Butler hires former major leaguer as basketball coach

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Matt Clement, a right-hander who won 87 games during nine major league seasons, has been hired as the boys basketball coach for the western Pennsylvania high school he attended.
Clement is to coach at Butler High School, which is about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. The 34-year-old Clement last pitched in the majors for Boston in 2006 before shoulder problems ended his career. He had his best season in 2005, going 13-6 with a 4.57 ERA for the Red Sox and making the AL All-Star team.
Clement won 10 or more games five times, going 14-12 for the Cubs in 2003. He ended his career with an 87-86 record for the Padres, Cubs, Marlins and Red Sox.

All-star intensity

Saturday night's Tri-County Football Coaches Association BeeGraphix Football Classic at South Fayette Stadium was a victory for the North Squad, thanks to the offensive fireworks of running back Brad Banas and quarterback Erik Olson.

It was also unusually chippy, with moments bordering on poor sportsmanship.

On at least two occasions, when the South delivered a hard hit to a North player, the South player stood over the just decleated for a little taunt.

The post-game handshake didn't go very well. In fact, the North coaches called their players over to keep away from some of the pleasantries being exchanged. Those of us observing the scene - which included college and high school coaches - couldn't help but wonder why.

According to Banas, the North Offensive MVP and the game's best player, the South "talked trash all week." There's no doubt they were after the game.

North coach Joe Rossi said there was a little talk at the banquet on Friday night and that he was pleased with how his players remained composed. "There were a couple times it looked like kids were going to get ejected," Rossi said.

And that's a shame.

The BeeGraphix Football Classic had a substantial share of entertaining moments - from Banas' four-touchdown performance, to the arm of Olson, to watching the Monessen pair of Lorenzo Newsuan and Kevin Park play excellent defense to watching Alex Frey making big play after big play and, finally, seeing Joby Lapkowicz cap an extraordinary high school career with three touchdowns.

Frey, the South Offensive MVP, didn't seem to grasp all the animousity.

"I just wanted to come here and have fun. That's what I did," he said.

Fortunately, game director Bill Ellis, as well as both coaching staffs, kept things from getting out of hand.

Here's hoping nothing similar takes place next year.

All-star football games

On Friday night, the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association's annual East-West All-Star Game took place in Altoona.

Tonight, the Big 33 Football Classic kicks off in Hershey. Locally, the Tri-County Football Coaches Association BeeGraphix Football Classic (holy long title) starts at 7 p.m. at South Fayette.

It marks the 13th time the TCFCA game, formerly called the Pro Grass Football Classic, will be contested.

The game, and all other all-star football games taking place this weekend, gives one final showcase for Division I players before heading off to various programs throughout the country. That's especially true of the Big 33. The local game offers some recent high school graduates a final opportunity to play organized football. Others get a chance to play with future teammates, whether it be at Waynesburg, Washington & Jefferson or Robert Morris. For coaches, it's an opportunity to do what they love with a week of practices and game planning.

Personally, those reasons aren't enough to play these games.

Look back no further than last summer when former Trinity standout Mike Yancich was injured during practice for the Big 33. Yancich was not able to play in the game and it hindered preparations for his freshman year at Penn State.

I spoke with Yancich during his week in Hershey for the Big 33 and, despite the injury, he said he would do it again if given the opportunity. Got to respect Yancich's desire to play against top competition and experience something new. For me, that wouldn't be worth the risk.

Then, there's the timing of the games. It's just peculiar, even if there are few viable options.

Playing an all-star football game following the conclusion of the high school season has its flaws - winter weather being one and winter sports being another. That said, playing these games in mid-June, after the completion of the PIAA sports season, takes something away from it.

I'd like to open the forum to players, coaches, assistant coaches, players parents, all-star organizers and whomever would like to chip in. Let me know why you like these games and why they should continue. Tell me how off-base I am. Maybe you have an idea that could add a little luster to the games. Maybe you know another time they could be played.

Or maybe you agree with me.

This thread is yours.

No sophomore slump

Bryce Harper already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's been compared the Alex Rodriguez and (Washington County-born) Ken Griffey Jr. He has an agent in Scott Boras and been tabbed by as "The Chosen One."

Harper is only 16-years-old.

Age means nothing for the Las Vegas resident as Harper, who recently completed his sophomore year, opted for a GED in hopes of pursuing a professional baseball career by enrolling in a community college and being eligible for the 2010 draft.

Here are a few links:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Bryce-Harper-punches-his-ticket-to-Cooperstown-a?urn=mlb,167844

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/11867102

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/06/bryce-harper-skips-two-years-of-high-school-for-mlb-draft.html

Big Seven to start at 7 p.m.

Chartiers-Houston played at Fort Cherry in the 2008 regular season finale for both WPIAL playoff-bound Class A football teams. Bad weather, a plethora of incomplete passes and a running back who continually ran out of bounds protecting the lead were key contributors to the game running late.

It's 9:30 p.m. with no end in sight; 9:45, 10, 10:10. Finally, the game ended near 10:30 p.m. Following a couple brief post-game interviews, this reporter headed back toward any area where wireless Internet may be available.

Then came the next snag.

A wreck between Fort Cherry High School and Hickory forced traffic to be re-routed. Suddenly, it's nearing 11 p.m. and I'm driving through McDonald. Getting my story filed and sent by 11:25 or 11:30 was not looking good.

That's just one of the many, many reasons media outlets covering high school football throughout Western Pennsylvania are praising the decision made the Class AAA Big Seven Conference and a few other WPIAL teams to push games up 30 minutes, from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ringgold and Trinity are among the schools experimenting with the early start. Kudos to both, and not because it helps the media make deadline on a hectic Friday night. (Though it's greatly appreciated.)

Other positives include:
1. The 11 p.m. deadline on junior licenses;
2. Saturday morning college boards;
3. Saturday morning junior varsity games;
4. Time for adults who attend games to hit their favorite post-game place before the kitchen closes.

As Trinity coach Ed Dalton said, "We honestly had trouble coming up with any disadvantage."

Ringgold coach Lloyd Price also offered a few other positives including missing traffic delays en route to away games.

"We also feel this will give us more exposure," said Price. "We didn't want to use that as a driving force but it was a factor."

APB, Where are they now?

Former NFL kickers Bruce Gossett (Cecil) and Fred Cox (Monongahela) are the best ever produced by Washington County high schools at the position. Gossett spent 11 years in the NFL (1964-74) with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He was All-Pro in 1966. Cox, in addition to an integral role in the creation of Nerf football, played halfback at Pitt from 1959-61 and spent 15 years in the NFL with Cleveland (1961-62) and Minnesota (1963-77). Cox played in four Super Bowls.

More recently, former Ringgold standout Todd James joined the list of all-time great kickers from the area. This week, the Varsity Letters issues an All Points Bulletin for James.

A strong-legged kicker and punter at Ringgold, James' kickoffs were rarely returned by the opposition. Mainly because they landed past the goal line. As a senior, James earned all-state honors then went on to West Virginia, where he was a kicker and punter during various stages of his college career.

Anyone with information regarding James' whereabouts is urged to contact the Varsity Letters.

Almost teammates

Following Trinity's loss to eventual PIAA Class AAA finalist Chartiers Valley in the semifinals of the WPIAL playoffs, Colts coach Jim Jaskowski said of Hillers pitcher Alex Frey, "If he isn't the best pitcher in the WPIAL, he's one of the top two or three."

After Carmichaels lost to Serra Catholic, another PIAA finalist, in the WPIAL Class A championship, Eagles coach Brian Dzurenda called Mikes pitcher Joby Lapkowicz, "The best pitcher in the WPIAL, without a doubt."

Lapkowicz, who lost only one game during his final two years of varsity baseball, is a hard-throwing lefthander who regularly hits 88 mph throughout a game. He signed with Slippery Rock University to play baseball earlier in the school year.

Frey, another hard-throwing lefty who stays around 84-85, nearly joined Lapkowicz at the Rock before choosing Youngstown State.

"I know Joby and I've watched him pitch a few times. He's really good," said Frey, who – like Lapkowicz – is not tall for a power pitcher. "I almost joined him."

Slippery Rock's loss is Youngstown State's gain. The Rock, however, shouldn't be feeling too bad about not landing Frey. They've plucked several of the area's top talents in recent years.

Besides Lapkowicz, current Rock players include Waynesburg High grad Mitch Monas and South Fayette's Matt Kosik, who finished second on the team in batting average as a freshman. Plus, former California High ace and Observer-Reporter Player of the Year Zach Jeney is on the roster.

Menhart back with the Mikes

The Carmichaels School Board hired a new varsity football coach at Monday night’s board meeting and it’s a familiar face to the program.
John Menhart, Carmichaels’ head football coach from 1989 to 2002, was hired by a 6-0 vote of the school board. One board member abstained.
Menhart replaces Mike Bosnic, who left Carmichaels to take the head coaching position at Washington High School. Bosnic coached the Mikes from 2003-08.
The principal at Carmichaels Area Junior/Senior High School, Menhart spent the past three years as an assistant football coach at Waynesburg University.

Stats needed

The Observer-Reporter needs baseball and softball coaches from its coverage area to send in final stats for all-star consideration if that task has yet to be done.

Stats can be sent to mkovak@observer-reporter.com, orsports@observer-reporter.com, faxed to 724-225-2077 or called in to 724-222-2200.