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07/03/2008 08:20 AM

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From Underdogs to Wonderdogs!
June 30, 2008
ECO staff - Audrey Smith - Senior Web Analyst
ECO staff - Chris McNamara - Web Analyst

As it turned out, the sky was Pizza Joe's limit on Friday night during game 1 of the Riverside Girl's Athletic Association softball playoff's.

The previously winless Blue Sky Roofing eliminated Pizza Joe's by taking control early in the 1st inning, putting 5 runs on the score-board early. Becky Hammerly, Sydney Henry and Dawn Kohler were walked to open the first inning, as Pizza Joes starting pitcher Morgan McElwain got off to a rocky start. With three aboard off walks, Rachel Lozovy, and Casidy Leavens, uncorked two singles which was split by an RBI double by Mia Smith allowing Blue Sky Roofing to light up the scoreboard with 5 un-answered first inning runs.

Pizza Joe's offense was led by Brittany Jackson who went 3 for 3 with 2 homeruns and a single, recording 4 of the 6 runs for Pizza Joe's. Later that night Best Tile defeated Dambach's as they and Blue Sky Roofing move on
to the second round playoff games to be played tonight.

The top two teams who had bye's in the first round, see their first action of the playoffs, as Blue Sky Roofing takes on Motta's and Best Tile squares off against Zelinka's tonight. The winners will advance to the Championship game to be played Tuesday night at 6 p.m.  (view photos)


Ellwood City Legion, 9-1 over Greensville
June 26, 2008

Ellwood City Legion cruised to a 9-1 victory Wednesday night over Greenville. Colton Bunney and Bud Maine each smacked two doubles for the Legion and flawless defense and starting pitcher Alex Fox limited Greenville to 3 hits. Ellwood City Legion next hosts New Castle Friday night at 8pm at Sanders Field in Ewing Park. (view photo's)

17 Innings Later One Season's In The Books at 20-2
June 6, 2008
ECO staff - Chris McNamara, Web Analyst


The Ellwood City Wolverine stormed onto Hess Memorial Field Thursday afternoon to face the defending AAA champions Susquehannock Warriors in PIAA second round action. The girls not only had to battle 85' degree heat at high noon, but faced 17 innings of grueling back-an-forth action in a game that would see 440 pitches thrown, 120 plate appearances, and take 3 hours and 40 minutes to complete. After the teams traded runs in the third and fourth, strong defense and amazing pitching was shown from both teams as Ellwood City's staring pitcher Katelyn Yoho tossed a 233 pitch complete game with 10 strike-outs and 5 walks and for Susquehannock Megan Sheaf, who was coming off a no-hitter in first round PIAA action also tossed a complete game recording the win with 19 strike-outs with 4 walks on 207 pitches. With perfect pitching on the mound the innings seemed to just tick away and before the girls knew it, it was the bottom of the 17th and the Warriors had Yoho in a tight spot with two runners on an two outs. Connie Fike delivered the clutch game winning single into right field for the Susquehannock Warriors and put an end to the already amazing Wolverine season. The Ellwood City Wolverines finished their season with a school record for the most single season wins by a softball team and the schools first WPIAL Class AAA championship in school history. The girls ended the season with a record of 20-2.


Ellwood City Softball Banquet
June 2, 2008

Ciera Damon presented bus driver, Jerry McCaughtry with a gift. The girls exchanged photo albums of each other. Frank Falotico presented his video that he spent all season recording. the video contained highlights and funny moments throughout the season, the WPIAL winning game, and downtime where they played games and goofed off. it had some pretty epic music to it, to build the suspense. Coach Gary Rozanski announced that pitcher, Katelyn Yoho, is a finalist for Gatorade's Player of the Year award.

When asked what she thought when she heard the news at todays banquet, Katelyn said "It's unreal, actually. It's a big accomplishment, I never thought I'd be the one nominated for it. It's an honor, and I've worked hard for it. It's emotional, this is it. Four more games, we're going to win it."

Rachel Schuster and Katelyn Yoho also read from a list compiled of crazy antics and funny stories from behind the scenes of the girls softball team. (view photo's)


TOWN FULL OF CHAMPIONS !
May 30, 2008

Western Pennsylvania is known nationally for its high school sport champions and stand out athletes thanks in most part to the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL), a league consisting of one hundred thirty-eight high schools in Western PA. Competing at a high level and capturing section titles in the WPIAL is like wearing a badge of honor for most schools and bringing home WPIAL championships brings more bragging rights for a high school, both is players and coaches. With Thursdays WPIAL girls softball championship victories for both neighboring Ellwood City and Riverside schools, this small 3 mile radius put its stamp on the 2008 WPIAL season. Both high school close in proximity, also played championship games as close as you can get them, one following the other at Cal U, and also victorious paraded through the streets of Ellwood City and Franklin Township late Thursday night.

For Riverside it was junior stand-out, Kari Falk, carrying the team, but for Ellwood City, it was a combination of senior Katelyn Yoho pitching and freshman Samantha Santillo's game winning double. "It was all about our seniors. Four years in the making- they deserved it, they led the underclassmen and just put it all together. They wanted it that much." said Steve Santillo, Wolverine Assistant Coach

You could hear the sirens in the distance as police escorted a coach bus that could hardly contain the excitement of the new 2008 WPIAL champions. They pulled into the Giant Eagle parking lot where dozens of cheering fans and fire crews were ready to join in on the celebration. If you were up around midnight last night, you may have been wondering what all the sirens and commotion was throughout downtown Ellwood. The girls joined a convoy of police cruisers, fire trucks, and dozens of cars packed full of proud members of our community. However, it was no false alarm because these girls are fire. As they paraded through town, they sang and danced all awhile proudly displaying their new trophy for the whole town to see.

"It was a great relief being the winning run after the little oops in the second inning," s aid Ellwood third baseman, Rachel Schuster, "I'm finally happy that someone was able to bring home the gold for E llwood , hopefully we inspire some of the players this year."

"It feels right, more than anything... like I won the lottery," replied Wolverine Sara Falotico, when asked how it felt to bring home the gold. (view parade photo's)


Anyone with Game Photo's from the Ellwood City or Riverside games who would like to submit photo's and have them posted,
we would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks


WPIAL CHAMPIONS !!!!
Riverside claims AA championship, followed by Ellwood taking gold in AAA
May 30, 2008

Early Thursday afternoon two separate high school softball teams, from the same town, less then 3 miles apart,  boarded buses in search of championships, and next time they would step foot back in Ellwood City champions they would be. The Ellwood City Wolverines and The Riverside Panthers played back to back championship games Thursday night as Riverside took to the field first with a 5 o'clock Class AA match up against South Park. The Panthers riding a 19-game win streak sent their ace Kari Falk to the mound who recorded a complete game with 4 strike-out and 2 walks, and also launched a home run as the panthers smashed the dreams of the South Parks players early jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Riverside never let up as they added more runs in the third and fourth and added a final run in the sixth to become WPIAL champions with a 10-2 Victory over South Park. Freshmen Stefanie Kaiser contributed a two-run double, and Chelsea Evans, Emily Pritts, Kalli Osborne and Kari Falk all contributed multi-hit games.

With one WPIAL championship already coming back to Ellwood City, It was the Wolverines time to shine as they took the field at 7 o' clock for the class AAA championship match-up against Belle Vernon. Ellwood City grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run single by Katelyn Yoho, who was also picture perfect on the mound for the Wolverines throwing a complete game recording 9 strike-outs with 3 walks. The wolverines shut down a second inning offensive push by Belle Vernon, as second basemen Becca Blyth made a diving stop to end the inning all tied up a twos. Trailing by two in the sixth the Wolverins got things going again with a spark from Blyth, after two infield singles by Kaycee Bradosky and Ciera Damon, Blyth delivered a two-run single up the middle not knot it back up again at 4's. The Wolverines blanked Belle Vernon in the seventh and headed to the plate needed one run to make it two WPIAL championships coming back to EC. Rachel Schuster led off in the seventh with a single to left-center field. Sam Santillo was next to the box and found herself down in the count working with two strikes, as she roped the game winning double down the left-field line scoring Schuster all the way from first. Santillo was clutch for the Wolverines as they lifted the WPIAL championship trophy high into the air with a 5-4 seventh inning heroic victory over Belle Vernon. So as the WPIAL season raps up two out of four WPAIL classes bring championships back to Ellwood City. Congratulations Ellwood City and Riverside and good luck in States.


Bonfire! Fireworks! State Champions?
Wolverines celebrate the road to the championship game to be played tonight!
May 29, 2008

"I think that Bell Vernon is going to go down hard tomorrow , " Wolverine Cierra Damon confidently stated Wednesday evening at the Ellwood City Girls Softball bon fire and pep rally.

Although the billowing smoke could be seen across town, this was not your normal bonfire. This was a fire of celebration, one that represented past victories; one that represented the fire in the hearts of every young woman who was proud to call themselves a Wolverine. If you were unable see the smoke, then certainly you heard the fans and parents cheering as the team danced and celebrated in front of a small display of fireworks, which was supervised by members of both Ellwood City Fire Department and Wurtemberg-Perry VFD.

"This team has brought a lot of pride to the community and on behalf of the faculty, we're proud of everything you've done. We only ask to do your best, that's what we expect and hopefully we'll come out on top." said Lincoln High School Assistant Principle Joe Mancini

The 18-1 EC Girls softball team will be traveling to California University of Pennsylvania in hopes to exchange last years silver metals into this years new , championship gold metals during a match against Belle Vernon, who is currently 15-7.

"Our best beats their best, all you have to do is stay focused. Our best hit and our best pitching beats anything they've got. Play the game, not the opponent-if you do that, we'll change the spots on the leapord." said Athletic Director Mr. Petricola .

Along with players, fans, parents, and volunteer fire fighters, state representative Jaret Gibbons was on site for the pep rally and also took the time to say a few encouraging words to the young women of the softball team.

" I know your coaches have been doing a great job. This softball team has always been a great pride in this city-you guys have always done a great job. I just want to wish you the best of luck, you guys are definitely going to go out there and win this and bring the title back to Ellwood City because that's where it belongs" said Gibbons. (view photo's)

Baseball Championships Decided. Softball Championships Await.
May 28, 2008

The Beaver Bobcats (17-4) defeated Bishop Canevin 4-3 Tuesday evening to capture the WPIAL Class-AA Championship. Beaver defeated Riverside in the Class-AA opening round 5-1. Beaver continued to knock of Mohawk and Burrell before defeating Canevin in the championship game. The Riverside Lady Panthers hope to bring home the Class-AA Softball Championship Thursday evening as they pair up against South Park (16-4) at California University of Pennsylvania at 5:00pm. The Ellwood City Lady Wolverines hope to capture the same WPIAL championship bragging rights for Class-AAA as their championship game against Belle Vernon (15-7) will follow the Riverside-South Park championship game at California University Thursday."

Local Schools Dominate WPAIL Softball Playoffs -
Ellwood City and Riverside Both Advance to the WPIAL Championship
May 22, 2008
 
It was back to the normal domination by the Ellwood City Wolverines Wednesday night as they shut-out Elizabeth in the semifinal game 4-0. Katelyn Yoho was once again outstanding as she tossed a complete game recording 8 strike-outs with no free passes, and with flawless pitching on the mound the Ellwood City girls offence did what they do best "put the ball in play". The girls jumped out to a 3-0 led in the third and added a run in the sixth to finish off Elizabeth and punch their ticket to the Championship game to be played next Thursday at California University of Pennsylvania against Belle Vernon (15-7).

The Riverside girls matched-up against Washington Wednesday night in the class AA semifinals, and it would come down to a double steal attempt for the win. The panthers had their "ace" Kari Falk on the mound who threw a complete game recording 6 strike-outs with 5 walks. The Panthers fell behind 3-1 early and took advantage of their speed to get back into the game, as Leah Prisuta beat out a infield hit in the fifth and stole second and third on her way to advancing home when a wild throw from the Washington catcher got past the starting pitcher. Prisuta was followed by some well hit balls as the Panthers took control of the game 4-3, until the bottom of the sixth when Washington tied it back up at 4's. "It's now or never" for the Panthers as they headed into the seventh, when chelsea Evens and Falk attempted a double steal. Falk purposely got caught stealing second and then proceeded to get stuck in a run down, giving Evans on third enough time to cross home-plate and give the Panthers the winning run. Riverside now advances to the class AA championship game Thursday at California University of Pennsylvania.


 

2008 SPRING SPORTS ARCHIVES

07-08 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ARCHIVES

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