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HEADLINES: Elk Lake Knocks Out State Champions In District 2 Softball Final Rematch SCRANTON - Elk Lake was looking for one run and any way possible to extend its District 2 Class AA softball championship game with defending state champion Nanticoke Thursday night. The Lady Warriors got more. Freshman Casey Tyler drove in the tying run and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Lady Warriors to a 2-1 win over the Trojanettes in a meeting of unbeatens at Marywood University. Winning pitcher Brooke Darling and Kyla Marcy also played a role in producing the winning rally against Sarah Bertoni, who had limited Elk Lake to two hits for the first six innings. “We were all just hoping we could pull through in the end,” Tyler said. “We were looking to tie it up and continue playing.” Darling, who pitched a five-hitter, doubled off the left-field fence to start the bottom of the seventh. “We had our four and five hitters coming up,” Elk Lake coach Tony Blaisure said. “Brooke has been consistent hitting for us all year. We thought maybe we could just tie it.” Tyler followed and after being unable to get a bunt down, she lined the ball over the right fielder’s head for a triple, scoring Darling and putting the tying run 60 feet away. “I called timeout to talk to Casey and asked if she could bunt with two strikes,” Blaisure said. “She said she had confidence, so I told her to put the ball in play as hard as she could and she did that.” More missed bunt attempts followed, bringing Marcy up with two outs. Marcy hit a hard groundball at third baseman Maggie Gola, forcing her to make a clean play and quick throw across the diamond as Marcy sped down the line. Gola’s throw was low and first baseman Lindsay Roberts was unable to hang on to it. “I gave it my all,” said Marcy, who sprinted across the bag safe, allowing Tyler to score the winning run. Darling did not allow a hit in the first three innings. She finished with nine strikeouts and just one walk. Bertoni doubled twice for Nanticoke and drove in a run with the first, which came with one out in the fourth inning. Gabby Balztley and Bri Hollenbeck singled for Elk Lake’s only hits in the first six innings. The game matched the previous three District 2 Class AA champions. Elk Lake won in 2009. Nanticoke won in 2008 and last year when it defeated Elk Lake, 3-0, in the final. WEEK IN REVIEW THROOP - Old Forge beat Blue Ridge in the District 2 Class A final for the fourth straight year. After winning the first three of those matchups by a single run, the Lady Devils took this game in eight innings, scoring six times in the top of the inning of a 7-3 victory. Lauren Carey, Chelsea Cadwalder and Sarah Fish doubled in the inning. Winning pitcher Nicole Marianelli’s sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run. Gabby Wolfe started the bottom of the eighth with her third hit. Jenna Rupakus singled down the left-field line for Blue Ridge’s only other hit, driving in two runs. Marianelli had doubled in a run to open the scoring in the third inning. Blue Ridge tied the game in the fifth. “We had problems getting people on early,” Marianelli said. “It was nice to see us start stringing them together.” In professional hockey, the Binghamton Senators won back-to-back games at the Broome County Arena Friday and Saturday nights to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals series with the Houston Aeros. Houston took the series lead with a 2-1 win in Binghamton Wednesday. The Senators then won, 3-0, Friday and, 4-2, Saturday. Patrick O’Sullivan assisted on goals by Jon DiSalvatore in the first period and defenseman Nate Prosser in the second period Wednesday. Ryan Keller connected on a power play 2:52 into the third period, but Binghamton could not score again. Binghamton recovered to tie the series Friday. Robin Lehner made 22 saves in his third shutout of the playoffs. Cody Bass and American Hockey League regular-season Most Valuable Player Corey Locke each scored goals in the first period when the Senators racked up an 18-8 shot advantage to take charge. Defenseman Derek Smith added his first playoff goal at 2:19 of the third period. Zack Smith scored two goals and Lehner made 41 saves Saturday before a sellout crowd of 4,727. Locke opened the scoring and Erik Condra also had a goal for the Senators. DREAM GAME Susquehanna had four players selected and Montrose had three for the City roster in the July 27 Dream Game at Scranton Memorial Stadium. Quarterback/defensive back Dan Kempa, fullback/linebacker Nick Marco, two-way end Steven Skurski and two-way lineman Robert Hubal will represent the Sabers in the Scranton Lions Club-sponsored game for graduating seniors from Lackawanna Football Conference teams. Montrose will be represented by running back/linebacker Ethan Jones, end Mason Griffiths and lineman Joshua Oliver. THE WEEK AHEAD The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA softball tournament moves to the second round Thursday. Elk Lake was scheduled to open the tournament Monday. If the Lady Warriors won, they would advance to face the winner of the game between Pen Argyl and Troy. In professional hockey, if the Calder Cup Finals go to a seventh game, it will be played Thursday night in Houston. The sixth game was scheduled for Tuesday. TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com.
NASCAR Racing Keselowski Stretches Fuel For Kansas Win KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Brad Keselowski assumed the lead on lap 258 with just nine laps remaining in Sunday’s STP 400 at Kansas Speedway after his teammate, Kurt Busch had to pit for fuel with 10 laps to go. “I knew we were close on fuel and I was trying to save all I could,” said Keselowski. “We’ve had some good cars, but we always needed the big break, and we got it today. I didn’t know I was leading until about two laps left. I looked up at the leader board and saw my number on top and started shaking.”
Brad Keselowski, Sunday's Cup winner at Kansas. His first and only other Cup win came 75 races ago at Talladega. “We lacked track position today,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. the second-place finisher. “We’ve had good cars, but haven’t been able to be where we needed to be. I’m happy with the cars and our program. Second is a lot better than some past races.” Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Greg Biffle were the remaining top-10 finishers. In addition to being the polesitter, Kurt Busch led the most laps and dominated the race until he had to stop for fuel with 10 to go. “It’s all right,” said Busch. “This team has run well and I’m proud of it. There was something in the back of my mind before the race, telling me that we weren’t going to win. But I’m happy for Brad.” Top-12 Chase contenders after 13 of 36: 1. Edwards-485, 2. Johnson-445, 3. Earnhardt-444, 4. Harvick-442, 5. Kyle Busch-425, 6. Kurt Busch-414, 7. Kenseth-412, 8. Stewart-393, 9. Boyer-391, 10. Newman-382, 11. Hamlin-381, 12. Biffle-377 ALLGAIER COASTS TO NATIONWIDE VICTORY JOLIET, Ill. - Justin Allgaier coasted across the finish line to win Saturday night’s Nationwide race, despite running out of fuel after passing Carl Edwards on the final lap as Edwards also ran out of fuel. “Coming off Turn 2, I didn't know if I'd have the time to catch him,” Allgaier said. “Then he started wiggling, and I got a big grin.” Both were traveling about 50 mph when they rolled across the finish line, even as Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne was barreling toward them from behind. Edwards and Elliott Sadler dueled for most of the last 50 laps. First Edwards was in control, then Sadler. Then Edwards, the Cup Series points leader, forced the issue and retook the lead with 25 laps remaining. “I thought I'd saved about a lap of fuel,” Edwards said. “With five or six laps to go, Justin really started coming, so I laid it down.” Allgaier drew even, and as he did, his engine went silent. It was a coast to the finish, and Allgaier would win it. He led only the final lap. The difference by 1.719 seconds brought Allgaier his first win since last year at Bristol, and the second win in the last three races by a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship contender. Trevor Bayne, the Daytona 500 winner finished third after a six-week absence for an illness that baffled the doctors at Mayo Clinic. He told ESPN during the race he "felt like an astronaut" with all of the air hoses blowing on him. He started 31st and ran as high as sixth after 57 laps. Then he held steady until the final laps, when drivers, including Sadler, had to pit for a splash of fuel. “Man, I should have started going six laps earlier,” Bayne said. “You can always say 'Shoulda.'” Aric Almirola finished fourth, followed by Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, Kenny Wallace, Kelly Bires, Michael Annett, and Danica Patrick. Top-10 leaders after 14 of 34: 1. Sorenson-488, 2. Sadler-486, 3. Stenhouse-482, 4. Allgaier-477, 5. Almirola-442, 6. Leffler-437, 7. K. Wallace-417, 8. S. Wallace-385, 9. Scott-366, 10. Annett-346 BOWYER GETS FIRST TRUCK WIN KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Clint Bowyer won his first Camping World Truck Series race of the season in dominating fashion. “We’ve come close here,” Bowyer said. “We’ve had good runs here, but we just haven’t been able to seal the deal. To finally be able to do a burnout on the frontstretch in front of that crowd is big, man. It’s a good feeling.” Bowyer, from Emporia, Kan., beat Johnny Sauter to the finish line by 1.695 seconds to claim his third victory in 11 starts in the series. Todd Bodine ran third, followed by James Buescher and Joey Coulter, who passed Kyle Busch on the last of 167 laps for the fifth spot. After the checkered flag, Busch drove up beside Coulter and bumped the No. 22 truck. Top-10 leaders after 7 of 24: 1. Sauter-302, 2. Whitt-290, 3. Dillon-272, 4. Crafton-270, 5. Peters-255, 6. Hornaday-246, 7. Buescher-243, 8. Kligerman-228, 9. Bodine-224, 10. Gaughan-215 DON’T MESS WITH RICHARD There was a confrontation after Saturday’s truck race between Richard Childress, owner of Coulter’s truck and Kyle Busch. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed that NASCAR was looking into the rumors of an altercation that happened in the garage area about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the race. According to reports, Childress took off his jewelry before approaching Busch in the garage area and struck him with his fist. The two were separated; traded insults and then Childress grabbed Busch in a headlock and struck him again before the incident was broken up. Bill Janitz, Busch’s P/R person said, “There won't be any comment.” NASCAR Pres., Mike Helton said on Sunday, “And what will happen today is that Richard will operate as the owner of Richard Childress Racing with some restrictions attached to it as to where he may go or not go.” Helton said NASCAR would look at other sanctions or fines against Childress. Weekend Racing Schedule: The Cup teams are at Pocono Speedway’s 2.5-mile track while the Camping World Trucks are at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, TX. The Nationwide teams are off. Fri., June 10, Camping World Trucks, race 8 of 24, Starting time: 9 p.m.; TV: SPEED. Sun., June 12, Sprint Cup Pocono 500, race 14 of 36, Starting time: 1 p.m.; TV: TNT. All times are Eastern. Racing Trivia Question: Which driver helped bring car owner Richard Childress to racing prominence? Last Week’s Question: Which NASCAR series is Elliott Sadler competing in this year? Answer. He is driving the No. 2 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series. You may contact the Racing Reporter at hodges@race500.com.
Mike Bedell Is May’s Athlete Of The Month
Whether he was running on his own or as part of one of Elk Lake’s formidable relay teams, Mike Bedell consistently made an impact throughout the track and field postseason. Splitting his take equally between individual and relay events, Bedell was the only person to win four gold medals at the District 2 Track and Field Championships and was one of the multiple-medal winners at the state championships with two more medals there. For those efforts and his earlier contributions to Elk Lake’s championship season, Bedell has been selected as the Susquehanna County Transcript Athlete of the Month for May. While helping Elk Lake to the Lackawanna League Division 3 and Jordan Relays Class AA titles, Bedell trained himself for a busy day at the District 2 championships. Bedell won all four of his events - the 800, 1600, 1600 relay and 3200 relay - to help Elk Lake finish second in District 2 Class AA. “That was the plan headed in,” Bedell said. “I wanted to get gold in every event.” Bedell trimmed his workload for the state meet, concentrating on the 800, despite having the state’s best Class AA time in the 1600 at one point, and the 3200 relay. He wound up seventh in the state in each to complete his high school career. “Two medals is pretty amazing, but I didn’t run quite as well as I had hoped,” said Bedell, who was part of a 3200-meter relay team that finished fourth in the state in his junior season. Bedell will continue his running career on a track and field scholarship at Division I Campbell University in North Carolina where he also hopes to continue running cross country while studying sports medicine. Although he may concentrate more on the 800 in college, Bedell also excelled in cross country as a member of two state championship teams for the Warriors and as a two-time individual state medalist. Bedell was 30th, 23rd and seventh in the state in Class AA cross country the last three years. He was the second finisher on the 2008 state champions as a sophomore and the lead runner on the 2010 state champions as a senior. Mike is the son of Rich and Alicia Bedell.
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