OC's playoff chase alive with victory over Eagles

Brooklyn DePriest of Colorado, the son of an Oil City High School graduate, was named recently to the United States Snowboard Team and will compete in August in the Junior Worlds, an international competition in New Zealand for riders under 18 years of age who are top ranked in their respect…

Two-thirds of the way through the 2023 softball season, the Cranberry Berries were like a bobber being tossed about in a raging sea — in fact, they were the epitome of up-and-down, sporting a 7-7 record deep into the regular-season schedule.

Cranberry High School’s girls basketball program has produced some great players in its storied history.

DUBOIS — Midway through the bottom of the first inning on Monday evening in the District 9 Class 2A championship at Heindl Field, Cranberry’s girls softball team looked like it was in trouble.

SHIPPENSBURG — After a strong showing on Day 1, nine area athletes took home medals on Saturday at the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships held at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

HERMITAGE — If the past two District 10 Class 4A softball championship games were indicative of anything, it would stand to reason that Monday’s title tilt between Franklin and Cathedral Prep would be a tight, quick and low-scoring affair. After all, Franklin won the crown in 2021 behind Tri…

SHIPPENSBURG — Three Union/Allegheny-Clarion Valley athletes won gold medals — including a record-setting performance from Evelyn Bliss — as the 2023 PIAA Class 2A Track & Field Championships got underway on Friday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

MEADVILLE — As the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s deja vu all over again!”

Franklin’s Caleb Prettyman, Cranberry’s Laiyla Russell and Redbank Valley’s Aiden Ortz and Cam Wagner will be competing in three events apiece at Shippensburg University this weekend while leading a large contingent of track and field athletes to the PIAA Class 2A state championships, which …

“RIVER BOOTS,” Robert Lynn Steiner’s book of stories about his career as a Pennsylvania “fish warden,” was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association with its “Best Book Award” and “Humor Award” for 2023.

KNOX — After splitting two games during the regular season, the Cranberry and Moniteau girls softball teams renewed their rivalry again in the District 9 Class 2A semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at Keystone High School.

MEADVILLE — Oil City’s girls softball team has been a pleasant surprise all season long.

ERIE — Franklin’s baseball team has certainly had its share of adversity this season, including a slew of injuries that derailed what could have been a very deep and talented pitching staff, inexperience at a few key positions, an offense that ran hot and cold and a late-season, seven-game l…

Redbank Valley’s Tate Minich and Moniteau’s Emma Covert were named the Most Valuable Players of their respective sports as the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference released its baseball and softball all-star teams on Monday.

MEADVILLE — Rocky Grove’s boys volleyball team had its season came to a close Tuesday night after the Orioles fell in straight sets to Cochranton, 25-13, 25-20, 25-15 in the opening round of the District 10 Class 2A playoffs at Meadville’s House of Thrills.

Four different Redbank Valley athletes earned Most Valuable Player honors on Monday as the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference released its boys and girls track and field all-star squads.

Cranberry’s softball team has been putting up big numbers all season long, and that didn’t change on Monday afternoon, despite it being the opening round of the District 9 Class 2A playoffs.

With a young roster that improved greatly throughout the season, Rocky Grove’s girls softball team ventured into the District 10 Class 1A playoffs against Cochranton on Monday afternoon at Allegheny College’s Robertson Field.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Franklin’s Caleb Prettyman and Nadalie Latchaw will be joining Oil City’s Cam Crocker, Charlie Motter, Baine Snyder and the boys’ 400 relay team in heading to the PIAA meet after meeting qualifying standards on Saturday at the District 10 Class 2A Track and Field Championship…

BROOKVILLE — Athletes from across District 9 put their talents on display Friday, and they didn’t disappoint as the Class 2A track and field championships were held at Brookville High School.

Oil City’s Sophie Garmong smacked three hits and struck out 11 batters in four innings of relief while Abby Foley singled, tripled and drove in two runs as the Oilers wrapped up their regular-season softball schedule on Friday with a 5-3 non-region road win against Rocky Grove.

Spring comes early to the South. A month ago, North Carolina was showing spring’s early colors and the leaves were breaking, like our woods are now. We headed south, taking a breather from the year and a half of hustling Bob’s book “River Boots” and Linda’s coloring and wildlife learning boo…

Jacob Teeter cracked a double and a single while driving in three runs and Will McMahon had a solid outing on the mound as Oil City snapped a five-game losing streak with a 13-5 road victory over Franklin on Wednesday in Region 2 baseball action.

SHARON — Oil City’s Shalyn Whittemore singled, tripled and drove in four runs while Sophie Garmong singled twice, doubled and scored three times as the Oilers’ girls softball team held on to beat homestanding Sharon, 12-9, to clinch the school’s first District 10 playoff berth since the 2003…

Behind a mixture of a potent offense, an ace pitcher at the top of her game and some solid defense throughout the season, Franklin’s girls softball team found itself in position to clinch the Region 4 crown at home on Tuesday against Jamestown.

Blayne Baker served for 20 points and Joshua Stevenson had 24 set assists, but it wasn’t enough as Rocky Grove’s boys volleyball team dropped its regular-season finale Tuesday night to visiting Cambridge Springs, 25-21, 7-25, 25-21, 25-17 in Region 1 action.

Oil City’s Nyssa Hanlon went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and Sophie Garmong fired a three-hit shutout on Tuesday as the Oilers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 10-0 five-inning win at home over Grove City in a Region 4 softball matchup.

Ethan Adams and Kamden Martin combined to go 8-for-9 at the plate with two runs scored and five RBIs as Grove City came away with a 10-3 road win over Oil City on Monday in a Region 2 baseball matchup.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Gabriella Laderer double and tripled as part of a three-hit, two-run effort as Franklin’s softball squad routed homestanding Slippery Rock, 9-0, on Monday evening.

DUBOIS — Luke Guth homered and doubled, but it wasn’t nearly enough as Franklin dropped a 12-2, five-inning contest to homestanding DuBois Central Catholic in non-region baseball action Saturday.

NEW BETHLEHEM — Area athletes took advantage of the ideal weather conditions on Thursday as meet and school records fell left and right at the Redbank Valley Track & Field Invitational.

Venango Catholic’s baseball team celebrated its senior day in style by picking up its first victory of the season with an 11-7 decision over visiting Forest Area on Thursday.

Rocky Grove’s Schiffer Anderson picked up a win in his mound debut on Wednesday while Logan Gavin and Trenton Rice drove in three runs apiece as Rocky Grove rallied for a wild 13-12 home win over Union City in a Region 3 baseball showdown on Senior Night.

ERIE — Despite getting 11 points, five digs and two kills from Blayne Baker, Rocky Grove’s boys volleyball team dropped below .500 first the first time this season following a 25-13, 25-11, 25-18 loss to homestanding Mercyhurst Prep on Wednesday night in non-region play.