Saturday, June 14, 2008

Well done

The Varsity Letters congratulates Canon-McMillan for its impressive showing in winning the PIAA Class AAAA baseball championship. Well done.

Kudos also to the Carmichaels baseball team, who played a good game but came up a little short in the PIAA Class A championship. Well done.

Both teams gave its fans many, many memories.

Also, let's not forget the great seasons for Trinity baseball, Peters Township baseball and Washington softball. All represented its communities extremely well.

Just want to say this baseball/softball season was the most fun I've had covering spring sports in several years - and spring sports is almost always my favorite season anyway.

There's a lot of talent, a lot of great kids, great coaches, good people and, of course, the occasional idiot who'd rather yell at me on the field while their kid is posing for pictures with a gold medal around his neck. Never understood that behavior but it comes with the territory. And it makes me and the rest of us get a good chuckle.

Awesome season guys and gals. One I'll remember for a long time.

Keep checking back here during the summer. We'll have updates on occasion before football and soccer get into full swing.

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be vacationing along the beach in Corolla, N.C., but I'll also be compiling the O-R all-district baseball and softball teams in addition to the Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year package. It's a lot of work but I'm looking forward to getting started.

25 comments:

KiPA - Kevin in PA said...

I've had "We are the Champions" playing on a continuous loop all day.

Mr. Kovak hasn't. His Somerset lost, 6-2. Congratulations to them on their silver medals.

Anonymous said...

haha.. mike, thanks for the blog and all the information and entertainment it has brought.

-brian

Anonymous said...

Now that it is all said and done, any ideas for player of the year? With what I've seen over the past couple of weeks, CM's Dittmar has made a strong case. Of course, JJ would have to be the guy, right? Lets see- JJ Wpial Title
Dittmar- led team to state title. Dittmar also outpitched JJ in the quarterfinals of the State Playoffs. Oh yeah, then Dittmar came back with 4 hits including a two run HR.

Anyone else please speak up.

Anonymous said...

anonymous,
so because dittmar out pitched JJ in the piaa quarterfinals, he should be player of the YEAR? Let's not forget that JJ outpitched Mazzoni in the wpial quarterfinals.

While Ditty did pitch fabulous in that game, he unlike JJ, had the luxory of a defense that played great too. Not saying that ditty didn't outpitch JJ, but it's safe to say JJ didnt get much help. Granted a pitcher should still still battle and work out of jams cause by errors, but it's hard to hold a lot against him.

Ditty had an amazing season and i'm not trying to take anything away or knock him, but lets not forget what JJ did.
Picture Ditty and JJ in reversed roles, who would you pick for player of the year?

Anonymous said...

Rumor: Joe Maize to take over at CM

Anonymous said...

JV softball?

Anonymous said...

Why would Joe Maize come to CM? They have a perfectly good coach there now, that is unless you, anonymous, know something about that coach leaving? As for Joe Maize, he may choose to step aside himself now that Chocolate Truffles is off on his own now. But why would he want to come to CM? That would be like Dracula coming to work for the Red Cross- ain't gonna happen. More likely scenario has Joe Maize teaming up with Jim Rider as co-head coaches. Perhaps they will even try to merge Peters with Bethel Park. Although you read it here first both Maize and Rider should have hung up their cleats and jockstraps a long time ago because the game is passing them by.

Anonymous said...

Anyone have updates on the college choices of the CM seniors? Will any of them be playing baseball in college? Saw the game on PCN, boy that Murphy sure is a stud. Wow! The question now becomes will CM turn into a dynasty like the New York Yankees or are they destined to be a one-year wonder like the Florida Marlins?

mike_kovak said...

Murphy will play basketball at Clarion. Hopefully, you'll be reading about that within the next few days in the O-R.

Dittmar was looking at DIII schools including W&J.

Anonymous said...

Just a comment: I am disgusted by the lack of respect the cm coaches get on this blog from time to time. Anyone who wants Maize can have him. How can you possibly say the things that you say, coming off a state championship. I personally feel that the only thing that should be said is: Good job team, including coaches, for doing something never before achieved at cm baseball!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
mike_kovak said...

A few select morons are going to ruin the freedom of this blog very soon.

KiPA - Kevin in PA said...

Okay, I'm talking to the C-M fans, of which there are responsible, intelligent people, but there are also quite a few classless individuals: this is getting a little too ridiculous now. Friendly trash talking is one thing, but there is absolutely no call for making highly offensive comments about coaches or players. Referring to Jordan Jankowski as Chocolate Truffles is one thing, calling his coach what was said is disgraceful.

C-M fans complain about PT fans not showing C-M any respect, but I have seen a ton of disrespect from C-M faithful directed towards members of Peters Township. It has to stop. You can trash talk without using inappropriate language and crass remarks.

I know not every C-M fan is guilty of this, and I don't like to lump everyone into that group, but it's a sour point that makes you and the entire school district look bad.

This is a place for intelligent discussion, not for playground insults. You can't earn respect if you don't show any.

I'm a C-M grad and I'm starting to get ashamed of the behavior being exhibited by other Big Macs. Some people really need to grow up.

Anonymous said...

Kevin, for the record JJ's nickname amongst his teammates is Chocolate Truffles, so I agree that those names are ok. As for these other comments, they really do need to stop. Joe Maize has been a great coach for us here in PT and we'd love to have him for many more years. If he does decide to go to CM that will be a move that he decides is best for him and his family.

Anonymous said...

Yes chocolate truffles is the nickname that we on the PT team use for JJ. When he was a player in Carrick, he would not eat anything except for chocolate truffles before each game.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know anything about the results of Coach Bucci's wife's pregnancy? Everything ok?

Anonymous said...

Braden(not sure on spelling) Bucci was born around 3am and was 8 lbs 2oz.

Anonymous said...

For the record, Joe Maize has done more positive work with kids than anyone in the past 20 years in these parts. For a few of you classeless, moronic CM fans to come on here and attempt to ridicule him just exhibits your complete ignorance. Joe Maize is a great man, a great coach and a far superior human being than any of you making your attempts to smear his reputation anonymously on here.

Man am I glad I have nothing to do with CM, the kids in the district have accomplished much, but the trash that follows them is an absolute embarassment to humanity.

Anonymous said...

To previous poster: I just re-read the blogs above your post. I do not see one comment that ridicules Maize. Maybe your problem with cm would be better addressed if you (a) learned how to read the words that are acutally in place and (b) put aside your own dislike for a neighboring school. You may know a lot more about Maize than I do, but, again, I see no ridicule in any of these comments. Are you just a bad loser?

Anonymous said...

PT anon,


I have had quite a long day, thanks for the laugh.


"Man am I glad I have nothing to do with CM, the kids in the district have accomplished much, but the trash that follows them is an absolute embarassment to humanity."

beautiful.

To think that these kids have accomplished so much after being raised by "embarassments to humanity"...

BTW, while i don't really know Joe nor do i care to know, knock, or praise him, i highly doubt that he has done more positive for kids than anyone in this area over the past 20 years. Sorry.
I don't want to start a debate about something like this but that's just a silly comment.

Anonymous said...

i do believe that coach bucci has done more for the area in 2 years than maize has done in 20. winning a state championship in his second year at cm is far more superior and is more effective in placing washington county on the baseball map in pa than anything maize has done.

Anonymous said...

for the anonymous poster who said they are glad they have nothing to do with cm, just let me tell you...it sure does feel good with this piaa gold medal around my neck. (how does yours feel???)

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you need to step out of the forest in order to view the beauty that stands in front of you. What the CM baseball team accomplished will only grow in stature as the years turn the pages and the various recounts of the players, coaches and individuals who were taken along for the ride. Who knew the Allderdice game would have been the most challenging on the road to the state title. For a CM team that had pinned its reputation on winning 1 run games, pitching and defense, the offensive assault displayed was a spectacle to behold. The CM sporting community has been targeting this class as the “special class” based upon their versatility, quantity and quality of athletes represented in the class of 2008. Throw in a group of talented underclass and you have the recipe a for spring 08 that CM baseball has never experienced before.

USATODAY has CM as the 10th ranked HS baseball in the Northeast and Maxprep has CM as the 22nd team overall in the country. Outstanding recognition on a national scale but what makes this team special is they players could care less. Strap on the gloves, play with a smile and if they are down 5 -2 heading into the bottom of the 7th, no worries man, for we are CM and are going to find a way to win. Oh yeah, we will have fun while we are making another comeback. Nice job boys, Nice job!

Any early predictions for next year? Everyone in section 3 is losing a ton of very good players.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back anon...nice post

Anonymous said...

http://www.msasportsnetwork.com/articles.asp?region=1&id=5486


all are listed as pitchers...

any thoughts on the players they have listed?