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Former Resident Receives State Sports Award





Wheaton, Montrose Teammates Qualify For District Tournament
By Tom Robinson

ROARING BROOK TWP. - Cole Wheaton shot a 2-over-par, 74 Wednesday at Elmhurst Country Club leading the way as the entire Montrose golf team advanced to the District 2 Tournament.

All six Meteors were among the group of 50 who qualified from a field of 24 schools and 130 players. Scranton Prep and Dunmore also had all six players qualify.

Wheaton finished tied for third, three strokes behind Scranton Prep’s Nick Reach and two strokes behind Peter Nelson. Wheaton was the only non-Scranton Prep player in the top five. He tied with Chaz Hudacek and Dave Pompey of the Cavaliers.

Peter Maxey of Montrose was in a seven-way tie for ninth with a 77.

Bill Stranburg (81), Jordan Smith (82), Matt Meehan (82) and Lance Nealey (86) also advanced for the Meteors.

Forest City’s Dom Sparks, who shot an 86, was the only other Susquehanna County player to advance.

Players who shot 87 or better made the cut.

Montrose also defeated Mountain View, 9-0, to complete an unbeaten championship season in the Lackawanna League Northern Division.

Final North Division standings are: Montrose 11-0, Honesdale 10-1, Western Wayne 7-2-2, Lakeland 7-3-1, Lackawanna Trail 6-3-2, Wallenpaupack 6-4-1, Forest City 5-6, Carbondale 4-5-2, Mountain View 3-8, Susquehanna 2-9, Elk Lake 1-10, Blue Ridge 0-11.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Big plays at the end of each half Saturday afternoon carried Susquehanna to a 20-14 upset victory over host Wilkes-Barre GAR in a non-league football game.

GAR, the defending Wyoming Valley Conference Class AA Division champion, had scored 60 points on the Sabers a year ago.

This time, the Sabers stopped the Grenadiers inside the 5 twice, turning one into a touchdown and another into the game’s clinching play.

Susquehanna also already in front, 6-0, on a 17-yard, first-quarter touchdown run by Nick Felter when it stopped GAR on downs with a minute left in the half.

With the Sabers needing to run out the clock to protect their lead, quarterback Dan Kempa instead broke loose on a 97-yard touchdown run for a 13-0 halftime lead.

The Grenadiers moved within 13-7 at the end of the third quarter.

Felter then ran 24 yards for his second touchdown and a 20-7 lead.

GAR closed the gap again to 20-14 then starting moving toward the potential winning score. On first-and-goal from the 5 with 40 seconds left, the Sabers forced a fumble which went out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback that preserved the win.

The win was the second straight for the Sabers, improving them to 3-1 and matching last year’s win total.

GAR is 2-2.

Western Wayne produced its first Lackawanna Football Conference Division 2 win in more than five years when it downed visiting Montrose, 36-8, Friday night.

The Wildcats took a 22-8 halftime lead and broke the game open with two third-quarter touchdowns.

In boys’ soccer, defending Lackawanna League Division 3 champion Forest City had to come from behind with first place on the line but eventually ran away from Old Forge, 7-2.

Old Forge (6-0) led twice before Forest City (4-1-1) ran off six straight goals over the final 48:04.

Jon Sibio’s penalty kick for the second of his three goals forced a tie and started the comeback.

Mike Chiovari added two goals.

Montrose scored five goals in 20:43 of the first half to defeat West Scranton, 5-0, and get back to the .500 level in Division 2.

Grant Shelp started and ended he outburst.

After Cory Adams made the lead, 2-0, Chris Mordvancy and Ryan Ochse assisted each other’s goals 1:29 apart to put Montrose in command.

Danny Simonds made nine saves for the shutout.

In cross country, the Elk Lake boys and girls remained unbeaten, each improving to 8-0.

COLLEGE CORNER

Brad Sparks, a junior from Forest City, shot an 84-77 for a 19-over-par, 161 for the University of Scranton in the Empire 8 Fall Invitational at Blue Heron Country Club in Macedon, N.Y.

Sparks finished tied for 22nd in the eight-team event, helping Scranton to a fifth-place team finish.

Sparks then shot an 80 Sunday to finish tied for 20th out of 84 players and help the Royals finish fifth out of 14 teams at the Susquehanna Invitational.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Montrose is home Friday night in a Lackawanna Football Conference Division 2 opener against Scranton Prep. The Meteors are 0-1 in the division and 1-3 overall. Scranton Prep is 0-0 and 3-1.

Susquehanna (3-1) is home Saturday in a non-league game against Lake-Lehman (2-2). The Sabers have already beaten last year’s top Class AA team from the Wyoming Valley Conference. This game gives them a shot at the second-place team from a year ago.

Our high school football predictions were 11-3 last week (78.6 percent), bringing our season record to 42-11 (79.3 percent). This week’s predictions, with home teams in CAPS: Scranton Prep 34, MONTROSE 10; SUSQUEHANNA 30, Lake-Lehman 16; HANOVER AREA 25, Carbondale 20; Wilkes-Barre GAR 38, LACKAWANNA TRAIL 6; WILKES-BARRE MEYERS 39, Holy Cross 8; Old Forge 49, NANTICOKE 0; Mid Valley 23, HOLY REDEEMER 0; NORTH POCONO 25, Delaware Valley 6; WEST SCRANTON 25, Scranton 15; RIVERSIDE 36, Honesdale 10; DUNMORE 41, Western Wayne 13; VALLEY VIEW 24, Lakeland 10; ABINGTON HEIGHTS 37, Wallenpaupack 6.

The high school golf playoffs open Monday. Montrose has a bye into the league quarterfinals Wednesday when it will host the Lackawanna Trail-Dunmore winner. A victory there would advance the Meteors into the semifinals, also at home, against Abington Heights, Valley View or Western Wayne.

Golf postseason action continues Monday, October 5 at Elmhurst Country Club with the District 2 individual championships.

In girls' tennis, the District 2 individual championships are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

In professional hockey, the American Hockey League opens Friday then two regional teams begin their seasons Saturday when the Hartford Wolf Pack plays at the Binghamton Senators and the Syracuse Crunch plays at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com.

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NASCAR Racing
By Gerald Hodges

Johnson Gets Dover Win

By Gerald Hodges; The Racing Reporter

DOVER, Del. - Jimmie Johnson’s chances for a fourth NASCAR Cup championship received a big boost Sunday, after he won the Dover 400 ahead of his teammate, Mark Martin.

“What a car,” said Johnson. “Obviously we struggled early on, but the team made some great changes and we wound up with an awesome race car.”

Jimmie Johnson got his fourth win of the season Sunday at Dover.

Johnson led three times for 271 of the 400 laps. He remains in second-place in the Chase, 10 points behind Martin.

“We had a good handling car on the long runs, but it was a hand full on the restarts,” said Martin. “I think we did really well by finishing second. We were just off a little bit.”

Martin continues to be the leader in Chase points with eight races remaining.

“The guys in the pits helped me finish where I did, today,” said third-place finisher, Matt Kenseth. “The tires were nice, but it was difficult to pass other cars.”

Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman were the remaining top-10 finishers.

The race was red flagged on lap 32 after a violent wreck by the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Chevrolet driven by Joey Logano.

Logano had checked up coming out of turn-4 on lap 31, and was bumped from the rear by Reed Sorenson. Logano’s car slid up the track, and was struck again. Logano’s No. 20 rolled six or seven times, coming to rest on the track apron.

“It scared the heck out of me,” said Logano. “I went low into the corner and had to check up for a car in front of me, and got hit from the back. It was a wild ride. I’m okay, but just a little shaken.”

The other three drivers that were involved, Reed Sorenson, Robby Gordon, and Martin Truex Jr. were okay, but could not continue racing.

Chase leaders after 8 of 10 races: 1. Martin-5400, 2. Johnson-5390, 3. Montoya-5335, 4. Kurt Busch-5325, 5. Stewart-5294, 6. Hamlin-5292, 7. Newman-5290, 8. J. Gordon-5278, 9. Biffle-5262, 10. Vickers-5249, 11. Edwards-5247, 12. Kahne-5211

Remaining top-25 (non-Chase) drivers: 13. Kenseth-3424, 14. Kyle Busch-3395, 15. Bowyer-3311, 16. Reutimann-3275, 17. Ambrose-3059, 18. Burton-2968, 19. Mears-2875, 20. Logano-2842, 21. Harvick-2807, 22. Earnhardt-2789, 23. McMurray-2752, 24. Allmendinger-2689, 25. Sadler-2631.

BOWYER WINS DOVER NATIONWIDE RACE

While Clint Bowyer was celebrating his second Nationwide Series win of the year, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski were having a different kind of celebration.

The two drivers had an earlier racing incident where Hamlin was spun out by Keselowski, who went on to finish third.

When Keselowski climbed from his car after the race, he was greeted by Hamlin.

“I wanted to talk with him,” said Hamlin. “He needs some sort of guidance. He’s got a ton of talent, and if he can harness it, he will win a ton of races.”

After exchanging words, Hamlin shoved Keselowski, and then members of both pit crews intervened to stop further physical contact.

Keselowski said the problem was all because of Hamlin.

“He cut me off like he always does,” said Keselowski. “I either had to hit the brakes, move down into the infield or hold my position. I chose to hold my spot, and he came down on me.”

Top-10 Nationwide Series leaders after 28 of 35: 1. Kyle Busch-4549, 2. Edwards-4338, 3. Keselowski-4252, 4. Leffler-3749, 5. S. Wallace-3259, 6. Allgaier-3240, 7. Keller-3125, 8. Bliss-3120, 9. Gaughan-3063, 10. McDowell-2978.

SAUTER GETS FIRST WIN IN TRUCKS AT VEGAS

Johnny Sauter won his first Camping World Truck Series race, Saturday at Las Vegas, ahead of teammate, Matt Crafton.

Top-10 Truck leaders after 20 of 25: 1. Hornaday-3210, 2. Crafton-3013, 3. Skinner-2955, 4. Scott-2714, 5. Sauter-2647, 6. Bodine-2645, 7. Braun-2632, 8. Crawford-2576, 9. Peters-2573, 10. Starr-2552.

DALE JR TEAM NEEDS TO SHAPE UP

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said David Reutimann needed to “sharpen up and polish up his craft a little bit,” after Reutimann got into him during the New Hampshire race two weeks ago.

But if there is any driver or team that needs to “shape up,” it’s Earnhardt’s No. 88 team.

Reutimann drives for Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR teams are not on the same level, equipment-wise as Earnhardt and the other three Hendrick teams.

Hendrick teams are always contending, and often winning. Four of the last Cup championships have gone to Hendrick drivers. This year, while teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin were busy laying the groundwork necessary for making the Chase, Earnhardt Jr. has swapped crew chiefs, failed to finish races, and is practically guaranteed his worst career finish in the point standings since moving up to the Cup series in 2000.

After leaving familiar surroundings nearly two years ago, from the family-owned business, Earhnardt has yet to show any of the promises that were expected of him.

At the beginning of the 2009 season, his crew chief said, “It would be reasonable to expect four wins this year.”

So far, no wins, which is even worse than last season, when he had one victory at Michigan.

He made the move to Hendrick because he felt the organization provided him with his best opportunity to win races and contend for championships. If that is the case, then either Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t held up his end of the bargain, or the No. 88 team simply isn’t getting the job done.

All this doesn’t mean Earnhardt Jr. isn’t a talented racer, because he has 18 Cup wins. But something isn’t right. The current combination isn’t producing the results that were expected.

The 88 team needs to find and make the necessary changes, that will take them back into victory lane.

Weekend Racing: The Nationwide and Cup teams are at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. The Truck Series doesn’t race gain until Oct. 24.

Sat., Oct. 3, Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300, race 29 of 35; Starting time: 3 p.m. (EDT); TV: ESPN2.

Sun., Oct. 4, Sprint Cup Price Chopper 400, race 29 of 36; starting time: 1 p.m. (EDT); TV: ABC.

Racing Trivia Question: What year was the Sprint Cup Chase started?

Last Week’s Question: Which Nationwide Series driver has the most series wins? Answer. Mark Martin’s 48 wins is tops among all drivers.

You may contact the Racing Reporter at: hodgesnews@earthlink.net.

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Former Resident Receives State Sports Award

Lou Parrillo, lifelong resident of Susquehanna, was recently elected posthumously into the PA State American Legion Sports Hall of Fame “Class of 2009.”

This honor memorializes Lou’s great legacy as a founder, coach, and organizer of youth sports, and a local ambassador of the game of baseball along with being one of Susquehanna’s long time community pillars.

Lou’s award was proudly accepted at a ceremony in Boyertown, PA on July 27, 2009, by his daughters, Diane Armetta-Walsh, Susquehanna, and Polly Spry, Endicott, NY.

Lou is the county’s first recipient of this most prestigious award, which will remain on display at the American Legion Hall, Susquehanna, PA.

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