Richland foursome make college plans

Alexis Dona, Katie Gehlmann and Sarah Pfeil formed a key trio for Richland's highly successful girls basketball program the past four years. Next year, all three will play college basketball in different locations.

"Playing college ball together wasn't something we really talked about," Gehlmann said. "We all definitely wanted to play in college. Sarah and I played AAU together for PA Blue Thunder, but we won't be playing together in college."

Dona is headed to Mount Aloysius. Gehlmann will play at Waynesburg University. Pfeil will join the team at Pitt-Greensburg.

The trio announced their college intentions Wednesday along with track and field standout Derek Civis, who will high jump for St. Francis.

Four student-athletes from Richland High School announced college intentions on Wednesday. They are Alexis Dona (Mount Aloysius), Sarah Pfeil (Pitt-Greensburg), Katie Gehlmann (Waynesburg) and Derek Civis (St. Francis).

Johnstown looks to prolong run

Greater Johnstown's Jeremy Updyke singles to center field during the Trojans' 12-1 win over Obama Academy in Monday's first-round playoff game. Photo submitted by Jerry Updyke

Some scoffed when Greater Johnstown entered the District 6 Class AAA playoffs with a 6-12 record, but the Trojans didn't let that affect them during Monday's quarterfinal game against Obama Academy of District 8.

Greater Johnstown came away with a 12-2 victory to prolong the coaching career of Dee Dee Osborne, who plans to retire after 25 years with the team.

Grant Noon, a promising junior prospect, struck out 13 and pitched a five-hitter. Noon and Jeremy Updyke had three hits and three RBI apiece.

“The kids really played hard. Everybody contributed and we upset the No. 3 seed,” Johnstown coach Dee Dee Osborne told The Tribune-Democrat. “That tells you that we do belong here. It was a team effort, one of the best games I’ve seen these kids play. They were playing defense. They were hitting. All in all, I’m very happy.”

The Trojans play at second-seeded Huntingdon today.

Strasiser's monster season

Tony Strasiser was also a football standout for North Star.

North Star senior Tony Strasiser is putting together the type of baseball season that doesn't seem possible, even for diehard video gamers.

Heading into Wednesday's District 5 Class A quarterfinal against Conemaugh Township, Strasiser was batting .632 with a .720 on-base percentage. He had 36 hits and the same number of RBI, a ridiculous stat no matter the level of play. Strasiser had scored 40 runs, hit five home runs, four triples and seven doubles.

Walks and singles generally turn into doubles as Strasiser has 25 stolen bases.

The scary thing is Strasiser has been nearly effective on the mound, which has given undefeated North Star a dynamic 1-2-3 pitching punch with Brantley Rice and Shane Supanick, who picked up an impressive 2-0 win over Conemaugh Township as North Star (19-0) advanced to the D5 semifinals where they play McConnellsburg.

Strasiser is 5-0 in five pitching appearances with 40 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. He's allowed six hits with a 1.05 ERA.

District 5 baseball pairings

Class AA
Semifinals
Today
Both games at 4:30 p.m.
No. 4 Chestnut Ridge at No. 1 Everett
No. 3 Northern Bedford at No. 2 Bedford
Championship
May 28
Site to be determined
Semifinals winners, 4:30 p.m.


Class A
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
All games at 4:30 p.m.
No. 8 Conemaugh Township at No. 1 North Star
No. 5 Shade at No. 4 Southern Fulton
No. 6 HOPE for Hyndman at No. 3 McConnellsburg
No. 7 Berlin at No. 2 Meyersdale
Semifinals
Friday
Both games at 4:30 p.m.
Conemaugh Township-North Star winner vs. Shade-Southern Fulton winner
HOPE for Hyndman-McConnellsburg winner vs. Berlin-Meyersdale winner
Championship
May 30
Site to be determined (possibly Somerset)
Semifinals winners, 4:30 p.m.

District 5 softball playoffs

Class AA
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
No. 4 Bedford at No. 1 Chestnut Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
No. 3 Windber at No. 2 Everett, 4:30 p.m.
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
Site to be determined
Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

Class A
First round
Wednesday, May 22
All games at 4:30 p.m.
No. 8 Meyersdale at No. 1 Shade
No. 5 HOPE for Hyndman at No. 4 Tussey Mountain
No. 7 Turkeyfoot at No. 2 Conemaugh Township
No. 6 Rockwood at No. 3 Fannett-Metal
Semifinals
Tuesday, May 28
Sites to be determined
Meyersdale-Shade winner vs. HOPE for Hyndman-Tussey Mountain winner, 4:30 p.m.
Turkeyfoot-Conemaugh Township winner vs. Rockwood-Fannett Metal winner, 4:30p.m.
Championship
Thursday, May 30
Semifinals winners, 4:30 p.m.

Updated District 6 softball playoffs

Class AAA
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
No. 4 Hollidaysburg at No. 1 Greater Johnstown, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Bellefonte at No. 2 Somerset, 4 p.m.
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
at Penn State
Semifinal winner, TBD

Class AA
First round
Thursday, May 16
Philipsburg-Osceola 8, Bishop McCort 0
Mt. Union 4, Marion Center 3
Penns Valley 8, Central 2
Bellwood-Antis 3, Westmont Hilltop 1
Huntingdon 11, Blairsville 4
Richland 5, Cambria Heights 1
Ligonier Valley 7, Bald Eagle Area 5
Juniata 8, Penn Cambria  3
Quarterfinals
Monday, May 20
All games at 4 p.m.
Mount Union at Philipsburg-Osceola
Penns Valley at Bellwood-Antis
Huntingdon at Richland
Juniata at Ligonier Valley
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
Quarterfinals winners
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
at Penn State
Semifinal winners, TBD

Class A
Quarterfinals
Monday, May 20
No. 8 Williamsburg at No. 1 Claysburg-Kimmel, 4 p.m.
No. 5 Bishop Carroll at No. 4 Ferndale, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Conemaugh Valley at No. 3 Portage, 4 p.m.
No. 7 West Branch at No. 2 Southern Huntingdon, 4 p.m.
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
Williamsburg-Claysburg Kimmel winner vs. Bishop Carroll-Ferndale winner
Conemaugh Valley-Portage winner vs. West Branch-Southern Huntingdon winner
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
at Penn State
Semifinal winners, TBD

Updated District 6 baseball brackets

Class AAAA
Thursday, May 23
No. 4 Altoona at No. 1 State College
No. 3 Central Mountain at No. 2 Mifflin County
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
at Blair County Ballpark
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Class AAA
First round
Monday, May 20
Greater Johnstown 12, Obama Academy 2
Huntingdon 5, Bellefonte 4
Semifinals
Huntingdon at No. 1 Somerset, 4 p.m.
Greater Johnstown at No. 2 Hollidaysburg, 4 p.m.
Championship
Thursday, May 30
at Blair County Ballpark
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Class AA
First round
Cambria Heights 6, Marion Center 5
Bellwood-Antis 8, Tyrone 0
Central 10, Southern Huntingdon 0
Ligonier Valley 4, Northern Cambria 2
Mount Union 6, Penns Valley 5
Quarterfinals
Monday, May 20
All games at 4 p.m.
Blairsville 12, Cambria Heights 11
Central 11, Bellwood-Antis 2
Ligonier Valley 5, Richland 3
Mount Union 3, Bald Eagle 0
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
Central at Blairsville, 4 p.m.
Mount Union at Ligonier Valley, 4 p.m.
Championship
Wednesday, May 29
at Blair County Ballpark
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

Class A
First round
Thursday, May 16
Saltsburg 6, Bishop Carroll 5
Quarterfinals
Monday, May 20
Bishop McCort 10, Slatsburg 1
Portage 4, Homer-Center 3
Conemaugh Valley 3, Juniata Valley 0
Claysburg-Kimmel 1, Bishop Guilfoyle 0
Semifinals
Thursday, May 23
Portage at Bishop McCort, 4 p.m.
Conemaugh Valley at Claysburg Kimmel, 4 p.m.
Championship
Thursday, May 30
at Blair County Ballpark
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.