Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 98

PG West: Thursday, August 29, 1991 W-8 HOCKEY Moon to Pelli Beaver star shine to play in Omaha IjWW I HJIHWD. II HIJI PUmUMIIU i 1 I A vs. Jtf Xv Pittsburgh-area player picked tp at tend USA Hockey's prestigious Selecf 17 camp in Colorado Springs, ColoJ That camp was, effect, for the U.S.'s 17-year-old national teamv It-' was there that Pelle made his biggest impression on Omaha coach Daw Morinville. j. 5i "He said I reminded him of a couple good players he had in the past," he said "He liked my speed, and my stickhandling." vr Pelle capped off his busy summer last week by helping Team Midwest win the 17-team Hockey Night.

Irt Boston high school all-star. tourna. ment. He was Team Midwest's f6. scorer with nine goals and 11 assists in 13 games.

Team Midwest went 2-i, on the month-long tourney. "That was a great "he said. "We had a really good team; wd played pretty well together, and thought I did OK. "I think a lot of people were pretty surprised we won. I know the Boston fans weren't too happy about it.They like their own teams to This fall, Pelle will attend Westside High in Omaha while his USJHL team plays a 40-game Aqr "Westside is a good he 1 said, "but I guarantee it'll be1 tough leaving home.

All of my friends' asd-V family are It'll be tougli, butt have to do what's best for me in terms I of hockey. I'm pretty excited abbut lt r' i I i By Dejan Kovacevic Post-Gazette Sports Writer Beaver's Joe Pelle had a rough time telling friends and family that he was going away to play high-caliber amateur hockey during his final two years of high school. Explaining why wasnt hard Explaining where Nebraska was. "I got a lot of laughs about it," he said "You don't normally think of Nebraska when you think of hockey." Pelle, who sparked Beaver High to the Class AA state championship as a sophomore last winter, will continue his hockey career with Omaha, of the 10-team United States Junior 'A' Hockey League, considered the nation's top loop for 18-20 year-olds. Pelle is 17, doesn't expect the age difference to matter much.

"I might have trouble the first few weeks, but after that it shouldn't be too tough," the 5-foot-ll, 170-pound forward said "I'm used to playing against older guys. "Omaha has a great program and I heard their fans take the team pretty seriously. I've been told they get about 6,000 people every game." In his last high school season, Pelle -had 45 goals and 46 assists as Beaver went 21-2. He was also the No. 3 scorer on the traveling Pittsburgh Jr.

'B' Penguins, notching 17 goals and 25 assists in 38 games. This summer, he was the only of him last year. we can breakaways. Jeremiah Borowski of Fox Chapel, Moon Saturday. left, heads the ball as Moon's Jeff Shafer Terry HarrisPost-Gazette tries to defend in a scrimmage at Junior Matt Yakubisin is Moon's great defender We have to get him the ball as often esj and he has to score on a few more' We definitely need a big season out! to be in the running" Justin Brown, senior forward, West Alle-i By Joe Greiner Tri-State Sports News Service There were plenty of talented soccer players in the West suburbs in 1990, most notably graduated stars Derek Thomas of Moon and Eric Prex of Charters Valley.

While this year's West crop may have a difficult time living up to those two, the cupboard is far from bare. Here's a look at some of the best in the West: Matt Yakubisin, junior defender, Moon Yakubisin spent 1990 playing in the shadow of his brother John, who tallied 36 goals. But with John and Derek Thomas gone, Matt may well step into Moon's spotlight. He was a big reason the Tigers were one of the WPIAL's top defensive teams in '90, giving up just 18 goals. "Matt's already one of the best defenders in the WPIAL and the state in my eyes," said Moon coach Arne Thomas.

"No one can defend the goal and shoot the ball like he can. He could be an All-America candidate as a senior." Matt also scored five goals last season as magnified this season. He was a big offensive contributor last year as the Cougars made the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, scoring 10 goals, but he'll be counted on to contribute more in the defensive end this fall. "Jason's been a starter in the midfield since his sophomore year and he's developed into quite a player," said Carlynton coach Gary Weber. "He'll have to play both ways more this year.

I think he can really help tighten our defense. he's still very capable of scoring goals if that's what we need out of him." Matt Johnson, senior forward, Beaver Johnson transferred in from New York before last season and instantly made Beaver a playoff squad scoring 23 goals to not only lead the Bobcats in scoring but to become their all-time leading goal-scorer. With Section 9 a bit down, Johnson may put up bigger numbers this fall. "Matt will be a marked man," said Beaver coach Sig Brauch. "His goal production could be down because he won't nave the support he had Moon won the WF1AL Class AAA title and progressed to the state Class AAA quarterfinals.

Mark Olivani, senior midfielder-forward, Montour Olivani's versatility will be a big plus this year as Montour coach Bo Williams shuffles him between midfield and forward Last season, Olivani's first at the high school level, saw him lead the Spartans in scoring with 19 goals and eight assists. "With the supporting cast we've put together this year, who knows how he'll do?" Williams said "We were pleased at what he did last year and he should make the other two forwards twice as good this season. He's just a tremendous athlete. He has all the tools to become one of the best players in the WPIAL. When he's in control of the ball, he can play with anyone." Olivani led the Spartans to an 8-9-1 record in 1990, scoring nearly half of the team's 39 goals.

Jason Pascoe, senior midfielder, Carlynton With the Cougars returning just six starters, Pascoe's role and importance will be gheny Brown lost his top assist midfielder Charlie Pecora, to graduation, so he must get used to some new, younger playmak-l ers. Whether or not he can duplicate his 17-goa1 season of last fall may determine whether or not WA can grab a Section 7 playoff spot "I know that he'll score a lot more this year" because he's become a better all-around play- er," said West Allegheny coach Colin Willms. "He's faster and he's built up his 'strength. 1 Justin is so skillful and elusive. If Iseniorj forward! Jim Ford 15 goals in '90 can take! some of the pressure off him, Justin should be! one of the top scorers in the I Brown also kicks for WA's football team.

He! had nine extra points and three field goals last I season. But how much? SOCCER FROM PAGE W-7 big. roles last fall Moon's midiield returns juniors Eric Kopay and Scott Wolfe, while senior Bob Stancam-piano. will try to take over Thomas' playmaking spot Senior Chris Seretti (seven goals last fall) is the lone returnee up front. Montour After adjusting to then-rookie coach Bo Williams' system last fall, the Spartans (8-9-1 in '90) may be set to contend for a Section 3 playoff spot.

This year's lineup contains two seniors, six juniors, two sophomores arid a freshman, giving Williams a lot to look forward to. "I feel a lot better about the team," Williams said. "Last year we depended on senior midfielder Mark Oli- vaiu too much. This year we have his ounger Drotner Isophomore forward ViSi to team up with him. That should gie us added scoring.

I'm usually a defensive-minded coach, but this year's team changes that completely. We have too much quickness and skill in the offensive zone to overlook." Montour returns four starters on offense, including the elder Olivani, who led the Spartans with 19 goals. HeY joined by junior forward Jim Baumgartal and junior midfielders Dan Gonter and C.T. Schneider. Only junior goalkeeper Tom Sinton is back ori; defense.

Carlynton -The Cougars (14-3-2 last year) have been one of the WPIAL's top Class AA teams over the last few seasons and went 12-0-2 in Section 7 play last year. They suffered a big graduation loss in defender Don Snyder, but do have some new talent ready to go. power on this squad has shifted back to offense," said Coach Gary Weber. "We lost some very good seniors, but we can still be very competitive. The younger kids are ready, but we will have to jell" Jpbe facet of the game the Cougars should have no trouble with is scoring -'they return three of their top four gnal-scorers from "90 in junior forward Chuck McGinnis (17 goals), senior midfielder Jason Pascoe (10) and senior defender Brian Alfred (7).

Cartynton's major weakness may be defense, ironic considering it allowed just 13 goals last year. Juniors Dante Dominic and John Defonso anchor a young backline. v. Joseph set to get turn at tailback JOSEPH FROM PAGE W-7 position begins Saturday night at Dp'rmont Stadium when the Rebels (12-3'last year) play defending WPIAL Class AA champ Canevin. Wlit to get going," he said.

"The experience I got last year will definitely help because I found out wjjai it feels like to carry the ball over 25 times in a varsity game. I'm comfortable and confident that I'll be able' to step in and do a good job." coach Greg Gattuso is confident; too, that the 5-foot-9, 170-pound-er is ready to take on his expanded role. "He's a complete hqck who also happens to be an excellent receiver. Greg Gattuso, Seton-LaSalle coach Joseph is the leading rusher in the history of this school, and to say that we aren't losing anything with' Anthony back there is not to discredit David's accomplishments in any way," said Gattuso. "It's more of a tribute to Anthony's ability.

"I just love the way the kid runs the football. He's just a no-nonsense type tailback. He doesn't play around He hits: the holes fast and runs very hard" following his older brother's act dqpsn't worry Anthony. He's done it New Seton NtNrV QB FROM PAGE W-7 237 passes for 2,077 yards as Rebels went 12-3. r7We never had a quarterback at or South Hills Catholic throw for 2,000 yards like Matt did last yeir I would never expect Mauro to duplicate that," said Seton-LaSalle cqach Greg Gattuso, whose two-year record stands at 21-7.

"But I do think that Mauro is capable of putting up combined passing and rushing totals that will be comparable to what IJatt's were." knows he'll be hard-pressed toeven approach Neiss' passing totals, but he's enthusiastic about the TALK OF THE TOWNWEST Mnpinnmnmmliffinnpwiipflillin fit 1 1 mi I- Anthony Joseph, breaking through game, rushed for 1 08 yards to help before and seems to thrive on the idea. "It's a lot of fun following him," said Anthony, who scored five touchdowns last year. "David set a lot of records here and we always joke around about whether or not I'D be able to break them in my last two years, but it's all in fun. I'm sure he'd rather have me do it than anyone else." Besides making Anthony the fociis of Seton's running game, Gattuso also has designs on getting him out into some pass patterns to take advantage of his receiving ability. "He's a complete back who also happens to be an excellent receiver," 1 3j Making progress Passing fancy: Bucknell University senior Jeff Kelly, a Beaver High graduate, has made progress after offseason knee surgery and is likely to be the starting quarterback next Friday night when the Bison visit Hofstra in the season opener for both teams.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Kelly is expected to take over for the graduated Todd Hatajik, who passed for 21 touchdowns last season. Kelly's future at Bucknell was clouded last December when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He missed spring practice, but now has been given medical clearance to play. Bucknell coach Lou Maranzanasaid, "We're still not sure what he'll be able to do." If Kelly falters, Maranzana will call on either sophomore Scott Mitchell or senior Greg Coverdale, who both briefly appeared in one game last year when Bucknell went 7-4. Kelly is the team's most experienced passer, having played in seven games while completing 16 of 30 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Maranzana said he will make his final decision on the QB issue following Saturday's scrimmage against Bloomsburg University. Diamonds in the rough: A pair of Beaver County natives did not face each other but were in opposite bull-pens dunng a Class AAA American Association minor-league baseball series last week between Louisville, a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, and Indianapolis, a Montreal Expos farm club. Monaca High graduate Mark Grater notched his 1 1 th save of the season in Louisville's 2-1 victory over Indianapolis last Thursday. Grater allowed two hits, one walk and had one strikeout while pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Despite a 2-3 record, Grater has a 1 .66 earned-run average in 54 appearances, all in relief. He has given up only 63 hits and 31 walks in 76 innings while notching 52 strikeouts. Louisville, 50-86 and in last place in the AA's East Division as of Tuesday, won three of four games during its series with Indianapolis. Beaver graduate Doug Piatt got the lone win for Indy during the four-game set, giving up one hit and one run in one inning of work in a 4-3 victory. Piatt, who made 10 appearances on the mound during June and July for the big-league Expos, leads Indy with 1 1 saves in 42 games.

He has a 6-4 record and a 3.25 ERA and has walked 27 and fanned 58 in 45 innings. He has allowed 40 hits, including two home runs. Indianapolis was 69-66 and in second place in the AA East as of Tuesday, 6 games behind the Pirates' Buffalo farm club. Buffalo was 75-59 as of Tuesday. Back In th fold: Montour High graduate Dean Caliguire, a former Pitt football standout, was placed on waivers Aug.

20 by the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL team, however, reversed its decision Tuesday when the team reclaimed the 6-2, 282-pound center off the waiver list. Caliguire was selected by San Francisco in the fourth round (92nd pick overall) in the 1990 NFL draft. He spent all of last season on the physically unable to perform list after surgery on his right foot during training camp. e.

John BealePost-Gazette season's WPIAL Class AAA title champs. That will help get us ready each week, because we know they will all be out there gunning for us. "It's fun playing against the schools in our conference because there aren't any easy games. Playing against a tough opponent each week makes you better." Despite the Rebels' difficult schedule, Joseph and his teammates have set a goal of getting back to the WPIAL title game. "The feeling of winning the WPIAL was great.

After you do it once, you want to go right back and do it again," said Anthony. "I'd like to rush for 1,500 yards, but I'd gladly take 500 if it meant that we could win it again." how quickly he has been able to grasp everything we've thrown at him." Monz seems to be making the adjustment to playing for Gattuso about as easily as he did adjusting to attending Seton-LaSalle. "Playing baseball in the spring really helped as far as me fitting in," said Monz, who was a catcher and outfielder for Seton's baseball team. "Everyone has really supported me. I guess, at first, some of trie guys may have been a little bit skeptical and I had to earn their respect, but I think I've been able to do that in our two scrimmages.

I am really anxious to see what we will be able to accomplish this year." -V Jeff Kelly Moving up: Dan McCarthy, a 1 981 graduate of Brashear High School, has been promoted from assistant sports information director at Duquesne University to assistant athletic director. "It's a fantastic step for McCarthy, said. McCarthy will work mainly with 'r minor sports at the One of his most important jobs is making sure coaches meet new NCAA guidelines regarding practices. "That's very im portant because witn the new rules, teams are allowed to work' only 20 vf hours a week. That includes meetings, games, everything," McCarthy said.

Court order: An open tennis tournament will be held next month at Settters-'" Cabin Park. The competition, open to 5T amateur players of all ages and skill ij levels, will begin Friday, Sept. Players can compete in men's single? and doubles, women's singles and doubles, andor mixed ddubtes. Entry forms are available at the park office-. tf For more information, call tennis direct tor Tom Fleming at 787-2824.

Out of the rough: The South Park Golf Course will hold its annual seniors' championship Tuesday. The tournament is open to men and women who are at least 50. The age divisions are: 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; and 70f 74. For more information, call the South) Park pro shop at 835-3545. Not horsing around: The eighth; j( annual D.T.

Watson Rehabilitation-; Hospital polo match will be held Sunday, Sept. 29, on the hospital grounds. Competition between 1 wickley and Darlington starts at 2 p-tryfr For more information, call Beth Potetti at 741 -9500, ext. 225. Smorgasports: The National uwi noouwauuii win iuiu US CaSlom Area championships for men's Class Cr lr- teams Aug.

31-Sept. 2 at Wolfpak Park, in Lower Burrell. The team entry fee is $165. For more, information, cad- George Lang at 364-1610 Theyv North Hills Sports Medicine Clinic wi conduct seminars for high schoojV athletes beginning this Saturday atjjTi a.m. and 9 a.m.

on the lower level of tfirft North Hills Passavant ProfessionlJ, Building. The seminarsrun each Satur- day through mid-December. F6r molP information, call 366-8848. I Compiled tut an opening in the Hopewell line in last Seton-LaSalle to the championship. said Gattuso.

"His being able to come out of the backfield as a receiving threat should provide us with another offensive dimension." If the Rebels are to have a chance to defend their WPIAL title, they must survive the weekly wars in the Parkway Conference, considered Class AAA's toughest league. Three of the Post-Gazette's preseason Class AAA Top Five come from the Parkway. Montour is ranked No. 2, Seton-LaSalle No. 4, and Black-hawk No.

5. "It'll be a real challenge for us and we are all looking forward to it," said Anthony. "Everybody we play will be pumped up to play the WPIAL run. "There is no doubt in my mind that he could be a tailback," said Gattuso. "With Neiss, his major threat to the defense was his right am Mauro has running and scrambling ability that will open up a lot of things for us.

Teams will have to respect his ability to run." Gattuso admits that when MoiiZ first came Seton-LaSalle last December, he really didn't know what kind of player he was getting. But he's pleased with what he's seen so far. "Mauro has really shown us a lot," said Gattuso. "We like to do a lot of different things with our quarterbacks and it has really surprised me QB Monz has tough act to follow prospect of being able to throw more than just a few times per game. "This is a lot more of a wide-open offense than I played in last year," said Monz.

"We do a lot of different things with roll-outs and sprint-outs and there are a number of real good receivers here." Monz has no illusions about equalling Neiss' 1990 totals, although he certainly like to top his own numbers from last year. "I really look up to what Matt did here last year," Monz said. "If I can just step and do somewhere near the kind of job he did, we should be in pretty good shape." According to Gattuso, Monz does have one talent Neiss didn't he can.