Veteran Observer-Reporter sports writer Mike Kovak offers his take on high school sports.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
PIAA Class AAAA baseball championship game: Canon-McMillan vs. Spring-Ford@1 p.m.
Mike & Kevin live from Altoona's Blair County Ballpark
Mike recommends the Blairsville Pizza Hut/KFC, where he stopped after the Trinity-Somerset game. Apparently they have a buffet where you can get a slice of pizza AND a crunchy chicken leg.
Also, I'm not certain, but I think I saw O-R photographer Greg Tarr's car parked in some place called "Adult World." Not sure what that's about.
Kevin, Keep your eye out for a blue Honda Civic occupying our online guru Marc Felman and photographer Greg Tarr. They are packin a video camera and a zoom lens camera but I'm not sure they had every intention of going to the ballgame.
Actual sports update, now that we're in the ballpark: Loyalsox leads Burrell, 5-1 in the top of the sixth in the Class AA final. That means C-M probably won't be starting at 1.
Game's about to get underway without infield practice. Could come into play defensively.
Starting lineups:
Visiting Spring-Ford Denny Custer, CF Zach Tupper, SS Anthony Quintangeli, C Rich Guthridge, 1B Kenny Pierson, LF Jon Hayes, RF James Hoff, DH Mike Haslam, 3B Jason Sampat, 2B
Jason Ferrie pitching, not batting
For the home Canon-McMillan: Mike Hull, CF Chris Dittmar, P Matt Pierpont, SS Charles Murphy, C Phil Staab, DH Andre Hayden, 2B Aaron Wiegel, 1B Chris Douglas, 3B Jeff Lauterbach, LF
Canon-McMillan strings together four hits, including a bunt base hit by Chris Dittmar over third baseman Mike Haslam's head, and a throwing error has staked the Big Macs to a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
Mike Hull's double in the second inning scores Chris Douglas. A hit and run turns into 5-nil as Hull scores from third on a grounder to short. Could've been an inning-ending DP. Sir Charles Murphy's double makes it 6-0. Big Macs having no problem with pitcher Jason Ferrie, who has just been yanked with two outs in the second. C-M still batting.
Hull had just four doubles on the season entering today. He has two this game.
By the way, I swear Staab's name was spelled Stabb for the entire season until a few days ago. Now it's Staab. Any members of the Staab family, please chime in with the correct spelling.
Dittmar's control falters some in the third. Gives up five baserunners (1 error, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 hbp) but keeps the damage to one run. 7-1 C-M after two and a half.
Well, rain started with one out in the bottom of the third and Douglas on first. Now the grounds crew is out and putting the tarp on the field. Not sure if it's a lightning delay, which requires a 30-minute wait after the last visible bolt, or if the umpiring crew is just scared of the rain.
Just a housekeeping ? here...I'm not familiar with the protocol but are these games ever postponed because of weather? That is, held on another day? Yes Russert died of a heart attack at 58. And, R. Kelly is acquitted
They just took the tarps off the bullpen mounds, and while they appear to have taken some steps towards removing the main tarp, it's still on the field.
We were just wondering if leaving Dittmar in would be a decision Steve Bucci would regret. Well, two base hits to open the fourth inning and the Big Macs make a pitching change, bringing in Chris Douglas.
I just want to point out that ever since canon mac went on their run to the state championship that those peters township fans who were talking about how much better pt is than cm have stopped. Why is that? Is it because CM not only beat out PT for the section title, but also beat them on their way to a state title as well? Whatever the reason, congrats to the big macs and especially the 7 seniors. They have worked hard their whole lives and they deserve this.
I love how you loser CM fans on here cannot EVER get over your fasination with Peters Township! Your team just won a PIAA championship and yet you still feel the need to talk about Peters? GREAT JOB Big Macs, tremendous season and perfect ending. CM FANS, GROW UP and realize that you finally made a step forward towards catching Peters as the real kings of WPIAL baseball. I wish the fans of CM baseball had half the class and sportsmanship as thier team and coaches do.
CM... Kings of the State! haha, sorry i had too. You gave me a layup
BTW, where do you get off talking about ppl from CM being fascinated with PT?(I think you are kinda doing the same thing but in reverse, i won't tell anyone if you don't though.)
Steve Bucchi and Timmy Miller are frauds! They don't know how to run a practice or a team! A blind chain smoking monkey could have taken that team to the playoffs the last 2 years! They won despite them not because of them. Billy LoNero was the best coach those kids had and these two frauds knew it and that's why they screwed him over and continue to cowardly take shots at him behind his back. Now that the talent is gone from CM, Bucchi will bail on them just like he did South Park when the talent ran dry! He cherry picks his coaching jobs where there is a window of talent then leaves after it's gone just to make it look like he's the reason his teams win! WRONG!!! As long as Bucchi, Miller, and a certain dad who is head of the boosters continue to get their way CM baseball will prove to be nothing but a flash in the pan and will they will leave the CM baseball program in ruins for years to come! Ask the players on the team and they will tell you the same thing!
"Billy LoNero was the best coach those kids had and these two frauds knew it and that's why they screwed him over..."
So, since "they" knew that Lonero was a great coach they got rid of him because "they" only care about winning???
So Bucci and co. are leaving CM why? Next year's team, IMO, will repeat as section champs.
And what does a dad in charge of the boosters have to do with anything? The CM baseball booster program is run very well.
If you are serious in this post how about you grow a pair and put your true name beside one of the most outrageous and pathetic claims i've ever seen...
I still can't decide whether or not you are kidding...
How about you leave your name so CM knows who to hire for the coaching job after Bucci "leaves on his team." Better yet, i'll recommend you to replace "that dad" who is in charge of the booster since it will be his fault if CM doesn't win...
first of all brian that person was talkig how that parent had an influence on his sons playing time, the kid hardly ever played quit during the middle of the season and somehow started the rest of the season after his father came down and talked to the coaches, and buccci & co will stay oone more year, yea ur rite they will win another section championship but only because the other teams are losing so much and they got rid of lonero becuz he was a threat to them, he knew more baseball then both of them combined
I'm not sure which is more impressive: your very skewed view of CM baseball or the fact that your entire post is just one sentence.
Nevertheless, no evidence has been provided by you or the sexybeast to support these insane claims. CM just won a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. I think, well I won't go there but I will say this...You best understand that this program is headed in the right direction and it would be much wiser to hop on the wagon than to badmouth the driver.
Btw, i LOVE the contradiction that is made. Bucci and co are supposedly incompetent morons yet at the same time they are evil geniuses who scout out local high school years in advance so that they know which ones will be good right before the current coach at that school gets fired.... Get the %&*# out of here! Then, they invest all their time into a program so that they can walk away? These men deserve a little more respect than this. Give it to them.
Hey brian i bet you were one of those kids who stunk at sports in high school, so you act like you kno what your talking about now. You think you know everthing but u kno just as much as everyone else, nothing at all
Yes, i am a 14 yr old little boy who has 1 arm, 3 eyes, and a crooked back. I stink at sports. But because i stink so bad i think i know everything. (Email me and i'll send you my entire life story)My talent level has something to do with me feeling that a coach getting heavily critisized after winning a state championship is wrong, right? I admit, at times i do act like a bit of a know it all, but i don't think this is because i stunk so bad at sports in high school.
You talk about my ability to play or understand sports as though i'm trying to conceal my identity. Take a look at the top of my post, i think most people know who "brian" is, atleast in the CM community. Because of this, your call out behind your hidden identity is meaningless. I am sorry if I have offended you in some way or another with a post, but i don't know where you are coming from with this one...
65 comments:
First live update: there is entirely too much construction on route 22. Such a terrible road. Anyway, we're approaching Blairsville now.
Mike recommends the Blairsville Pizza Hut/KFC, where he stopped after the Trinity-Somerset game. Apparently they have a buffet where you can get a slice of pizza AND a crunchy chicken leg.
Also, I'm not certain, but I think I saw O-R photographer Greg Tarr's car parked in some place called "Adult World." Not sure what that's about.
Kevin,
Keep your eye out for a blue Honda Civic occupying our online guru Marc Felman and photographer Greg Tarr. They are packin a video camera and a zoom lens camera but I'm not sure they had every intention of going to the ballgame.
Good point Monique. I hadn't thought of that.
Just stopped at Subway. It was good.
22 miles to Altoona. Kovak guesses it'll take him nine minutes.
Oh look, more construction. Make that 12 minutes.
Kovak says Tom Petty rules. Hard to argue that.
His opinion on the Heartbreakers? Jerks.
Kev,
Were getting pounded with rain here. what's it like out there?
Not a cloud in the sky.
Actual sports update, now that we're in the ballpark: Loyalsox leads Burrell, 5-1 in the top of the sixth in the Class AA final. That means C-M probably won't be starting at 1.
Is there live video streaming online? Highly improbable but thought I'd throw that out here... thanks.
The PIAA prohibits streaming live video.
The C-M game will not be starting anywhere near on time. Looks like 2 p.m. at the earliest.
Bottom of 7 in the Class AA championship, Loyalsock 8, Burrell 1.
Just saw Tarr. He's got a big smile on his face.
Small rally by Burrell but it's not enough. Loyalsox wins the Class AA title, 8-3.
What radio station is the game on???
The game will be on WJPA-AM 1450. Won't be for another 25 minutes or so. They're still prepping the field, neither team's taken infield warmups.
Canon-McMillan will be the home team. Lineups once we get them.
Game's about to get underway without infield practice. Could come into play defensively.
Starting lineups:
Visiting Spring-Ford
Denny Custer, CF
Zach Tupper, SS
Anthony Quintangeli, C
Rich Guthridge, 1B
Kenny Pierson, LF
Jon Hayes, RF
James Hoff, DH
Mike Haslam, 3B
Jason Sampat, 2B
Jason Ferrie pitching, not batting
For the home Canon-McMillan:
Mike Hull, CF
Chris Dittmar, P
Matt Pierpont, SS
Charles Murphy, C
Phil Staab, DH
Andre Hayden, 2B
Aaron Wiegel, 1B
Chris Douglas, 3B
Jeff Lauterbach, LF
Matt Parisse, RF, not batting
1-2-3 top of the first for Dittmar.
Canon-McMillan strings together four hits, including a bunt base hit by Chris Dittmar over third baseman Mike Haslam's head, and a throwing error has staked the Big Macs to a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
1-2-3 top of the second for Dittmar. Big zero there after his team scored three.
Any guess on the attendance?
Mike Hull's double in the second inning scores Chris Douglas. A hit and run turns into 5-nil as Hull scores from third on a grounder to short. Could've been an inning-ending DP. Sir Charles Murphy's double makes it 6-0. Big Macs having no problem with pitcher Jason Ferrie, who has just been yanked with two outs in the second. C-M still batting.
Hull had just four doubles on the season entering today. He has two this game.
A couple to a few hundred. Members of the Montecalvo family, including athletic director Guy Montecalvo, are in attendance.
Staab drives in Murphy. It's 7-0 after two.
Mike guesses 400 on the attendance.
By the way, I swear Staab's name was spelled Stabb for the entire season until a few days ago. Now it's Staab. Any members of the Staab family, please chime in with the correct spelling.
I am a friend of Phil Staab. His last name is spelled Staab.
I know the family. It is Staab.
Dittmar's control falters some in the third. Gives up five baserunners (1 error, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 hbp) but keeps the damage to one run. 7-1 C-M after two and a half.
Foreboding clouds starting to develop nearby.
Thanks, bloggers, regarding Staab's name.
Well, rain started with one out in the bottom of the third and Douglas on first. Now the grounds crew is out and putting the tarp on the field. Not sure if it's a lightning delay, which requires a 30-minute wait after the last visible bolt, or if the umpiring crew is just scared of the rain.
Canon-McMillan 7, Spring-Ford 1.
Must say the food here is much better than Consol Energy Park – and there is Gallagher's iced tea. But the cookies at Consol are better.
And, by the way, every time a flash of lightning is spotted, make it a 30-minute delay.
Hey guys, where was the state finals held at before Altoona?
Still raining
Harrisburg Island something something. Worst field ever but the home of the Harrisburg Senators
I'm Kevin Jacobsen?
Tip of the hat to the PG's Mike White. It was called Harrisburg City Island Riverside Stadium.
Hey guys, how bad is Greg Tarr complaining?
And did you hear that Tim Russert is dead.
Just saw that about Russert. And we're all complaining a lot right now.
Just a housekeeping ? here...I'm not familiar with the protocol but are these games ever postponed because of weather? That is, held on another day? Yes Russert died of a heart attack at 58. And, R. Kelly is acquitted
If it keeps raining, they'll postpone them, but they're going to do whatever they can to get them in today.
They just took the tarps off the bullpen mounds, and while they appear to have taken some steps towards removing the main tarp, it's still on the field.
R. Kelly far bigger and more important news than Tim Russert. Leave your politics and news out of the Varsity Letters Mr. Bruner.
About 20 minutes away from the restart.
Getting ready to go here in a few minutes.
One hour, 31-minute rain delay. Big Macs fail to score in the third and lead 7-1 after three.
Dittmar still pitching for C-M.
We were just wondering if leaving Dittmar in would be a decision Steve Bucci would regret. Well, two base hits to open the fourth inning and the Big Macs make a pitching change, bringing in Chris Douglas.
Douglas got a double play but a base hit makes it 7-2. Damage could've been worse. Three and a half complete.
Spring-Ford had nine baserunners in the last two innings but scored just two of them.
Murphy drives in his second run, it's 8-2 after four.
Rubberband Man. Nice.
Anyone know what is inside the folder of C-M pitching coach Tim Miller?
Douglas works into and works out of a jam in the fifth. The Rams loaded the bases and have now stranded eight in the last three innings.
Canon-McMillan 8, Spring-Ford 2 going into the bottom of the fifth.
Canon-McMillan tacks on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and lead 10-2 going into the sixth.
1-2-3 inning for Douglas in the sixth. Three outs, or two runs, away for the Big Macs.
Big Macs fail to get a hit for the first time in an inning and carry a 10-2 lead into the top of the seventh.
Canon-McMillan has just won the Class AAAA state championship, 10-2 over Spring-Ford, to earn the school's first state championship since 1992.
Any word on Carmichaels game yep
Going to make a new post for Carmichaels, but it's currently scoreless in the first. Check the new post in a couple minutes.
Do work sons.
ronnie hayden was sporting a virginia tech shirt at the after party. rumor has it that he is going to be their next head coach or something like that.
I just want to point out that ever since canon mac went on their run to the state championship that those peters township fans who were talking about how much better pt is than cm have stopped. Why is that? Is it because CM not only beat out PT for the section title, but also beat them on their way to a state title as well? Whatever the reason, congrats to the big macs and especially the 7 seniors. They have worked hard their whole lives and they deserve this.
I love how you loser CM fans on here cannot EVER get over your fasination with Peters Township! Your team just won a PIAA championship and yet you still feel the need to talk about Peters? GREAT JOB Big Macs, tremendous season and perfect ending. CM FANS, GROW UP and realize that you finally made a step forward towards catching Peters as the real kings of WPIAL baseball. I wish the fans of CM baseball had half the class and sportsmanship as thier team and coaches do.
PT Kings of the WPIAL
CM... Kings of the State! haha, sorry i had too. You gave me a layup
BTW, where do you get off talking about ppl from CM being fascinated with PT?(I think you are kinda doing the same thing but in reverse, i won't tell anyone if you don't though.)
Steve Bucchi and Timmy Miller are frauds! They don't know how to run a practice or a team! A blind chain smoking monkey could have taken that team to the playoffs the last 2 years! They won despite them not because of them. Billy LoNero was the best coach those kids had and these two frauds knew it and that's why they screwed him over and continue to cowardly take shots at him behind his back. Now that the talent is gone from CM, Bucchi will bail on them just like he did South Park when the talent ran dry! He cherry picks his coaching jobs where there is a window of talent then leaves after it's gone just to make it look like he's the reason his teams win! WRONG!!! As long as Bucchi, Miller, and a certain dad who is head of the boosters continue to get their way CM baseball will prove to be nothing but a flash in the pan and will they will leave the CM baseball program in ruins for years to come! Ask the players on the team and they will tell you the same thing!
I hope that was a joke...
Your logic is rather amusing.
"Billy LoNero was the best coach those kids had and these two frauds knew it and that's why they screwed him over..."
So, since "they" knew that Lonero was a great coach they got rid of him because "they" only care about winning???
So Bucci and co. are leaving CM why? Next year's team, IMO, will repeat as section champs.
And what does a dad in charge of the boosters have to do with anything? The CM baseball booster program is run very well.
If you are serious in this post how about you grow a pair and put your true name beside one of the most outrageous and pathetic claims i've ever seen...
I still can't decide whether or not you are kidding...
How about you leave your name so CM knows who to hire for the coaching job after Bucci "leaves on his team." Better yet, i'll recommend you to replace "that dad" who is in charge of the booster since it will be his fault if CM doesn't win...
first of all brian that person was talkig how that parent had an influence on his sons playing time, the kid hardly ever played quit during the middle of the season and somehow started the rest of the season after his father came down and talked to the coaches, and buccci & co will stay oone more year, yea ur rite they will win another section championship but only because the other teams are losing so much and they got rid of lonero becuz he was a threat to them, he knew more baseball then both of them combined
I'm not sure which is more impressive: your very skewed view of CM baseball or the fact that your entire post is just one sentence.
Nevertheless, no evidence has been provided by you or the sexybeast to support these insane claims. CM just won a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. I think, well I won't go there but I will say this...You best understand that this program is headed in the right direction and it would be much wiser to hop on the wagon than to badmouth the driver.
Btw, i LOVE the contradiction that is made. Bucci and co are supposedly incompetent morons yet at the same time they are evil geniuses who scout out local high school years in advance so that they know which ones will be good right before the current coach at that school gets fired.... Get the %&*# out of here! Then, they invest all their time into a program so that they can walk away? These men deserve a little more respect than this. Give it to them.
Hey brian i bet you were one of those kids who stunk at sports in high school, so you act like you kno what your talking about now. You think you know everthing but u kno just as much as everyone else, nothing at all
Yes, i am a 14 yr old little boy who has 1 arm, 3 eyes, and a crooked back. I stink at sports. But because i stink so bad i think i know everything. (Email me and i'll send you my entire life story)My talent level has something to do with me feeling that a coach getting heavily critisized after winning a state championship is wrong, right? I admit, at times i do act like a bit of a know it all, but i don't think this is because i stunk so bad at sports in high school.
You talk about my ability to play or understand sports as though i'm trying to conceal my identity. Take a look at the top of my post, i think most people know who "brian" is, atleast in the CM community. Because of this, your call out behind your hidden identity is meaningless. I am sorry if I have offended you in some way or another with a post, but i don't know where you are coming from with this one...
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