High Profile Games

March 28 Lourdes at Mount Carmel

March 31 Selinsgrove at Shamokin

April 4 Central Columbia at Southern Columbia

April 6 Line Mountain at North Schuylkill

April 11 Williams Valley at Lourdes

April 20 Lourdes at Shamokin

April 21 Pine Grove at North Schuylkill

April 23 Shamokin at Mount Carmel

April 26 Upper Dauphin at Line Mountain

May 5 Montgomery at Southern Columbia

May 9 Pottsville at North Schuylkill

ANNVILLE - Special Olympics Pennsylvania Northumberland Snyder swimmers competed at the Lebanon County meet at Lebanon Valley College, Saturday, March 19.

Competing were: Jacob Carey, Jennifer Angeli, Rachel Clark, Abby Menko, Cheryl Mack, Mikey Clark, Ian Kovalick, Jasmine Weaver, Paul Bettendorf, Rachel Martin, Sonya Herrick, Amanda Swazey, Randy Deklinski, and Joanie Ziegler. The swimmers competed against teams from Delaware County, Bethlehem City, Berks County and host program, Lebanon County.

"I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments," said coach Arden Miller. "Several of the athletes beat their entry times for their events."

Jennifer Angeli and Jacob Carey both swam personal best for all events entered. Rachel and Mikey Clark swam personal best in 25 meter free and competed for the first time in the 50 meter free. Rachel Clark also competed for the first time in the 25 back. The athletes earned a total of seven gold medals, 12 silver, 15 bronze, five 4th-place ribbons and six 5th-place ribbons.

"The volunteers were helpful on the pool deck and we had a great time," said swimmer Paul Bettendorf.

The swimmers were supported by coaches Greg Kovalick Jr., Greg Kovalick Sr. and Arden Miller as well as many swim team volunteers and family members. Swimming practices are held on most Friday evenings at the Shamokin Area pool.

The Northumberland Snyder program offers many options for sports training and competition. Basketball practices are held each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Shamokin Dam. Power lifting, for those athletes age 14 or older, is held at Champs in Shamokin Dam on most Wednesday evenings. Roller skating practices will start in April at the Skatery on Route 225.

For more information about participating as an athlete or volunteer contact the office at 884-1023. Check out the program on the web: www.ns-sopa.org and on Facebook: Northumberland/Snyder Counties Special Olympics.

Following last Friday's spring-like conditions and favorable weather on Saturday, all scheduled Central Pennsylvania racing action went off as planned.

The same can't be said for this weekend.

Wisely, with forecasted temperatures for the weekend expected to dip into the high teens, both Williams Grove and Selinsgrove speedways had already canceled this weekend's events by Thursday afternoon.

The Grove, which had the 410 sprint cars sharing the card with the super late models, will now focus on the Friday, April 1 doubleheader program of 358 and 410 sprint cars, with a 7:30 starting time.

Selinsgrove, following its highly successful fourth annual running of the RoC Dirt Modified Icebreaker Weekend, will host a three-division show Saturday, April 2 at 6 p.m., featuring the 358 sprint cars, pro stocks and roadrunners at 6 p.m.

With more than 100 dirt modifieds (52 small blocks and 57 big blocks) packing the Snyder County half-mile last weekend, the RoC staff and Selinsgrove Speedway management have already announced the "fifth annual RoC Icebreaker Weekend" will be held March 16-17, 2012.

The staff has indicated many incentives will be added and some surprising elements will be added as the show continues to gain momentum as one of the best modified shows of the Northeast.

As of this writing, neither Lincoln nor Port Royal Speedways have pulled the plug on their scheduled shows for Saturday evening.

Lincoln, with three shows already in the books, has three different 410 sprint car winners in Brian Montieth, Doug Esh and Danny Dietrich. The Abbottstown oval has a three-division show of 410 sprint cars, 358 sprint cars and thundercars on the slate, with a 6 p.m. starting time.

Port Royal's new management team kicked off its season last Saturday night and plans to return to action Saturday with a doubleheader show at 6 p.m. featuring the 410 sprint cars and late models.

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is off again this weekend, returning to action next weekend for the third of 22 events on the 2011 schedule. The tour heads to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, for the 12th annual Summitracing.com Nationals, the first of two visits of the 2011 season by the NHRA tour.

Defending event winners at the Las Vegas track are Larry Dixon (top fuel), John Force (funny car) and Mike Edwards (pro stock). Del Worsham, Mike Neff, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec were the most recent winners, collecting the honors at the 42nd annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals two weeks ago.

(Kaminski covers auto racing for The News-Item)

COAL TOWNSHIP - Rosters for the 11th annual Northumberland County senior all-star basketball games were announced Thursday. The games will be played Sunday at Lourdes Regional High School, with the girls starting things off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys.

The Northumberland County boys team will consist of Line Mountain's Mike Marciniak and Trae Wren, Southern Columbia's Alex Fidler and Zach Malett, Danville's Mikael Owens-Wright and Joe Eveland, Shamokin's Dave Reed and Jake Phillips, Mount Carmel's Jesse Barwicki and Ian Kanezo and Shikellamy's Garrett Pope and Omar Berry.

The Surrounding Counties team will be Selinsgrove's Zach Rager, Millville's Wes Lyons and Tanner Thomas, Lewisburg's Robbie Gaines and Zack Vaji, Upper Dauphin's Ben Zigner and Adam Straub, Tri-Valley's Zack Coleman and Shane Wert, Minersville's Dave King and Zack Dixon, Central Columbia's Tanner Harmon, Benton's Eric Correll and Montoursville's Ezra Adams.

The girls squad for Northumberland County will be Lourdes' Devan Dyszel and Shannon Kenney, Line Mountain's Paige Swineford and Kelsey Lagerman, Shamokin's Summer Reigle and Tara Sabotchick, Shikellamy's Emily Daddario and Jocelyn Schlegel, Mount Carmel's Danielle Bernini and Cara Sinopoli and Milton's Ali Derr and Mandy Metzger.

The Surrounding Counties team is Upper Dauphin's Brittany Warfel, Greenwood's Autumn Pellman, Nativity's Kiely Chaklos, Danville's Samantha Zampetti, Brooke Pierson and Hayley Kay, Berwick's

Courtney Shields and Crysta Hmelak and Tamaqua's Amy Zehner and Stacey Wallace.

The Northumberland County Recreation Commission uses the game to support the scholar athlete fund and recreation grant fund. Each year the commission gives a college scholarship to a male and female from each secondary school in the county. The commission also gives yearly grants to local municipalities and non-profit organizations for recreational use.

Admission to the game is $5 for adults, and $3 for students.

For Shamokin Area, it's time.

The Indians are all grown up.

Labeled a young team - and rightly so - with a roster dominated by freshman and sophomores the past two seasons, the Indians struggled, winning only two games in 2009 and four last season.

It's time now to shed that tag, and Indians' head coach Billy Clark has told his team as much. What once was youth is now experience, and even though only two of seven seniors on the roster are lettermen, there are six other returning letter winners, all with varsity starting experience.

"We definitely should be considered a veteran team," Clark said recently. "Almost everybody we have coming back has played two years for us.

"We can't say we're young anymore."

And, while the Indians still have to find that dominant arm, they probably have as many, if not more, pitchers available to them as just about any team.

The two senior lettermen, Dylan Kosmer and Jon Miller, are both pitchers, as are four junior lettermen, Ryan Burns, Devon Craft, Troy Grinaway and Bobby Taylor.

Pitching won't be the major concern. Scoring, however, will be.

"We'll pitch well," Clark said. "What we have to do is find a way to manufacture runs. Last year, we had a lot of one-run games, and most of them didn't go our way."

If the Indians are to take that next step, if this is to be their breakout season, they'll have to find a way to ramp up the offense.

Last season, when they hit only .235 as a team and Ryan Burns' .278 average was best on the team, the Indians scored only 87 runs in 20 games. Throw out wins over Lewisburg and Troy when they combined to hang 28 on the board, that leaves an average of 3.3 runs per outing in the other 18 games.

"In high school baseball, with aluminum bats, that's not going to do it," Clark said.

So, if the Indians can add punch to that offense, they can certainly be a contender in what should again be a very tough, balanced Heartland Conference Division II.

So should Mount Carmel Area.

Coach Joe Varano's Red Tornadoes lost 2010 News-Item co-Player of the Year Mike Domaleski to graduation, and his contributions will be difficult to replace.

The Tornadoes, however, have the people in place to get it done.

The offense has a sure-fire spark at the top of the order in senior second baseman Mark Minnig, an all-area selection who batted .447 last year, scoring 31 runs and compiling 34 hits.

Making the transition smooth for the new season is the fact that shortstop Bobby Shustack returns, making the middle infield solid.

"In high school, you have to be strong up the middle, and I feel we are very solid at short and second with Bobby and Mark, who have both been starters for two years."

While last year's top two arms from the pitching staff - Domaleski and Jeremy Yacobacci - have both graduated, the Tornadoes have some experience returning with Joe Swatsky and Mike Stutzcavage. Swatsky was a starter, and Stutzcavage will become one this season after serving as a hard-throwing closer in the past.

With Bloomsburg, Central Columbia, Loyalsock and Hughesville all primed for good seasons, the division race could be wide open.

Heartland III

Southern Columbia should again wear a target on its back as the favorite in the Division, particulary with outfielder/pitcher Tim Benner back for his senior season.

Benner shared News-Item Player of the Year honors with Domaleski last season, and with good reason.

As a junior, he batted an area-high .608 with 11 extra-base hits, and also worked a team-high 45 innings on the mound, striking out 69 in compiling a 6-2 record.

Another all-area selection, infielder Logan Mensinger, returns for his senior season after hitting .426 last year while driving home a team-high 28 runs.

Senior catcher Zach Schreffler has plenty of experience behind the plate, and batted .339 last year.

Tri-Valley League

Line Mountain enters the season coming off a rare losing campaign and under the guidance of a new head coach in Rodney Knock.

The Eagles finished two games under .500 and missed the District 4 playoffs last season, the final season under Jon Raker.

With seven returning starters, they hope to reverse those fortunes and be a player in the Tri-Valley, where Upper Dauphin and Halifax appear to be strongest.

All-area selection Jordan Welker appears to be the biggest key to that happening, particularly after an injury during the fall kept him off the football field.

As a junior, Welker, a shortstop/pitcher, hit .448 with nine extra-base hits, including an area-high four home runs. He also produced a 4-2 record on the mound.

"Coaches and players are both excited and optimistic," Knock said in his preseason prospectus. "As a team, we need to get back to the basics and have better situational awareness at key points in games.

"Our team goals are to win the TVL championship and qualify for districts. We have an experienced bunch of players and if we get collective leadership out of that bunch, we should have a successful season."

Schuylkill League

Lourdes enters the Schuylkill Division II season with a roster that includes nine freshmen and sophomnores among 14 players listed.

On the bright side, they have three returning starters and five returning lettermen.

Of the returners, sophomore Anthony Pennypacker brings a .277 batting average from last season. Grier Melick, another returning starter, batted .259.

With the young roster competing in a division stacked with small-school powers Minersville, Schuylkill Haven, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley, head coach Dave Olsheski and his staff have established modest goals of being competitive every day and improving upon the four wins the team put up in 2010.

At North Schuylkill, head coach Nick Brayford will look to senior Charlie Hutnick, a returning all-area player who hit .377 as a juinor last year, to spark his team against the teams in powerful Schuylkill I.

The Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame is holding its induction ceremonies Saturday. Every day this week, biographies of those being honored are appearing in The News-Item.

Today, three high school athletes are being recognized for special achievements.

Michael Stutzcavage

Michael Stutzcavage became the 40th Mount Carmel Area High School football player to be named to the Associated Press all-state first team after the 2010 season. Stutzcavage established himself as a two-way player as a tight end and defensive end.

He caught 12 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, many of them for key first downs in big games. His mere presence on the field forced defenses to play the Tornadoes differently, especially in the red zone. He also chipped in on defense with 50 tackles - 15 for a loss - and six quarterback hurries. Statistics do not show how many plays he stretched out and forced the runner inside for others to make the tackle. Stutzcavage was also named to the third team by the Pennsylvania Football News, and received recognition as part of the Heartland Conference and News-Item all star teams. He is a son of Wendy and Frank Stutzcavage, and is being recruited by a number of Division II schools to play football.

Dylan Hornberger

Dylan Hornberger became only the ninth wrestler at Mount Carmel Area to earn 100 career varsity wins, posting his 100th win during the District 4 meet in his junior season. Hornberger has won consistently during all four years of his career. He was the first MCA wrestler in history to record 40 wins in a season as a freshman, going 41-14. Hornberger finished fifth in the district as a freshman and qualified for the Northeast Regionals, and came in sixth as a junior at the District 4 meet. Hornberger earned a fourth-place medal at districts as a senior. His 130-41 career record ranks fourth at Mount Carmel behind Mike Garcia (140 wins), Josh Malick (140) and James Haynes

(137). His career match total (171) is the most ever at MCA. Hornberger was also chosen as the Romance Chapter's Athlete of the Month for March. Hornberger is a son of Cheryl and David Hornberger.

Nick Dusendschine

Nick Dusendschine recently added his name as only the 10th wrestler in Mount Carmel Area history to pass the 100-win mark, recording his 100th win against Warrior Run on Jan. 6, 2011. Dusendschine was a four-year District 4 qualifier for the Red Tornadoes and coach Randy Reidler. He posted 30 wins as a freshman and sophomore, going 30-16 and 30-8, respectively.

Dusendschine qualified for districts as a senior and moved on to regionals by virtue with his fifth-place finish at the district meet. Entering the regional tournament with a 33-9 mark, he came back from an opening-round loss to eventual champion Cody Wheeler and placed third to earn his first trip to the PIAA state championship tournament.

At states, Dusendschine went 1-2 to finish his career with a 121-46 record. His 167 matches are the second most ever wrestled at MCA. He is a son of Kathy and Ed Dusendschine.

The Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame is holding induction ceremonies today. Every day this week, The News-Item ran biographies of those being honored.

Special Achievement

1991 District 11 Championship Basketball team

Heading into the 1990-91 basketball season, Mount Carmel Area High School had played in more than 1500 games and went 76 years without ever having won a district championship.

The Tornadoes had played in three district finals in 1979, 1980 and 1989, and did have a 14-12 record in district playoff games, only to come up short in their quest for the gold.

As the new season approached, MCA had lost six of their top eight players from back-to-back 18 win teams, so breaking that district streak was seemingly not on anyone's mind. That is, at least not until the Tornadoes opened the season with a thrilling 64-55 victory over Lourdes, the defending PIAA state champ. The Red Tornadoes sealed the win with 6-foot, 10-inch Chris McCarthy's 14 of 14 performance from the line. The Tornadoes then came back to earth, going 6-4 in a tough non-league schedule, designed by coach John McKay to prepare his team for postseason play. One of the early wins included a 68-65 win over rival Shamokin Area in the Knights of Columbus Tournament. The Indians went on to finish 22-1 in the regular season, and eventually won the District 4 title, finishing the season with a 26-3 record. The Tornadoes also registered the 700th basketball win in school history with a 56-52 win over North Schuylkill.

McKay used a rotation including McCarthy, Mark Vottero, John Christian, Jerry Delaney, Aaron Jayman, Mike Kaleta, Rocco Scicchitano, Shawn Zarkoski, Steve Katch and Bob Veach. Each player was asked to step up based on the game and situation - and they did. The Tornadoes, playing in the always tough Schuylkill League Division I, posted season sweeps over Pottsville, North Schuylkill, Tamaqua and Pine Grove, but lost twice to West Hazleton, Blue Mountain and Shamokin to finish 8-6 in the league.

That tough overall schedule paid off as the Tornadoes headed into the District 11 play for the third consecutive year. They opened with a convincing 61-50 win over Wilson, and followed that with an offensive explosion (shooting 71 percent from the field) in an 88-72 win over Salisbury. The Tornadoes were paced in that game by McCarthy's 35 points and 19 defensive rebounds, as well as, Vottero's 13 assists. They finally got over that district hurdle by defeating Northwest Lehigh 41-36 in a defensive struggle. It was their lowest scoring game of the season.. They proceeded from there to the state playoffs and defeated Columbia 53-52, before being eliminated by Archbishop Kennedy, 62-61.

McCarthy established a new single-season record for scoring with 597 points, as well as, a new record with 520 rebounds. Vottero registered 406 points and 129 assists, while Christian led the team with 30 3-pointers.

This team certainly goes down in history as the first to ever win a title, but also provided future Tornado teams with the formula on how to do it.

SCA wrestlers to states

ELYSBURG - Four Southern Columbia Area wrestlers are competing this week in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championship Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre.

Trent Donlan, Kent Lane and Blake Marks are competing in the 13-14 age group, and Jaret Lane is competing in the 11-12 age group.

Donlan, Kent Lane and Marks all placed first in their qualifying tournament at Williamsport, and Jaret Lane was second. Donlan competes at 252 pounds, Kent Lane at 112, Marks at 132 and Jaret Lane at 65 pounds.

Salvation Army Basketball Tournament

Adult teams may sign up for the annual Salvation Army benefit basketball tournament set for Friday through Sunday, April 15 to 17, at the Shamokin Area High School gymnasium. Cost is $125 per team. Checks payable to Salvation Army should be mailed by March 31 to Chris Venna, 2000 W. State St., Coal Township 17866. For more information, e-mail or call Venna at cvenna@indians.k12.pa.us or 205-1144.

Shamokin/Coal Township Girls Softball

The open gym scheduled for Sunday, March 27 is cancelled due to a gym scheduling conflict. This was the last open gym scheduled.

Mount Carmel Junior League

Seeking persons interested in umpiring league games this season. For information, call Phil Rosko at 716-1176, or Bob Fisher at 933-9498.

Pitch, Hit and Run Competition

Cabrini Baseball Organization is hosting a free Aquafina Major League Baseball pitch, hit and run competition for area youth, Saturday, April 16, 4 p.m. at the Cabrini Baseball Complex in the Springfield section of Coal Township. Competition will be in four age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14, with the opportunity to advance through four levels of competition, including team championships at Major League parks and the national finals at the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Individual pitching, hitting and running champions, along with all-around champion in each age group at the local competition will advance to the sectional level of competition. Participants must provide a copy of their birth certificate and fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of competition. For information, contact Leo Mirolli at 648-0186 or chiryo@aol.com. Rain date is Sunday, May 1, 1 p.m.

Mount Carmel Area Wellness Activities

The Mount Carmel Area School District is making some of its facilities available to the general public. On Sundays, the elementary gym will be open for basketball for students between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. for a cost of $2, and for adults between 6:30 and 8 p.m. for a cost of $4 per person. There will also be an open swim at the pool on Sundays from 6 - 8 p.m. for all ages. Cost is $2 for students and $4 for adults. Elementary students must be accompanied by a parent for Sunday events. Stationary bike riding will be held for high school students from 2:30 - 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and for community members from 6-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays. The program is sponsored by Highmark Healthy High 5. The stadium track will be closed to walkers until the renovations are complete.

S-CT Little League Registration

Registration is now permitted during business hours at the Miller Family Health Center. New players must bring their birth certificate. All players must be signed up by a parent or legal guardian. Fee is $30 for the first child, and $15 for each additional child per family.

Derek Crowl Memorial Basketball Tournament

Looking for teams to fill out a 16-team tournament for the weekend of April 2-3. Games will be played at the Ralpho Township gym in Elysburg. Teams must have at least five players, with no more than eight. Entry fee is $50, with a monetary prize for the top two teams. All proceeds will be placed in a scholarship fund at Southern Columbia School District. For more information, contact Shelly at 933-0019 or Dan at 336-9805. Deadline to enter is March 31.

Anthracite Heritage Festival 5K Run or Walk

Saturday, May 28 at Shamokin Area's Kemp Memorial Stadium. Registration for the 3.1 mile race begins at 7:30 a.m., race begins at 9 a.m. Entry fee is $15 for each runner or walker, and only pre-registered entrants are guaranteed a t-shirt and goodie bag. Age categories range from 14 and under to over 60. Register online at http://www.raceforum.com/events2011.asp. For more information, call Sandy Winhofer at 648-4675.

Pennsylvania Wrestling Federation Qualifier

The Benton Tiger Wrestling Club and Pennsylvania Wrestling Federation are jointly hosting a freestyle and greco roman state qualifier at Benton Elementary School on March 27. Weigh-ins for greco start at 8 a.m., with wrestling starting at 9:30. Weigh-ins for freestyle starts at 11:30 a.m., with wrestling beginning at 1 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.usapawf.com/tournaments/benton.html or call Scott Hughes at 574-864-3916.

Bernie Romanoski Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

The 27th annual induction ceremony breakfast will be held Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. at Masser's Banquet Hall in Paxinos. Tickets can be ordered by calling Bernie Romanoski, Jr. at 644-0925 by Monday, April 25.

Mount Carmel Jets Cheerleading

Registration, Sunday, May 1 at the old MCA Elementary School gym at Fourth and Vine streets. Girls entering fifth through eighth grades for the 2011 school year can register at 3 p.m., and girls entering second through fourth grades can register at 4 p.m. There is a $40 registration fee and proof of insurance is required. For more information, call Michele at 339-4959.

Kulpmont Football/Baseball Association

Fundraiser collection, Wednesday, April 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Kulpmont Borough Hall. Monthly meeting will follow. T-shirt orders are due at this time. All coaches are urged to attend the meeting, and parents are welcome. For more information, call 205-4226.

Monday, March 28

Baseball

Southern Columbia at Columbia Montour Vo Tech, 4:30 p.m.

Shamokin at North Schuylkill, 3:30 p.m.

Line Mountain at Greenwood, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Lourdes at Mount Carmel, 4:30 p.m.

Greenwood at Line Mountain, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29

Baseball

Benton at Southern Columbia, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Southern Columbia at Bloomsburg, 4 p.m.

Mount Carmel at Hughesville, 4:30 p.m.

Shamokin at Milton, 3:30 p.m.

Track

Southern Columbia at Central Columbia, 4 p.m.

Mount Carmel at Schuylkill Haven, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30

Baseball

Loyalsock at Mount Carmel, 4:30 p.m.

Shenandoah Valley at North Schuylkill, 4:30 p.m.

Bloomsburg at Shamokin, 3:30 p.m.

Softball

Shenandoah Valley at North Schuylkill, 4:30 p.m.

Lourdes at Millville, 4:15 p.m.

Track

North Schuylkill, Mahanoy Area, Shenandoah Valley at Shamokin, 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 31

Baseball

Lourdes at Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, 4 p.m.

Line Mountain at Millersburg, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Southern Columbia at Sullivan County, 4:30 p.m.

Central Columbia at Mount Carmel, 4:30 p.m.

Millersburg at Line Mountain, 4:30 p.m.

Selinsgrove at Shamokin, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 1

Baseball

Millville at Southern Columbia, 4:30 p.m.

Track

North Schuylkill at Tamaqua Invitational, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 2

Baseball

North Schuylkill, Mount Carmel at Minersville Tournament, 11 a.m.

Line Mountain at Williams Valley, 1 p.m.

Shamokin at Central Columbia, 10 a.m.

Softball

Mount Carmel at Bloomsburg, 11 a.m.

Berwick at North Schuylkill, 11 a.m.

Williams Valley at Shamokin, 11 a.m.

Track

Southern Columbia, Mount Carmel, Shamokin at Selinsgrove Invitational, 10 a.m.

The pro wrestling fraternity is mourning the recent passing of John "Sir Oliver Humperdink" Sutton, one of the sport's most colorful managers of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Sutton passed away March 19 at the age of 62 after a lengthy bout with cancer.

When Championship Wrestling From Florida appeared on Channel 29 out of Philadelphia in the early 1970s, it quickly became the number one pro wrestling show to see for discriminating wrestling fans.

With its unique collection of characters who could talk the talk and back it up in the ring with a very realistic-looking wrestling style that was expertly produced for television and dramatically narrated by the legendary Gordon Solie, FCW provided a terrific addition and wonderful contrast to the weekly WWWF programming.

One of the most enduring and memorable characters on the show was Sir Oliver Humperdink, resplendently attired in an over-sized Lou Albano-like Hawaiian shirt and sporting a Lou Albano-like untrimmed beard. Dink also had a marked proclivity for bulging eye balls, taking exaggerated bumps and bleeding profusely just like the Captain. Come to think of it, as manager of the original Hollywood Blondes tag team, he was pretty much Captain Lou-South. Given the weight similarity, Captain Lou Light wouldn't be quite right.

The House of Humperdink expanded over the years and included stints for him as manager of Paul Jones, the Samoans, Bam Bam Bigelow, the Freebirds and assorted others, including an association with a young Diamond Dallas Page, who paid a nice tribute on video found on pwinsider.com shortly after the news broke of Sutton's death.

We are just a week away now from WrestleMania XXVII and the build for it will get a final push on Raw tomorrow night from Chicago. Amidst talk that the Rock is now thought to be willing to get more physically involved than he had previously suggested, there will be some kind of confrontation involving Cena, Miz and Dwayne Johnson with Rock set to be appearing live in Chi-Town.

The entire WWE crew is scheduled to descend upon Atlanta for almost a full week of festivities, including the Fan Access and Hall of Fame Inductions before the big show gets underway Sunday at 7 p.m. Raw will be live the next night from Atlanta with the Rock reportedly scheduled for what some fans think will eventually lead to another in-ring confrontation down the road between Johnson and Cena. We shall soon find out.

Ring of Honor crowned a new champ at the Manhattan Center last Saturday as Eddie Edwards took the measure of Roderick Strong. Edwards will defend the belt against Christorpher Daniels in Atlanta WrestleMania weekend and there will also be a huge fan convention that includes what may be a final Bruno Sammartino autograph appearance in the area. Atlanta will truly be the mecca for professional wrestling this coming weekend.

(Shamokin's Bill Gilger "arranges" the interview each week with The Insider)

COAL TOWNSHIP - On average, postseason high school all-star basketball games tend to show how quickly rust can accumulate on the talents of many of the players, who unless they were fortunate enough to play in the postseason have been honing their respective spring sports skills.

That was not the case Sunday at Lourdes Regional High School's Lee E. Korbich Memorial Gymnasium in the 12th Annual Senior All-Star Game where the Northumberland County stars split a pair of highly entertaining contests with the girls dropping a 73-68 decision to the Surrounding County all-stars while the boys edged their visiting counterparts, 79-78, before a jam-packed crowd.

GIRLS

Bucknell University recruit Amy Zehner from Tamaqua displayed her awesome skills to the delight of everyone as the Blue Raiders' senior tallied 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the winners in what was probably her last competition against scholastic players.

Danville's Hayley Kay (11) and Samantha Zampetti (10) combined for 21 points to help the Surrounding County race into halftime with a 41-30 advantage.

The Ironmen duo along with teammate Brooke Pierson combined to score 25 of the team's 41 points before Shamokin Area High School's Tara Sabotchick put on a dazzling display of shooting from the perimeter. The Indians' senior, who collected a pair of 3-pointers in the opening half, drilled three treys in the second half to help Northumberland County, which had trailed by double digits for most of the game, to within four points, 56-52.

Mount Carmel Area's Danielle Bernini provided the home team with its only lead of the contest, on a three-point play with 8:37 remaining before Kay gave the lead back to the Surrounding County squad for good with a 3-pointer. The advantage increased to 64-58 behind two Zehner foul shots and a Pierson basket.

Bernini tallied four points to pull Northumberland to within 64-62 but a Zehner drive for two and trey from Berwick's Courtney Shields secured the final outcome.

Lourdes Regional's Shannon Kenney contributed 11 points and six rebounds in a losing effort and teammate Devan Dyszel chipped in with five. Bernini shared scoring honors with Sabotchick as both finished with 15, and Milton's Ali Derr added 11.

Kay paced the winners with 15 points, followed by Zehner and Zampetti each with 13. Shields added 12.

"This was the only opportunity for me to play in an all-star game because of other commitments," Zehner said. "We came into the game wanting to be competitive and we played hard. I never like to lose and was glad we held on for the win. It was a great experience for all of us."

SURROUNDING COUNTY'S (73) - Autumn Pellman (Greenwood) 3 0-0 7, Kiely Chaklos (Nativity) 2 1-2 6, Samantha Zampetti (Danville) 5 1-1 13, Brooke Pierson (Danville) 2 2-2 6, Hayley Kay (Danville) 4 4-5 13, Courtney Shields (Berwick) 5 0-1 12, Amy Zehner (Tamaqua) 5 3-4 13, Stacey Wallace (Tamaqua) 0 1-2 1. Totals 26 12-17 73.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY (68) - Devan Dyszel (Lourdes) 2 0-0 5; Shannon Kenney (Lourdes) 5 1-3 11, Paige Swineford (Line Mountain) 0-0 0, Kelsey Lagerman (Line Mountain) 1 0-0 2, Summer Reigel (Shamokin Area) 3 0-0 6, Tara Sabotchick (Shamokin Area) 5 0-2 15, Jocelyn Schlegel (Shikellamy) 0-0 0, Danielle Bernini (Mount Carmel) 7 1-1 15, Cara Sinopoli (Mount Carmel) 0 1-2 1, Ali Derr (Milton) 2 7-10 11, Mandy Metzger (Milton) 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 10-18 68.

Surrounding 41 32 - 73

Northumberland 30 38 - 68

3-pointers: Zampetti 2, Shields 2, Pellman, Chaklos, Kay, Dyszel, Sabotchick 5.

BOYS

Athleticism reared its mighty head in the second half of the boys matchup after a not-so-typical first half that had the Surrounding County's opening play with a 33-32 lead. Millville's Wesley Lyons took a well-placed lob from Quakers' teammate for a slam dunk that not only increased the advantage to 35-32, but more importantly was the start of what most all-star classics turn into, plenty of running and slam dunks at every opportunity, if the ability is there to accomplish the feat.

It was.

Mifflinburg's Zac Hoy, who eventually provided Northumberland County with the winning points on a free throw, collected four points, and Line Mountain's Trae Wren nailed a trey to forge 41-41 tie. The teams began to trade run-and-gun baskets before Southern Columbia's Zack Malett converted twice from the foul line and Shamokin Area's Dave Reed added a three-pointer for a 60-58 Northumberland County lead.

Malett provided the home team with its biggest lead at 65-61 with a 3-pointer only to have Tri-Valley's Zack Coleman come through with back-to-back 3-pointers while Minersville's Dave King scored on a layup to put the Surrounding County squad in front, 66-65.

King hit a trey for the visitors biggest advantage down the stretch, 71-67, but Mount Carmel's Ian Kanezo scored twice inside to tie it again at 71-71.

Hoy, who is headed to Messiah College, put Northumberland back on top only to have King collect five points to put the visitors back in front for the final time at 78-76.

Southern's Alex Fidler helped provide a comeback late with a jumper and Danville's Michael Owens-Wright added a layup before Hoy made one of two foul shots and a long trey by Thomas was off the mark.

"I'm always ready to play and wanted to play in this game because you can only play in two after high school and I'm playing in the North-South game in Harrisburg," Hoy said. "I've played against most of these guys for four years so to have them as teammates was fun and the other team had some really great players. This was fun but a great competitive matchup."

Hoy paced the winners with 17 points, while Danville's Joe Eveland had 10. Shikellamy's Omar Berry along with Wren and Lagerman all tallied seven.

Lyons led the losers with 16, and King chipped in with 12.

SURROUNDING COUNTY'S (78) - Wesley Lyons (Millville) 7 2-2 16, Tanner Thomas (Millville) 3 1-1 8, Robbie Gaines (Lewisburg) 3 0-0 6, Zack Vaji (Lewisburg) 0 -0 0, Adam Straub (Upper Dauphin) 1 0-2 2, Zack Coleman (Tri-Valley) 3 0-0 7, Shane Wert (Tri-Valley) 3 0-0 7, Dave King (Minersville) 4 2-4 12, Zack Dixon (Minersville) 2 0-0 6, Tanner Harmon (Central Columbia) 1 0-0 3, Eric Correll (Benton) 1 0-0 2, Travis Trutt (Mifflinburg) 3 0-0 7. 31 5-9 78

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY (79) - Mike Marciniak (Line Mountain) 2 0-0 4, Trae Wren (Line Mountain) 3 0-0 7, Alex Fidler (Southern Columbia) 1 0-0 2, Zack Malett (Southern Columbia) 2 2-2 7, Michael Owens-Wright (Danville) 3 0-0 6, Joe Eveland (Danville) 4 0-0 10, Dave Reed (Shamokin Area) 2 0-0 5, Jake Phillips (Shamokin Area) 0 0-0 0, Jesse Barwicki (Mount Cartmel) 1 0-0 2, Ian Kanezo (Mount Carmel) 2 0-0 4, Garrett Pope (Shikellamy) 1 0-0 2, Omar Berry (Shikellamy) 3 1-2 7, Zac Hoy (Mifflinburg) 6 3-5 17, Corey Murtha (Mifflinburg) 3 0-0 6. Totals 33 6-10 79

Surrounding 33 45 - 78

Northumberland 32 47 - 79

3-pointers: King 2, Dixson 2, Thomas, Coleman, Wert, Harmon, Trutt, Eveland 2, Hoy 2, Wren, Malett, Reed.

Brent Marks won the 410 sprint car feature at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night. Lincoln was the only local speedway to complete a program this weekend thanks to the unseasonably cold temperatures.

Marks, 20, of Myerstown, took the lead on lap 10 from fellow young racer Gerard McIntyre Jr. and drove away from the field over the final 15 laps to score his third career win in the big sprints. He's a former micro sprint car racer and is in his third season driving a family-owned car.

His win was worth $3,200 and ended a streak of bad luck in the first six races of the season including a hard flip during the Williams Grove opener. Marks said the car was brand new.

Jimmy Siegel, Greg Hodnett, Brian Leppo and Fred Rahmer followed Marks.

Seven different drivers have visited victory lane so far this year including Brian Montieth, Doug Esh, Lance Dewease, Stevie Smith, Blane Heimbach, Danny Dietrich and Marks.

Lincoln has completed four races this season after losing its first weekend.

Dale Hammaker of Grantville won the 358 sprint car feature and Duane Watson of Hanover won the thundercars. The entire program was completed by 9 p.m. with temps in the mid 30s. A good crowd was on hand considering the cold air.

Selinsgrove Speedway will try to get its regular season underway on Saturday night featuring the 358 sprint cars. The pro stocks and roadrunners are scheduled to join the sprint cars. The super late models join the other divisions on April 9.

Pat Cannon of Etters is the defending track champion at Selinsgrove and will be one of the favorites to win on Saturday night. He's entered two races so far this season and has two victories. He won the Williams Grove and Port Royal openers two weeks ago.

The start to the 39th season of racing at Big Diamond Speedway, near Minersville, has been delayed one week until Sunday, April 10 at 5. An open practice will be held April 3. Recent bad weather is the reason for the delay.

Racing Recap

Lincoln Speedway

410 Sprints, 25 laps: 1. Brent Marks. 2. Jim Siegel. 3. Greg Hodnett. 4. Brian Leppo. 5. Fred Rahmer. 6. Alan Krimes. 7. Aaron Ott. 8. Gerard McIntyre Jr. 9. Brian Montieth. 10. Tyler Walker.

Heats: Ott, Krimes, Leppo.

358 Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Dale Hammaker. 2. Billy Dietrich. 3. Michael Ruttkamp. 4. Cris Eash. 5. Nathan Berwager. 6. Brook Weibley. 7. Logan Schuchart. 8. Ted Thomas. 9. Niki Young. 10. Adrian Shaffer.

Heats: Ruttkamp, Mike Duncan, Young.

Consolation: Shaffer.

Thundercars, 20 laps: 1. Duane Watson. 2. Mike Slaybaugh. 3. Sam Gallagher. 4. Brian Walls. 5. Kyle Martin.

Heats: Zamie Zentmyer, Slaybaugh.

Trail-Way Speedway

600 Micro Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Jimmy Brookens. 2. Shane Lewis. 3. Tyler Esh. 4. Chase Dietz. 5. Tyler DeVault. 6. Dwayne Gutshall. 7. Robert Kendall. 8. Tim Dietz. 9. Tyler Walton. 10. Luke Thomas.

Heats: Esh, Brookens, Thomas.

270 Micro Sprints, 20 laps: 1. Darren Schott II. 2. Craig Myers. 3. Michael Boer. 4. Broc Lawrence. 5. Steve Cox. 6. Jim Still. 7. Matt Campbell. 8. Andrew Frye. 9. Steve Daron. 10. Lyle Stroman.

Heats: Myers, Chris Kennedy.

Central Pa. Legends, 20 laps: 1. Harlon Leppo. 2. Tim Henry. 3. Greg Burd. 4. Lucas Montgomery. 5. Chad Glatfelter. 6. Pat McDermott. 7. Richard Miller. 8. Brent Marquis. 9. Scott Houdeshall. 10. Robert Stough.

Heats: Glatfelter, Burd.

COAL TOWNSHIP - In extra innings, the microscope is always a little larger, the margin for error smaller.

Just ask Mount Carmel.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Mount Carmel got exactly what it wanted - namely, Lourdes' CharLee Rosini to hit a ground ball to shortstop Jocelyn Darrup.

The junior had played near-flawless defense all game. She backed up teammates, showed off arm strength that defies her diminutive status and had a hand in five outs for the Red Tornadoes.

But one questionable decision, to go home with the ball with the bases loaded instead of tagging a passing runner for the third out and an ensuing high throw gave the Red Raiders the slightest of edges in a 6-5 opening-day win over the Tornadoes on Monday.

"It can't get any better," Lourdes' head coach Scott Long said following his debut as skipper for the Red Raiders.

"It's a situation we look for and (CharLee) came through again. She hit the ball hard."

After Mount Carmel stranded two runners in the top of the eighth, Lourdes got a 1-out pinch-hit single from Angelique Pennypacker, followed by a double by Ania Rawa.

Sophomore Nikki Komara grounded to Darrup, who had to come home with the ball to cut down Pennypacker for the second out and keep her from scoring the winning run.

Mount Carmel pitcher Ashley Koschoff then walked Peyton Klembara before Rosini stepped into the box.

The game looked to be headed for the ninth inning when Darrup's throw was just a little high, forcing catcher Tori Chapman to jump for the ball, leaving the plate exposed for Rawa to sneak in and score.

"It's gonna happen," Mount Carmel head coach Jake Wojcik said. "But overall, I was pleased.

"She had a lot of good plays, she just went to the wrong place with that one. She could have tug the girl, but eh."

Rosini also picked up the win in the circle for the Raiders, throwing all eight innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out seven.

Mount Carmel put the ball in play often against Rosini and had nine hits (three by Chapman), but stranded nine baserunners and had two other runners make outs on the bases.

Koschoff was the hard-luck loser for the Tornadoes, giving up just three earned runs while striking out nine Raiders.

"This was a must win," Long said. "We were coming in against the weather conditions which we can't control, but it turned out to be a great day for softball."

MOUNT CARMEL (AB-R-H-BI) - Darrup 3-1-2-0, Spieller 4-1-1-0, Shamus 4-0-0-1, Chapman 4-0-2-1, Lentini 0-2-0-0, Frasch 3-0-1-0, C. Avellino 0-0-0-0, Koschoff 3-1-1-0, Resendes 3-0-2-1, Horsfield 4-0-0-0, D. Avellino 4-0-0-0, Danilowicz 0-0-0-0. Totals 32-5-9-3.

LOURDES (AB-R-H-BI) - Komara 5-1-0-1, Klembara 4-1-1-0, Rosini 5-0-1-1, Raybuck 4-1-1-2, Kuehner 4-0-0-0, Long 4-0-1-0, Koshinskie 4-0-0-0, Getchey 1-1-1-1, Pennypacker 1-0-1-0, Rawa 4-2-2-1. Totals 36-6-8-6.

Extra-base hits: Mount Carmel - Chapman, double. Lourdes - Rosini, double; Rawa, double, triple.

Mount Carmel 000 230 00 - 5 9 2

Lourdes 002 030 01 - 6 8 3

IP H R ER BB K

Mount Carmel

Koschoff (0-1) 7.2 8 6 5 2 9

Lourdes

Rosini (1-0) 8 9 5 4 5 7

MILLERSTOWN - Line Mountain opened the 2011 season with a 8-6 Tri-Valley League win over Greenwood.

The Eagles' Jordan Welker went 3 for 4 at the plate, with two doubles and two RBIs, and picked up the win with five innings of work on the mound, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out seven.

Wade Wetzel also had two singles for Line Mountain and drove in two runs as the Eagles jumped on top early with three runs in the first inning.

Greenwood closed the lead to two runs, when Line Mountain scored another four in the top of the sixth inning to secure the win. Matt Bitting had Line Mountain's only other hit and drove in two runs.

North Schuylkill 3 Shamokin 2

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Charlie Hutnick's home run in the third inning sparked the Spartans in a non-league win over the Indians.

In the fourth, Derek Wiley drove in Ian Murray to make it 2-0 in favor

of North Schuylkill. Austin Hornberger continued the scoring when he scored Chris Kovalewski on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Shamokin battled back, scoring one run in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Kosmer, Taylor (5) and Shinskie; Klinger, Hornberger (7) and Weist. W - Klinger (1-0). L - Kosmer (0-1). Sv - Hornberger (1).

Hits: Shamokin - Kosmer, Burns, Fry, Tillett, Deptula. North Schuylkill - Hutnick, Green 2, Laudeman 2, Wiley, Kovalewski.

HR - Hutnick.

CATAWISSA R.R. - It would be stretching it some to say that Southern Columbia opened the season by looking like it was in midseason form, but the Tigers were nonetheless pretty impressive in a 15-0, four-inning rout of Heartland Athletic Conference Division III opponent Benton on Tuesday.

Pitchers Tim Benner and Tyler Behrent combined to limit Benton to three hits, striking out eight and walking one in four innings, and after a slow start, Southern finished with 10 hits and put the game away with a 12-run fourth inning.

"We had a slow start with the bats, but I thought Tim and Tyler were both very effective," said Southern head coach Randy Young. "They did their jobs."

Benner worked the first two innings and allowed just one baserunner, striking out five and walking one. Behrent worked the next two, and although he gave up three hits, he struck out the side in the third and got defensive help with a double play and batter thrown out at home in the fourth.

Benner was 3-for-4 at the plate, with three singles, and catcher Zach Schreffler was the only other multiple hitter, with a pair of singles to go along with two walks, to drive in three runs.

Behrent drove in the first run, scoring courtesy runner Zach Malett (for Benner) with a ground ball in the first.

Southern took itself out of a potential big inning in the second when two runners were thrown out on the bases but picked up two runs in the third on a two-run double by Mason Peters after a pair of walks.

Mike Diltz relieved Benton starter David Root to start the fourth, and hurt himself, committing two throwing errors on pickoff plays. Overall, Benton made four errors in the inning after not committing any in the first three.

Adam Leisenring had a two-run single and Grant Rarig a run-scoring double in the inning. Peters also had another RBI in the inning.

BENTON (AB-R-H-BI) - Palmer 2-0-0-0, Root 2-0-0-0, Wenner 1-0-0-0, M. Diltz 1-0-1-0, Popp 2-0-0-0, Harvey 2-0-1-0, Keefer 1-0-0-0, Verdone 1-0-0-0, F. Diltz 1-0-1-0. Totals 13-0-3-0.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (AB-R-H-BI) - Benner 4-0-3-1, Malett 0-3-0-0, Hoffman 3-1-0-1, Schreffler 2-0-2-3, Rosenberger 0-3-0-0, Woods 0-0-0-0, Behrent 4-0-1-2, Slotterback 1-2-0-0, Kiessling 0-0-0-0, Peters 3-1-1-3, Leisenring 2-1-1-2, Rarig 2-2-1-1, Yacko Yacko 1-0-0-0, Sosnoski 1-2-1-0. Totals 23-14-10-13.

Extra-base hits: Southern - 2B: Peters, Rarig.

Benton 000 0 - 0 3 4

Southern 102 (12) - 15 10 1

IP H R ER BB K

Benton

Root (L) 3 4 3 3 3 2

M. Diltz .1 4 10 7 4 0

Verdone .1 2 2 1 2 0

Home

Benner (W) 2 0 0 0 1 5

Behrent 2 3 0 0 0 3

ALMEDIA - Matt Moore was a triple winner, and Andrew Steely, Tom Schetroma and Jake Townsend each double winners to lead Southern Columbia to a 76-74 non-division win over Central Columbia in boys track and field Tuesday at Southern.

Moore won 110 high and 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and the 100, Steely won the 1600 and 3200, Schetroma the shot put and discus, and Townsend the triple and high jumps to lead the Tigers.

Donny Scatena won the 400 and pole vault for the Blue Jays.

100 - 1. Matt Moore, SC, 11.78, 2. Hunter Pugh, CC, 3. Kurt Meske, CC; 200 - 1. Pugh, CC, 24.14, 2. Meske, CC, 3. Joey Kleman, SC; 400 - 1. Donny Scatena, CC, 54.07, 2. Kleman, SC, 3. Yastishak, CC; 800 - 1. Andrew Hess, CC, 2:16.58, 2. Dylan Swank, SC, 3. Eli Lynn, CC; 1,600 - 1. Andrew Steely, SC, 4:49.83, 2. Hess, CC, 3. Swank, SC; 3,200 - 1. Steely, SC, 11:04.04, 2. Hess, CC, 3. Karl Myhre, SC; 110 HH - 1. Moore, SC, 16.23, 2. Alex Laubach, CC, 3. Jonah Diltz, CC; 300 IH - 1. Moore, SC, 44.04, 2. Newbury, CC, 3. Laubach, CC; 400 relay - 1. Central 46.40; 1,600 relay - 1. Central 3:41.46, ; 3,200 relay - 1. Southern 10:23.13; High Jump - 1. Jake Townsend, SC, 5-8, 2. Joe Krupilis, CC, 3. Jerrick Newhart, CC; Long Jump - 1. Tyrell Thomas, SC, 18-4½, 2. Chris Roberts, CC, 3. Newhart, CC; Triple Jump - 1. Townsend, SC, 38-0, 2. Newhart, CC, 3. Garrett Mowery, SC; Shot put - 1. Tom Schetroma, SC, 44-7½, 2. Colin Heitzman, SC, 3. Alex Shaffer, CC; Discus - 1. Schetroma, SC, 140-8½, 2. Bryce Gedman, SC, Heitzman, SC; Javelin - 1. Chris Roberts, CC, 159-4, 2. Townsend, SC, 3. Eric McCracken, CC; Pole Vault - 1. Scatena, CC, 14-4, 2. DiPasquale, CC, 3. Southern.

Mount Carmel earns tri-meet sweep

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Elijah Duran and Mikael Hause were triple winners, and Josh Maloney a double winner as the Red Tornadoes (115) topped Bloomsburg (45.5) and Schuylkill Haven (16.5) in a tri-meet.

Duran won the long and triple jumps, and the 110-meter high hurdles, Hause swept the distance events and Maloney won the 100 and 200.

Other winners for Mount Carmel were Rob Varano (javelin), Ian Kanezo (high jump), Meyrick Lamb (400), and Dylan Lawrence (300 hurdles).

Mount Carmel 115 Bloomsburg 45.5 Schuykill Haven 16.5

100 - 1. Josh Maloney, MC, 11.1, 2. Adam Naessig, B, 3. John Klingerman, B, 4. Tyler Hodge, MC; 200 - 1. Maloney, MC, 22.6, 2. Klingerman, B, 3. Beierschmitt, MC, 4. Broadz, B, and Ben Sippey, SH (tie); 400 - 1. Meyrick Lamb, MC, 52.9, 2. Dondre Glasper, MC, 3. Jack Smith, SH, 4. Joe Hill, B; 800 - 1. Mikael Hause, MC, 2:11.2, 2. Logan Jacoby, SH. 3. Corey Hollenbach, MC, 4. Tom Dillon, B; 1,600 - 1. Hause, MC, 4:52, 2. Chris Monahan, MC, 3. Justin Skavery, MC, 3. Tyvone Conrad, SH; 3,200 - 1. hause, MC, 10:57.3, 2. Monahan, MC, 3. Skavery, MC, 4. Alex Lowe, B; 110 HH - 1. Elijah Duran, MC, 17.1, 2. Larry Fry, B, 3. Alec Zsido, MC, 4. no place; 300 IH - 1. Dylan Lawrence, MC, 44.6, 2. Jacob Kleman, MC, 3. Ben Sippel, SH, 4. Fry, B; 400 relay - 1. Bloomsburg (Naeissig, Rankin, Klingerman, Broadt) 47.2; 2. Schuylkill Haven; 1,600 relay - 1. Mount Carmel (Glasper, Lawrence, Hollenbach, Kleman) 3:43.5; 2. Bloomsburg, 3,200 relay - 1. Mount Carmel (Hause, Monahan, Lawrence, Yeager) 8:47.8; 2. Schuylkill Haven; High Jump - 1. Ian Kanezo, MC, 6-0, 2. Rankin, B, 3. Rob Varano, MC, 4. Cody Yeager, MC; Long Jump - 1. Duran, MC, 19-4, 2. Klingerman, B, 3. Kyle Maclachlan, B, 4. Kanezo, MC; Triple Jump - 1. Duran, MC 41-7¾, 2. Kanezo, MC, 3. Maclachlan, B, 4. Hodge, MC Shot put - 1. Mike Recla, B, 53-5, 2. Gabe Matukaitis, MC, 3. Eric Joraskie, MC, 4. Tom Hynoski, MC; Discus - 1. Recla, B, 150-0, 2. Joraskie, MC, 3. Hynoski, MC, 4. R. Foster, SH; Javelin - 1. Varano, MC, 151-0, 2. Josh Tomedi, MC, 3. Recla, B, 4. A. Forsler, SH; Pole Vault - Not contested.

Girls track

Central 120 Southern 30

ALMEDIA - Madison Beisswanger (400), Ali Oley (javelin) and Morgan Fidler (triple jump) were Southern's lone winners against a strong Central Columbia team.

Rachel Chulock won both hurdles races for the Blue Jays.

100 - 1. Ellen Shepard, CC, 14.21, 2. Grayson Jackes, CC, 3. Tia Barndt, CC; 200 - 1. Jackes, CC, 28.6, 2. Shepard, CC, 3. Barndt, CC; 400 - 1. Maddie Beisswanger, SC, 1:11.53, Carly Kradie, CC, 3. Louise Pinter, CC; 800 - 1. Dani Blass, CC, 2:38.67, 2. Kate Diltz, CC, 3. Miller, CC; 1,600 - 1. Megan Bien, CC, 5;54.23, 2. Sam Shepard, CC, 3. Jeanne Shutt, SC; 3,200 - 1. Shepard, CC, 13:08.37, 2. Bien, CC, 3. Mara Wilson, SC; 100 HH - 1. Rachel Chuock, CC, 17.43, 2. Ellen Shepard, CC, 3. Marissa Noll, SC; 300 IH - 1. Chulock, CC, 51.7, 2. Noll, SC; 3. Mollie Podner, CC 400 relay - 1. Cenrtal Columbia 53.34; 1,600 relay - 1. Central (time NA); 3,200 relay - 1. Central (Diltz, Bien, Snyder, Blass) 11:08.73; High Jump - 1. Lauren Taylor, CC, 4-8, 2. Hope Kile, CC, 3. Cassidy Stout, CC; Long Jump - 1. Kile, CC, 14-6, 2. Louisa Barndt, CC, 3. Beisswanger, SC; Triple Jump - 1. Morgan Fidler, SC, 28-10, 2. Fidner, CC, 3. Grazio, CC; Shot put - 1. Ariel Rosenkrantz, CC, 34-3¼, 2. Ali Oley, SC, 3. Central; Discus - 1. Kishbaugh, CC, 83-5, 2. Sara Raup, SC, 3. Katy Henry, SC; Javelin - 1. Oley, SC, 122-3, 2. Gladfelter, CC, 3. Sarah Breech, SC; Pole Vault - 1. Virginia Lamacchia, CC, 11-0, 2. Kile, CC, 3. Abby Ginader, CC.

Red Tornadoes top Panthers, Hurricanes

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Christine Mrozek won the shot put and discus as the Red Tornadoes swept the tri-meet.

Other winners for Mount Carmel were Karissa Cichon (100 hurdles), Danielle Bernini (high jump), Kauren Hause (1600), Ali Varano (100), Rachel Fletcher (800) and Heather Bolick (javelin).

Lauren Ball won the long jump, 400 and 200 for Bloomsburg.

Mount Carmel 111

Bloomsburg 68

Schuylkill Haven 10

100 - 1. Ali Varano, MC, 13.3, 2. Morgan McCann, B, 3. Kobe Heckler, B, 4. Cassandra Niglio, MC, and Kirsten Sinopoli, MC (tie); 200 - 1. Lauren Ball, B, 27.1, 2. Rachel Schultz, MC, 3. Kirsten Sinopoli, MC, 4. Brittney Stauer, B; 400 - 1. Ball, B, 1;04.60, 2. Schultz, MC, 3. Ali Singh, MC, 4. Brigid Demko, MC; 800 - 1. Rachel Fletcher, MC, 2:43, 2. Brooke Balliett, B, 3. Abby Chapman, MC, 4. Kathy Fletcher, MC; 1,600 - 1. Lauren Hause, MC, 6:13, 2. Cara Sinopoli, MC, 3. Allison Wardrop, B; 4. Meghan Ashford, B. 3200 - 1. Ashford, B, 12:51, 2. Hause, MC, 3. Alyssa Buggy, MC, 4. Chelsea Slappey, SH; 100 HH - 1. Karissa Cichon, MC, 16.1, 2. Kristina Gulliver, B, 3. Megan Van Doren, MC, 4. Steph Boussard, SH; 300 IH - 1. Gulliver, B, 50.8, 2. Cichon, MC, 3. Jena Jurasich, MC, 4. Theresa Hillbish, SH; 400 relay - 1. Mount Carmel (Mazurkevich, Niglio, Sinopoli, Varano) 53.9, 2. Bloomsburg; 1,600 relay - 1. Mount Carmel (Schultz, Demko, Mazurkevich, Fletcher) 4:37.1; 2. Bloomsburg; 3,200 relay - 1. Mount Carmel (R. Fletcher, Chapman, A. Fletcher, Singh) 11:13.6, 2. Bloomsburg; High Jump - 1. Danielle Bernini, MC, 4-8, 2. Cat Donnelly, SH; 3. Andrea Slotterback, SH, 4. Caitlin McCarry, SH; Long Jump - 1. Ball, B, 16-9, 2. B. Phillips, B, 3. Varano, MC, 4. Van Doren, MC; Triple Jump - 1. Franklin, B, 33-11½, 2. Phillips, B, 3. Emily Shovlin, MC, 4. Cassandra Niglio, MC; Shot put - 1. Christine Mrozek, MC, 33-0, 2. Becka Buczeskie, MC, 3. Rebecca Krum, B, 4. Emily Winterstein, B; Discus - 1. Mrozek, MC, 91-0, 2. Cassie Mace, MC, 3. Heather Bolick, MC, 4. Krum, B; Javelin - 1. Bolick, MC, 100-6, 2. Demko, MC, 3. Gabrielle Engelke, MC, 4. Cara Sinopoli, MC; Pole Vault - 1. Not contested.

Softball

Milton 17, Shamokin 7

MILTON - Shamokin's Steph Pancher had a double and a triple and knocked home two runs, but the Indians defense gave up 13 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to Milton in their Heartland Conference Division I opener.

Chesney Haupt and Celine Templar also had a double each for the Indians (0-1).

SHAMOKIN (AB-R-H-BI) - Pancher 3-1-2-2, Hornberger 2-1-2-1, Bainbridge 3-1-0-0, Supsic 3-1-0-0, Haupt 3-1-1-2, Templar 3-1-1-1, O. Bonshock 2-0-1-1, Wolfe 2-1-0-0, B. Bonshock 2-0-0-0. Totals 23-7-7-7.

MILTON (AB-R-H-BI) - Wolfe 2-1-0-0, Miller 2-2-0-0, Krebs 2-2-1-2, Duffy 3-2-0-0, Brouse 4-2-2-2, Marks 3-3-1-0, Adams 3-2-1-0, Weaver 3-2-2-0, Huber 3-1-1-0. Totals 26-8-17-4.

Extra-base hits: Shamokin - Pancher, double, triple; Haupt, double; Templar, double. Milton - Brouse, 2 doubles; Marks, double; Weaver, triple.

Shamokin 040 003 - 7 7 6

Milton 300 1(13) - 17 8 0

IP H R ER BB K

Shamokin

Pancher (0-1) 5.2 5 14 6 9 6

Supsic 0 3 3 0 0 0

Milton

Weaver 5 7 7 7 2 6

Southern Columbia 9 Bloomsburg 5

BLOOMSBURG - Elise Krankoski had one of Southern's two hits and scored two runs as the Tigers outlast Bloomsburg in a game with 11 total errors.

Mallory Tomaschik picked up the win for Southern with five strikeouts while allowing no earned runs in the Tigers' season opener.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (AB-R-H-BI) - K. Blass 3-1-0-0, Krankoski 2-2-1-0, Silver 3-1-0-0, Tomaschik 3-1-0-0, Em. Yoder 3-1-0-0, J. Blass 2-2-0-0, Lupold 2-0-0-0, Reigle 4-0-0-0, Er. Yoder 4-1-1-0, McGinley 0-0-0-0. Totals 26-9-2-0.

BLOOMSBURG (AB-R-H-BI) - Karpinski 3-1-0-0, B. Smith 4-0-0-0, Keiser 4-1-1-0, Lem 4-1-0-0, M. Smith 3-0-0-0, Malatesta 3-1-2-0, Emer 2-0-0-0, Kuretja 3-0-0-0, Fry 3-1-1-0. Totals 29-5-4-0.

Extra-base hits: none.

Southern 014 130 0 - 9 2 3

Bloomsburg 002 002 1 - 5 4 8

IP H R ER BB K

Southern Columbia

Tomaschik (1-0) 7 4 5 0 1 5

Bloomsburg

Adamcek 7 2 9 0 8 8

Hughesville 8 Mount Carmel 2

HUGHESVILLE - Nicole Horsfield had two of Mount Carmel's four hits, but the Tornadoes, who had a 1-0 lead early in the game, committed five errors and Hughesville rallied to win the Heartland Conference Division II matchup.

MOUNT CARMEL (AB-R-H-BI) - Darrup 3-0-0-0, Spieller 3-0-0-0, Shamus 3-1-1-0, Chapman 3-0-1-1, Frasch 2-1-0-0, Koschoff 2-0-0-0, Kobilis 1-0-0-0, Resendes 3-0-0-0, Horsfield 3-0-2-1, Danilowicz 2-0-0-0. Totals 25-2-4-2.

HUGHESVILLE (AB-R-H-BI) - Miller 3-1-0-0, Thompson 4-0-0-0, Kustentoval 4-1-1-2, Miles 3-1-0-0, Hollenbach 4-1-1-0, Tulsborg 2-1-1-0, LeForme 2-1-0-0, Blair 3-1-1-0, Calhaun 2-1-0-0. Totals 27-8-4-2.

Extra-base hits: none.

Mount Carmel 100 000 1 - 2 4 5

Hughesville 000 404 x - 8 4 1

IP H R ER BB K

Mount Carmel

Koschoff (0-2) 6 4 8 2 2 2

Hughesville

Miller 7 4 2 2 2 9

Greenwood 6 Line Mountain 3

MILLERSTOWN - Maggie Fessler had three hits and Kasey Long notched two hits, including a triple, and each scored a run for Line Mountain in the Eagles' season-opening loss to Greenwood.

LINE MOUNTAIN (AB-R-H-BI) - Woodward 2-1-0-0, Wheary 2-0-0-0, Fessler 4-1-3-0, Long 3-1-2-1, Bradigan 2-0-0-1, Copson 3-0-0-0, Wingert 3-0-0-0, Witmer 3-0-0-0, Menko 2-0-0-0, masser 0-0-0-0. Totals 24-3-5-2.

GREENWOOD (AB-R-H-BI) - Hicks 4-0-0-0, Shaffer 1-1-0-0, Fleisher 2-0-1-0, Heggensteller 3-2-2-0, Pellman 3-0-0-0, Seigel 2-1-0-0, Seaman 2-0-0-0, Osborne 2-2-0-0, Heichel 2-0-0-0. Totals 21-6-3-0.

Extra-base hits: Line Mountain - Long, triple. Greenwood - Heggensteller, double.

Line Mountain 003 000 0 - 3 5 4

Greenwood 011 121 x - 6 3 1

IP H R ER BB K

Line Mountain

Fessler (0-1) 6 3 6 2 0 4

Greenwood

Heggensteller 7 5 3 2 2 3

North Schuylkill 14 Shenandoah Valley 1

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Cassie Lapotsky went 3-for-3 at the plate and pitched a one-hit shutout as North Schuylkill cruised past Shenandoah Valley in the season opener for both teams. Lapotsky struck out nine and allowed one unearned run.

Madison Newhouser had a triple, a home run and five RBIs for the Spartans. In the first inning, she hit a two-run homer over the fence in right-center field. Robyn Orth tripled and had three RBIs for North Schuylkill.

Baseball

North Schuylkill 12 Shenandoah Valley 4

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS -Austin Hornberger finished with three RBIs on two hits, including a triple, and also earned the pitching victory in the Spartans' non-league win over the Blue Devils.

Charlie Hutnick added a 4-for-4 performance at the dish, knocking home three runs.

Tyler Craig launched a two-run homer in the first inning to give Shenandoah Valley an early lead.

The Spartans surged back with a three-run second, and Hornberger's two-run triple in the third helped give North Schuylkill some breathing room.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area coach Billy Clark came into the season knowing if his Indians struggled, it would be at the plate.

To have success, even with a solid group of veterans, they'd have to hit better - make that much better - than they did last season.

So far though, through two games, their struggles continue.

Shamokin had five hits in a season-opening non-league loss Monday to North Schuylkill.

Wednesday, in the Heartland II opener against Bloomsburg, they managed only three in a 6-2 setback.

"There's no doubt about it," Clark said following the Bloomsburg loss. "We don't hit.

"Somehow, some way, they have to figure it out."

Bloomsburg starting pitcher Brandon Hoyes had a lot to do with those struggles, working five solid innings with four strikeouts and only two walks. But, he was also the pitcher who gave up all three Indians's hits, including Jon Miller's home run to straightaway center field, and both Shamokin Area runs.

"He pitched against us both games last year," Clark said of Hoyes. "He keeps them in games, and he kept us off balance. We swung at a lot of curve balls and watched a lot of fastballs."

Bloomsburg scored all six of its runs off Indians' starter Bobby Taylor, who worked the first four innings and also allowed all eight Panthers' hits.

Ryan Burns was sharp in relief of Taylor, working the final three frames without allowing a hit or run. He struck out four, including the side in the fifth.

Bloomsburg was strong out of the gate, scoring two in the first, one in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to build its lead. Center fielder Logan Mauk, with two doubles, a single and two runs batted in, was the hot bat for the Panthers. Seth Loff and Ricky Gottstein had a double and RBI apiece.

Miller's home run came with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Hoyes sandwiched two strikeouts around a Steve Bressi single to end the inning without further damage.

Shamokin threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs on the strength of two walks and an error, but Gavin Pellitteri came on to pitch, working to one batter and getting Zach Tillett to ground out to end the game.

Game Summary

BLOOMSBURG (AB-R-H-BI) - Mauk 4-1-3-2, Thrush 3-0-0-0, Pellitteri 4-1-1-1, Loff 3-1-2-1, Gottstein 2-1-1-1, Stone 3-0-0-1, Ward 3-0-0-0, Vincent 3-2-1-0, Klingerman 2-0-0-0, Hoyes 0-0-0-0, Buttrick 0-0-0-0. Totals 27-6-8-6.

SHAMOKIN (AB-R-H-BI) - Kosmer 3-0-1-1, Tillett 4-0-0-0, Burns 3-0-0-0, Fry 2-0-0-0, Grinaway 2-0-0-0, Taylor 3-0-0-0, Miller 1-2-1-1, Deptula 1-0-0-0, Rodarmel 1-0-0-0, Craft 1-0-0-0, Bressi 2-0-1-0.

Extra-base hits: Bloomsburg - Mauk 2B, 2B; Loff 2B; Gottstein 2B. Shamokin - Miller HR.

Bloomsburg 212 100 0 - 6 8 1

Shamokin 001 010 0 - 2 3 2

IP H R ER BB K

Bloomsburg

Hoyes (W) 5 3 2 2 2 4

Buttrick 1.2 0 0 0 1 3

Pellitteri .1 0 0 0 0 0

Shamokin

Taylor 4 8 6 6 0 2

Burns 3 0 0 0 2 4

MILLVILLE - Lourdes stayed unbeaten on the young softball season with a 15-3 non-league win over Millville on Wednesday.

CharLee Rosini again did double duty for the Red Raiders, leading them in hitting with a 2-for-3 afternoon with four RBIs and pitching all five innings for the win.

Kara Kuehner had a double, a triple and scored two runs for the Raiders.

LOURDES (AB-R-H-BI) - Komara 3-1-0-0, Klembara 3-3-1-0, Rosini 3-3-2-4, Raybuck 3-1-1-3, Kuehner 3-2-2-1, Kenney 1-0-1-0, E. Long 3-2-1-0, Pennypacker 2-0-0-1, Koshinskie 0-2-0-0, Rawa 2-1-0-0, G. Long 1-0-1-0, Getchey 0-0-0-0. Totals 24-15-8-9.

MILLVILLE (AB-R-H-BI) - Foos 3-1-0-0, Snyder 2-2-1-0, Allegar 2-0-1-2, Bacon 2-0-0-0, Karns 2-0-0-0, Hack 2-0-0-0, Chappell 2-0-0-0, Stackhouse 1-0-0-0, Hare 2-0-0-0, Cook 0-0-0-0. Totals 18-3-2-2.

Lourdes 415 32 - 15 9 1

Millville 201 00 - 3 2 5

2B - Rosini, Kuehner, Raybuck; Allegar. 3B - Kuehner, E. Long. HR - Rosini.

IP H R ER BB K

Lourdes

Rosini (W) 5 2 3 2 2 5

Millville

Allegar 5 8 15 9 7 1

Baseball

Mount Carmel 16 Lewisburg 0

LEWISBURG - Mike Stutzcavage belted a three-run home run and picked up the pitching victory for the Red Tornadoes in the Heartland II win over the Green Dragons.

Bobby Shustack added three singles, driving in two runs, and John Rimokaitis had two singles and four RBIs for Mount Carmel.

MOUNT CARMEL (AB-R-H-BI) - Minnig 2-1-1-3, Langton 1-0-0-0, Barr 2-0-0-0, Rimokaitis 2-0-2-4; B. Shustack 4-1-3-2, Swatsky 1-0-0-0, C. Shustack 2-1-1-1, Stutzcavage 2-1-1-4, McDonnell 2-0-0-0, McFadden 2-3-0-0, Norris 3-2-1-1, Johnson 1-1-1-0, Bettleyon 1-2-0-0, Lesko 1-2-1-0, Venna 3-2-1-1. Totals 29-16-12-16.

LEWISBURG (AB-R-H-BI) - Klock 2-0-0-0, Cooper 2-0-1-0, Saffell 2-0-0-0, Corrigan 2-0-0-0, Gardner 1-0-0-0, Fisher 1-0-0-0, Snyder 1-0-0-0, Bertram 1-0-0-0, Smith 1-0-0-0, Santorine 2-0-0-0, Koch 1-0-0-0. Totals 17-0-1-0.

Mt. Carmel 051 64 - 16 12 0

Lewisburg 000 00 - 0 1 2

HR - Stutzcavage.

IP H R ER BB K

Mt. Carmel

Stutzcavage (W) 4 1 0 0 0 7

Swatsky 1 0 0 0 1 2

Lewisburg

Gardner (L) 3 1 6 0 6 1

Saffell 1 6 6 6 0 0

Fisher 1 5 4 3 0 0

Boys Track

Spartans beat Indians, Blue Devils

COAL TOWNSHIP - North Schuylkill's Brady Simms and Brendan Shearn were each double winners in a tri-meet with Shamokin and Shenandoah Valley.

Simms took both firsts in throwing events (discus and shot put), while Shearn was dominant in the longer distance races, winning the 1,600 by 30 seconds, and the 3,200 with a minute and a half margin.

Individual winners for Shamokin were Dave Dorsett (100), Matt Gass (400), Brandon Mendoza (800), Chris Charowsky (high jump), Brayden Yacko (triple jump) and Jared Montgomery (long jump).

North Schuylkill 99

Shamokin 81

Shenandoah Valley 9

100 - 1. Dorsett (S) 11.60, 2. Motsney (NS), 3. Schmotze (NS); 200 - 1. Motsney (NS) 23.50, 2. Gass (S), 3. Haddock (S); 400 - 1. Gass (S) 53.59, 2. Wallace (NS), 3. Nash (S); 800 - 1. Mendoza (S) 2:12.60, 2. Shinkus (NS), 3. Delbaugh (S); 1,600 - 1. Shearn (NS) 4:38.30, 2. Brokenshire (S), 3. Scheuren (S); 3,200 - 1. Shearn (NS) 9:50.00, 2. Scheuren (S), 3. Brokenshire (S); 110 HH - 1. Matunis (NS) 16.57, 2. Motsney (NS), 3. Startzel (S); 300 IH - 1. McSurdy (NS) 43.30, 2. Moyer (SV), 3. Matunis (NS); 400 relay - 1. North Schuylkill 46.15, 2. Shamokin, 3. Shamokin; 1,600 relay - 1. Shamokin (Nash, Mendoza, Gass, Williams) 3:42.60, 2. North Schuylkill; 3,200 relay - 1. Shamokin (Nash, Mendoza, Gass, Delbaugh) 8:46.00, 2. North Schuylkill; High Jump - 1. Charowsky (S) 5-6, 2. Lewis (SV), 3. Moyer (SV); Long Jump - 1. Montgomery (S) 18-2¼, 2. Hughes (NS), 3. Gownley (NS); Triple Jump - 1. Yacko (S) 37-8½, 2. Hughes (NS), 3. Haddock (S); Shot put - 1. Simms (NS) 45-8, 2. Pavalko (NS), 3. Phillips (S); Discus - 1. Simms (NS) 121-4, 2. Phillips (S), 3. Dean (NS); Javelin - 1. Shinkus (NS) 146-8, 2. Dean (NS), 3. Phillips (S); Pole Vault - 1. Koons (NS) 9-0, 2. Wasilewski (NS), 3. Hughes (NS).

Girls Track

North Schuylkill wins tri-meet

COAL TOWNSHIP - Kendall Devaney and Kaitlyn McSurdy were each triple winners for North Schuylkill.

Devaney swept the long and triple jumps to go along with a win in the 100-meter dash, while McSurdy won both hurldes events and the high jump.

Shamokin's individual winners with Anna Summers (1600), Brooke Sejuit (200) and Renea Broscious (shot put).

North Schuylkill 100

Shamokin 66

Shenandoah Valley 20

100 - 1. Devaney (NS) 14.09, 2. Yodis (SV), 3. Zalar (S); 200 - 1. Sejuit (S) 29.15, 2. Yodis (SV), 3. Paul (NS); 400 - 1. Teter (NS) 1:03.48, 2. Sejuit (S), 3. Fetterolf (NS); 800 - 1. Martin (NS) 2:41.20, 2. McDevitt (S), 3. Weikel (NS); 1,600 - 1. Summers (S) 6:13.30, 2. Lindenmuth (NS), 3. Warner (NS); 3,200 - 1. Lindenmuth (NS) 13:31.00, 2. Warner (NS), 3. Summers (S); 100 HH - 1. McSurdy (NS) 17.12, 2. L. Evanousky (NS), 3. Pheasant (S); 300 IH - 1. McSurdy (NS) 47.06, 2. Ciborowski (S), 3. R. Evanousky (NS); 400 relay - 1. Shamokin 57.37, 2. North Schuylkill ; 1,600 relay - 1. North Schuylkill 4:24, 2. Shamokin; 3,200 relay - 1. North Schuylkill 11:07.00, 2. Shamokin; High Jump - 1. McSurdy (NS) 4-8, 2. Petrovich (S), 3. Hile (S); Long Jump - 1. Devaney (NS) 13-6, 2. Fetterolf (NS), 3. Rollman (S); Triple Jump - 1. Devaney (NS) 30-5, 2. Zakrzewski (S), 3. Petrovich (S); Shot put - 1. Broscious (S) 32-5, 2. Huss (SV), 3. Zielinskie (S); Discus - 1. Huss (SV) 103-2, 2. Broscious (S), 3. Barnes (S); Javelin - 1. Huss (SV) 100-5, 2. Temple (NS), 3. Segura (S); Pole Vault - 1. Ferraiolo (NS) 6-6, 2. Evanousky (NS).

SHAMOKIN - Plans have been finalized for a cooperative agreement between the Shamokin-Coal Township and Shikellamy youth football leagues, starting with the 2011 season.

Officers of the leagues met and finalized plans for the merger Wednesday at the I.B.E.W. Hall in Shamokin.

The leagues will continue to be separate entities with their own officers and by-laws, but will play games against each other both at Kemp Memorial Stadium and at Shikellamy. Four teams will compete from each league in both A and B divisions.

Joe Haddock, president of the Shamokin-Coal Township League, said there were several reasons the leagues looked into a merger, first and foremost of which was to focus on the developmental aspects of the sport as opposed to competing for championships. Haddock said the Shamokin league has been experiencing declining participation, and one way to ensure enough games and competition was by looking into a merger agreement. The leagues had a full day of scrimmages last year at Kemp Memorial Stadium which went off well, and officers from the leagues decided then to have talks about consolidating.

"We've decided to do without all the emphasis on winning (a league championship)," Haddock said. "We're going to have good, competitive games, but we don't want to lose kids in junior high school because of too much emphasis on winning. Shamokin had problems this year at the junior high level fielding teams."

As such, there will be no more Nanny Miller Bowl, which has been the championship game of the Shamokin-Coal Township League for many years.

Haddock said the four Shamokin-Coal Township teams - the Tigers, Bears, Wildcats and Cardinals - will continue to play for now, although that could change in the future. He said those four teams are all in good shape with B Division (8-10 year-olds) players but some are having trouble filling out A Division (11-12) rosters.

For A Division players, there is only one major difference from past years. There is no weight limit per se, but there is a weight limit of 140 pounds for any player who carries the football or plays in the backfield. The thinking on that is twofold, according to Larry Wary, vice-president and former president of the Shikellamy league, who is also a candidate for county commissioner.

"We don't want to exclude heavier players from playing, because that's what happens sometimes with a weight limit," Wary said. "But we also don't want a superstar player just carrying the football all the time and running over smaller kids."

Wary said he and Shikellamy President Mike Stepp were initially concerned about their not being a weight limit of any kind, but the more they thought about it and went over their team rosters, they decided it wouldn't be a problem and that it would, in fact, ensure that bigger, slower kids might play.

"One of the things that's concerned me watching Shikellamy (High School) football over the years is that there weren't enough good linemen being developed, and I think it's because some kids weren't playing when they were younger because they were too big, and then they just went on to other things," Wary said.

Gerald Bogetti, another longtime Shamokin-Coal Township League officer, said letting bigger kids play on the line should not be a concern.

"If you talk to doctors, most of them will tell you that kids really don't start developing muscle mass until they're 13," Bogetti said. "The younger, heavier kids are still carrying baby fat and are likely slower. It's a good thing for those kids to play."

One of the things Haddock liked about the Shikellamy league was that the league openly taught the system used by Shikellamy High School's team.

"This year's (District 4 AAA championship) Shikellamy team is the first group of seniors who went through the system," Wary said. "We think it's paying off."

"Coach Foor (Shamokin Area head coach Dan Foor) has opened his playbook to us and we're going to have our coaches use that terminology and systems," Haddock said.

The emphasis on player development will have its biggest impact on the B Division games. They will be played under two types of clocks. Each period starts with a regular six-minute clock, after which the younger players are substituted and play under a 10-minute running clock.

"One of the things that impressed us about the Shikellamy league was what they call special time, which is that 10-minute running clock," Haddock said. "That way, every kid who dresses gets to play no matter their ability, and they start to really learn the game on the field."

An attempt was made to include the Selinsgrove league, which has played against Shikellamy in the past, in the merger, but league officials there declined.

"We're going to see how this goes, and maybe they'll want to get in in the future," Wary said.

"One of the other things we like about joining is that we get to play other teams," Haddock said. "We're not just playing other teams from our town anymore. The more you go out and play other teams, the better you'll get."

In lieu of a league championship game, the officers are looking into the possibility of a possible postseason all-star game between the leagues.