Thursday, April 9, 2009

Reporting results

A few angry calls came in to the Observer-Reporter today concerning McGuffey High School softball. Parents/fans.players wanted to know why McGuffey's victory over previously undefeated Waynesburg had not been in Thursday's sports section.

Why does the O-R hate McGuffey?

Why won't the O-R provide McGuffey's softball team with any space in its paper, particularly after one of its biggest wins in recent years?

Did the O-R refuse to run the results because Waynesburg shortstop Kaylie Barger was our Athlete of the Week two weeks ago?

No, we don't hate McGuffey.

No, we do not refuse to run results from McGuffey softball.

Wednesday's game failed to get into the section because the results were not called in. If you read our section or just check the sports briefs on our website, there were plenty of results phoned to the O-R. One result which was not was McGuffey-Waynesburg softball.

Following a call from Highlanders softball coach Jim Armstrong this evening, it was learned that Waynesburg – the home team – did not report results.

As stated before on this blog, it is impossible to cover every game. Thus, the Observer-Reporter – and papers across our great country – rely on results being reported.

Don't call in on the day of the event, you don't make the paper.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike,
I know you probably were not there thursday night to watch trinity play yough because it shouldnt have been a close game. It ended up being a great game because of one player, Tyler Schrader. The hillers won barely but didnt show up and they looked a mess the whole game but this kid took the team and put them on his back like very few people in this area could. He settled down after allowing a run in the first and mowed down yough quickly each inning and he was virtually untouchable and even when they continued to make mistakes schrader kept pitching well including getting the 1st hit of the game and the 1st rbi. He struck out 15 kids mainly all on the heat. I think a performance like this deserves O-R athlete of the week for giving up only 2 hits and gettign 15 K's and keeping the hillers perfect record intact, he also got the victory against my big macs of canon mac in the 1st game of the year. I think it'd be very fitting award for a true competetor and leader for his team.

mike_kovak said...

This will be taken into consideration when determining the athlete of the week.

Anonymous said...

quit bit*hin about coverage and just go out and play...win enough games and you'll be covered.

Anonymous said...

yeahh mike .. i agree with first anon.. was at that game thursday night and schrader kid played one hellvua game.. did it all on his own and was the best game any pitcher could have pitched this year.. 15 k's has to be the most in the WPIAL for a single game this year so far.. i dont know who else could be athlete of the week for the observer

Anonymous said...

The Observer-Report has already set the precedent for athlete of the week: It really does not matter what an individual does, it's all a popularity contest. Case in point, Jordan Jankowski hits 4 homeruns in a game against Mt. Lebanon, but then the very next game Brian Muransky throws a no-hitter against Peters Twp. To me, the more impressive feat was Muransky no-hitting not just a kid that had 4 homers in a game, but the entire lineup that featured many, many good hitters. Four homeruns in a game is fantastic and something that we may never see again in high school baseball, but I've got to tip my cap to the no-hitter.

Anonymous said...

yaa but i believe its more about just stats and according to the first anon this schrader kid who seems to be a great pitcher for trinity really lifted them to the win and he was the reason they won the game. My friend told me it was one of the best pitching performances he's seen at the high school level and they didnt destroy the team either. I've seen past players of the week and Schrader deserves this one.. I don't know who else could? He kept there #1 ranking,there undefeated season,and kept confidence in his team like a team leader should

Anonymous said...

Where is Schrader supposed to be going to college? Is he going to play baseball?

Levi Bristor...Future State Champ? said...

I love Trinity, but could we please stop talking about the "undefeated season" as if it is an important goal for this team? Sure it would be great to go undefeated, but as long as they are successful when it counts (the playoffs) I don't really care what their regular season record ends up being.

Let's not forget the 2006 Peters Township team that was 19-0 in the regular season, but 0-1 in the playoffs! The undefeated record is nice, but unless you go out as undefeated, state champs it really doesn't mean a whole lot.

Anonymous said...

Schrader i heard is getting recruited heavy by Marietta but i think he is undecided but wants to play in college for sure

Anonymous said...

Not one player, on any team has ever won a game by themselves. It sounds like this young man had a great game. Also, if I read correctly, the Yough pitcher balked with bases loaded, scoring winning run for Trinity.

Anonymous said...

Well it was a great game but if schrader didnt pitch as great as he did then trinity had no chance.. HE HAD 15 strikouts OF THE 21 OUTS!!! The team had 4 errors and they only had 2 hits so if he doesnt strike out as many batters, then more errors take place!!! He won the game no doubt about it, and that is athlete of the week worthy. If he doesn't win it then something is wrong. There isn't a softball player,baseball player,track athlete, or men's volleyball player who had a better performance in the last week! Please name one who matched Schrader's

mike_kovak said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mike_kovak said...

Each week, there are several athletes worthy of Athlete of the Week.

Schrader will certainly be considered but to say his performance was far better than anyone tells me you don't read the sports section closely but are willing to make blind statements and call out the O-R.

How about the girl from Carmichaels softball who hit three home runs in one game?

How about the Timko sisters on the Chartiers-Houston boys tennis team who go out and crush the boys in singles matches?

How about McGuffey's softball pitcher who got the win, hit a home run and drove in four against previously unbeaten Waynesburg?

Anonymous said...

yeah but mike you had a softball player last week, and the timko sisters have been on the front page and got so much coverage and what perfomance did they do so well to stand out... and schrader did this on his own and had one of the best games any player in the whole WPIAL's so far this season, i just hope you dont let these people ruin a great player's chance of a great honor

Anonymous said...

As a sophmore I believe, schrader had all 21 outs in a game, all of which were strike outs!!! thats remarkable

Anonymous said...

yeahh thats a true fact there.. this kid is much overdue for some press and respect.. 21 k's and he got a little two sentences in tuscano's article.. now he gets 15 and tosses a 2 hitter and keeps his team undefeated.. come on mike help give this kid an honor he more then deserves

Anonymous said...

I remember athletes who had consecutive weeks of stellar performances who weren't athletes of the week. If your good people know it.

Anonymous said...

people know whose good and teams know schrader is good and he proved that last game that he is one of the best and he is one of many reasons why trinity is still undefeated.

Anonymous said...

brian Muransky never got player of the week and his career is going very well at Xavier. Bottom line is that winning player of the week will not make or break schraeders career. So if he gets the award, great. If not, it shouldn't affect his playing ability at all.

Anonymous said...

I have always aspired to be Athlete of the Week in the O-R. It means so much.

Anonymous said...

Schrader did have 21 strikeouts in a game .... in a JV game!!!!!! That means as much as getting 21 strikeouts in a backyard whiffleball game.

Anonymous said...

woah
a no hitter in any game is hard to pitch

whats your record for wiffle ball?