TIME OUT FROM BASEBALL . . . FOR TRACK
La Salle 4 x 800 Team Finishes 3rd at States
  The La Salle 4 x 800 meter team raced on Saturday at Shippensburg in the PIAA State Championship.  Seniors Chris Muggler and Brendan Stone were the 3rd and 4th legs, respectively, and Sophomores Andrew Stone (no relation) and Tom Coyle were leadoff and second legs, respectively.  The team had finished 3rd at Indoor States and 8th at Penn Relays (6th US team) prior to the Outdoor State meet.  Coyle, the sophomore, understood the importance of this race.  He said, “Andrew Stone and I really knew that this meant a lot to the seniors, so we did the best we could to try to medal.”  Muggler explained that the team would be prepared for this race because the four runners “pushed each other every single practice, and pushed ourselves to be our very best.”  The La Salle 4 x 800 team lived up to expectations on Saturday, finishing 3rd and running 7:47, and all the work done together in the previous 6 months paid off.
  Andrew Stone was dominant in the 1st leg all year, and anchor leg Brendan Stone said of Andrew, “He is the best first leg runner in the state, hands down the best.”  Andrew proved Brendan to be correct on Saturday, as he handed off the baton to Coyle strides ahead of the nearest competitor, splitting a 1:55.  Tom Coyle was the break out star on the team this year, splitting 1:54 at the Penn Relays.  Coyle ran 1:56 in his leg and kept La Salle close to 1st place Abington, whose second leg ran an unbelievable split of 1:50.  La Salle senior and 3 year 4 x 800 veteran Chris Muggler ran a 1:59, and Brendan Stone closed with a 1:56 to earn La Salle third place and a spot on the medal stand. Chris Muggler talked after the race about his years at La Salle, “I’ve been on this 4 x 800 squad for three years, and it has been incredible every single year.  But to come in third place in my senior year, this race tops them all.”
  La Salle’s success in the 4 x 800 is nothing new.  La Salle has ran under 7:50 each of the last three years at states, and finished in the top 10 each time.  In addition, La Salle is the only program this year to finish in the top 10 in the 4 x 800 and in cross country.  And La Salle has accomplished this feat each of the last 3 years.  Headed by Pat Devine for over 40 years, La Salle became a dynasty in distance running.  Coach Devine retired at the end of last season, and La Salle alumnus Greg Bielecki (formerly coached by Devine) has taken over the program and has continued the excellence expected of the program.  Each of the athletes that I spoke with credited Coach Devine and Bielecki’s system, and said how important it was to buy into the program that was preached.  It was the combination of skillful coaching and diligent practice that allowed this team to be so successful.
  Brendan Stone reflected on the experience at Shippensburg, “We knew we could compete with the best.  CB West and Abington have some high caliber athletes at the top of their game, and we were able to hang right with them.”  Brendan has always been a runner with tremendous heart and a tremendous kick, which is why he is the anchor leg.  He welcomes the challenge of racing against the other teams’ best runners, and at the end of a race, he trusts himself to be the best. “When it comes down to the last 150 meters of a race, I know I rely on myself, I’m not going to let the team down, and I’m not going to let anyone pass me.”  Brendan had to hold off a large pack in the final lap of the race to keep La Salle in third place, and true to form, his kick held off all contenders.  Brendan will move on to run for Washington University in St. Louis, but will remember his experiences on and off the track at La Salle.  “I couldn’t have picked a better high school.  Being able to run at a high level while meeting some of my best friends made the experience so special.”
  He also talked added some thoughts about the future of La Salle.  “While Chris Muggler and I may be graduating, watch out for Tom Coyle and Andrew Stone.  They are two great competitors, and I have a feeling La Salle will make many more trips to Shippensburg, and that these two guys will lead the 4 x 800 to the medal stand again.”  Knowing the quality of coaching and athletes that will return to La Salle in the coming years, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
La Salle’s Tom Trainer Never Fails to Impress
  La Salle Senior Tom Trainer knew this day was coming.  But he didn’t think it would come this fast.  Before he knew it, he was a senior, standing at the start line, ready to start the final race of his decorated high school career.  Four years that seemed like a day had prepared him for one of the most important races of his career.  Last Saturday, Trainer competed in the PIAA Track and Field State Championships, held at Shippensburg University.  He competed against what he said was “one of the best, deepest classes in the history of Pennsylvania Track and Field for distance.”  And, like usual, Trainer used a combination of heart, grit, toughness, and intelligence to place 4th in the 2 mile run with a time of 9:18 on a sweltering 90-degree day.  Trainer talked about his mindset and preparation entering the race, “Coach and I were talking about race strategy, and he told me, ‘When Burkhardt (the eventual winner) goes out slow, he steadily picks up the pace and then takes off when he gets to the front.’  So when I saw him come up on me around a mile into the race, I knew I needed to go with him, and I was with that top pack for the whole race.”
  Tom’s strong finish in the state meet highlights a dazzling high school career that includes a 17th place finish at Cross Country States in 2010, a 2nd place finish at Indoor States in the 3000 meter run, an individual District XII Cross Country Championship by a 25 second margin, and the 3rd spot in the La Salle Cross Country record books for the 5K at the home course, Belmont Plateau (just to name a few accolades).  However, what Tom will take away from his career at La Salle is the friendships he has made, and the experiences he has had with his teammates and runners from competing schools.  He said of the runners in PA, “It has become like a fraternity, a running community.  The best part of it all is the mutual respect that we all have for one another.”  And of his teammates, “I’d say that, in my experience, La Salle has the closest group of teammates, and I’d challenge any team in the country in that regard.  We have built friendships and a support system on this team that means the world to me.”  For the entire La Salle team, the camaraderie is what keeps the program at the top.
  “Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.” Jesse Owens produced this famous quote, and Tom referenced it to describe what really has been most fulfilling for him in his high school running career. Tom is going to miss his teammates, but said, “I am moving on to something new.”  Trainer is moving on to run for Villanova University, one of the top cross country and track programs in the country, but will always refer to La Salle as his “second home.”  And La Salle will always have a place for Tom, one of the best runners in the history of the program.

MAY 28
CATHOLIC LEAGUE SEMIFINAL
Neumann-Goretti 18, La Salle 13
  Before one could blink, it was 11-0 La Salle.  The Explorers opened a 11-0 lead after just 1 ½ innings on the undefeated Neumann-Goretti Saints.  Goretti looked shell shocked.  The Saints only had batted for three outs, and only three Saints batters had stepped into the box.  Meanwhile, the opposition had posted 11 runs on 9 hits, and had produced only 6 outs.  La Salle was on its way to the PCL Final.  Funny thing about baseball is, it is rarely that easy.  Neumann was 19-0 entering the game, and that wasn’t the case without reason.  Neumann scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd to keep the lead at a respectable margin, and to keep the Saints within striking distance.  La Salle then scored 2 runs in the 4th inning, shut down the Saints in the bottom, and entered the 5th with a 13-3 lead.
  The Explorers were three outs from a victory by the 10 run rule.  One out, actually, after La Salle starter Nick Burns set down 2 of 3 hitters to begin the inning.  With 2 outs and a man on first, in stepped 5th hitter Josh Ockimey, who had already been on base twice earlier in the game.  Ockimey belted a home run to right center field that cleared the 370-foot fence by a considerable margin.  Josh said of this all-important at-bat, “I told myself I’m not going to be this last out. I’m not going to be that person to make them win.”  Ockimey certainly was not the last out, as he hit a fastball over the fence to knock in 2 runs and to keep the Saints from losing.  When asked about his pitch selection on his 3 for 4 day, Josh said, “I basically saw only 3 or 4 fastballs all day, and everything else was curveball and changeup.”  Josh asserted that he was looking fastball first, and when he saw it, he needed to hit it.
  But after all the emotion of the 2 run home run to force the continuation of the game, La Salle still had a 13-5 lead, still had control, and still had First Team All-Catholic starter Nick Burns on the mound.  However, in the bottom of the 6th, Burns lasted only 4 batters, and recorded one out before being pulled after 104 pitches.  At this point, Neumann Goretti flexed its muscles, plowing through 4 La Salle pitchers in the inning and scoring 13 runs to give the Saints an improbable 18-13 lead.  The 13-run inning was fueled by 6 hits and 7 walks, and at one point 4 straight Saints were walked in the inning.
  The final three runs in the bottom of the 6th were knocked in by . . . who else but Josh Ockimey.  With the bases loaded, Ockimey again hit a ball to deep right center, this one falling just short of the fence, and Josh rolled into third with a triple.  When asked about this at-bat, Josh said, “I carried my whole momentum coming into that at-bat…knowing that I can win this game, so I just put my bat on the ball.”  Josh finished a double shy of the cycle, as he went 3-4 with a home run, triple, walk, and 3 runs scored.  In addition, he reached base safely in all 5 of his at-bats.
  La Salle trailed 18-13 in the top of the 7th, and was unable to mount a comeback.  Neumann-Goretti escaped with one of the craziest and most improbable playoff games in the history of the Catholic League.  La Salle began the game with an 11-0 run, and Neumann closed the game with an 18-2 run.  Each team threw 4 pitchers, and La Salle’s Nick Burns was the only one to pitch more than 2 2/3 innings.  8 of 9 starters in each lineup scored at least 1 run, and the 31 runs scored are by far the most scored in a playoff game this season.
  Standout performers include Jimmy Kerrigan of Neumann, who was 3-5 and was a triple away from the cycle; Joe Jaep, who pitched 1 1/3 innings and didn’t allow a run; and Joey Gorman, who came back after his 5 inning complete game performance in the previous game to throw the final 2 innings without giving up a run.  And as mentioned above, Josh Ockimey was unquestionably the player of the game.  For La Salle, Ryan Otis led the way with a 3-4 performance with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored.  Corey Baiada hit a 2 run home run in the 1st inning and nearly repeated with a second home run in the 2nd; it went just foul in right field.  PJ Acierno led the team with three RBIs and also laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Nick Burns’ 5+ inning gritty performance was commendable against such a talented team in Neumann Goretti. Neumann Goretti will move on to the PCL Final and play Monsignor Bonner, who also had a wild PCL Semifinal game. The PCL Final will be held Tuesday afternoon, at 4 p.m., at Widener University.

MAY 27
PUBLIC LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL
Central 15, Franklin Towne 2
  From the first inning, Central was in control against Public League foe Franklin Towne.  Central scored four runs in each of the first 2 innings, and added five runs in the 3rd. Leadoff hitter Daniel Quinn led the way with a 3-3 showing with a double and a walk.  In addition, Mark Gervasi was 1-1 with 2 RBIs, including two sacrifice flys and a walk.  Daniel Quinn and Peter Rowe each scored a game-high four runs en route to the rout.  The third-seeded Lancers stacked 13 hits and 15 runs in just 4 at-bats, as Franklin Towne was dismissed in 4 ½ innings.  7 of 9 Central starters had at least a hit in the game, and 6 of 9 starters scored a run.
  Central was equally impressive in the pitching department.  Southpaw Mike Cavallaro hurled the first three innings, allowing only 2 runs and striking out 6.  Peter Rowe closed the last two innings without allowing a hit, posting 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.  Cavallaro and Rowe were so impressive that they combined to strike out 7 of the 9 Franklin Towne starters, and totaled 10 strikeouts overall.  With his 2 inning outing to finish the game, Rowe was simply tuning up for his next start in the playoffs, but his performance in this game was very efficient and effective.  Central defeated Franklin Towne 15-2 in a shortened game due to the 10 run rule, and will move on to the next round of the Public League playoffs.