Latrobe Bulletin from Latrobe, Pennsylvania • 9

Page 9, ris Monday April 21 2003 i ii Local Sports in Brief DA Jr. place-winners I Mfll -5L I 1 1 it a 1 i 'Cats top GCC in exhibition ''ill I K- HwftlWi 1 gles apiece for the Little Trojans. Chappell absorbed the pitching defeat Acme Speedway Saturday, April 19 JUNIOR CAGE Paul CaJetri, Michael Reft, Dustin Wallace, Shawn Torrance, J. Steele. SENIOR UGHT-Oebbie Brown, Bob Brown, Bill Heckathom, Waylon Shroyer, Jim Capell, Jarred Barclay, Kristen Etting, Keith Rodriguez, Marty Goehrtng, Michael White, Chad Shearer, Tim Beatty.

SENIOR HEAVY Kris Kurt, John Grimm, Henry Long, Craig Steele, Zack Ingmire, Myto Markovich, Steven Trickett, Jeff Snyder, Bill Shopes, Randy Lake, John Shopes. JUNIOR Jarred Miner, Ryan Hall. Vince Darazio, Philip Wiltrout, Alex Lehman, Jessica Shroyer, Teddy Glbala, Alan Braham, Matt Sever, Jared Hiltabidel, Aaron Georgianna, Andrew Broucher, Bryan Weigle, Graham Silk, Jen Galbraith. PEE WEE Zachary Montgomery, Austin Hensel, Cotton Zundel. ROOKIE Brandon Yuhouse, Cameron Kraisinger, Ben Skillen, Justin Burkhold-er, Clint Glison, Kevin Temoff, Chris Clay-pool, Colt Klein, Nick DaBaldo, Brandon Martin, la Pentecost, Kevin Collins.

CAGE-Josh Heckathom, Clint lllar, Ray Clawson, Chris Peluchette, Jay Fry, Heidi lllar, Jim Henry, Tom Fry. Lernerville Speedway Friday, April 18 SPRINT Gary Kriess Ed Lynch Dan Shetler, Chad Hill, Jamie Smith, Brent Matus, Kevin Schaeffer, Gary Rankin, Brian Woodhall, Bob Submitted Photos Deny Area Junior Olympic wrestlers Robby Hebenthal (left) and Troy Dolan recently placed in separate tournaments. Hebenthal finished third at 60 pounds in the 7 -under age division at the Middle Atlantic Eastern National Championships held in State College while Dolan captured a state title at 105 pounds in the 13-14 age group at the Pennsylvania State Championships held at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown. Dolan, 14, of Blairsville RD3 (Deny Township), is the son of Troy and Karrie Dolan, and is an eighth-grade student at Deny Area Middle School. Winning all five matches in straight sets, the Greater Latrobe boys' tennis team improved its undefeated record to 10-0 with a 5- 0 whitewash of Greensburg Central Catholic last Thursday.

Coming out on top for the Wildcats were Tyler Weisel (6-1, 6- 1), Nathan Struemph (6-3, 6- 2) and Ben Forte (6-2, 6-2) in singles, and the doubles' tandems of Ian Sayre-Matt Walker (6-0, 6-1) and Diogo Arieta-Andrew Hunter (6-1, 6- 3) Greater Latrobe returns to WPIAL Section 1-AAA play Tuesday afternoon at home against Greensburg Salem. The Wildcats are 7-0 in the section. GREATER LATROBE 5, GBG. CENTRAL CATH.O SINGLES Tyler Weisel (GL) d. C.J.

Goldstrohm, 6-1, 6-1; Nathan Struemph (GL) d. Robel Tesfamarian, 6-3, 6-2; Ben Forte (GL) d. Joe Lowry, 6-2, 6-2. DOUBLES Ian Sayre-Matt Walker (GL) d. Will Merchant-Joe Kennedy, 6-0, 6-1 Diogo Arieta-Andrew Hunter (GL) d.

Aaron Nainestak-C. J. Bell, 6-1, 6-3. GS outlasts Little Trojans Despite 13 hits, the Deny Area freshmen baseball team saw its record slip to 1-5 in a 9-7 setback to Greensburg Salem. Nick Baum collected three singles, and Steve Hauser and Corey Stanko each doubled twice for DA.

Scott Chappell and Tom Kelly added two sin Cubs' Sosa gets scare in loss Pirates' Littlef ield not panicking despite two-week slump LHHC bests Libby's in Teener pitchers' duel PITTSBURGH (AP) Normally, Salomon Torres' cell phone would be ringing constantly with greetings from his Dominican Republic hometown after such a performance. This time, he probably turned his phone off. He may have pitched one of the best games of his career, but he also gave a much bigger hometown star Sammy Sosa the scare of his life. Sosa escaped the worst bean-ing of his career with only a few cuts and a few sighs of relief after Torres' fastball struck him so hard it broke his batting helmet during the Pirates' 8-2 victory Sunday over the Chicago Cubs. After tying Eddie Murray for 17th place with his 504th home run, Sosa had no chance to react his next time up when Torres' up-and-in pitch slammed into his left temple, leaving a large hole in his mangled batting helmet "That was one of the worst helmet cracks I've ever seen or heard," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

"I'm surprised he was conscious. He's really lucky he wasn't hurt seriously." Sosa clutched at his head, looking angry and fearful, but didn't drop to the ground. Clearly shak- story! LATE MODEL John Flinner, Lynn Geisler, Nick Jones, Bob Wearing Ken Schaltenbrand, Matt Lux, Jim Dandy, Dave Hess David Scott, Ryan Markham. Base on ball by: Gtfhard-1; Rofatoson-3, Shaffer-0 Winning pitcher Cody Gerhard Losing pitcher: Aaron Robinson St. Joe's Club 310 000 0 -4 10 2 Carry Ulna 200 000 1 -3 7 2 Doubles: Williams, Pema (SJC) Triples: Machen (SJC) Strikeouts by.

Machen-5; Mesaroe-1, Bolish- 9 Base on balls byr Machen-4; Mesaroe-0, BoiisW) Winning pitcher Mike Machen Losing pitcher Matt Mesaros Latrobe Elks 201 000 0 3 4 7 Lloydsville 330 102 I 9 11 3 Doubles: Bricker, Riggs (LS) Strikeouts by: Riggs-6; Jaffe-3, Baum-0 Base on balls by: Rigga-4; Jatfe-0, Baum-1 Winning pitcher Kyle Riggs Losing pitcher Jordan Jafle No isli to Pirates more rehabilitation, and he's getting more confident," Littlefield said. "He's anxious to get out there, but we've got to make sure he's in good shape for the rest of the season." Giles wont resume taking batting practice until the Pirates' medical staff Is convinced there is no chance that he will reinjure himself by doing so. Right-hander Josh Fogg may not know for a couple of days if he can make his scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers. Fogg lasted only an inning of Sunday's 8-2 victory over the Cubs because of a strained oblique muscle. He was injured while tutting in his previous start, but the Pirates initially thought he was OK.

After watching him give up Sammy Sosa's two-run homer in the first inning, they knew differently. "We thought he'd be all right and he warmed up really well," manager Uoyd McClendon said. "We were probably fortunate he got out of the first inning the way he did." Salomon Tones replaced Fogg to start the second and pitched five shutout innings. Torres probably will start Saturday if Fogg cant go. Torres would have gone even longer if he hadn't been hit in the left knee by a Juan Cruz pitch, forcing him to give way to reliever Joe Beimel in the seventh.

That was an unbelievable outing," McClendon said. "He gave us everything we needed in that situation." Highlands' Witucki chooses Seton Hill Highlands High School basketball standout Clark Witucki has decided to attend Seton Hill University for the 2003-04 academic year. Witucki, a 6-2 point guard who averaged 15 points per game this past season, is the 13th player to commit to Seton Hill for next year's inaugural season of NA1A basketball in the American Mideast Conference. Witucki was named to the Valley News Dispatch Fabulous-Five, as well as an All-Section selection by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2003. Seton Hill head coach Tony Morocco believes Witucki's athleticism and flexibility will add a much-needed dimension to the Griffins roster.

"Clark is an outstanding young man who possesses the versatility mat will allow him to play the one-, two- or three-guard position for us. I believe his size and ball-handling skills make him a threat from any of the guard positions," says Morocco. "Clark is a great fit with the other guards we have coming in. I think our backcourt will compliment each other very well." Armstrong eighth in race MAASTRICHT, Netherlands (AP) Lance Armstrong finished eighth Sunday in the Amstel Gold Race, the fourth leg of cycling's World Cup. The four-time defending Tour de France champion was in a group of nine riders that couldn't catch winner Alexander Vinok-ourov of Kazakhstan, who pulled away with three miles left Vinokourov built a 20-second lead and held off the competition throughout the final climb in the 157-mile event.

en, he stood nervously as Cubs trainer Dave Tumbas raced out to examine him. "He was really upset, scared and a little shocked," Tumbas said. Sosa walked off the field -unaided, then was examined by doctors in the ballpark and later at Allegheny General Hospital, where neurological tests were negative. Sosa was back in the clubhouse a few minutes after the game ended, relieved he had only a couple of small cuts caused when the helmet cracked. Standing alone at his locker, he said he's never been more scared on a baseball field.

'The helmet saved me," he said. "Yeah, I've never gotten hit like that before." About 100 yards away in the Pirates' clubhouse, Torres was relating bow he has looked up to Sosa since both were amateur stars in their shared hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. "I was walking to the bullpen before the game, and we saw each other and said hello and good luck and all that stuff," Torres said. "We're on friendly terms. He's like an idol to me." Tones (2-0) wasn't supposed to pitch, but Pirates starter Josh Fogg left with an abdominal strain following the Cubs' two-run first Tones, who was out of organized baseball for five years before joining the Pirates late last season, limited the Cubs to one hit in five shutout relief innings.

His own outing was cut short when he was hit in the knee by a Juan Cruz pitch, apparently in retaliation for hitting Sosa. 'There's no way in the world we're trying to hit Sammy in mat situation," said Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, whose team led 7-2 when Sosa was hit in the fourth. "I don't tell pitchers to hit guys from other teams. If I ever did, I certainly wouldn't hit a guy like Sammy Sosa, one of the greats of the game." Sosa's close call came during an otherwise forgettable day for the Cubs that ended their five-game winning streak and the Pirates' three-game losing streak. The Pirates, held to three runs or fewer in all but one of their previous 13 games, benefitted from a series of bloop hits and well-placed ground balls that eluded Cubs infielders.

Pokey Reese and Kenny Lofton both had two-run singles on grounders second baseman Mark Grudzielanek couldn't get to, and third baseman Mark Bell-horn mi splayed a Torres bunt for a two-base error. "We didn't play good defense," Baker said. "It was 5-2 in the second, and it should have been 2-2." Shawn Estes (1-2) lasted only three innings, ending a five-game streak in which every Cubs starter got a victory. Estes gave up seven hits and walked three. The Pirates scored only one fewer run than they had while losing four of their first five to the is expected to play Tuesday against the Padres unless he begins experiencing headaches or complications from the Pirates may not know for several days if Fogg can start Saturday against the Pirates played error-free for only the fourth time in 18 Cubs are 12-7, a reversal of their 7-12 of last season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Too early to panic. General manager Dave Lit-tlefield said Sunday he won't overreact to the Pittsburgh Pirates' generally poor play of the last two weeks, just as he didn't get overly excited when they were 5-1. "We're one-tenth of the way through the season," Littlefield said. Littlefield isn't happy with the Pirates' sloppy defensive play they had 22 errors in their first 17 games, as many as they had after 29 games last season but he is mostly satisfied with their pitching, especially a starting staff that has a 3.01 ERA, third best in the NL. Littlefield also said the Pirates have too many proven hitters to keep struggling as they did while scoring more than three runs only once in a 13-game span.

The Pirates got a series of bloop hits and well-placed ground balls in beating the Cubs 8-2 Sunday, the most runs they've scored since beating the Phillies 9-1 on April 4. The victory, only their second in eight games, evened their record at 9-9. "Four days ago I said to Mac (manager Lloyd McClendon) that if we knew when we broke camp we'd be 8-6, you'd say, 'Yeah, I'll take Littlefield said. "But the way we got there certainly made it frustrating because you know you're not as bad as you've been play-mg. The Pirates averaged 10 runs while starting 4-0, then stopped hitting while losing nine of then-next 13.

It didn't help when top run producer Brian Giles went down for two to four weeks with an injured knee; he probably won't return for at least another week. "I don't feel we're a championship-caliber team we still have significant flaws to the group we have but you have to remember we're two years removed from losing 100 games," Littlefield said. "I think we're improved and I believe the season will show that as it plays out. "My opinion is (9-9) is not a bad won 72 games last year and, to me, that doesn't equate to bad." Third baseman Aramis Ramirez's poor start offensively has been magnified by his spotty defense, which has seen him make seven errors. Ramirez's slow start has sparked talk among scouts that what seemed to be his breakthrough 2001 season (34 homers, 112 RBIs) may have been an anomaly.

"You've got to do it on the field," Littlefield said. But I am confident the year he had two years see more years like that in the future. Certainly, he's been In a rut defensively, but we're working hard to make some adjustments." Giles is eligible to be activated Saturday, but it seems more likely that he will ready during a 10-game road trip that begins April 29 in San Diego. The trip also includes stops in Los Angeles and Houston. "He's feeling less pain and getting Cody Gerhard fanned 10 and surrendered just two hits, besting a combined 11 -strikeout, three-hit effort from Aaron Robinson and Nick Shaffer as Laurel Highlands Health Center shut out Libby's, 4-0, in the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League.

In other games last Saturday, St Joe's Club edged Deny Ukes, 4-3, while Lloydsville Sportsman beat Latrobe Elks by a final of 9-3. Laurel Highlands 4, Libby's 0 Kyle Fritz accounted for two of the three hits for LHHC (1-1). Gerhard walked just one to go along with his 10 strikeouts. Robinson accounted for all 11 of the strikeouts for Libby's (1-1). Both safeties off of Gerhard were singles.

St Joe's Club 4, Derry Ukes 3 Mike Machen scattered seven hits to earn the pitching win and helped his own cause with a triple. Justin Perna listed a double among two hits, Scott Chappell and Nick Hogue each singled twice, and Jeb Williams also had a two-bagger forSJCO-1). Matt Mesaros and Kendrick Bolish each had a pair of safeties for the Ukes (0-3). Mesaros took the loss with Bolish striking out nine in a no-decision. Lloydsville Sportsman 9, Latrobe Elks 3 Kyle Riggs pitched and batted Lloydsville (1-2) to victory, tossing a four-hitter and giving up only four hits while going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Brian Cama-han was perfect in three at-bats, and Adam Bricker chipped in another double. For the Elks (1-2), Nick Baum had two singles. The mound defeat went to Jordan Jaffe. Libby's 000 000 0 0 2 1 Highlands 000 130 4 3 1 Doubles: Fritz (LHHC) Strikeouts by: Gerhard-10; Robinson-11, Shaffer-0 NY's Contreras down to minors MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Struggling Jose Contreras will report to the New York Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, instead of Triple-A Columbus. One day after he said Contreras was optioned to Triple-A, manager Joe Torre said the Cuban defector would instead go to Florida.

Torre did not know whether the right-hander I would pitch for New York's Class-A affiliate in Tampa or participate in extended spring training. Torre said he got a I call from general manager Brian Cashman informing him that Contreras wasn't going to Columbus. J.t V'''''V Submitted Phot Ten-year-old Jacob Gower of Latrobe will receive a certificate from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for a record fish caught by a youth after recently reeling in this 4.5-pound, 20.5-inch rainbow trout at Twin Lakes Park near Greensburg. To receive a youth certificate, fish must weight at least 3.8 pounds..