By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
HAPPY FATHER’S Day! Dads play a major role for most kids in sports and in life, so I want to say “Thanks for being there” to my dad Ralph and to all the fathers, step-dads or other men who have played roles in guiding young kids.
And that includes all the coaches out there who are like second fathers to many kids. One of the major problems we have in society today is the lack of a male role model in many homes, so many times sports coaches have stepped in to pick up the slack.
I was lucky enough to have had a father who supported me in all my sports endeavors and I tried to duplicate that with my sons. (Of course they will probably tell you that there may have been too much ‘support’ at times!)
I was lucky enough to have had time to coach my sons in a few sports as well as play with them in softball.
Sports have always been an area where fathers can mesh with their sons and daughters. I remember one of my fondest times was when my youngest son Joel came home from college and he said, “Hey dad, let’s go out and play some catch.”
Is there any better way of communicating between a dad and son than throwing a ball around? And not a word has to be said!
Now my son Alex gets the opportunity to help coach my grandson Garrett in baseball. And I’m sure Alex has said more than once when he tells Garrett about a mental mistake: “Just consider yourself lucky that you didn’t have grandpa as a coach.”
So once again, “Happy Father’s Day” to all guys who step up and help out kids.
ä I watched with interest the effort of Sean Farren, former club head pro at Totteridge Country Club near Pittsburgh, at the U.S. Open. Sean was a former member of the Tri-State PGA Section and played in some pro-am tourneys I’ve played in.
Sean can always lay claim that he was tied for fifth place after the opening day of play on Thursday.
Of course the play was suspended that day because of storms with only a few holes played, but he still has the distinction of having his name on the leaderboard after the first day.
Giving club pros like Sean and amateurs a chance to qualify for the U.S. Open is one of the great things about the tournament and why it has always been my favorite.
Most of them aren’t there for the weekend, but even to get in two rounds of play at the Open is something to be proud of for any golfer.
Sean faltered when play resumed on Friday, but he can always tell people that he had a chance to rub shoulders with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other greats of the game.
Qualifying for the U.S. Open is a dream of every good golfer and it’s a wonderful dream to have, even when it comes to playing nightmare courses like Bethpage Black.
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'Happy Father's Day' to all men who help young people in sports
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
The District 10 pairings for the baseball and softball playoffs have been released. Five area baseball teams and four (possibly 5) softball squads have qualified.
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