There aren’t many names on the Conemaugh Valley roster, but Steve Ling still would stand out even if 50 players were listed on the sheet.
The 6-foot, 175-pound senior running back leads The Tribune-Democrat coverage area with 835 rushing yards on 90 carries.
That translates into a 9.3 yards per carry average.
Ling also has an area-high 11 touchdowns for 66 points with 3-1 Conemaugh Valley.
Not bad considering that Ling and his teammates often face a challenge simply to hold a practice. The Blue Jays have 21 players on the roster when everyone is healthy.
The small numbers have made the Jays a tight-knit group that won its first three games before falling to Blacklick Valley on Saturday. Coach Tom Marshall’s team will face Windber on Friday at Windber Stadium.
“We’re very close. We’re like a family out there every time,” Ling said. “Everyone is looking to help each other all the time. Everyone has each other’s backs.”
Lining up at practice with only 21 players poses some problems, considering that 22 players are needed to hold a true intra-squad scrimmage. But that doesn’t mean the Blue Jays go through the motions during workouts.
“All practice we do all the fundamentals right. All of our guys up front are working hard every single day and it’s producing,” Ling said.
Ling’s numbers are impressive enough to earn him recognition. But the back deflected the credit to those guys who block for him.
“We’re not very large on the line, but everyone has the technique,” Ling said. “Everyone does everything right. Our line is really quick too. The technique is one of the biggest things you can have. If you have a big guy across from you, but you have the technique, it’s going to work out.”
If the line makes a hole, Ling typically will hit it.
“He’s obviously a very gifted, fast runner,” Marshall said. “He’s a hard worker. He never missed a day in the weight room the last couple of years. He’s a determined young fellow. He’s got speed, he’s got strength and he’s got toughness. We call him White Lightning, because he’s so fast.”
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Parity parade: The LHAC has been balanced through four weeks, from top to bottom.
It’s easy to look at the undefeated teams (Bishop McCort and Forest Hills) and the one-loss squad (Penn Cambria) for proof of the quality in the 12-team league.
Five teams are 2-2.
Even those at the lower end of the standings have had their moments.
Cambria Heights (1-3) beat Somerset (1-3) in overtime in Week 2. Westmont (1-3) upset Johnstown (2-2) the next weekend. Then, Somerset defeated Westmont in OT in Week 4, and Johnstown halted a two-game skid with an important win at Richland.
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Tough points: Johnstown’s defense has held its past two opponents to six points (a 17-6 win at Richland and a 6-0 loss to Westmont).
The Trojans also limited a formidable Forest Hills offense to 21 points in regulation before falling 26-21 in overtime during Week 2.
Johnstown’s offense took steps to turn a corner in last week’s win over the Rams.
Now, the Trojans are looking for a quicker start at Somerset.
In what might be labeled a hidden stat, the Trojans haven’t scored a first-half touchdown since a Week 1 win over Bedford (37-23). Johnstown trailed Forest Hills 21-0 at halftime before rallying, and the Trojans failed to score against Westmont on a rainy Week 3 Friday night.
Jon Maurizio’s field goal provided the only first-half points at Richland until his teammates put two in the end zone in the second half of a character-building win last week.
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Tackle-oriented: Ligonier’s Matt Beckman averages a whopping 20.8 tackles a game, with 83 stops (59 solo) in four contests for the 2-2 Mounties.
Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.
High School Sports
MIKE MASTOVICH | Blue Jays TB could star anywhere
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Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Young takes silver in state triple jump
Chestnut Ridge senior Michael Young capped six years of triple jumping with a silver medal Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Young had a career-best leap of 45-9¼ just behind Jared Horne of Schuylkill Valley whose winning jump was 46-9. -
Forest Hills’ Smay places fifth in Class AA long jump
Brooke Smay is moving on up.
The Forest Hills junior earned a fifth-place position in the Class AA long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3 ½ inches Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
Bishop McCort wins District 6-A baseball crown
Bishop McCort truly won the District 6 Class A baseball championship as a team on Friday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
There were more than a few huge plays. Of course a number of individuals stepped up to secure a 3-1 victory over LHAC rival Bishop Guilfoyle. -
Somerset denied 6-AAA baseball title
Hollidaysburg pitcher Dom Viduya and his Golden Tigers teammates beat defending champion Somerset 3-1 in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA championship game at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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Pitcher's 'bad day' results in no-hitter
Bridgit Yothers struggled on the mound on Thursday.
But the Chestnut Ridge right-hander was able to persevere through her issues, throwing a no-hitter against Bedford in their District 5 Class AA semifinal and helping the Lions to a 5-0 victory. -
Local athletes look to shine at PIAA track and field meet
Each of the nearly 50 area athletes who will be competing at this weekend’s PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, will be looking for his or her best performance of the season, but only the top eight finishers in each event for both boys and girls will stand on the podium in front of the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium.
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Westmont, Somerset represented at PIAA Class AA tennis tourney
The PIAA Class AA tennis tournament showcases the top players in the state, which includes three area athletes, when it begins today at the Hershey Racquet Club.
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Corridini’s hit propels Shade
Tasha Corridini had been having a tough time at the plate on Wednesday.
The Shade leftfielder had struck out twice in her prior two at-bats against Shanksville-Stonycreek pitcher Kayla Stockenus.
But in the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game with Kaily Karl on first, Corridini clubbed a triple out to the fence, scoring Karl and giving the Panthers a walk-off 1-0 win over the Vikings in a District 5 Class A softball quarterfinal. - More High School Sports Headlines
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