A-K Valley notebook: Early-season wet weather wreaking havoc on schedules

By: Alec Italiano
Thursday, March 29, 2018 | 8:42 PM

Western Pennsylvania coaches may be humming a tune familiar to grade-school children this week:

Rain, rain, go away.

A third consecutive day of rain Thursday wiped out competition across several different sports, with only volleyball truly safe from the dampness.

“This is the worst spring (March) we've ever had, that I've been involved with coaching wise,” said Burrell track and field coach Steve White, whose team's Section 7-AA meet with Freeport was postponed. “Every team is in the same boat. We've been outside maybe half-dozen times since practices started, including one meet. I'm sure the numbers aren't going to be great early in the season, but hopefully, we get some better weather soon.”

Through Thursday, not much distance separated the list of A-K Valley baseball and softball teams who played a game in the first week of the season from the list of those who didn't. The Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Freeport, Highlands and Kiski Area baseball teams are awaiting their openers, as are the Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area and Riverview softball teams.

“I don't know when we're ever going to get outside,” Springdale baseball coach Brett Burger said. “This weather has been brutal.”

Monday provided something of a respite for a few teams who managed to get in a game or meet despite cold and windy conditions. Burrell, Valley, Riverview and Leechburg held a quad meet in track and field, and a handful of Alle-Kiski Valley baseball and softball teams managed to get a game in.

“The kids were cold, but they were happy to be there and competing,” Valley track and field coach George Webb said. “The performances weren't the best. The javelin was kind of sloppy. But they were able to compete.”

On the trail

Kiski Area wrestler Logan Pollick announced Thursday his commitment to Mercyhurst.

Competing at 182 pounds, Pollick won a Section 1-AAA individual title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL tournament, compiling a record of 33-7. He also helped Kiski Area defend its WPIAL team championship.

Pollick was one of a handful of recent Kiski Area athletes to announce his college decision. Golfer Jake Stariha committed to Carlow, Alexandra Corna committed to Pitt-Greensburg for soccer and Bethany Baney committed to Penn State New Kensington for volleyball.

International delight

A New Kensington youth is playing in an international soccer competition in Spain.

Anders Bordoy, a defender on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy's under-14 team, was selected for U.S. Club Soccer's 2018 id2 National Selection International Tour and is playing in the Mediterranean International Cup. Bordoy is the only selection on the 18-player roster from Western Pennsylvania.

The competition, which began Wednesday and runs through Sunday, is contested at the Costa Brava on the northeast coast of Spain.

The top clubs and national academy teams in the world are represented; teams like FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid and players like Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. played at the MIC in past years.

Three cheers

Isiah Bauman recently got the chance to don the Team USA jersey of basketball greats.

The Freeport sophomore competed with Cub Hoops at the USA Basketball 3×3 U18 National Championships last weekend at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The half-court games featured 12 boys and 11 girls teams, each of which had four players. Games were played three-on-three.

“I had a great time competing against some top competition,” said Bauman, who played in six games. “It was crazy being able to have a chance to go up there. My favorite part was being able to put on the USA jersey; it is an incredible chance that not very many people get to do.”

Bauman averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 steals this season for Freeport, helping the Yellowjackets tie for second in Section 1-4A.

Michael Love contributed. Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Leechburg, Riverview