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Whether on the cross country course or on the track, Elk Lake and Blue Ridge have set the standard for local girls’ high school runners in recent years. The Lady Warriors and Lady Raiders were at it again Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA Track and Field Championships. The Elk Lake 3200-meter relay team and Blue Ridge 1600-meter relay teams each received a medal and a team point for placing eighth in the finals Saturday. Elk Lake’s team of Kimberly Caines, Lisa Ruppert, Ellen Squier and Rachel Owens was fifth out of 28 teams during qualifying and just .09 seconds out of second place to reach the final. Although they dropped their time from 9:38.12 to 9:36.83 on the second day, the Lady Warriors finished eighth out of 12 teams in the final. Blue Ridge’s team of Lauren Findley, Meghan Ragard, Megan Kleiner and Allison Hall was seventh out of 27 teams during qualifying with a time of 4:03.91 to clinch a medal and a spot in the eight-team final. The Lady Raiders wound up eighth with a time of 4:07.70 in the final. Montrose’s Cory Poepperling just missed an individual medal when he finished tied for ninth in the pole vault by clearing 13-6. Sarah Kimsey, also from Montrose, was tied for 12th in the high jump with a height of 5-0. Blue Ridge’s Hall was 15th in the 800 in 2:21.12. Montrose’s Christy DiMichelle was tied for 16th in the pole vault at 9-0. Cody DeBoer of Montrose was 17th in the long jump with a leap of 20-4 1⁄2. Elk Lake’s Ryne Carney was 18th in the 3200 with a time of 10:10.21. Maegan Lewis of Blue Ridge was 22nd in the girls’ race in 11:53.73. Blue Ridge’s Kaitchen Dearborn was 22nd in the javelin with a throw of 107-5. WEEK IN REVIEW Mountain View followed up a Lackawanna League boys’ volleyball title with a fourth-place finish in the District 2 Class AA tournament to earn a state tournament berth. The Eagles clinched a top-four finish and state spot when they posted a 25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 13-25, 15-7 win over visiting Berwick in the quarterfinals. Mountain View then fell to Holy Redeemer, 25-13, 25-20, 25-11, and Wilkes-Barre Coughlin, 16-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18. The Eagles were scheduled to play Tuesday against Eastern York in a preliminary game to reach the eight-team, round-robin portion of the state tournament. Blue Ridge was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Holy Redeemer, 25-15, 25-13, 25-11. Mountain View was 11-1 in the Lackawanna League and followed in the final standings by: Lackawanna Trail 10-2, Blue Ridge 9-3, Western Wayne 5-7, Susquehanna 4-8, Elk Lake 2-10 and Forest City 1-11. In high school softball, Susquehanna defeated Forest City, 5-2, in a Class A quarterfinal game to earn a semifinal berth against top-seeded Blue Ridge. The semifinal was scheduled to be played Tuesday. Courtney Dininny, Christy Glidden and winning pitcher Leanne Terpstra each had two hits for Susquehanna. Terpstra threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts. Elk Lake won two games, including pulling off an upset, before falling in the Class AA semifinals. The seventh-seeded Lady Warriors defeated Wilkes-Barre GAR, 8-3, then knocked off second-seeded Lake-Lehman, 5-2. Carbondale eliminated Elk Lake with a 2-0 shutout Saturday. Brooke Darling struck out six in the win over Lake-Lehman. Lake-Lehman had eliminated Mountain View, 4-1. Montrose also lost in the first round, 8-2, to Lakeland. In high school baseball, all six county teams were eliminated. Montrose, Elk Lake and Mountain View each won once in Class AA before being eliminated. Montrose, the 15th seed, pulled off the biggest win by ending second-seeded Carbondale’s 12-game winning streak, 6-5. Carbondale had won the Lackawanna League Division 3 title. Cameron Smith and winning pitcher Cooper Hewitt each had three hits and drove in two runs for the meteors. Smith had two doubles and a triple. Dunmore knocked Montrose out in the quarterfinals, 5-3. Elk Lake defeated Lackawanna Trail, 16-6, and lost to Wilkes-Barre GAR, 5-1. Mountain View beat Riverside, 6-3, and lost to Mid Valley, 9-1. Blue Ridge lost its first game, 6-5, in eight innings against defending champion Lake-Lehman. Northwest knocked both Forest City and Susquehanna out of the Class A tournament. The Rangers defeated Northwest, 9-5, before upsetting Susquehanna, 9-7. Dan Downton drove in three runs with a double and a homer in Susquehanna’s loss. In professional hockey, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins rallied from the brink of elimination to win the last two games of the Calder Cup semifinals against the Portland Pirates and advance to the championship series. Portland led the best-of-three series, 3-2, and built its lead to 3-0 in the final minute of the second period in Game Six. Connor James, Chris Minard and Tim Brent scored the key goals and goalie John Curry made several clutch saves to help the Penguins win the series in seven games. James scored with 11 seconds left in the second period and scored 40 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win in Game Six. Minard scored twice in the third period to force overtime. The Penguins let a two-goal lead get away in Game Seven before Brent scored with 30 seconds left for a 3-2 victory and a berth in the finals. “It was great hockey,” Penguins coach Todd Richards said of the two home-ice wins that propelled his team into the final. “It was hard, fast, intense, the way playoff hockey should be.” COLLEGE CORNER Sean Brewer received National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 Division II first-team, all-star honors while pitching for Lackawanna College in Scranton. The sophomore from Montrose was 6-2 with a 1.06 earned run average. Brewer struck out 74 and walked just 11 while holding opposing batters to a .167 average in 66 1/3 innings. Brewer is one of five Region 19 players nominated for All-America honors. THE WEEK AHEAD The Blue Ridge-Susquehanna winner will play Old Forge Thursday at a neutral field for the District 2 Class A softball championship. In high school baseball, the District 2 finals have returned to PNC Field, the former Lackawanna County Stadium, but will not include any county teams. In professional hockey, the Calder Cup finals begin with games Thursday and Sunday in Chicago. The Penguins will try to win their first American Hockey League championship in the best-of-seven series against the Wolves. TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com.
NASCAR Racing The Racing Reporter Kahne Wins Coca-Cola 600, Concord, NC – Kasey Kahne inherited the lead for the last time with three laps to go in Sunday’s 400-lap Coca-Cola 600, after the leader Tony Stewart hit the wall with a blown right front tire.
Kasey Kahne, winner of Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. Kahne had been the previous leader, but fell behind Stewart after a round of late pit stops for fuel, and was running about 5 seconds behind Stewart. It was the second win in a row for Kahne. Last week he won a cool $1-million for winning the All-Star race, but it was the first points race win since the Fall of 2006, for the driver of the Evernham-Gillette No. 9 Dodge. “The car was great,” said Kahne. “We were one of the best cars all night long. Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart were both awesome, but they fell out. “The team has really stepped it up in the past few weeks and we’re about to get back where we need to be. It’s been a long season, hopefully we’ve got it turned around.” Kasey Kahne becomes the sixth driver to win the All-Star race and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same season. Greg Biffle finished second. “We’ve had some tough luck and we needed this,’ said Biffle. “What a long night.” Kyle Busch led twice, but his No. 18 had electrical problems. During a pit stop his team changed the battery, putting him a lap down. “I’m sure it was an alternator problem,” said Busch. “The guys did a real good job, and I’m sorry we didn’t come home a little bit better.” Jeff Gordon ran poorly during the first half of the 600-mile race but finished fourth. “It was pretty interesting racing against the 99 and 88 cars there at the end,” said Gordon. “Some of them were racing for fuel mileage. They would push me and I would let them go, and then I would get back by them, and then the 99 car ran out of fuel. “We just haven’t been qualifying the way we should, so heck, a fifth-place finish is real good.” Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led the most laps (76), but he had a right front tire go down causing him to hit the outside wall, then he got whomped from the rear by J. J. Yeley. After the race his car looked like it had been in a demolition derby. After the accident, Earnhardt was penalized twice for speeding on pit road, but he made up the laps and finished 5th. “We ran good tonight,” said Earnhardt. “I’m proud of my team. We had the tire blow out and I thought we were done, but I got motivated again. The car wasn’t as fast, but we hung on.” Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Carl Edwards, and David Reutimann rounded out the top-10. Jimmie Johnson lost an engine in his No 48 during lap 351 and finished 39th. Top-12 Chase Contenders after 11 of 36: 1. Kyle Busch-1860, 2. Burton-1766, 3. Earnhardt-1721, 4. Hamlin-1596, 5. Bowyer-1578, 6. Edwards-1538, 7. Harvick-1517, 8. Stewart-1511, 9. Johnson-1493, 10. J. Gordon-1486. Top-10 Nationwide Series leaders after 13 of 35: 1. Bowyer-1890, 2. Kyle Busch-1823, 3. Edwards-1714, 4. Reutimann-1702, 5. Keselowski-1670, 6. Ragan-1664, 7. Bliss-1663, 8. Leffler-1552, 9. M. Wallace-1482, 10. Stremme-1454. Top-10 Craftsman Truck Series leaders after 7 of 25: 1. Bodine-1001, 2. Crawford-993, 3. Crafton-956, 4. Benson-943, 5. Hornaday-937, 6. Cook-930, 7. Skinner-918, 8. Starr-913, 9. Darnell-901, 10. McCumbee-899. New Tire Rule For Dover – NASCAR has issued a memo limiting how the wheels can be positioned on the rear axle of the new model car being used in the Sprint Cup Series. The rule goes into effect for the May 30-June 1 weekend at Dover, although certain axle shaft and drive plate pieces, such as the ones used last week by Penske Racing's Sam Hornish, Jr. that allowed for more toe than most of the other teams, are illegal as of this week. Cup Series Director John Darby said the new rule, which allows teams a maximum of 1 degree of toe, still allows engineers to play with the rear steer of the car. He said 98 percent of the teams were at the 1 degree limit, and the rest were at 2 degrees. “When it goes to the point where basically the teams are going to throw out millions of dollars of inventory and replace it with millions of dollars of new inventory, that's too far,” Darby said. Petty To Celebrate 50 Years In NASCAR Mooresville, NC – Petty Enterprises announced plans to celebrate Richard Petty’s 50th anniversary in NASCAR. It includes Petty getting back into a racecar and turning laps at Chicagoland (IL) Speedway. On July 12, 1958, Petty made his first NASCAR start in the old Convertible Division at Columbia Speedway in Cayce, South Carolina. On July 12, Petty and the entire NASCAR community will celebrate the anniversary of that race at Chicago. “Petty has carved out a legacy that can never be equaled in NASCAR,” said Brian Moffitt of Petty Enterprises. “Whether it is wins, championships, integrity, commitment to helping others or fan affinity, his career speaks for itself. We are excited to celebrate his 50-year legacy with programs in which our partners find value and at the same time allow Richard to stay connected to the core of the sport, the fan. As a tribute to Petty and the anniversary of his first race, the No. 43 and No. 45 will be featuring special throwback paint schemes for the July 12th race. The paint schemes feature the Petty Blue color made famous by Petty and in a nod to the 60’s and 70’s, racing strips. Each will also carry the 50th anniversary commemorative logo on their hoods. “As much as he is renowned for his success on the racetrack, ‘The King’ has always connected with the fan and still does to this day,” continued Moffitt. “It’s just part of who he is. He understands that the fan is what makes NASCAR successful. He takes the time to sign every autograph and to pose for a picture with every child. It is with that same fan appreciation that our plans include elements in which the fans can participate in this milestone event. Over his 35 years as a driver, Petty achieved some amazing feats on the racetrack including scoring a record 200 wins and seven Winston Cup Championships. He changed the sport of auto racing, influenced the way that drivers interact with their fans and in the process became an American icon. Next Week: Joe Weatherly; NASCAR’s Clown Prince. WEEKEND RACING All three of NASCAR’s major series will be at the Monster Mile in Dover, DE. Friday, May 30: Craftsman Trucks AAA Insurance 200, 7:30 p.m. TV: Speed Channel. Saturday, May 31: Nationwide Series Heluva Good! 200, 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Sunday, June 1: Nextel Cup Best Buy 400, 1:30 p.m. TV: Fox. Racing Trivia Question: How many races has Jimmie Johnson won this season? Last Week’s Question: This past Saturday night’s All-Star race at Lowe’s was Dale Jarrett’s last race. How many Cup championships has he won? Answer: His only Cup Series championship came in 1999. You may contact the Racing Reporter at: hodgesnews@earthlink.net.
Brandon Rogers Wins Youth Championship Montrose, PA – Prior to walking into the Suburban Bowlarama in York, PA, Brandon Rogers, age 11, Montrose, PA, had never been to the USBC Pepsi Youth Championship and had no idea what to expect. The Pepsi Youth Championship is one of the premier tournaments for youth bowlers. This year, Age 11 & Under Boys Handicap gave a total of $5,100.00 in scholarship money.
Brandon Rogers of Montrose, a first-time competitor, was a winner in the 2008 PA State Pepsi USBC Youth Championship. Brandon rolled a 159-190-186 for his personal best series of 535, and with his handicap of 272, his score of 807 was not to be touched by anyone in his age bracket. He received a plaque and a $1,000.00 scholarship. To get to that point there were 889 young bowlers across the state competing for a spot at the state level; Brandon rolled a 746 with handicap to place second in District 8, capturing one of those spots. Brandon started bowling in 2007 in the youth league play after finding out the area has this to offer young bowlers. Starting with an average of 53, the only place to go was up for this young man. At the end of league play, he had won seven USBC (United States Bowling Congress) awards, along with the Most Improved Bowler, First Place Team with Tori Cardenas, DW Henry and Brianna Johnson, Youth Leader Award, and the Coaches’ Award with comments of having the best smile and always listening to instructions to become the best he can be. He will become a very good bowler, said his coach, LeRoy Spadine. His tournament accomplishments are second place in the Endless Mountain Association’s Handicap Singles Event at Belvedere Lanes in Nicholson, PA, fourth place in the fourth annual Dennis Visavati Memorial Tournament at Maplewood Lanes in South Montrose with his father, second place in the Northern Tier Shootout at Maplewood Lanes in South Montrose, first place qualifying for the Family Doubles Tournament at Maplewood Lanes in South Montrose with his father to bowl June 1 at Idle Hour Lanes in Scranton, second place in District Qualification for the PA State Pepsi USBC Youth Championship at Valley Lanes in Carbondale, PA, and first place in the 2008 PA State Pepsi USBC Youth Championship at Suburban Bowlarama in York, PA. Brandon dreams of becoming the next Walter Ray Williams, Jr. and bowling his way through school and college. He is the son of Randy and Annette Rogers, Montrose.
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