NJ 0g ‘9 3 ¢ @ J ’ The Dallas Post Section 2 April 21, 1999 ‘Sports w By KEVIN CURCIO Post Correspondent LEHMAN - The Lake-Lehman and Dallas baseball teams met for the first time this season April 15, and the game was all it was ex- pected to be. Afterward, it was nice to see sportsmanship alive and well in the Back Mountain. Lake-Lehman came from be- hind to drop Dallas’s record to 3- 1 but Dallas head coach Bittner is not bitter. “We lost a heartbreaker to Lake-Lehman,” said Bittner. “We were winning until the bot- tom of the seventh. | tip my hat to Lehman. I think it will be us two in the end.” Dallas came into this season expected to finish in first place in Class AAA, Division 2 of the Wyoming Valley Conference. The admiration is mutual. * Dallasisagreat team,” says coach Scott Miner of Lake-Lehman. Miner, however, had no predic- tions for how the season would conclude. “I don't make predic- tions. We'll play one game at a time and hopefully we'll make the playoffs.” Lake-Lehman finished last season with a 14-12 record to finish first in AA. This season, Lehman joins Dallas in AAA. Miner is a little concerned with the change in leagues. “Coming from single and double A to triple A is causing a lack of concentration among the team.” replied Miner when asked what he believed to be Lehman's weaknesses. Miner added, “We have good starting pitching, but lack pitching depth.” Miner felt that among the team’s strengths are experience and hitting. Lehman's starting line up in- cludes Greg Woronko, Rich Patton, Paul Kapral, D.J. Kapson and Chad Sorber. Woronko was the league MVP last year. “Woronko will be recruited from Division | on down.” Miner said. Patton has been starting since he was a freshman. Kapral will likely be recruited by Division III, and Sorber will be recruited by Divi- sion II, the coach thinks. Miner's philosophy is that his players need to be self-motivated. “I'm not a Rah! Rah! coach.” said Miner. “It’s difficult to motivate the ‘90’s player.” Over at Dallas, John Bittner is enthusiastic about the season ahead. Dallas split first in the league last season, with Nanticoke and Wyoming Area, after sweep- ing eight of the last nine games. Dallas finished with a*record of 11-6. Unlike Lehman, Dallas played in AAA last year. “Every game's a war in this league.” said Bittner. “There are no easy teams.” Bittner feels the team’s great- est strength is his left handed pitcher John Habrack. Habrack, who also plays right field, and is a team co-captain, was last season’s See BASEBALL, pg 10 John Habrack had his worst outing in a couple of years against Lehman last week. But he bounced back Monday to pitch three scoreless innings as Dallas beat Hanover. Arsenal U-13 boys advance to It was agony for the Blues and ecstasy for Arsenal as the four Back Mountain Youth Soccer As- sociation travel teams completed group play on Saturday in EPYSA’s State Challenge Cup. The four teams went undefeated, with two wins and two ties, but the Blues went home the most disappointed, having to settle for a 1-1 draw when a one-goal victory would have advanced them to the quarterfinals. The Arsenal, Blues, Legacy and Freedom finished group play with an impressive combined record of 6 wins, 2 losses - and 3 draws. Arsenal 3 - Capitol Area Bandits 2 In Harrisburg, Back Mt. Arse- nal U-13 Boys exacted revenge against the defending state cham- pions with a 3-2 victory. Capitol Area eliminated Arsenal from last year's tournament but the local boys returned the favor to win their group with a perfect 3-0 record. Capitol Area scored off a corner Kick five minutes into the match but Arsenal answered back just five minutes later when Will Guilardi followed up Richard Eckman’s shot off the crossbar. Jason George extended the Arse- nal lead to 2-1 late in the first half before the Bandits knotted the score just 22 seconds before in- termission. George proved the hero once again as he scored on a second half breakaway to put Ar- senal through to the semifinals. Arsenal will play on Saturday, May 1 against Swatara Coventry at a site and time TBA. Blues 1 - Exeter Eagles 1 The Back Mt. Blues U-11 Boys received good news in Reading before the match even started ockey Parents’ when they learned that Greater Chester Valley and Havertown played to a 3-3 draw earlier in the day. Avictory over the 0-2 Eagles is all the Blues needed to win group play and advance to the final eight, but Saturday was not to be their day. Five minutes into the match a Kyle Shymanski goal was ruled offside. At the 15- minute mark the Blues put one in that counted when Johnny Gyory streaked by two defenders on the right side and crossed the ball beautifully to Shymanski who buried it into the back of the Eagles’ net. Exeter equalized just before the half to build the drama. Despite constant pressure in the second half, the Blues could not get the goal that would have seen them through the next round. The Blues and Greater Chester Valley finished group play with identical 1-0-2 records including a 1-1 draw between them. GCV advanced based on their 6 “goals for” and 4 “goals against” versus the Blues 5 “goals for” and 4 “goals against”. Legacy 1 - Council Rock Mutiny 0 The Back Mt. Legacy U-11 Girls finished in second place in their bracket with a 1-0 away victory against the Council Rock Mutiny. Historically one of the finest clubs in Eastern Pennsylvania, Council Rock's representative held Legacy to a scoreless first half. The visi- tors came alive in half-number two and Jessica Callahan got the game's only goal to make Legacy winners. Sara Sweptston earned the shutout in goal as legacy fin- ished group play with 2-1 record. See SOCCER, pg 10 Association will hold 6, at 7 p.m. at the senior POST PHOTOS/JIM PHILLIPS Lehman's Matt Marchakitus was ready to go either way as a ball left the bat against Dallas last week. Jason Baker reacted to the play. Gathering to announce his choice of Johns Hopkins, Chris Tucker held his sister, Melissa, on his lap, while his parents, James and Christine sat beside him. Standing, from left, Bill Silvi, assisant football coach; Ted Jackson, head football coach; Jack Wolensky, athletic director. Chris Tucker will head to Johns Hopkins By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS - When he was in sev- enth grade, Chris Tucker scored high enough on a test to qualify for the Johns Hopkins Talent Search. He visited the Baltimore school in seventh and eighth grades to take part in programs for talented youth. Now, as a graduating senior, he will head to Johns Hopkins in the fall to study economics or political science. “I liked it then,” he said, “and I like it now.” While the Division III univer- sity does not offer athletic schol- arships, Tucker feels his skill as an end on the Dallas High School football team helped him gain acceptance at the prestigious school. “I probably wouldn't have gotten in,” without some creden- “] liked it then, and . llkeit now,” Chris Tucker Dallas senior tials on the field, he said. Tucker is comfortable with the 3,000 undergraduate school and the city it's located in. His uncle lives there, and when he went to visit recently, Scott Townsend, a 1997 Dallas graduate who will be a junior, showed him around the campus. Townsend also plays on the Johns Hopkins team. While Dallas isn’t known as a passer’'s team, Tucker was the primary target for quarterbacks the last couple of years. He credits his experience under head coach Ted Jackson with helping him develop discipline and learn the concept of playing as a team. “They knew about the pro- gram,” Tucker said of the Johns Hopkins coaches. And they knew Dallas to be a good academic school, especially for students like Tucker who take advanced place- ment courses. He is among the top 25 students in this year’s graduating class at Dallas. But football wasn’t the decid- ing factor. “I wanted to get the best education possible,” Tucker said. Dickinson and the Univer- sity of Rochester were other pos- sibilities, but Johns Hopkins won out, especially with the help of a “generous” grant that will help meet the $34,000 yearly tuition. Still, he hopes to help the team reach a higher level of success. Johns Hopkins has gone 7-3 the last three seasons. “They want to get over the hump this year,” Tucker said, and he wants to help them get there. SPORTS ROUNDUP SOCCER Valley West 8, Dallas 0 It was a long day in goal for Melonie Sappe, as the Spartans outshot Dallas 21 to nine. Sappe stopped 12 shots. Coughlin 4, Lehman 0 The Lady Knights just couldn't get going against Coughlin April 17, as they managed only 11 shots and two corners. Trish Pilosi stopped five of the Crusaders’ 15 shots. Abington 3, Dallas 2 Abington scored the winning goal in the second overtime period to stop the Mounts. Dallas had taken the lead in the second half, but Abington responded a minute later to tie. Holly Shiber and Jesse Tarity scored for Dallas, with Tarity assisting on Shiber’s goal. Maureen McGuire had the other assist. Melonie Sappe stopped 13 shots, as both teams had plenty of chances. Lehman 3, O’Reilly 0 The Lady Knights exploded in the second half after a scoreless first period. Jenna Elston scored twice and assisted the third goal. Sara Rittenhouse and Alyson Bevan picked up the other as- sists. Lehmen peppered the O'Reilly goal with 19 shots while holding the Queenswomen to five. Trish Pilosi stopped five shots. Dallas 2, Crestwood 1 Dallas outshot the Comets 26 to 16, and had 8 corners to 4 as the Mounts found the goal once in each half. Jesse Tarity assisted Maureen McGuire for the first goal and scored the second with an assist from Jenni Raub. Melonie Sappe had 14 saves. Lehman 1, Sem 1 Sem scored first, Lehman an- swered and two scoreless overtimes later the game ended in a tie. Kristen Roberts scored for See ROUNDUP, pg 10
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