Section 2 Wednesday, June 8, 1994 Seasons °end too quickly By DAVE KONOPKI Sports Writer This wasn’t supposed to be the way their seasons should end. Heading into last Thursday afternoon, three Back Mountain high school athletic teams were still alive in their quest for a Dis- trict 2 title in their respective sports. But by Friday night, the cham- pionship hopes of all three teams had come to an abrupt halt. The Dallas girls’ softball team saw their season end with a 10-2 loss to Berwick in the D-2 title contest last Thursday afternoon at Coal Street Park. The Lady Mounts, under head coach Jay Pope, finished the season with a record of 14-4 and as the Wyo- ming Valley Conference Class AAA North Division champion. On Friday night, the Back Mountain athletic communtiy was dealt a double whammy when @ Lake Lehman lost their District 2 Class AA baseball final to Ha- nover, 6-0, and the Dallas base- ball team completed the reverse sweep, suffering a 14-8 loss to Valley View in the Class AAA championship game. Both games were played at Lackawanna County Stadium. Lehman, under head coach Dwight Barbacci, ended its sea- son with a 14-2 mark and as the Wyoming Valley Conference Class AA West Division champions. The Mountaineers, piloted by head coach Jack Wolensky, ended their season at 13-7 and advanced further than any WVC Class AAA team this year. It's because of those accom- plishments the players of all three ~ teams and their coaches, can call ® the 1994 season a success. Although the pain of the loss still lingered for days following their defeat, it didn't take long for Pope and the Mountaineers to reflect on their achievements. SportsWeek The agony The Dallas Post POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK Dallas pitcher Katie Sallitt looks dejected as head coach Jay Pope tries to rally his troops during the Mounts’ loss to Berwick Thursday. The Lady Mounts ended the season with a 14-4 record and the con- ference North division championship. “It probably started to sink in on the bus ride home from the Berwick game,” said Pope, when asked when his team realized what they had accomplished this sea- son. “With the number of games we had to play, and the numbr of big games we had to play, during the last two weeks of the season, we didn't have the luxury to sit back and think about what we had done. “This team probably took this loss harder than any loss inmy 13 years at Dallas,” Pope continued. “They weren't upset when they lost, but because they felt they let each other down. But we told the kids they were still champions and they achieved every goal we set before the season began. It was a tremendous season for everyone.” Like Pope, Barbacci's post- game comments concentrated.on the positive things his team ac- complished this season. “We wanted to win our division and finish the regular season with the best record among AA teams,” said Barbacci, who saw his team struggle offensively in the title Giants end Rangers’ "34-game win streak The Giants ended the Rangers’ regular-season winning streak at 34 games, Ryan Sorber and Josh Katyl of the Phillies combined to throw the league's second no-hit- ter of the season and the Reds’ Jonathan Habrack hit his National League-leading fifth home run to highlight major league action in Week 7 in Back Mountain Base- ball. The Giants defeated the Rang- ers, 5-4 last Tuesday, ending the Rangers winning streak which dated back to 1992. The Giants then beat the Indians, 9-8 on Saturday to raise their record to 10-3 as they took over sole pos- session of first place in the NL. Sorber and Katyl allowed just one base runner en route to the no-hitter as the Phillies beat the A's 20-0. In fact, the Phillies pitching staff came within one pitch of throwing back-to-back no hitters last week, tossing a one-hitter at the Red Sox earlier in the week in a 14-0 win. Game results GIANTS 5 - RANGERS 4 Joel Whipple went the distance, allowing just four hits while strik- ing out 12, and had the game- winning hit, a two-run double, to lead the Giants. J.B. Bucha led the Giant offense with two hits, including a double, while Whipple also had pair of hits. Matt Wycal- lis and Brian Vetter each had doubles for the Rangers. Wycallis pitched well despite the loss, al- lowing just five hits while striking out eight and walking just one. PHILLIES 20- A'S 0 Ryan Sorber and Josh Katyl combined for a no-hitter, allowing just one batter above, the mini- mum. Sorber struck out eight in three innings while Katyl fanned four in two innings. Chuck Whitehead (two doubles) and Josh Lesinski (two doubles) led the Phillies with four hits apiece. Ryan Sorber had three hits, including two doubles while Matt Hoover had a pair of singles for the Phil- lies, who had 17 base hits. Matt Jackson, who walked in the first inning, was the lone A's baserun- ner. : STANDINGS National American League League Giants 10-3 Rangers 13-1 Dodgers 10-4 Tigers 7-1 Phillies 9-4 A's 6-8 Reds 8-6 Red Sox 6-8 Astros 6-8 Indians 4-10 Cardinals 4-10 Yankees 4-10 Pirates 3-11 Orioles 3-11 REDS 5-A'S3 Jon Habrack picked up the mound win, striking out 14, and hit his fifth home run of the year to lead the Reds. Dan Fetko had two hits, including a triple, for the Reds while David Jumper, Dan Laurenzi and Habrack had one hit apiece. Mike Sabol, Matt Jackson, Dan Marascio and Lloyd Droppers each had hits for the A's. Marascio pitched well for the A’s allowing just five hits and striking out five in going the dis- tance. : PHILLIES 14 - RED SOX 0 Chuck Whitehead had three hits, including a double and his second home run in three games to lead the Phillies. Whitehead also combined with Ryan Sorber and Josh Katyl to toss a one- hitter with three trio combining to . strikeout 15 batters. Whitehead fanned seven in three inings while Sorber struck out all six batters he faced. Josh Lesinski had two hits, including a double, for the winners while Sorber added a double. John Lukasavage had the lone hit for the Red Sox, a double. GIANTS 9 - INDIANS 8 Tom Byron and Pat Mulhern each had two doubles and Mike Domzalski struck out seven bat- ters in going the distance to lift the Giants over the Indians. Kevin Piekara and Brian Endrusick each had a pair of hits for the Indians, who battled back from an early 9- 0 deficit. DODGERS 14 - YANKEES 3 Steve Moyer struck out nine batters in five innings to lift the Dodgers over the Yankees. Moyer also had a good game at the plate, collecting three hits. Matt Loftus, Mehalchick, T.J. Doughtery and John Isaac each had two hits for the winners, including a double by Isaac. Matt Zinn led the Yan- kees with a triple while Brad Feleccia and Steve Federspiel had a single apiece. CARDINALS 6 - YANKEES 4 Matt Metz allowed just one hit over the final three innings and struckout four as the Cards edged the Yankees. John Pitcavage, led the Cardinals with two hits, in- cluding a double while Mike Re- gan added a two-base hit for the winners. Brad Feleccia and Matt Zinn each belted doubles for the Yankees. Kevin Yurko struck out eight batters in going the distance for the Yanks. RANGERS 4 - DODGERS 3 Mike Faneck struck out 14 batters and allowed just four hits as the Rangers hung on to beat the Dodgers. Mike Faneck and Nate Hoffman each had a single and double for the Rangers, while Tim Faneck added a pair of singles. Steve Moyer led the Dodgers with two hits, including a double, while Eric Kowalek added a two-run double during the Dodger come- back in the sixth inning to cut the Ranger lead to 4-3. RANGERS 7 - CARDINALS 5 Matt Wycallis had two singles and a double to lift the Rangers over the Cardinals. Darrell Evans picked up the mound win, strik- ing out five in going the distance. Chad Williams and Steve Liparella each had two hits for the Cardi- nals. game. “We accomplished both of those goals. I told the kids to be proud of the season they had and that I was very proud of them. A 14-2 record was really nice con- sidering we only had two people returning from last year that played the same position. This was a good group of kids, a quiet group which just went about its business - winning baseball games.” At Dallas, Wolensky wasn't See SEASONS, pg 10 By DAVE KONOPKI Sports Writer All Brian Brady ever wanted was the chance. The chance to prove to himself, his coaches and his teammates that he could play the game of football. And play it well. He got his chance — no — he earned his chance, winning the job as starting quarterback of the Dallas High School football team in his junior year. He made the most of the opportunity, re-writ- ing the Dallas record books and “Jeading the team to the school's first-ever PIAA Class AA state championship last fall. Now, Brian Brady wants an- other chance. A chance to prove to himself, his coaches and his teammates that he can play the game of football - college football. And play it well. This fall, he'll get that chance. The son of Tom and Kathy Brady of Shavertown has committed to Shippensburg University where he willbe a member of the school's NCAA Division II football team this fall. The decision by Brady capped a long and sometimes hectic recruiting process for the 18-year-old senior. In the end, he chose Shippensburg over Division III national power Lycoming. “I really liked the school,” said Brady of Shippensburg, which is coached by Rocky Reeves. “It seemed the right way to go. My parents were very supportive and they said the decision was up to me. A lot of people gave me their input. 1 took everything into consideration and made my own decision. The coach (Reeves) said they would give me the chance to play quarterback. That's all I've ever wanted, the chance to play football.” For those with short memories or who spent last fall living on a secluded island with Jimmy Hendrix and Elvis Presley, Brady led the Mountaineers to the state championship, passing for more than 1,900 yards and 21 touch- BM School news HB Classified ® Calendar Brady going to Shippenshuig POST FILE PHOTO HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN - Brian Brady is shown during the Mountaineers' 14-7 win over Bermudian Springs in the state semifinal game last December. downs en route to being named the Pennsylvania Small School First Team All-State quarterback by the Associated Press. Brady finished his two years as Dallas quarterback by passing for more than 3,500 yards and 40 touch- downs. He was also a dominant force on defense, picking off 11 passes last season, returning four of those for touchdowns, and earning a reputation as one of the most ferocious hitters in any sec- ondary in the state. He was re- cruited by numerous schools throughout the East Coast as both aquarterback and defensive back. Despite those numbers, there were, and continue to be, those who believe Brady's size (6-0, 180- pounds) and average speed may prevent him from becoming an outstanding collegiate football player. - But Brady has a huge heart and the big numbers where it matters most - in the win column. Just ask his high school coach - See BRADY pg 10 POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK SCORE ONE FOR THE RANGERS - Tim Faneck of the Rangers slides into home ahead of the throw in the Rangers game against the Cardinals last Sunday. Waiting in vain for the throw is Cardinals catcher Nick Harris. RED SOX 7 - PIRATES 4 Winning pitcher John Luka- savage allowed just one hit in three innings, striking out five, to lead the Red Sox over the Pirates. Brett Larson led the Red Sox of- fense with a double and triple while Louis Spurlin also had two hits. Adam Pelak blasted a three- run home run for the Pirates in the first inning. Mike Kashnicki had three hits, including a double, while Dan Fauerbach added a triple. ASTROS 9 - TIGERS 5 Damien Temperine and Greg Stanislow combined to pick up the mound win to lead the Astros in a come-from-behind win over. the Tigers. David Walters led the Astros with three hits while Ricky Branco and Lorne Trapani each had a pair of hits. Justin Ta- manini led the Tigers with two hits while Robbie Amann and Brian Phillips each had a double. JR. LEAGUE (13-YEAR OLD) RESULTS ROCKIES 6 - HARVEYS LAKE 1 L.J. Ishley had four hits, in- cluding three doubles, to lead the Rockies. Kevin Pizzano added two hits for the Rockies. ROCKIES 5 - AVOCA/DUPONT 2 Winning pitcher Kyle Droppers struck out eight batters in three innings without allowing a hit, to lead the Rockies over Avoca. E.J. Ishley led the Rockies with two hits while Marcus Sowcik, Chris Tucker, Mike Sabol and Justin Hoover had the only other hits for the winners. SR. LEAGUE (14 & 15-YEAR OLD) RESULTS INDIANS 4 - A’s 2 Chris Lohin picked up the win as the Indians downed the A's at the Lackawanna County Stadium. David Williams, Jarod Perlis, Kevin West and Brad Adams had hits for the winners. No informa- tion was provided for the A's. PIRATES 8 - INDIANS 7 The Pirates scored three runs in the seventh inning to post the come-from-behind win. Rick Lorah and John Martin each had two hits for the Pirates while Fran Brown picked up the mound win. David Williams had four hits for the Indians while Brad Adams had three (two triples) and Joe Ellsworth and Mike Sabol had two hits apiece.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers