheader tonight of 358 sprint cars and 410 sprinters; while the Saturday Night Series continues with the winged super sportsman, limited late models and street stocks.

Selinsgrove Speedway, along with Pepsi, will present Pepsi Night Saturday at the Snyder County half-mile, by hosting the 358 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners. Many prizes and free items will be distributed throughout the night, and one lucky fan will win a case of Pepsi products a week, for an entire year.

Other Saturday night action includes Port Royal Speedway hosting 305 and 410 sprinters along with late models; Lincoln Speedway has a three-division show of 358 sprint cars, 410 sprinters and thundercars; Grandview Speedway presents its weekly program of modifieds, limited late models and sportsman; and Hagerstown features a three-division stock car show of late models, pure stocks and hobby stocks.

CATAWISSA - Ryan Burns had a triple and three singles to lead a 12-hit attack, and Austin Fry and Darien Levi Craft combined to pitch Shamokin-Mount Carmel to an 8-2 win over Catawissa in the Susquehanna Valley American Legion League Thursday.

Zach Tocyloski had a double and single, Pual Gurba two singles, and Fry and Danny Lesko each drove in two runs for Shamokin-Mount Carmel (5-7, 3-7).

Marks had two singles for Catawissa.

S-MC 102 202 1 - 8 12 0

Catawissa 020 000 0 - 2 7 0

Austin Fry, Darien Levi Craft (6) and Steve Bressi; Derek Schleich, Tyler Behrent (6) and Nate Hunter.

W: Fry. L: Schleich.

Extra-base hits: 2B - Lesko, Jones, Tocyloski; Keissling. 3B - Fry, Burns; Behrent.

Kulpmont Football/Baseball Association

Meetings, first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Coal Runnings

Running club, meets at 5:30 p.m. each Monday at Shamokin Area's Kemp Memorial Stadium parking lot. Open to runners of all ages. More on Facebook at coalrunnings.

Mount Carmel Jets

Registration for the AMFL, Sunday, June 24, 6 p.m. at the old Mount Carmel Area gym, Fourth and Vine streets. For boys ages 6-15 for the 2012 school year. Registration fee is $40. All players must provide a copy of their birth certificate and insurance information.

Shamokin Area Football Reserved Seats

Cost for five home games is $27.50. Senior citizen discount for five home games is $10. Those interested should call 648-5731, ext. 3533.

SCA Basketball Camp

Southern Columbia boys and girls basketball camp will be held July 9-12 from 8 a.m.to noon each day. Camp is for students entering second through ninth grades. Cost is $85. For more information contact Dave Yost (854-2908) or Kevin Collins (933-0305).

ASA Class B tournament

The Susquehanna Fast Pitch Umpires Association will host an ASA Class B tournament for U12, U14, U16 and U18 age groups in the Milton area July 14-15. Please call Bill Ditchey at 570-847-8863 or e-mail to svumpires@gmail.com for more information.

Ralpho Youth Sports

Ralpho Youth Sports will host a 10-and-under baseball tournament June 29 to July 1 in Elysburg. Entry fee is $125. For more information contact Chip Wetzel at 527-0339 or David Brokus at 490-9375.

Cheerleading Tryouts

Cheerleading tryouts for Shamokin Area Middle/High School will be held Sunday, June 24, at 1 p.m. in the high school gym. Participants should be there no later than 12 noon. Practices will be held in the elementary gymnasium on June 11, 13, 18 and 20 from 5-7 p.m. Any questions, please call 648-5731, ext. 3533. The dates were formerly June 12, 14, 19 and 21.

Soccer Team Seeks Players

Shamokin based (BDSC) U-13 girls travel soccer team will hold tryouts for the fall season. Practices are held at the Elysburg fields next to McDonald's. Players interested should contact Connie at 570-648-1465.

Soccer Tryouts

NSSC Strikers will conduct tryouts for a U-18 girls college showcase team at the CW Rice Middle School in Northumberland, June 26, at 5 p.m. each day. To register for the tryouts or for more information, contact Dave Tumolo at 570-847-6139.

Romanoski Sports Hall of Fame

The Bernie Romanoski Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame will meet Monday, June 25, 6 p.m. at Brewser's Sports Grille.

Shamokin Cardinals Football

Annual swim party, July 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Edgewood pool. New registrations are welcome at this time. For more information, call George at 648-1947.

Shamokin Area Summer Basketball Camp

For any boys and girls, July 23-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shamokin Area High School. Camp t-shirts, awards and lunch available and camp is run by boys coach Chris Zimmerman. Cost is $65 and checks can be made payable to the Bucket Club. For more information, call Zimmerman at 570 850-9687. North Schuylkill Sports Physicals

Physicals for the 2012 fall sports season at North Schuylkill will be held Saturday, July 28 at the high school, beginning at 8 a.m. The schedule is: junior high girls basketball, 8 a.m.; girls volleyball, 8:30; junior high football cheerleading, 8:45; varsity football cheerleading, 9 a.m.; junior high cross country, 9:15; varsity cross country, 9:45; girls soccer, 10 a.m.; boys soccer, 10:30; golf, 10:45; junior high football, 11 a.m.; junior varsity and varsity football, 11:45. There will be a $10 cost per physical and the fee must be paid before an athlete can receive the physical.

Shamokin Area Sports Physicals

Physicals for the 2012 fall sports season at Shamokin will be Wednesday, Aug. 8 at the high school. The schedule is: junior high, junior varsity and varstiy football, 2:30 p.m.; girls soccer, 2:45; boys soccer and volleyball, 3 p.m.; junior high and varsity cross country, 3:15; golf and junior high softball, 3:30; cheerleaders and any additional sports, 3:45. Physicals will be administered by Dr. Miller and cost $20. Only cash will be accepted. All forms, which can be picked up at the high school or downloaded from the school website, need to be completed by a parent or guardian prior to physical.