JOHNSTOWN —
This might be the weekend to take yourself out to a ball game with a number of high school baseball tournaments and one softball tourney on the local schedule.
In baseball, the second Gene Schultz Memorial Tournament is set to get underway today at Point Stadium with Westmont Hilltop (4-6) facing Conemaugh Township (6-3) in the opener at 4 p.m. followed by host Bishop McCort (10-1) against Bishop Carroll (1-9) at 7:30 p.m. The Schultz tournament wraps up Saturday with the consolation game at 1 p.m. followed by the title tilt at 4 p.m.
The tournament was started to honor the late Bishop McCort baseball coach and teacher who presided over the third base coaching box for 26 years. During his time with the Crushers, Schultz accumulated
225 wins. His No. 24 still hangs in the hallway of the school as a tribute.
“Coach Schultz meant the world to me and everyone that played for him,” second-year McCort coach Chris Pfeil said.
“He had an influence on the lives of those that he coached in baseball and football as well as in the classroom. He was always there for you.
“He was a special person who touched the lives of many of those who were at McCort.
“We felt, with all of his contributions, that it was only fitting that we name the tournament after him. He was a role model of how to do things the right way and it’s a tribute to him and his family.”
Pfeil is looking to build off the success of last year’s tournament.
“We feel we have a great group of teams, and some of the area’s best players will be participating in the tournament,” Pfeil said.
The area’s longest running baseball tournament is set for Saturday at Community Park in Ferrellton when the 18th annual Boswell Area Jaycees Classic is played.
Host North Star (7-2) will take on Ligonier Valley in the opener at 9 a.m. with Laurel Highlands foes Forest Hills
(6-3) and Greater Johnstown (2-6) squaring off in the second game, set for around 11 a.m.
The consolation game follows at around 1 p.m. with the championship set for 3. The Trojans won the last two years.
“It’s one of the things that the Jaycees like to do and it’s fun for the kids to play in this tournament,” said director John Zadzora. “People seem to enjoy it.”
It would have been the 19th year for the Boswell tourney, but the 2005 tournament was rained out. The raindate for this year is May 5.
The Conemaugh Valley Tournament was set to be played last weekend but was postponed to this week and features four WestPAC squads, two from the North and two from the South.
Rockwood (5-4) will play the host Blue Jays (6-5) at 9 a.m. followed by Berlin Brothersvalley (9-2) against Ferndale (5-5) at noon.
The consolation is at
2 p.m. with the championship game at 4 p.m.
“We are looking forward to this tournament and are excited about it,” Conemaugh Valley coach Bob Beiter said. “All four teams are very comparable and I think that anybody has a shot at winning it.”
The 15th annual Portage Tournament is also set to be played on Saturday.
The Mustangs (4-6) will take on Harmony at 9 a.m. followed by Penns Valley (2-8) against Southern Huntingdon (1-9) at 11. The consolation is at 2 followed by the championship at
4 p.m.
“It is an annual event for us and we look forward to a great day,” Portage coach Larry McCabe said. “We usually have a good turnout.”
The Mustangs’ tournament also features a skills competition between the second game and the consolation.
Two players from each team run in the 60-yard dash and throw to the outfield. Three from each will bat in the home run derby.
The area’s lone softball tourney will see Bishop Carroll, Conemaugh Township and Portage converge at Northern Cambria as the Colts host their fourth annual Spring Classic.
Defending champion Northern Cambria plays Bishop Carroll to open the bracket at 9 a.m. with Portage and Conemaugh Township following at 11 a.m.
The consolation and championship will both be played at 1:30 p.m. using two fields at the Northern Cambria complex.
“I think anyone who wants to see good softball can come to the field,” Northern Cambria coach Paul Artley said. “I think there are four teams that do very well during the season and we’re bringing them together for the day. Should be a good tourney.”
HS Sports Ferndale
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John Rucoksy
Discussion
Area diamonds will be full of weekend tournaments
- HS Sports Ferndale
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Conemaugh Valley seals win
It somehow seemed apropos that the finale of the Ferndale at Conemaugh Valley football game was played in a steady downpour Tuesday afternoon.
The first half-plus of the game had been halted on Sept. 1 when a weather-related delay of thunder and lightning forced the contest to be suspended with 7:35 left in the third quarter and the host squad ahead 40-18. -
Ground game shines for Berlin
Berlin Brothersvalley churned out 470 rushing yards as a team with Drew Glotfelty’s 210 yards setting the pace in the Mountaineers’ 55-8 win over Ferndale on Friday at Snyder of Berlin Athletic Complex.
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Friday preview: Somerset basking in football success
A few more signs saying “You’ve entered Golden Eagles Territory” align the streets of Somerset these days. There are a couple more people wearing Somerset football T-shirts at the grocery store.
Funny what a couple of decisive victories can do for a program and a community seeking to move past a couple decades of mostly losing seasons. -
Boys golf capsules
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Cambria Heights, Westmont looking for better performances
Two teams looking to rebound after Week 1 losses will meet this afternoon at Price Field.
Westmont Hilltop dropped a one-sided contest to Forest Hills last week in Sidman, putting a blemish on the opening of Pat Barron’s tenure as the Hilltoppers’ coach.
Cambria Heights lost in a high-scoring affair to visiting Richland in what had been tabbed as a potential signature game for a much-improved program coming off a 5-5 season. -
MIKE MASTOVICH | Jays' RB waits to finish what he started
One of the most impressive statistical performances of Week 1 doesn’t officially appear in the record books.
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Ferndale-Conemaugh Valley game suspended
Both Conemaugh Valley and Ferndale were looking for a season-opening win when the Blue Jays hosted the Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon, but neither squad will be able to officially savor that victory for two more weeks as a weather-related delay forced the contest to be suspended with 7:35 left in the third quarter and the Jays ahead 40-18.
Following an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ferndale’s Chad Eisenhuth, visible lightning and audible thunder on the horizon prompted the officials to clear the field just as the Yellow Jackets lined up to kick off to the Jays. After a nearly two-hour delay during which the storm did not actually hit the area of Thomas Yewcic Stadium but the ominous skies refused to clear, the decision was made by game officials, coaches and administrative personnel to suspend the contest until Tuesday, September 18 at 5:30 PM. The teams will then return to Conemaugh Valley to complete the remainder of the game, weather permitting. -
Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale hopeful for fast start
The season opener always is a big event regardless of conference, border rivalries or history.
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Finishing games key to getting Ferndale back in win column
Veteran coach Tony Penna Sr. knows the difference between a winless season and a respectable record sometimes comes down to a few plays, a big stop – or a strong finish.
Last season, Ferndale lost all nine of its games.
But the record might have been much different had the Yellow Jackets fared better in the second half of their first five games. -
WestPAC title games washed out; one playoff game still on tap
The WestPAC will have to wait another day to crown its baseball and softball champions.
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