Latrobe Bulletin from Latrobe, Pennsylvania • 13

1 Pitching Key1 For Derry Area Efte latrobe bulletin THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 19S9 Pf ITTEY'S LTORNER By STEVE KITTEV Bulletin Sports Editor 'v' ln 1 pointed out. Because Mount Pleasant will have at least seven experienced people to build a solid ballclub around this year, Basciano and Cecchini say the Vikings will be the team to beat in the section race. Basciano and Cecchini like Derry Area's chances for finishing second if the Trojan mound corps can come through. Other teams expected to challenge for the second spot are Yough and Southmoreland. Basciano says that Jeannette, a newcomer to the section this year, could pull off a few surprises and believes that Central, provided that Coach Ken Yourish can bring his young ballclub around, might be tough as the season progresses.

1989 ROSTER SENIORS Shawn Alesi, Scott Frowen, John Frenchik, Bill Davis, Lew McCracken, Randy Rhodes, Rich Watson. JUNIORS-Mike Angus, Scott Bricker, Brian Braden, John Gruska, Jim Kuchta, Dan Razza, Tom Shirey. SOPHOMORES-Shane Alesi, Brian Elliott, Ryan Harr, Mike Zahuranic. DERRY AREA TROJANS CO-HEAD COACHES: NORM BASCIANO NED CECCHINI WPIAL SECTION 10-AAA: 6-9 March 9 Hempfield 7 Ned Cecchini Because he has been hitting the ball exceptionally well, it appears as though Braden will most likely be the designated hitter in DA's batting order. "Although this team has five experienced senior lettermen, we think our crop of sophomores and iuniors.

because of their abilitv to By ERIC TEPPER Bulletin Staff Writer Early indications are that Derry Area baseball fortunes will depend heavily upon defense and hitting, but if the pitching staff can gain confidence, the Trojans could wind up being one of the surprise teams in WPIAL Section 10-AAA. Under the guidance of co-coahes Norm Basciano and Ned Cecchini, Derry Area opened its season last week with a 9-7 exhibition win over Hempfield Area then split a doubleheader with Greater Latrobe Monday, taking the opener, 12-11, but dropping the second game, 14-8. Derry Area was scheduled to begin Section 10-AAA play at 4 p.m. today against visiting Greensburg Central Cathlic. The Trojans are hoping to improve upon last season's overall 8-12 record 6-9 in section play )buta lot is going to rest on the shoulders seven returning lettermen.

Five senior lettermen include catcher Shawn Alesi, right-handed pitcher and first-baseman John Fren-chik, outfielder Scott Frowen, shortstop Randy Rhodes and outfielder Rich Watson. The two junior returning lettermen are shortstop and right-handed pitcher John Gruska and left-handed pitcher and first-baseman Tom Shirey. Things have gone well for the Trojans so far but what pleased Basciano and Cecchini most is that the hitting has come around faster than expected. Even though there are but 19 players on the varsity roster Basciano and Ceccjhini believe this year's ballclub has depth because there are 14 players who can be used at two or three different positions. Derry Area's mound corps will be comprised of Razza, Frenchik, Gruska, sophomore right-hander Shane Alesi and Shirey, the only left-hander on the roster.

Basciano indicated that he will give Lew McCracken, a first-year player, an opportunity to do some Spring And Rain As usual, the weather isn't exactly cooperating with the spring sports schedules and baseball is the activity which suf fers the most because of field conditions. WPIAL section baseball was scheduled to begin today but it's doubtful any of the area teams would be in action. The D-U Baseball League is busy trying to finalize its plans for the 1989 season which usually opens in early May. The early word on the D-U League this year is that Salem-ville is no longer fielding a team but the Hostetter Redbirds are planning to rejoin the loop. If those moves come about, the D-U will consist of Latrobe, New Derry, St.

Anthony, Hostetter, Bovard, Penn Township, and Franklin. There was a possibility that Blairsville was considering coming back into the D-U League if the Indiana County League it joined several years ago does not field enough teams this season. However, we haven't heard anything recently about Blairsville's return to the D-U. The budget cuts by the Greater Latrobe School District appear to have doomed the much-needed lights at Memorial Stadium. The school board this week agreed to delete the $20,000 lighting improvement project from the budget.

Too bad. The lights need replaced and chances are in arlother year or two that $20,000 figure will increase. So in the long run, it will cost the school district more money. Here's another "weather permitting" news item: Motordrome 70 Speedway near Smithton is scheduled to open its season 7 p.m. this Sunday, April 2.

Admission prices for regular races will remain the same this season: Adults $7, children 6-12 $2 and those under six free. However, the pit fees have increased. Motordrome Speedway will again be racing three classes late models, limited sportsman and pure stock. Dow Carnahan, sports director of WCNS Radio in Latrobe, is the announcer at Motordrome 70 Speedway. WCNS Radio is now carrying the only national baseball call-in show from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sunday evening. The show is "Baseball Sunday" and hosted by Kevin Harlan, voice of the Kansas City Chiefs. He is joined by Jason Dorfman, analyst-historian, and John Doolittle, three-time UPI sports coverage award winner. The program features a re-cap of the top stories from the past week In baseball, interviews with major league baseball figures, and reports from major league cities. Listeners can call in on a toll-free number.

Tickets are still available for the sports roast of Dr. Robert Mazero which is being held by the Holy Name Society of Holy Family Church 7 p.m. Friday, April 14 at Holy Family Cafeteria. Parishioners, teammates, classmates and friends are invited to attend the event. Tickets, at $5 each, include food and refreshments and are on sale at the Latrobe American Legion, Touchdown Club, Bell and Clark Realtors, Pajombo's Bar, Mosso's Pharmacy and the Corner Store.

play most anywhere, will mean a lot to us the long run smce the team will have more flexibility," Basciano added. Without question, Basciano pointed out that Razza, Frenchik, Shirey and Gruska will have to play the role of "stopper" for DA on the mound. Should the pitching staff come up short, Basciano and Cecchini. feel the Trojans could finish in the middle, or ever lower in the section standings'. "We've got hitting, defense and some depth to go along with it, but if the pitching fails us it could be a disappointing season," Basciano JJ Cj 4 (fc 4 -r 1 Mo un ties In Easy MGMckWins -wtt- -for "lff Norm Basciano pitching before the season runs its course.

Basciano indicated that he will give McCracken, a first-year player, an opportunity to do some pitching before the season runs its course. As it looks right now, Watson, Frowen, Razza, McCracken, along with juniors Jim Kuchta and Brian Braden are all vying for starting jobs in the DA outfield. Additionally, there is a wide open battle for starting jobs in the Trojan infield. Top candidates at first base are Braden, Bricker and Shirey. Vying at second are Bricker, Gruska and sophomore Mike Zahuranic.

Among the candidates at shortstop are Rhodes, Zahuranic and Shawn Alesi. There is also a battle for the job at third between Zahuranic, Shane Alesi and junior Mike Angus. There is competition for the starting catching job between Shawn Alesi, senior Bill Davis and sophomore Ryan Harr. Basciano said Alesi and Davis have both looked sharp, but are being pushed by Harr, who continues to improve. on the 3200 relay team.

Other members of the 3200 relay with Menoher and Pail were Steve Peipock and Rubin Snyder while Rob Boring joined Murray, Kimmick and Arnone on the 400 relay i Other firsts for the Mounties were Dave Penrose in the pole vault, Drew Campbell in the high jump, Dusty Peters in the discus, Rick Crowe in the javelin and Brook Stockberger in the shot put. LIGONIER VALLEY 116 CAMBRIA HEIGHTS 34 LIGONIER VALLEY 144 BISHOP McCORT 3i CAMBRIA HEIGHTS 100 BISHOP McCORT 41 3200 relay LV (Tim Menoher, John Paul, Steve Peipock and Rubin Snyder), 9:00. 110 high hurdles Rairigh (CH), :16.5. 100 -Rich Murray (LV), 11.8. 1400 -Tim Menoher (LV), 4:43.2, rim Menoher (LV), 4:43.2.

-LV (Rich Murry, Jeff Kimmick, Boring, Jamie Arpone), :44.7. 400 relay Rob 300 hurdles Ekunrode 800 -John Paul (LV), 2:12 200 Jamie Arnone (LV), :24.1. 3200 Tim Menoher (LV), 9:47.9. 1400 relay CH, 3:47.5. Shot put Brook Stockberger (LV), 43-4.

Javelin Rick Crowe (LV), 145-10. Discus Dusty Peters (LV), 122-9. Long jump Jeff Kimmick (LV), 18-0. Triple jump Jeff Kimmick (LV), 3-9Vi. High jump Drew Campbell (LV), 5-10.

Pole vault Dave Penrose (LV), 9-4. District THURSDAY (30th) High School Baseball Gbg. Central Cath. at Derry Area, 4 p.m. Boys' Volleyball Richland at Derry Area 7:30 p.m.

Girls' Track Ligonier Valley, Northern Cambria at Central Cambria, 4 p.m. Girls' Softball Gr. Latrobe at Kiski Area 3:45 p.m. Gbg. Central Cath.

at Jeannette 3:45 p.m. College Men's Tennis Juniata at St. Vincent, 1 p.m. Professional Hockey Hartford at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY (31st) High School Baseball Gr.

Latrobe at Norwin, 4 p.m. Gbg. Central Cath. at Wilkinsburg 3.30 p.m. Boys' Tennis Gr.

Latrobe at Norwin, 3:30 p.m. Indiana at Gbg. Central 3:30 p.m. Boys' Track Penn Trafford, Franklin Regional at Gr. Latrobe 4 p.m.

Gbg. Central Cath. at Jeannette 3:45 p.m. Girls' Track Penn Trafford, Franklin Regional at Gr. Latrobe 4 p.m.

Derry Area at Mount Pleasant 3:45 p.m. Gbg. Central Cath. at Jeannette, 3 jU p.m ZZZoreater Latrobe.ZZZ:i4 30 Gbg. Central Catholic, 4:00 p.m.

April 4 at Yough, 4:00 p.m. 4 Southmoreland, 4:00 p.m. 11 at Jeannette, 3:45 p.m. 13 Mount Pleasant, 4:00 p.m. IB at Gbg.

Central Catholic, 3:45 p.m. 20 Yough, 4:00 p.m. 24 at Southmoreland, 4:00 p.m. 24 Jeannette, 4:00 p.m. 28 at Mount Pleasant, 4:00 p.m.

May 2 Gbg. Central Catholic, 4:00 p.m. 4 at Yough, 4:00 p.m. 9 Southmoreland, 4:00 p.m. 11 at Jeannette, 3:45 p.m.

18 Mount Pleasant, 4:00 p.m. 22-23-WPIAL First Round 25- 26 WPIAL Quarterfinals 30-WPIAL Semifinals June 1-2-WPIAL Finals 18 PIAA Finals at Shippensburg Exhibition Games 4 1 St 4 A 1 On Si jf, i A (Bulletin Photo) Took No. 1 Singles GL Tennis Team Begins Section 1 With 4-1 Victory It's still an undefeated status for the Greater Latrobe boys tennis team. Coach Jim Rombach's Wildcats (3-0) successfully opened WPIAL Section 1 action Wednesday with a 4-1 decision over visiting Hempfield Area. Greater Latrobe swept all three single matches with wins by Lester Williams, Lance Martin and Jamey Gross.

The Wildcats' No. 1 doubles team of Scott Barnhart-Mark Bellissimo got the other team point. GL is back in action Friday at Norwin. GREATER LATROBE 4 HEMPFIELD AREA 1 SINGLES Lester Williams (GL) d. Mike Santanvic, 7-4, 4-7, 6-1; Lance Martin (GL) d.

Tom Skiavo, 4-2, 4-0; Jamey Gross (GL) d. Rich Hoak, 4-3, 7-4. DOUBLES-Scott Barnhart-Mark Bellissimo (GL) d. Oave Harbaugh-Jeff Brier, 4-1, 4-1; Tim Finn-Kevin Polechko (HA) d. Jason Williams-Don Paxton, 4-3, 1.

ay nt jb a a a 1l-- W3 9 fl mjSuStS i It was a successful opening in the Mountain Conference Wednesday for the Ligonier Valley track and field team. Coach Gene Selling's Mounties (3-0 overall) picked up two league wins on the LV track, easily dumping Cambria Heights, 116-34, and then totally dominating Bishop McCort, 144-3'i. Jeff Kimmick and Tim Menoher sparked Ligonier Valley by each winning two events and also running on first-place relay teams. Kimmick took the long and triple jumps and was on the 400 relay while Menoher captured the 1600 and 3200 and ran on the 3200 relay. Rich Murray won the 100 and ran on the 400 relay while Jamie Arnone took the 200 and anchored the 400 relay.

John Pail won the 800 and was Trojan Spikers Rally Past Plum Derry Area came from behind to defeat host Plum, 3-2, for its second win on the boys', volleyball exhibition Aftelosing two of the first three games bj, scores of 15-10, 14-16, Head Cpach Rich Schall's Trojans took the fourth' game in straight points, 15J), and then the last game, 15-6. "The final two games, we really played very good volleyball for this time of the year," Schall commented. DA's junior varsity, however, fell to 1-1 in a 6-15, 8-15 setback. The Trojans are back in action tonight against visiting Richland of Johnstown. The jayvee match begins at 6:30 p.m.

with the varsity to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m. SVC Lacrosse Defeats Mike Connolly scored three goals to help spark the St. Vincent College lacrosse team to a 10-8 win over Washington and Jefferson Wednesday in the Allegheny Lacrosse Association. Coach Tom Harbert's Bearcats (2-0) also got two goals apiece from Tom Pcrelli and Steve Sparks and one each from Ron Mutinelli, Jim McCandless and John Maley. Bearcat goalie Tom Gangl had 15 Syes.

I' V4 1 tM' GL Lester Williams Schedule Girls' Softball Penn Trafford at Gr. Latrobe 4 p.m. Franklin Regional at Gbg. Central Cath. 3:45 p.m.

Junior Varsity Baseball Derry Area at Gbg. Central 3:45 p.m. College Men's Tennis St. Francis at St. Vincent, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY (1st) High School Boys' Volleyball Derry Area at North Allegheny Tournament, 9 a.m. Girls' Softball Southmoreland at Gr. Latrobe 11 a.m. College Baseball Penn State-McKeesport at St. Vincent (2, 1 p.m.

Women's Softball Robert Morris at St. Vincent (2, i p.m. Professional Hockey NY Rangers at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. New Derry Sets Benefit Dance The New Derry Tigers baseball team in the D-U League will hold a benefit dance from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

this Friday, March 31, at the Derry Ukes (BullttM PHtto) Wildcat Lance Martin Won In No. 2 Spot Heart Attack Kills Umpire Texas for some days off. He was GARLAND, Texas (AP) Nick Bremigan, an American League umpire since 1974, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 43. Bremigan worked an exhibition game Monday in Palm Springs, andhad returned home to scheduled to work again later this week.

Bremigan worked the World Series in 1980, four AL playoffs and two All-Star Games. He joined the Alt staff in 1974..