The Dallas Post SportsWeek § . Softball preview Lady Knights will be top contender { A By LEN KRYESKI Sports Writer The 1995 edition of the Lake- Lehman softball team features a lineup that strikes fear and worry into the hearts of opposing coaches. The main concern for Flossy Finn, the Lady Knights coach, is whether or not the girls will de- velop enough of a killer instinct to win the close games and carry them into post-season action. “(Lehman students) make nice people,” said Finn, “not necessar- ily championship teams.” The veteran mentor added that a couple of wins will quickly build confidence. Once the girls are told they're good and begin to realize it themselves, the victories and titles usually follow. Seven returning lettermen from last year’s 10-6 squad form the nucleus of what should be one of the best teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Leading the way is the Lady Knights battery of senior pitcher Jen Birt and sophomore catcher Kim Spencer. Birt, one of the hardest working girls in the con- ference, accepted an athletic scholarship to Radford College last week. Although not overpower- ing, the junk ball specialist pitched nearly every varsity inning for Lehman a season ago. Spencer batted .340 in '94. The duo is also quite familiar with one another, having played little league, teen- ~ ers and high school ball together. The Lady Knights will have more depth on the the mound this year than last. Autumn Wood, a good fastball pitcher, gives Finn the option of providing Birt some relief this spring - a luxury she really didn't have last year. The starting infield also ap- pears to be solid. At first base “Those 10 (starting) players - all have great attitudes. They have ability, attitude and experience.” Flossie Finn Lake-Lehman softball coach there's three year starter Kelly Spencer. “She's always in the game and hustles all the time,” said Finn of her junior first sacker. The starting third baseman is senior co-captain, Nicole Naugle. Naugle is also the club’s backup catcher and could play second base or the outfield, but she’s extremely potent with the bat. “She has a great bat and must be in the lineup,” said Finn. “She’s the leader of the team.” The keystone combination will see Amy Rogers at shortstop and freshman Darby Wolfe at second. Rogers, the other co-captain, was fifth in the conference in batting last year with a .469 average. Wolfe brings a great attitude and some natural ability to the team. Finn indicated the freshman sen- sation could start at any position except catcher. The two aren't going to embarrass Lehman on the field either. “Who's going to be stronger up the middle?” asked Finn. “I'd like to see the team that’s stronger up the middle than Wolfe and Ro- | The Knights’ speedy outfield gers.” will see junior Missy Gray in left, senior Terry Macieczyk in center and junior Jonelle Elgaway in right. Sophomore Kacie Ziomek See LEHMAN, pg. 10 Pitching will lead the way for Dallas By LEN KRYESKI Sports Writer 1994 was quite a year for the Dallas softball team. The Lady Mountaineers used a 13-3 season to capture the Wyoming Valley Conference AAA North before los- ing the District II championship to Berwick. The team lost a couple of play- ers to graduation including their best, Kelly Janosky, but will field a quality group including 14 re- turning players in '95. Whether it's good enough to edge out both Lake-Lehman and Tunkhannock in the AAA north is a puzzling question. “I see Tunkhannock and Lehman; I don't see us this year,” said coach Jay Pope. “Tunkhan- nock is loaded. They're a senior laden team with everybody back from last year. Lehman has some excellent players, good pitching and coaching. I think the north is going to be a two team race.” Pope highlighted his team as having an excellent work ethic, pride in the program, team unity, a respectable defense, a strong battery and a veteran pitching staff. While everyone has made prog- ress during the off-season, some of the team's better players have made the most improvement. First baseman Suzanne Fisher, second sacker Holly Baseski, catcher Therese Paxton and pitcher Katie Sallitt were all named to an all- scholastic team in '94 and have been equally if not more impres- sive during the pre-season. “Those four kids, have all got- ten better than they were last year.” Pope said. Sallitt is the leader of a strong group of hurlers. She'll be joined on the mound by fellow senior Kelly West and sophomore Sandy McCloud. Those three will do the “I see Tunkhannock and Lehman; I don’t see us this year.” Jay Pope Dallas softball coach bulk of the pitching and freshman Jennifer Geiger has been showing a world of promise. How much varsity playing time she receives depends on how fast she matures, but Pope promised you'll hear a lot about the youngster over the next four years. Sallitt, who won nine games last year, will also serve some time as a designated hitter when not pitching. She batted .386 a season ago. - Paxton topped the conference with a .557 batting average and played tremendous defense in center field in '94. This year she'll return to the catching position she played as a sophomore. The ' Dallas coaching staff was very high on freshman Carrie Cave to be the team’s backstop, but she’s out for the season with a knee injury. Pope indicated the team has yet to be at full strength this spring because of a rash of injuries and alot ofillness. The girls have been hit by the same virus that plagued the girls’ soccer team a few weeks ago. Fisher and Baseski form the right side of an infield that figures to play together for a while. Both are juniors, while sophomore Melanie Getz has handled the move to shortstop from third base with ease. The hot corner belongs to freshman Becky Beisel. “We knew (Becky) could play,’ said Pope. “She's coming along real well.” See DALLAS, pg 10 The Dallas Mountaineer track teams continued their domination of the with dual meet wins over Wyoming Area and Pittston April 13. In the photo above, Stephanie Werner took off on the triple jump. She placed second. At left, Cory Freidel cleared 11 feet to finish third in the pole vault. The Mount's Adam Hoover placed first. Both teams were in first place in AA, and undefeated after the meet. POST PHOTOS/RON BARTIZEK RBEGR SRG their answers... Local players glad strike's over While he was interviewing coaches and players for pre- views of Dallas and Lake-Lehman softball and baseball teams, sports writer Len Kryeski asked how the local players felt about the end of ‘I'm glad it’s over because it’s a major pastime and most people like to watch.” Darby Wolfe, Lake-Lehman softball “It’s good for the fans that the pros are back.” Mike Viglone, Dallas baseball “It’s good; it’s fun for us to watch baseball. Everybody likes to watch it.” Jason Seward, Dallas baseball “I'm glad they're back. I'm looking forward to watching the games. There's a possibility they're going to strike again or the owners can lock them out, but for now I'm glad.” “I really don’t care. I don’t watch major league baseball. As long as football doesn’t strike.” Rich Butcofski, Dallas baseball “It’s good for baseball..... stadium. I think people were starting to lose interest in the sport.” get the fans back in the “I'm very happy. Someday I hope to play baseball and make it my career. The lock out may happen and it may not.” “I'm indifferent. Neither side seemed to want to budge, it’s kind of ridiculous after a while. I wouldn’t mind seeing the replacement players start the season.” Jason Cadwalader, assistant coach, Dallas baseball “I'm glad it’s over. I was hoping they'd get into some type of agreement. The players are overpaid, but it’s the owners fault.” Dwight Barbacci, coach, Lake-Lehman baseball the baseball strike. Here are . | PUES kris Mike DeFrancesco, Dallas baseball Jeff Kunkle, Dallas baseball John Oliver, Lake-Lehman baseball Keystone Games entries available Entry booklets for both the 1995 Keystone State Summer Games and the Pennsylvania Senior Games are now available. The Summer Games will be held August 2-6 in Harrisburg. The Senior Games will be held July 25-29 at Shippensburg Uni- versity, Shippensburg. The '95 Summer Games in- clude 34 teams and individual sports for athletes of all ages. Statewide regional tryouts for team sports will be held in April, May and June. The Pennsylvania Senior Games is targeted for athletes age 55 and above and includes 20 sports. Pennsylvania residents of amateur athletic status who would like an entry booklet may contact the Games office at 1-800-445- 4559 or 717-823-3164 weekdays between 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or send a postcard with your name, address and telephone number to the Keystone State Games, 31 S. Hancock St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Back Mountain wrestlers place at Keystone meet Results of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Senior All-Star Duals, sponsored by the Keystone State Games are: Northeastern Pennsylvania Senior All-Star Duals: 125 - Allen Scott (Lake-Lehman) pinned Doug Phillips (Lacka- wanna Trail), 1:30. (6-6). 136 - Mike Stuart, (Lake- Lehman) dec. Todd Lazuka (West Scranton), 7-1. (9-12). 141 - Tim Sayre (Lake-Lehman) dec. Jason Miller (West Scranton) 11-1. (13-12). : 151 - John Woods (Lake- Lehman) dec. Jared Nudelman (Bishop O'Hara), 10-1. (20-12). 166 - Tim Meagher (Honesdale) dec. Ryan Gold (Lake-Lehman) 3.0. (23-15). 195 - Don Lamberton (Hones- dale) dec. Mike Budzak (Lake- Lehman), 8-2. (23-21). Hwt. - Vito Pilosi (Lake-Lehman) pinned Dave Leuthe (Lackawanna Trail), 1:32. (32-21). Wyoming Valley Class AA Northern Tier 125 - Scott (Lake-Lehman) dec. George (Sayre), 8-7 (3-6). 136 - Stuart (Lake-Lehman) feit. (33-24). dec. Burrows (NE Bradford), 5-1 (16-12). : 141 - Sayre (Lake-Lehman) dec. Valenzuela (Towanda), 2-1 (9-12). 151 - Woods (Lake-Lehman) dec. Lehman (Canton) (15-12). 166 - Gold (Lake-Lehman) dec. Vassey (NE Bradford), 7-5 (21- 12). 195 - Budzak (Lake-Lehman) dec. Coolbaugh (Towanda) 3- 2(07), (245-15). Hwt. Guch (Coudersport) dec. Pilosi (Lake-Lehman), 24-24. Wyoming Valley Class AAA ‘Wyoming Valley Class AA 125 Scott (Lake-Lehman) dec. Luce (Wilkes-Barre Coughlin) 6- 3. (6-3). 136 - Stuart (Lake-Lehman) dec. Kassick 2-1. (12-6). 141 - Sayre (Lake-Lehman) dec. Austin (Wyo. Valley West) 8-3. (12-9). 151 - Spagnulo (Wilkes-Barre Coughlin) dec. Woods (Lake- Lehman) 5-3. (15-15). 195 - Seitz (Wyo. Valley West) pinned Budzak (Lake-Lehman) 58 (30-18). Hwt. Pilosi (Lake-Lehman) for- Back Mountain players selected to the Frank P. Crossin Memorial Basketball Tournament All-star team, are Theresa Guntli, Maria Wright-Gate of Heaven; Janelle Perlis, Humphrey's (Lake- Lehman). Maria Wright was named the tournament's M.V.P.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers