| ~Sunday, January 14, 2007 Tue DALLAS POST PAGE 7 i wie, standout, AP Scholar chooses : pe } E Bucknell University BY DAVE KONOPKI Dallas Post Editor ACKSON TWP. - Two years ago, Dylan Seeley came to a conclusion that would even- tually have a big impact on his life: It’s a lot more fun to throw fastballs, J curveballs and changeups than it is to | hit them. The Wyoming Seminary senior, who has blossomed into one of the premier pitchers in the Wyoming Valley Confer- | ence, recently decided to continue his | athletic and academic careers at Buck- nell University in Lewisburg. The son | of Robert and Janis Seeley of Shaver- | town will play for head coach Gene De- pew at the NCAA Division I school, | which competes in the Patriot League. From his early days of playing Little | League with Back Mountain Baseball, Inc. — his dramatic three-run home run lifted the Cardinals to the major league championship as a 12-year-old - through his sophomore year at Wyom- ing Seminary, Seeley developed a repu- tation as one of the better hitters in the region. But when then-Blue Knight head coach Dave Kaschak named the sopho- ‘more as the No. 1 starter for the Dis- § $ f ¥ trict 2 Class 2A playoffs, Seeley knew the'd found a home — on the pitching ‘rubber. “His decision gave me a lot of confi- ‘dence,” Seeley said. “It was around that time that I decided I wanted to be % ‘a pitcher. Over the last year and a half, I've really enjoy pitching. It might have b something to do about being in con- trol. When you're pitching, you have ‘control of what's taking place. I'd rath- er be on the mound than in the batter’s ; ‘box.” Seeley has gained confidence — and ‘velocity — since his first playoff game. ‘The 6-foot-3 right-hander consistently ‘throws in the 84-86 mile per hour range rand was clocked at 87 during a summer i @ league game last year. “Pm throwing a lot harder now,” said Seeley, who plays Back Mountain ‘American Legion baseball for manager ‘Tom Evans. “But I need to develop my ‘changeup. I haven't thrown it a lot, sol Shavertown resident Dylan Seeley, a se- nior Wyoming Seminary, will play baseball at Bucknell University. He is also an out- standing stu- dent, scoring almost 1,500 on the SAT. I FOR THE DALLAS POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Attending the announcement, from left, first row are Rob Seeley, Dylan Seeley and Janis Seeley. Second row: C.J. Kersey, academic adviser and Wyoming Seminary basketball coach; Dave Kaschak, former Seminary baseball coach; and Brian Kaschak, head baseball coach at Wyoming Seminary. don’t have a lot of confidence in it. I think the more I throw it, the more con- fident I'll feel.” The AP Scholar certainly feels confi- dent in the classroom. Seeley scored al- most 1,500 on the traditional SAT test and was accepted into Bucknell’s pres- tigious College of Engineering. When Seeley made his official visit to the campus in October, he spent some time with former Dallas baseball and football standout Ryan Gryskiev- icz, who is a senior member of the Bi- sons baseball team. Former Wyoming Area standout Bret Sokirka also plays on the team. “It’s a beautiful campus,” said Seeley, who also plays basketball at Seminary. “I liked everything about it. I got the chance to talk to (Gryskievicz) for a lit- tle while and he was really nice to me.” Seeley also considered playing at La- fayette, Franklin & Marshall, and Johns Hopkins. And after he attended a camp in Virginia, Frostburg State of Maryland showed some interest. But Bucknell always stayed No. 1. “I didn’t want to go to school more than three hours away,” he said. “I real- ly liked the coaching staff and the play- ers at Bucknell. I felt comfortable. And with the other (WVC) guys, I felt a con- nection to home. There was a comfort thing at Bucknell.” For Seeley, there will be at least one thing missing from the Bisons dugout — his father. The elder Seeley, an eco- nomics professor at Wilkes University, has been part of his son’s baseball ca- reer since it began. Rob Seeley is an as- sistant coach at Wyoming Seminary and the scorekeeper for the American Legion team. He also coached his son on the Little League, Junior League and Senior League levels. “It’s something I've gotten used to,” said the younger Seeley. “He’s always tried to give me the best opportunity for success and it meant a lot to me. Whenever I'm struggling, he takes me out hitting or throwing. He’s always wanted the best for me.” Seeley also credits his parents — his mother is a professor at Luzerne Coun- ty Community College — for his suc- cess in the classroom. “They certainly stress academics and they always made sure my prior- ities were straight,” he said. “It defi- nitely helped me.” Although he’ll miss his parents, See- ley says he’s ready for college life. “I'm looking forward to college,” he said. “I think it will be a good experi- ence, academically and for baseball. I'll be playing baseball year-round and on a high level. Overall, I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for me.” ie: Ne a SPOrts Tucker, Krawetz spark win Melissa Tucker scored 14 points to lead Bishop Photo to a 28-21 victory against GEM Therapeutics in Dallas Youth Basketball’s seventh and eight grade girls action. Dana Krawetz add- ed 11 points and Jessica Hiscox chipped in with a three-pointer for the winners. Tamara Nijmeh scored eight points to lead a balanced GEM attack. Sara Flaherty added six points and Meghan Martin chipped in five. 7TH/8TH GRADE BOYS Brandon Harding and Kevin Mul- doon scored 16 points each while Hayden Jenkins added 12 to the bal- anced attack, as Dr. Jack Ellis posted a 4940 win against Brace’s Orchard. Ryan Thomas tossed in six points and Garrett Artsma was the game’s lead- ing rebounder. Jordan Stephens led Brace’s with 18 points, while Paul Brace added 11. ® Marc Noyalis scored a game-high 20 point to lead EyeCare Specialists to a 5043 win against DJ Charlie Hayes. FJ. Constantino, Ryan McCarthy and Robby Hoffman each scored six points for the winners. Tra- vis Debona and Scot Riccetti led DJ Hayes with 18 and 12 points, respec- tively. ® Dustin Siperko and Mike Banas combined for 30 points as Drs. Banas, Bynon and Kim posted a 54-40 win against Bishop Photo. Jonathan Barre added six points for the win- ners. Tyler Shutlock led Bishop Pho- to with 21 points, while teammate Ke- vin Gilber added 13. e Kevin Muldoon scored a season- high 27 points to lead Dr. Jack Ellis to a convincing 60-41 win against Dougherty, Leventhal and Price. Brandon Harding added 12 points while Hayden Jenkins chipped in 10 and Devin Williams finished with five. Stephen Zapoticky scored a team-high 23 points for DLP. Team- ais Spencer Youngman added 11. stin Siperko scored 21 points iy — "Aaron Weir added T nine as Drs. "Banas, Bynon and Kim 1posted a 4632 ° st Cohen Chiroprattic Clin- ic. Bobby Saba and Chris Dillon led Cohen with 10 and eight points, re- spectively. 5TH/6TH GRADE BOYS e Eric Zawatski led all scorers with 25 points as Sheetz posted a 41-35 vic- tory against the Dough Company. Fe- lix Dolman and Blake Williams each scored six points for the winners. Darren Lupple was high scorer for the Dough Company with 11 points. Danny Saba added seven and Matt Saba chipped in four. e Jason Siminovich scored a game- high 18 points and grabbed 15 re- bounds to lead Integrated Power to a 37-29 victory against Medico Indus- tries. Ryan Georgetti and Nick Mi- chalson added two points each. Chad Debona led Medico Industries with 11 points, while Marianno Medico added 10. Brian Goode played well defensively. ¢ Ryan Zapoticky scored 16 points to lead MetLife Securities to a thrill- ing 42-41 victory against GEM Ther- apeutics. Buddy Shutlock added 12 points for the winners, while Nigel Stearns finished with six. John Mur- ray led Gem Therapeutics with 22 points. Mike Kapral and Aaron Nap- kora added seven and four points, re- spectively. ¢ Brian Stepniak scored a game- high 23 points as the Dallas Lions posted a 43-30 victory against Dr. John Kish. Mark Michno and Rocky Rutkowski finished with six points each. Nathan Kish and Mike Gallis scored 12 points each for Dr. Kish. ¢ Kyle Razawich scored 14 points to lead Diagnostic Imaging to a 29-22 victory against Gordon-Smith Insur- ance. Mike Pierce added six points and Dominic Deluca played well de- fensively. 5TH/6TH GRADE GIRLS Alyssa Menzel scored 14 points to lead Eye Care Specialists to a 31-28 win against Dougherty, Leventhal & Price. Marlee Nelson added 10 points and Jamie Wise chipped in five. Mag- gie Michael played well defensively for the winners. Samantha Missal scored a game-high 16 for DLP. Eliza- beth Dillon and Vanessa Parsons add- ed six and four points, respectively. Teammate Ashley Nicole Kapral played well defensively. 3RD/4TH GRADE BOYS Jonathan Sabatini scored eight points while Spencer Bowanko and Aleksey Gitelson added four each as C&C Sheetmetal defeated Quad Three Group, 21-11, to take over sole possession of first place in the divi- sion. Chris Biesecker played well de- fensively for C&C. Kyle Archer led Quad Three with five points. Shane Pitts was the leading rebounder, while Nick Mathers and Jeff Strazdus played well defensively. * Ryan Martin scored a game-high 12 points while Frank Bevevino and Tanner Gattuso added four points each to lead Bishop Photo to a 23-18 ‘win against The Fieldhouse. Kyle Pis- “korik® addéd "two points for ‘BisHop Photo. Brian Drouse led The Field- house with 10 points. Jonathan Wil- son added four points, while Tim EI- ston and Jesse Kincer scored two points each. e Allen Fell scored a game-high 12 points and Adam Niznik added 10 to lead D.J. Charlie Hayes to a 26-13 win against CDI. Anthony DeLuca chipped in with two points while Ste- phen Darling played well defensively. Joey Bevevino and Ray Ostroski led CDI with four points each. Team- mates Jack Tomko and Alex Kurent added two points each. ¢ Jesse Goode led the way with 10 points while Brendan Baloh added seven as Duke’s Construction edged Intermountain Health, 25-16. Ste- phen Strumski scored his first two points of the season for Duke’s while Stephen Bath played well defensive- ly. Omar Nijmeh led Intermountain with 10 points, while Chad Phillips and Nicholas Malkemes added four and two points, respectively. Cory Metz played well defensively. BOWL CONTEST WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED The college football Bowl Champion- ship Series might not be a hit with everyone, but the Dallas Post's Col- lege Football Bowl Contest certainly was. More than 70 people entered the contest, where the goal was to pick more correct winners in 24 bowl games than editor Dave Konopki. The entries are being double-checked and the winners will be announced in next week's edition. RIVALS MEET IN POOL FOR THE DALLAS POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Kasia Szulborski, above, and the Dallas girls and boys swim teams de- feated rival Lake-Lehman last week. For more photos, see Page 9. A story about the teams will appear in the Jan. 21 issue of The Dallas Post.
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