| jl @ July 23, 2006 Tue POST PAGE 9 Sports Week SPORTS BRIEFS Softball tournament to benefit autism Lake-Lehman High School students Amanda Kotulski and Katlin vans will be holding a co-ed softball tourna- ment Aug. 19-20 at Lake- Noxen Elementary School field and the Harveys Lake Little League field. The fields are across the street from one an- other on West Point Avenue in Harveys Lake. The time of the games will be determined when the brackets are set. Proceeds from the event will be Supporting Autism & Families Ev- erywhere. Kotulski and Evans are organizing the tourna- ment as part of their senior project to raise awareness of autism. There will also be a celebrity auction with memorabilia signed by & celebrities in both the /) acting and sports arenas. The coed adult teams must consist of players ages 17 and older. The cost is $100 per team or $10 per player. For more information, call 639-2163 or 639- 5606. Lake-Lehman sets fall sports physicals Lake-Lehman Junior- Senior High School will hold fall sports physicals in the nurse’s office on the following dates at the school on Old Route 115 in Lehman Town- ship: Aug. 1, 9 a.m. - senior high boys Aug. 4, 9 a.m. — senior high girls Aug. 8, 9 a.m, — junior high boys and girls Aug. 10, 5 p.m. — This will be the final day of physicals for boys and girls in junior and senior high who were unable to make the previous phys- ical dates. A parent or guardian must sign all forms prior to the exam. Physical forms maybe obtained from the main office at the high school during regular school hours. For more information, call 675-7458. CM to host tennis camp College Misericordia will host a Junior Tennis Camp each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 16 at the tennis complex. The camp will be under the direction of head coach Allison Joan- lanne. The camp will feature sessions for four differ- ent age groups. The cost for pee wees (3% to 5), beginners (6 and older) and interme- diates is $12 per day for one-hour sessions. An advanced academy will be offered in three- hour sessions for $40 per day. For more information, call 674-6289. 44 Back Mountain American pitcher Jordan Stephens fires a pitch during the West Division championship game against Back Mountain National. Continuing the tradition BMT Junior League all-stars win title for third consecutive year By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor anager Frank Olshem- ski wasn’t worried about the expectations. He just wanted his Back Mountain Junior League allstars to play as well as they could. And that’s exactly what they've done. Back Mountain used quality pitch- ing, timely hitting and good defense to capture the District 16 champion- ship last week, earning a berth in the Section 4 tournament. At press time, Back Mountain was preparing to take the field against the District 29 cham- pions in the double-elimination tour- nament at Hyde Park in West Scran- ton. “The expectations are usually pret- ty high for Back Mountain teams,” said Olshemski, who was an assistant coach on last year’s Junior League team that finished second in the state. “People expect Back Mountain to advance past the district level. I thought we had a good shot at win-- ning districts, but we werent worry- ing about it. I just wanted the kids to play good baseball.” The Junior League boys weren't the only Back Mountain team to play well in the District 16 tournaments. Back Mountain National captured the West Division championship on the Little League level before losing against East Division Mountain Top in the title game. Back Mountain American advanced to the West final in the tournament and Harveys Lake finished third. The Back Mountain Senior League boys — under the direction of manag- er Joe Phillips — also came close to winning a district title, losing to Plains/North Wilkes-Barre in the championship game. And the Back Mountain American 9-10-year old all- stars were undefeated in their Dis- trict 16 tournament at press time. The team is under the direction of manager Greg Ptorek. The Junior League all-stars cruised to the title, defeating: three of their opponents via the 10-run rule. “We've been getting good pitch- ing,” said Olshemski. “We also have been playing excellent defense and we've been hitting the ball well. We've been doing well in all aspects of the game.” The head coach says it won't get easier as the postseason continues. “There are no weak spots the deep- er you get,” he said. “Every hitter is a Back Mountain American's Bobby Saba is all smiles after hitting a home run. good hitter. Every pitcher is a good pitcher. It makes for some very good baseball.” In Little League, Back Mountain National got the opportunity to play in the inaugural — and final — cham- pionship game between the east and west division champions. In previous years, all D16 teams played in one double-elimination tournament. And next year, the district will be divided into District 16 and District 31. “The kids played really well and I'm very proud of them,” said Nation- al manager Scott Jenkins. “Coming into the tournament, I didn’t know much about the other teams. Moun- tain Top was big. They had some kids who were enormous. We also had play Saturday, Sunday and then turn around and play again Monday. So anyone who pitched Saturday or Sunday couldnt throw Monday. It was tough, but give Mountain Top credit. They played well.” American manger John Perez was —————y PHOTOS FOR THE TIMES LEADER/ CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Back Mountain American catcher Jason Schilling attempts to tag out Back Mountain National's Drew Brandt happy to see an all-Back Mountain championship game in the West Divi- sion. “It’s always kind of neat to see the league being represented well,” he said. “It’s always bad to lose, but Scott (Jenkins) and I are good friends. If we're going to lose, then it’s better to lose to someone I know. I think (two teams in the final) says something about the Back Mountain league.” AMERICAN LEGION The Back Mountain American Le- gion team finished an impressive year under manager Tom Evans. The Hawks advanced to the play- offs for the first time in four years. Back Mountain advanced to the los- ers bracket final before losing against Plymouth.
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