LOCAL ROUNDUP: Cougar boys' track clinches WVC tie
May 12—Hazleton Area's boys clinched a tie for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 championship Tuesday with an 85-65 victory over Pittston Area on senior recognition day at Cougar Park.
The Pittston Area girls earned a 96-54 win over the Lady Cougars.
Boys
Matthew Cusatis continued his big spring with three individual firsts in the 100, long jump and triple jump, going 44-6 to win the triple jump.
Other Cougar individual wins came from Jean Portes (110 hurdles), Hunter Nye (pole vault), Zach Keiner (1600), Beck Hutchison (400), Russell Blew (discus), Nicholas Hebel (3200) and Deylis Rodriguez (200). The Cougars' 3200 relay team of John Yunevage, Hebel, Hutchison and Keiner also won in 11:16.
With the victory, the Cougars improved to 5-0 atop the division standings, a half game ahead of Wyoming Valley West (5-1). They can clinch the division title outright with a win at Wilkes-Barre Area on Thursday in their regular-season finale.
100 — 1. Matthew Cusatis (HA) 11.4, 2. Mendez (PA), Lockett (PA); 200 — 1. Deylis Rodriguez (HA) 24.2, 2. Lockett (PA), 3. Shovlin (PA); 400 — 1. Beck Hutchison (HA) 54.7, 2. Mendez (PA), 3. Lockett (PA); 800 — 1. Klem (PA) 2:12, 2. John Yunevage (HA), 3. Hutchison (HA); 1600 — 1. Zach Keiner (HA) 4:59, 2. Klem (PA), 3. Schagan (HA); 3200 — 1. Nicholas Hebel (HA) 10:51, 2. Keiner (HA), 3. Bonczek (PA); 110 HH — 1. Jean Portes (HA) 15.8, 2. John Sidari (HA) 3. Williams (PA); 300 H — 1. Williams (P) 42.8, 2. Portes (HA), 3. Girman (PA); 400 relay — 1. Pittston Area (Behm, Lockett, Messner, Mendez) 52.3; 1600 relay — 1. Pittston Area (Williams, Barberi, Messner, Klem) 3:43; 3200 relay — 1. Hazleton Area (Yunevage, Hebel, Hutchison, Keiner) 11:16; Long jump — 1. Cusatis (HA) 19-10, 2. Behm (PA), 3. Logan Slusser (HA); Triple jump — 1. Cusatis (HA) 44-6, 2. Behm (PA), 3. Messner (PA); High jump — 1. Beam (PA) 6-0, 2. Cusatis (HA), 3. Slusser (HA); Shot put — 1. Shovlin (PA) 42-5 1/2, 2. Jhoan Robles (HA), 3. Jonanthony Sencion-Mejia (HA); Discus — 1. Russell Blew (HA) 138-2, 2. Strucke (PA), 3. Rebsli (PA); Javelin — 1. Lockett (PA) 150-5, 2. Samuell Guzman (HA), 3. Connor Kundrat (HA); Pole vault — 1. Hunter Nye (HA) 10-0, 2. Phillips (PA), 3. Greico (PA).
Girls
Pittston Area limited the Lady Cougars to five first-place finishes, and used its overall depth to run away to the win.
Hazleton Area received individual firsts from Isabella Colyer (pole vault), Kristie Semanchik (1600), Lucy Fajardo (400), Lauren Festa (high jump) and Jillian Wolk (3200).
100 — 1. Kroon (PA) 12.7, 2. Karolyn Brito (HA), 3. Lopresto (PA); 200 — 1. Kroon (PA) 27.9, 2. Brito (HA), 3. Alexis Rossi (HA); 400 — 1. Lucy Fajardo (HA) 66.7, 2. Lazevnick (PA), Greico (PA); 800 — 1. Zabrowski (PA) 2:42, 2. Ruszin (PA), 3. Kristie Semanchik (HA); 1600 — 1. Semanchik (HA) 6:03, 2. Hailey Kaschak (HA), 3. Reszin (PA); 3200 — 1. Jillian Wolk (HA) 12:28, 2. Emma Boehmer (HA), 3. Fetchko (PA); 100 H — 1. Innamorati (PA) 15.6, 2. Isabella Colyer (HA), 3. Adriana Pane (HA); 300 H — 1. Innamorati (PA) 51.6, 2. Javus (PA), 3. Pane (HA); 400 relay — 1. Pittston Area (Lopresto, Messner, Gregory, Kroon) 52.4; 1600 relay — 1. Pittston Area (Lazevnick, Kroon, Ruszin, Innamorati) 4:32; 3200 relay — 1. Pittston Area (Ruszin, Lazevnick, Dietrick, Zabrowski) 10:54; Long jump — 1. Messner (PA) 15-7, 2. Brito (HA), 3. Lauren Festa (HA); Triple jump — 1. Messner (PA) 34-7, 2. Festa (HA), 3. Okuniewski (PA); High jump — 1. Festa (HA) 5-0, 2. Messner (PA), 3. Gregory (PA); Shot put — 1. Jenkins (PA) 28-1 1/2, 2. Zambetti (PA), 3. Abbey Hengst (HA); Discus — 1. Jenkins (PA) 103-4, 2. Zambetti (PA), 3. Ruane (PA); Javelin — 1. Jenkins (PA) 109-7, 2. Zambetti (PA), 3. Emma Martoccio (HA); Pole vault — 1. Colyer (HA) 10-0, 2. Bucci (PA), 3. (tie) Emily Trella (HA) and Kyra Makara (HA).
Schuylkill League Meet under way
The two-day Schuylkill League Track and Field Championships got under way Tuesday at Tamaqua, where 13 finals and several preliminaries were held.
Locally, four athletes came away with gold medals during their individual finals. North Schuylkill's trio of Sarah Wagner (girls' long jump), Mike Reilly (boys' javelin) and Justin Williams (boys' 3200) all were winners, as was Tamaqua's Sophia Boyle in the girls' pole vault.
The meet concludes Wednesday afternoon and evening at Tamaqua.
The following are the finals results, and the preliminaries that were held Tuesday.
Boys 3200 Relay
1. Blue Mountain (Petrizzo, Phipps, Scheidel, Sherry) 8:43.21, 2. Tamaqua, 3. Jim Thorpe, 4. Weatherly, 5. Minersville, 6. Marian
Girls 3200 Relay
1. North Schuylkill (Roberts, Schwalm, K. McCormick, C. McCormick) 10:00.09; 2. Pottsvlle, 3. Minersville, 4. Jim Thorpe, 5. Blue Mountain, 6. Tamaqua
300 Hurdles
1. Brittney Bartasavage, Lehighton, 46.96, 2. Lydia Wallace, Jim Thorpe; 3. Alexia Maccarone, Pottsville; 4. Abigail Frew, Pine Grove.
Boys 300 Hurdles
1. Cody Miller, Nativity, 42.46; 2. George Budihas, Mahanoy Area; 3. Vlad DeBryun, Pine Grove; 4. Gabriel DeMatto, Panther Valley
Girls 3200
1. Olivia Haas, Blue Mountain, 10:42.02, 2. Cori McCormick, North Schuylkill, 3. Kelsey Gaston, Lehighton; 4. Katie McCormick, North Schuylkill
Boys 3200
1. Justin Williams, North Schulkill, 10:13,46 2, Landon Boyle, Minersville, 3. Ryan Bailor, Jim Thorpe, 4. Scott Zoscin, Weatherly
Girls Long Jump
1. Sarah Wagner (North Schuylkill) 17-7.75, 2. Megan Rolko, Tamaqua, 3. Devin Hubler, Minersville, 4. Kate Walasavage, Blue Mountain
Boys Long Jump
1. Josh Leininger, Pine Grove 21-4; 2. Anthony Hendricks, Blue Mountain; 3. Brayden Boyer, North Schuylkill; 4. Nathan Howell, Blue Mountain
Boys High Jump
1. David Richards, Jim Thorpe. 5-11; 2. Chris Condly, Jim Thorpe; 3. Matthew Caulfield, Blue Mountain; 4. Steve Kostecky, Tamaqua.
Girls Discus
1. Abigail Meckes, Lehighton, 113-11; 2. Randi Wood, Shenandoah Valley; 3. Madylin Wolter, Lehighton; 4. Laura Clarke, Jim Thorpe
Boys Javelin
1. Mike Reilley (North Schuylkill) 174-3, 2. Alex Barron, Tamaqua; 3. Nathan Hope, Tamaqua; 4. Tanner Sidella, Blue Mountain
Girls Pole Vault
1. Sophia Boyle, Tamaqua, 8-7, 2. Greta Snukis, Pottsville; 3. Katrin Cavanaugh, Jim Thorpe; 4. Cecilia Chipriano, Blue Mountain.
Boys Shot Put
1. Alan Bailor, Jim Thorpe, 54-10, 2. Toby Berg, Tamaqua; 3. Tristan Bolinsky, North Schuylkill; 4. Luke Tobin, Minersville
PRELIMINARIES
Qualifiers for Wednesday's finals were run in six events.
Fast times for those events are as follows with fastest timer listed first:
Girls 100 Dash: Kaila O'Connor, Jim Thorpe, 12.74; Sara Wagner, North Schuylkill; Caitlin Smith, Tamaqua; Danika Bolinsky, Blue Mountain; Abby Beam, Blue Mountain; Allyson Babinsky, Mahanoy Area; Bryonna Bolich, North Schuylkill; Aneila Mcleod, Panther Valley.
Boys 100 Dash: Michael Fellin, Marian Catholic, 11,41; Ben Terry, Mahanoy Area; Jacob Fenstermaker, Marian; Bobby Walchak, Pottsville; Keegan Brennan, Nativit8y; Chris Strika, Jim Thorpe; Logan Nyer, Pine Grove; Anthony Zeplin, Blue Mountain.
Girls 100 Hurdles: Brittney Bartasavage, Lehighton, 15.81, Lydia Wallace, Jim Thorpe; Abigail Frew, Pine Grove; Ashley Jones, Tamaqja; Kera Paul, Blue Mountain; Rhianna Markovchick, Weatherly; Autumn Steibler, Panther Valley; Ashley Pleban, Marian
Boys 110 Hurdles: Bobby Walchak, Pottsville, 16.47; David Richards, Jim Thorpe; Colm McGroarty Mahanoy Area; Matteo Carestsia, Blue Mountain; Sean Sopko, Blue Mountain; Nathan Howell, Blue Mountain; Vlad DeBryun, Pine Grove; Gabriel DeMatto, Panther Valleh
Girls 200 Dash: Kaila O'Connor, Jim Thorpe, 26.23; Sarah Wagner, North Schuylkill; Danika Bolinsky, Blue Mountain; Caitlin Smith, Tamaqua; Hailey Moss, Blue Mountain; Abby Beam, Blue Mountain; Kate Walasavage, Blue Mountain; Aneilia Mcleod, Panther Valley
Boys 200 Dash: Michael Fellin, Marian, 23.11; Ean Chelak, Marian; Chris Strika, Jim Thorpe; Ben Terry, Mahanoy Area; Brayden Boyer, North Schuylkill; Anthony Zeplin, Blue Mountain; Marcus Vaupel, Nativity; Logan Nyer, Pine Grove
Monday's Late Results
Track and Field
Boys
Hazleton Area 103
Dallas 43
100 — 1. Matthew Cusatis (HA) 11.4, 2. Zawatski (D), 3. Ross (D); 200 — 1. Deylis Rodriguez (HA) 24.3, 2. Zawatski (D), 3. Hunter Nye (HA); 400 — 1. Beck Hutchison (HA) 54.6, 2. Rodriguez (HA), 3. Connor Silliman (HA); 800 — 1. Zach Keiner (HA) 2:10, 2. John Yunevage (HA), 3. Wysocky (D); 1600 — 1. Keiner (HA) 5:05, 2. Cotter (D), 3. Bedaric (D); 3200 — 1. Phillips (D) 10:43, 2. Cotter (D), 3. Nicholas Hebel (HA); 110 HH — 1. John Sidari (HA) 15.6, 2. Jean Portes (HA), 3. Federici (D); 300 H — 1. Portes (HA) 46.0, 2. Sidari (HA), 3. Jacob Wolfe (HA); 400 relay — 1. Dallas (Powell, Reavy, Zawatski, Stevens) 48.9; 1600 relay — 1. Dallas (Wysocky, Hayes, Stevens, Bedaric) 4:19; 3200 relay — 1. Hazleton Area (Hutchison, Yunevage, Hebel, Keiner) 9:46; Long jump — 1. Cusatis (HA) 20-5, 2. Logan Slusser (HA), 3. Caulkins (D); Triple jump — 1. Cusatis (HA) 43-8, 2. Slusser (HA), 3. Caulkins (D); High jump — 1. Cusatis (HA) 6-0, 2. Slusser (HA), 3. Cummings (D); Shot put — 1. Jonanthony Sencion-Mejia (HA) 41-5 3/4, 2. Jhoan Robles (HA), 3. Russell Blew (HA); Discus — 1. Blew (HA) 146-9, 2. Cummings (D), 3. Sencion-Mejia (HA); Javelin — 1. Caulkins (D) 142-3, 2. Connor Kundrat (HA), 3. Ross (D); Pole vault — 1. Nye (HA) 8-6, no second or third.
Girls
Dallas 91
Hazleton Area 59
100 — 1. Church (D) 12.5, 2. Karolyn Brito (HA), 3. Gallagher (D); 200 — 1. Brito (HA) 27.7, 2. Filali (D), 3. Alexis Rossi (HA); 400 — 1. Viglone (D) 63.0, 2. Lucy Fajardo (HA), 3. Fleschut (D); 800 — 1. Hobson-Tomascik (D) 2:39, 2. Kristie Semanchik (HA), 3. Basara (D); 1600 — 1. Hobson-Tomascik (D) 5:41, 2. Jillian Wolk (HA), 3. Yencha (D); 3200 — 1. Hadakowski (D) 12:20, 2. Wolk (HA), 3. Sobcinski (D); 100 H — 1. Isabella Colyer (HA) 15.6, 2. Ogurkis (D), 3. Pocono (D); 300 H — 1. Ogurkis (D) 49.0, 2. Pocono (D), 3. Adriana Filler (HA); 400 relay — 1. Dallas (Hill, Gallagher, Maniskas, Church) 50.4; 1600 relay — 1. Dallas (Hill, Meade, Fleschut, Gallagher) 4:30; 3200 relay — 1. Dallas (Basara, Fleschut, Hadakowski, Hobson-Tomascik) 10:42; Long jump — 1. Lauren Festa (HA) 15-3/4, 2. Brito (HA), 3. Dempsey (D); Triple jump — 1. Festa (HA) 34-3, 2. Hill (D), 3. Dempsey (D); High jump — 1. Dasilia (D) 5-3, 2. Maniskas (D), 3. Bryant (D); Shot put — 1. Blockus (D) 31-3, 2. Bryk (D), 3. Abbey Hengst (HA); Discus — 1. Natalie Yeager (HA) 89-2, 2. Motley (D), 3. Blockus (D); Javelin — 1. Hengst (HA) 124-10, 2. Emma Martoccio (HA), 3. Motley (D); Pole vault — 1. Colyer (HA) 10-6, 2. Ogurkis (D), 3. Bryant (D).
H.S. Volleyball Berwick 3 Hazleton Area 1
The Cougars opened the match with a 25-22 win, but Berwick stormed back to take the next three sets 25-17, 25-19 and 25-14 to claim the WVC victory.
For Hazleton Area, Ryan Denicola registered 10 service points, two aces, eight kills, two blocks, two assists and four aces.
Connor Wolfe contributed six service points, two aces, five digs, nine assists and two kills; while Elijah Belles had six service points, seven digs, three kills and two blocks.
H.S. Softball Weatherly 18 Shenandoah Valley 1
Ashley James went 4-for-4 with two doubles and six RBIs to power Weatherly to a Schuylkill League Division III win over Shenandoah Valley on Tuesday.
Marissa Hoffman clubbed a three-run home run for the Lady Wreckers, who scored 10 runs in the first inning in their first game back after a two-week pause. They will face first-place Marian Wednesday in Weatherly.
Winning pitcher Maddie VonFrisch tossed a one-hitter and struck out four.
Ava Menjivar singled and scored a run for Shenandoah Valley.
Wea (9-5, 5-4)...........(10)26 — 18 6 1
SV (5-13, 3-8)................001 — 1 1 5
VonFrisch and Al. Colecio; Davis and Al. Menjivar. W — VonFrisch (9-5). L — Davis (5-13).
Hits: Weatherly — James 4, Hoffman, Am. Colecio. Shenandoah Valley — Av. Menjivar.
2B — James 2. HR — Hoffman.
Marian 10 Mahanoy Area 0
Athena Matenkoski and Mia Nemeth had a Senior Day to remember Tuesday as both had big days at the plate to lead Marian to a six-inning victory over Mahanoy Area in a Schuylkill League Division II softball game.
Nemeth had an RBI single in the first inning to get the Fillies on the board, and she ended the game by the 10-run rule by hitting a solo home run in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Matenkoski went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, a home run, three runs scored and four RBIs. Matenkoski's three-run homer in the third inning helped extend Marian's lead to 9-0.
Winning pitcher Morgan Kelly took care of the rest, hurling a three-hit shutout and striking out seven.
With the victory, Marian maintained its half-game lead over Weatherly in the Division III standings. The teams meet Wednesday in Weatherly.
Mah (5-12, 3-8)........000 000 — 0 3 3
Mar (9-5, 7-5).......234 001 — 10 10 1
Mayberry and Lewandowski; Kelly and Grabosky. W — Kelly (9-5). L — Mayberry (2-7).
Hits: Mahanoy Area — Moss, Kessock, Lewandowski. Marian — Matenkoski 3, Nemeth 2, Kelly, Guth 2, Klitsch, Gallagher.
2B — Matenkoski. 3B — Matenkoski. HR — Matenkoski, Nemeth.
Pottsville 9, Tamaqua 5
Taylor Welsh pitched a complete game and slammed two home runs to lead Pottsville past Tamaqua in a Schuylkill League Division I game.
At the plate, Welsh finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. In the circle, she struck out seven and walked none.
Jade Weiss held the other hot bat for the Crimson Tide, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Weiss' three-run homer in the fifth inning broke a 4-4 tie and put Pottsville ahead to stay.
For Tamaqua, Bryn Clifford went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and three runs scored. Ella McLaughlin was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Alexus Warne went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Potts (10-8, 8-5)..101 142 0 — 9 12 2
Tam (8-10, 6-7)....202 000 1 — 5 11 2
Welsh and M. Bowers; Clifford and Warne. W — Welsh (10-8). L — Clifford (8-10).
Hits: Pottsville — Cook 2, Welsh 3, M. Bowers, Jones, Weiss 3, Toothaker, Blum. Tamaqua — Clifford 2, Thomas, McLaughlin 3, Warne 2, Richards 2, MacMillan.
2B — Weiss, Blum, Clifford. HR — Welsh 2, Weiss, Clifford.
Minersville 15 Panther Valley 0
Aramie Arroyo pitched a one-hit shutout and struck out eight as Minersville cruised past Panther Valley in a Schuylkill League Division II-III crossover game.
Arroyo helped herself by hitting a double and totaling four RBIs on the day.
Minersville jumped on the Panthers with a seven-run first inning. Averee Horoschak's three-run triple was the key hit.
PV (1-16, 0-11)................000 — 0 1 4
Min (12-6, 9-3)..............708 — 15 8 1
Ohl, Beshock (3) and Yuricheck; Arroyo and Horoschak, Hossler (3). W — Arroyo (12-6). L — Ohl (1-5).
Hits: Panther Valley — Greco. Minersville — Frie-Karkanica 2, Kopinetz, Arroyo, Conville, Horoschak, Levonas, Hart.
2B — Kopinetz, Arroyo. 3B — Horoschak.
North Schuylkill 11 Lehighton 0
Morgan Dinger pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 11 and walking two, as North Schuylkill defeated Lehighton in a Schuylkill League Division I game.
Joslin Stitzer led the Spartans at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs. Violet Ryan went 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored.
Maddie Hall added a single, a double two RBIs and two runs scored for North Schuylkill, while Emilee Slotcavage was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Johannah Taylor also knocked in two runs for the Spartans.
NS (14-4, 12-1) 205 40 — 11 13 1
Leh (2-15, 1-12) 000 00 — 0 2 1
Dinger and Taylor; Snyder, Craig (4) and Chjavanic. W — Dinger (13-4). L — Snyder (1-5).
Hits: North Schuylkill — Ryan 2, Stitzer 3, Green, Hall 2, Taylor, Slotcavage 2, DeAngelo, Dinger. Lehighton — Pagotto, Peterman.
2B — Dinger, Slotcavage, Hall, Peterman. 3B — Stitzer, Ryan.
H.S. Baseball Marian 16 Mahanoy Area 10
Julian Rickert was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored as the Colts outlasted the Golden Bears in a wild Schuylkill League Division III contest played Monday.
Luke Walser and Joe Walko each added two hits for Marian, while Walser scored four times and Owen Brady had three RBIs. The Colts used back-to-back four-run innings to break a 6-6 tie and take control.
Bryson Soult went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four runs scored for Mahanoy Area, while Slayden Wargo had a double and single.
MA (3-14, 1-11) 110 430 1 — 10 8 3
Mar (5-9, 4-8) 051 442 x — 16 13 4
Zilker, B. Soult (2), Zilker (5), Karnish (6) and Terry; Petrilyak, Walser (4) and Walko. W — Walser (3-2). L — B. Soult (0-5).
Hits: Mahanoy Area — B. Soult 3, Terry, Wargo 2, Burke, Alansky. Marian — Hinkle, Petrilyak, Rickert 3, Chulak, Walser 2, Bobish, Walko 2, Katchur, Brady.
2B — B. Soult, Wargo, Petrilyak, Rickert 2, Chulak, Brady. 3B — B. Soult.
Freshman Baseball Dallas 11 Hazleton Area 8
Jordan Castrine led Hazleton Area's hitters with a double and single, Nick Ledger singled twice and Brady Mizenko cracked a double.
Richie Rossi and Michael Pecora both singled for the Cougars.
Little League Earley-Polli 7 Valley Pizza 5
Noah Donahue threw well in his pitching debut and sparked the offense with four singles as Earley-Polli Insurance held off Valley Pizza.
Kade Midas had two singles and Haidyn Sledjeski chipped in with a single for Earley-Polli.
Zach Hannen and Jase Tranguch slapped two singles apiece and John Angley added a base hit for Valley Pizza.
