South Hills notebook: Thomas Jefferson’s Clark earns all-state honor

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, April 30, 2018 | 4:09 PM

Notebook items from around the South Hills:

• Thomas Jefferson's Jenna Clark, a 5-foot-7 junior point guard, was named third-team all-state in a statewide vote of sports writers.

Clark, who has talked with college recruiters from the Patriot League, Ivy League and Atlantic 10, ended the high school basketball season with a team-leading 17.7 ppg scoring average. She also averaged 6.2 assists and 3.3 steals, and shot 73 percent from the foul line.

The Jaguars won a section title, advanced to WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA second round, and finished with a 21-5 record in 2017-18.

• Thomas Jefferson's softball team recently suffered two tough section setbacks, losing to first-place Albert Gallatin, 7-2, and last-place Ringgold, 7-6.

The Jaguars responded by blanking visiting Steel Valley, 9-0, behind an impressive offensive explosion.

“Our expectations are to continue to play strong physically but with a better mental mindset,” coach Heidi Karcher said. “To finish the second half of the season strong, taking one game at a time and hoping things work out in our favor

“We had a little blip this past weekend, but I am hoping we rebound from it. Hoping the weather continues to get warmer, as well. I hate the cold weather to play ball.”

Junior third baseman Sarah Thornton sparked the attack against Steel Valley with a 4 for 4 day at the plate. Paige Truax, a freshman second baseman, and Mackenzie Zang, a sophomore outfielder, chipped in with three hits apiece, while sophomore outfielder Alana Cleary contributed three RBIs.

Left-handed sophomore Bella Bucy was the winning pitcher in a complete-game performance. Bucy fanned 13 and walked none.

TJ's starting lineup against SV had four left-handed batters, including three of the first four hitters in the lineup — Claire Whalen, a freshman outfielder, Truax and Bucy. Senior first baseman Liz Brock, who batted seventh, also is left-handed.

• Baldwin senior Laurel Bristow met the MileSplit US gold (first team) standard in the girls javelin event with her winning throw of 140 feet, 11 inches at this year's Tri-State Track Coaches Association invitational meet.

“Walking into Tri-States, I did not expect to throw over my PR by 15 feet being as it was my first meet of the outdoor season,” Bristow said. “My first throw of the meet, I reached my arm back and threw through the tip of the javelin. When I heard the official announce my (distance), I knew it was because of the effort I put in at every practice and every training session.

“This year, I believe I have reached a new level of maturity that has helped boost my confidence during my performances. My goal is to win WPIALs and place at states.”

Bristow also met the silver (second team) standard in the shot put with a toss of 40-5.

Other elite performances (bronze standard) at the season-opening meet were attained by Baldwin's Angelo Priore (100), Brendan O'Malley (200, 400, long jump), Nick Lachut (pole vault) and boys 400-meter relay unit, consisting of Priore, Jeremy Jenkins, Jerron Kelly and Robert Hoffman; as well as Thomas Jefferson's Zach Wagner (100, 200), Molly Wagner (100, 200) and boys 400 relay unit, consisting of Jordan Murga, Davin Manfredi, Alex Folino and Wagner.

• Baldwin's softball team wrapped up the first half of section play in first place, thanks in large part to a recent 6-3 win against rival Canon-McMillan.

Sophomore third baseman Salena Jaquay punched out three hits for Baldwin in the come-from-behind victory. Carly Santillo, a senior catcher, and Allison Murray, a sophomore first baseman, drove in two runs apiece.

Right-handed junior Addie Tagg was the winning pitcher.

Baldwin ended the first half of section play with 5-1 record in Section 1-6A, in front of Canon-McMillan (3-2), Mt. Lebanon (4-3), Bethel Park (3-3), Peters Township (3-3), Upper St. Clair (3-3) and Brashear (0-6).

Baldwin and Canon-McMillan were co-section champions in 2016 and ‘17. Baldwin, C-M and Bethel Park shared the section title in 2015.

• Baldwin's Mike Goga netted 18 points to help spark the East squad to a 118-95 victory over the West in the 15th annual Roundball Classic at Geneva's Metheny Field House.

Seton LaSalle's Alayna Ziegler connected for 13 points for the East girls team, which rolled past the West, 103-57. And Seton LaSalle's Jakob Richardson scored 12 points for the Class 3A/A boys team, which dropped a 106-91 decision to the Class 4A squad.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.