2019 sports year in review

Winter, spring, summer and fall — with every season, local athletes and teams brought championships home to Schuylkill County and the towns in surrounding areas.

Nobody ruled the winter season like Marian’s Danny Berlitz. The Colts senior swimmer shattered records across the state and capped his stellar high school career with gold medals in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle at the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships.

For his efforts, Berlitz received Class AA boys Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet honors.

The Lourdes girls’ basketball team also had a memorable season, advancing to the PIAA Class A championship game before falling to Berlin Brothersvalley.

The spring belonged to softball — Williams Valley and Pine Grove softball.

On June 14 in back-to-back games at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park, the Vikings and Cardinals captured state championships. Williams Valley shut out DuBois Central Catholic 5-0, and Pine Grove followed by rallying past Bald Eagle Area 7-3 to complete an undefeated season.

The boys of summer made a lot of noise on the baseball diamond.

On June 5, the Kansas City Royals selected North Schuylkill pitcher Reggie Crawford in the 37th round and the Milwaukee Brewers picked former Pottsville star pitcher Eli Nabholz in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft. Later, Pottsville’s Connor Hinchliffe (Phillies) and Marian’s Joe Nahas (Cubs) signed as free agents.

And on July 29, Schuylkill routed Hollidaysburg 10-1 to capture the VFW Teener League Senior Division state championship.

Football was king of the fall.

That would make volleyball the queen.

Nativity’s girls reached the PIAA Class A championship match for the first time in school history before settling for silver. In Class AA, Panther Valley made a run to the state quarterfinals.

Championships and deep playoff runs occurred for several football teams.

In Class 3A, Tamaqua made the deepest run, breaking through for its first district championship, then winning twice more to reach the state semifinals.

Meanwhile, Pottsville (District 11 Class 4A) and Upper Dauphin (District 3 Class AA) collected district gold and advanced to the state quarterfinals before seeing their seasons end.

And that’s just a sampling of the success local athletes and teams had over the past 12 months.

So, as 2019 draws to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the top events from a very eventful year on the local sports scene.

 

January

5 — Pottsville swimmer Zach Turnitza sets meet records in four events at the Schuylkill Sprint Meet.

10 — Schuylkill Haven junior Albe Evans scores 17 points, including the 1,000th of his career, as Schuylkill Haven edges Nativity 65-60 in a Schuylkill League Division II boys’ basketball game.

17 — Representatives of the Schuylkill League and Colonial League unveil a new Football Scheduling Cooperative. The agreement combines the 12 Colonial League schools with the 16 Schuylkill League schools and breaks them into four divisions based on classification, beginning in the 2020 season.

19 — Upper Dauphin’s Bronson Garber becomes a four-time individual gold medalist at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships. Meanwhile, Pottsville crowns four champions to win the team title for the third straight season.

28 — Emily Lawrence scores 18 points as Mahanoy Area holds off Weatherly 57-50 in a Schuylkill League Division III girls’ basketball game. The win is the 100th for Golden Bears head coach Tom Scheeler.

31 — North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall and offensive lineman Jack Kempsey are selected to participate in the 18th Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association East/West All-Star Game.

 

February

2 — Sparked by Cody Reimert’s fall, Hamburg defeats Newport 41-24 to clinch the Hawks’ first-ever title at the District 3 Class AA Team Wrestling Championships.

8 — Blue Mountain’s Michael Levkulic and Pottsville’s Cyla Rose win titles at the Schuylkill League Diving Championships.

9 — Marian senior Danny Berlitz breaks league, meet, area and pool records in both the 200-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke during the Schuylkill League Swimming Championships. In addition, Pottsville swimmers Zach Turnitza and Jordan Young take part in four victories apiece.

14 — Skyler Searfoss scores 39 points as Jim Thorpe defeats Lourdes 51-24 in a Schuylkill League girls’ basketball semifinal. The return of Abbey McGee from injury lifts Mahanoy Area over Tamaqua 46-28 in the other semifinal.

15 — Pottsville defeats Mahanoy Area 56-13 and Blue Mountain tops Lourdes 63-54 in the Schuylkill League boys’ basketball semifinals. The Crimson Tide and Eagles advance to meet in the final for the fourth straight season. … Marian senior swimmer Danny Berlitz announces he will continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Michigan.

16 — Pottsville’s boys defeat Blue Mountain 51-35 to repeat as Schuylkill League basketball champions. On the girls’ side, Jim Thorpe downs Mahanoy Area 53-51 for its first league crown.

21 — Mya Achenbach scores 22 points to lead Williams Valley over Minersville 54-41 in a District 11 Class AA girls’ basketball quarterfinal.

22 — Bryce Ellinger nets 35 points as Minersville defeats Williams Valley 62-54 in a District 11 Class AA boys’ basketball quarterfinal.

23 — Williams Valley’s Chett Pesta (152), Tri-Valley’s Kolt Schaeffer (170), Mahanoy Area’s Colin Fegley (195), Jim Thorpe’s Ethan Mordaunt (220) and Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse (285) capture gold at the District 11 Class AA Wrestling Championships. … Ben Weidenhammer (195) wins a gold medal as Hamburg takes the team title at the District 3 Class AA Wrestling Championships. … Pottsville’s Greta Snukis finishes second at the District 11 Class AA Diving Championships and qualifies for the state meet.

25 — Mason Barnes has 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Pottsville over Bangor 53-43 in a District 11 Class 5A boys’ basketball semifinal. … Raphael Muldrow’s putback at the buzzer in overtime gives Nativity a 55-54 win over MMI in a District 2/11 Class A subregional boys’ basketball semifinal.

26 — Emily Zoscin scores 26 points as Weatherly defeats Nativity 58-53 to repeat as District 11 Class A girls’ basketball champion.

28 — Zak Tobin scores 19 points to lead Pottsville past Southern Lehigh 51-33 in the District 11 Class 5A boys’ basketball championship game. In the District 11 Class AA girls’ basketball final, Jordan Karmonick scores 14 points as Mahanoy Area defeats Marian 51-37.

 

March

1 — Marian’s Danny Berlitz sets a district record in the 200-yard individual medley, capturing his fourth District 11 gold medal in the event with an area-record time of 1:49.81 at the District 11 Class AA Swimming Championships. On the girls’ side, Pottsville’s Kylie Tohill wins the 50-yard freestyle.

2 — Marian’s Danny Berlitz does it again, setting a district record in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:30.41 for another gold at the District 11 Class AA Swimming Championships. Blue Mountain’s swimmers capture the D-11 team titles in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. … Hamburg’s Nick James (182), Mahanoy Area’s Colin Fegley (195), Jim Thorpe’s Ethan Mordaunt (220) and North Schuylkill’s Ryan Weitz (285) capture gold at the Southeast Region Class AA Wrestling Championships.

7 — Upper Dauphin’s Bronson Garber, Hamburg’s Dalton Gimbor, Jim Thorpe’s Ethan Mordaunt and North Schuylkill’s Ryan Weitz advance to the quarterfinals at the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships.

8 — Pottsville’s Nick Onea wins his second bout at the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships, giving him a school-record 145 career victories. … Pottsville’s boys, Nativity’s boys, Lourdes’ boys and Mahanoy Area’s girls notch victories in the first round of the PIAA Basketball Tournament.

9 — Mahanoy Area’s Colin Fegley (195) and Upper Dauphin’s Bronson Garber (126) cap their careers with bronze medals at the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships. Hamburg’s Dalton Gimbor (126) earns an eighth-place medal.

12 — Mason Barnes scores 18 points as Pottsville defeats Crestwood 59-46 in the second round of the PIAA Class 5A Basketball Tournament. Nativity’s boys, Lourdes’ boys and Mahanoy Area’s girls also advance to the quarterfinals.

13 — Marian’s Danny Berlitz blitzes the field to repeat as state champion in the 200 IM at the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships. Elsewhere at states, Pottsville’s 200 freestyle relay team takes fifth and the Tide’s 200 medley relay team places eighth. … In PIAA basketball, Lourdes’ girls and Weatherly’s girls advance to the quarterfinals.

14 — Marian’s Danny Berlitz wins the 500 freestyle in a state-record 4:24.07 at the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships. With his second gold medal, Berlitz receives Class AA boys Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet honors. Elsewhere at states, Pottsville’s Zach Turnitza earns a sixth-place medal in the 100 backstroke.

15 — A 15-2, third-quarter run lifts Mahanoy Area over Old Forge 54-40 in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AA Girls’ Basketball Tournament. Elsewhere in state quarterfinals, Lourdes’ boys top Nativity and the season ends for the Pottsville boys.

16 — Sierra Coleman scores 16 points as Lourdes downs Weatherly 52-35 in the PIAA Class A Girls’ Basketball Tournament quarterfinals.

18 — Mahanoy Area’s girls fall to Bellwood-Antis and Lourdes’ boys go down to Sankofa Freedom Academy in the semifinals of the PIAA Basketball Tournament.

19 — Sierra Coleman scores 12 points, leading Lourdes over defending champion Jenkintown 32-25 in the PIAA Class A Girls’ Basketball Tournament semifinals.

22 — Lilly Bickel scores 17 points but Lourdes falls to Berlin Brothersvalley 41-32 in the PIAA Class A Girls’ Basketball Tournament championship game at the Giant Center in Hershey.

23 — The San Francisco Giants trade Williams Valley graduate and pitcher Tyler Herb to the Baltimore Orioles. Herb is assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

29 — The North sweeps the South at the 45th annual Schuylkill County Senior Charity Bowl All-Star Classic basketball showcase. The North girls win 52-42 and the North boys prevail 120-81.

 

April

6 — Coal Region Racing inducts its inaugural Hall of Fame class. Drivers, mechanics, track promoters, race scorers and photographers make up the 27-member class.

7 — Williams Valley football standout Spencer Dimon is selected as the 58th Schuylkill County Scholar-Athlete at the annual banquet.

12 — North Schuylkill’s Sean McCabe, Jack Flynn, Jake Nahas and Luke Halko run a meet-record 8:23.21 to win the 3,200 relay at the Tamaqua Invitational.

22 — Carm DeFrancesco, a veteran leader with Coal Region ties, is selected to be the head football coach at Berwick.

25 — Nate Nabholz pitches a no-hitter as Blue Mountain defeats Pottsville 11-1 in six innings in a Schuylkill League Division I baseball game.

26 — Lourdes’ Lilly Bickel and Weatherly’s Emily Zoscin lead a group of five Schuylkill League players named to the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ All-State girls’ basketball team. Bickel and Zoscin both earn first-team honors in Class A. Joining them are Tamaqua’s Emma Kuczynski, a second-team selection in Class 4A; Jim Thorpe’s Skyler Searfoss, a third-team selection in Class 4A; and Mahanoy Area’s Jordan Karmonick, a third-team selection in Class AA.

29 — Mikaya Beadle hits a three-run home run as Nativity defeats Williams Valley 9-3 in Schuylkill League Division II softball. The Green Wave’s win ends an 11-year, 20-game losing streak to the Vikings.

 

May

8 — Olivia Haas and Kylie Kutz contribute to three victories apiece to lead Blue Mountain to the girls’ team title at the Schuylkill League Track and Field Championships.

14 — Lourdes’ Thomas Schultz is named to the Class A first team on the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ All-State boys’ basketball team. Pottsville’s Mason Barnes (5A third team), Panther Valley’s Rene Figueroa (3A second team), Marian’s Tyler Fritz (AA second team) and Lourdes’ Ty Klembara (A third team) are also honored.

15 — On Day 1 of the District 11 Track and Field Championships, Marian’s Emma McClafferty (discus), Minersville’s Bryce Ellinger (high jump) and Tri-Valley’s Wayne Reilly (3,200) earn gold medals.

16 — Shenandoah Valley’s Emily Demalis (100) and Tamaqua’s Derian Stianche (800) lead the winners on Day 2 of the District 11 Track and Field Championships. … On the diamond, Drew Grace goes 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and pitches 6.1 innings as Blue Mountain defeats North Schuylkill 6-1 in the Schuylkill League baseball championship game. … In the Schuylkill League softball final, Katelyn Rittenbaugh and Maura Lehman have four hits apiece and Olivia Lehman knocks in five runs as Pine Grove outslugs Williams Valley 15-4.

24 — Brayden Smith tosses a three-hitter as Tri-Valley clinches its third straight District 11 Class A baseball title with a 2-1 win over Nativity. … At the PIAA Track and Field Championships, Minersville’s Bryce Ellinger earns a fifth-place medal in the Class AA high jump.

25 — On Day 2 of the PIAA Track and Field Championships, North Schuylkill’s Cori McCormick (third in 3,200, eighth in 1,600) and Luke Halko (fifth in 800, seventh in 3,200 relay) earn two medals apiece. Jim Thorpe’s Sam Hydro takes silver in the Class AA 800.

27 — Two-run rally in bottom of the seventh lifts North Schuylkill over Northwestern Lehigh 3-2 in the District 11 Class 4A baseball championship game. Jake Green’s bases-loaded walk plates the winning run.

30 — Blue Mountain (5A) and Schuylkill Haven (AA) repeat as District 11 baseball champions. The Eagles ride the pitching of Nate Nabholz to a 6-4 win over Whitehall, while Shawn Davis and Riley Clauser have 3-for-3 days at the plate in the Hurricanes’ 10-3 victory over Williams Valley.

31 — Schuylkill League goes 3-for-4 in District 11 softball championships. Williams Valley shuts out Nativity 4-0 to clinch its fifth straight Class A title; Pine Grove hammers Salisbury 12-0 in the Class 3A final; and Blue Mountain wins the first district softball title in school history with a 5-1 victory over Northwestern Lehigh in the Class 4A final. In Class AA, Schuylkill Haven drops a 2-1 decision in 10 innings to Northern Lehigh.

 

June

3 — Blue Mountain’s Drew Grace pitches a two-hit shutout as Blue Mountain opens the PIAA Class 5A baseball playoffs with a 2-0 win over Gettysburg. In other first-round state playoff games, North Schuylkill holds off Bishop O’Hara 9-8 in Class 4A; Schuylkill Haven tops Dock Mennonite 8-1 in Class AA; and Hamburg edges Dallas 3-1 in Class 4A. … In softball, Mya Achenbach hits for the cycle as Williams Valley routs Bristol 14-4 in a PIAA Class A first-round game. In Class 3A, Maura Lehman homers and knocks in four runs to lead Pine Grove past Masterman 15-0.

5 — Kansas City Royals select North Schuylkill pitcher Reggie Crawford in the 37th round and Milwaukee Brewers pick former Pottsville High and Millersville University star pitcher Eli Nabholz in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft.

6 — Blue Mountain’s Nate Nabholz tosses a two-hit shutout to lead the Eagles past Archbishop Wood 4-0 in a PIAA Class 5A baseball quarterfinal. In Class 4A, Hamburg knocks off North Schuylkill 3-2, and in Class AA, Schuylkill Haven falls 2-1 to South Williamsport. … In softball, Pine Grove uses a bunt barrage and the one-hit pitching of Olivia Lehman to oust Warrior Run 8-0 in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal. In Class A, Emma Crisswell pitches a two-hitter and strikes out 10 as Williams Valley rolls past Old Forge 14-0. Vikings juniors Stevie Unger and Maddy Bordner record their 100th career hits in the win.

7 — Former Pottsville standout Connor Hinchliffe, a star relief pitcher at La Salle University, signs a free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

11 — Olivia Lehman pitches a two-hit shutout and Avery Nagle has four RBIs as Pine Grove pounds Bloomsburg 17-0 in four innings in a PIAA Class 3A softball semifinal. In Class A, Tori Rabuck has three hits and three RBIs and Grace Hoffman has three hits and four RBIs as Williams Valley thumps Millersburg 15-1. … In baseball, Blue Mountain falls 2-1 to Red Land in Class 5A, and Hamburg drops a 3-0 decision to Selinsgrove in Class 4A.

14 — It’s a Schuylkill sweep in the PIAA softball championships as Williams Valley shuts out DuBois Central Catholic 5-0 for the Class A crown, and Pine Grove rallies past Bald Eagle Area 7-3 in the Class 3A final. Emma Crisswell pitches a four-hit shutout for the Vikings. For the Cardinals, freshman Megan Wolfe hurls three innings of shutout relief and belts an RBI triple; Katelyn Rittenbaugh goes 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI; and Olivia Lehman ropes and RBI single and an RBI triple.

25 — North Schuylkill standout linebacker Tyler Elsdon gives a verbal commitment to play football at Penn State.

30 — Twenty-three local players are named to the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association All-State Team. Pine Grove’s Trish Kopinetz (Class 3A) and Williams Valley’s Mya Achenbach (Class A) are named Player of the Year in their respective divisions. … Hegins defeats Lansford 9-2 to capture its second straight Schuylkill County Teener League Junior Division Tournament championship.

 

July

7 — Orwigsburg’s Steve Rice defeats Barnesville’s Randy Kurzinsky 2 & 1 to win his first title at the Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Match-Play Championships at Hidden Valley Golf Course.

8 — Braiden McCartney’s pitching and clutch hitting lift Millersburg over Saint Clair/Port Carbon/New Philadelphia 6-4 in the District 24 Little League 9-11-year-old championship game.

9 — Ty Kaunas pitches 5.1 scoreless innings and hits a two-run triple to propel Orwigsburg past Minersville 7-0 in the District 24 Little League 10-12-year-old championship game. … Hegins uses a four-run, sixth-inning rally to defeat Branch 8-6 and clinch the Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division Tournament championship. It’s Hegins’ first Senior Division crown since 2010.

12 — Chase Guers and Ryan Clemas combine to go 8-for-11 with seven runs scored and eight RBIs as Cressona routs Pine Grove 21-7 in the District 24 Little League 8-10-year-old championship game.

13 — Frackville native and Marian graduate Joe Nahas signs a lucrative free-agent deal to pitch in the Chicago Cubs organization.

17 — Orwigsburg reaches the Section 3 Little League Tournament championship round before bowing out to Warrior Run 9-5.

28 — North Schuylkill’s Zack Chowansky launches a three-run home run to help Team Pennsylvania defeat Team Maryland 11-5 in Game 3 of the Big 26 Baseball Classic at Harrisburg’s FNB Field. Chowansky was named Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Player for Game 3. Tri-Valley’s Chase Herb, Shenandoah Valley’s Will Conroy and Upper Dauphin’s Sam Kerwin also play well to help Team Pennsylvania sweep the three-game series.

29 — Schuylkill defeats Hollidaysburg 10-1 to capture the VFW Teener League Senior Division state championship. Schuylkill has a perfect 4-0 record at states.

 

August

1 — The LandTek Group, of Amityville, New York, begins laying down a new FieldTurf surface at North Schuylkill’s Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium as part of a $1.2 million renovation project. The project is completed in time for the football and soccer teams to play their seasons on the new artificial turf.

7 — Blue Mountain graduate Kevin DiLorenzo shoots a 79-75—154 to win the Schuylkill County Junior Golf Championships at Hidden Valley Golf Course.

12 — For his decades of service, the Frackville borough council officially celebrates the renaming of its ballpark as John Chuma Teener Field.

23 — Damon Yost throws 5 touchdown passes to lead Pottsville past Hazleton Area 42-7 on the opening night of the high school football season.

29 — As part of an 11-year, $125,000 agreement with CACL Financial, the Schuylkill Haven Area School District renames its refurbished gymnasium complex the CACL Center.

30 — Gabe Davis scores 3 touchdowns — on two receptions and one on an interception return — to lead Minersville past Nativity 23-0 in the second annual Battle in the Backyard high school football rivalry game.

 

September

1 — Sean Misstishin, of Ashland, wins the Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Medal Play Championship for the fourth time, shooting a 3-under-par 69-72—141 at the Schuylkill Country Club.

2 — Craig Von Dohren wins the Jack Rich Inc. Coalcracker 72 358 modified feature at Big Diamond Speedway.

6 — Brady Miller rushes for 237 yards and Williams Valley forces six turnovers in a 48-0, Tri-Valley League football romp over rival Tri-Valley.

7 — Pine Grove’s Travis Anderson repeats as champion and Tri-Valley’s Samantha Masser wins the girls’ title at the 13th annual ’Canes Invitational cross country race.

12 — Ava Goodman nets a goal as Pottsville’s girls’ soccer team defeats Blue Mountain, handing the Eagles their first Schuylkill League loss since 2016.

13 — Danny Lawrence rushes for 269 yards to lead Mahanoy Area past Nativity 34-27 in Week 4 high school football action.

15 — Minersville’s Jordan Doyle and Ringtown’s Ryley Schwalm take top honors in their respective divisions at the 39th annual Sol Lipton Run Fest 5K in downtown Pottsville.

20 — Matt Kistler returns a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and catches two TD passes to help Tamaqua defeat Blue Mountain 49-14 in a Schuylkill League Division I football game.

23 — Schuylkill Haven’s Albe Evans shoots a 79 to win his third straight title at the Schuylkill League boys’ individual golf championship at the Schuylkill Country Club. Pottsville’s Victoria Fuss takes the girls’ gold with a 100.

24 — Pottsville defeats Pine Grove in straight sets to give head coach Maria Sherakas her 300th career victory as the Crimson Tide’s girls’ volleyball head coach.

27 — Zack Chowansky rushes for 277 yards and four TDs to power North Schuylkill past Jim Thorpe 41-20 in a Schuylkill League Division I football game. Elsewhere, Damon Yost passes for 254 yards and three TDs as Pottsville knocks off previously unbeaten Tamaqua 34-17.

28 — Grace Stegemerten wins the girls’ race at Pine Grove’s Cardinal Clash, helping the Blue Raiders take the team title at the annual cross country invitational. At the NEPA Invitational, North Schuylkill’s Cori McCormick captures the girls’ gold in 18:32.

30 — Colin Luckenbill rushes for 187 yards and Dalton Kintzel adds 162 yards on the ground as Pine Grove tops Juniata 28-12 in a homecoming game moved to Monday evening due to storms Saturday night.

 

October

4 — Jake Green’s 17-yard touchdown run powers North Schuylkill past Tamaqua 27-18 in a Schuylkill League Division I football clash.

7 — Schuylkill Haven’s Albe Evans makes a birdie in a playoff to win the District 11 Class AA boys’ golf championship at Steel Club in Hellertown.

9 — Via Skype, Schuylkill Haven’s girls’ volleyball team brings a match involving her daughter and niece to Staff Sgt. Lauren Beecroft, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, who is serving in Europe.

10 — Tuscarora’s John Bashago shoots 71 to capture his third title at the Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Senior Championships.

11 — In Week 8 of high school football, Schuylkill Haven’s Kobe Brish rushes for 267 yards and 7 TDs in a 72-8 win over Minersville. Elsewhere, Damon Yost passes for 304 yards and three TDs in Pottsville’s 32-26 victory over Jim Thorpe.

17 — Schuylkill League championship night for fall sports. Blue Mountain sweeps Pottsville to earn first volleyball crown since 2016. Pottsville’s girls defeat Blue Mountain 3-0 and Jim Thorpe’s boys top Pine Grove 4-2 to take 1st league gold in soccer.

18 — North Schuylkill’s Cori McCormick and Pine Grove’s Travis Anderson win individual races at the Schuylkill League Cross Country Championships. McCormick clocks a course-record 17:53. … In high school football, Damon Yost to Mason Barnes connection lifts Pottsville over Blue Mountain 42-0 in Clash of 61 rivalry game.

20 — Distance runner Randy Haas, Schuylkill League, District 11 and PIAA administrator Jack Wabby, wrestling coach Joe Cesari and the late girls’ basketball coach Ron Rhen are inducted into the District 11 Hall of Fame.

23 — Blue Mountain’s Olivia Haas and Weatherly’s Scotty Zoscin win titles at the District 11 Cross Country Championships at DeSales University. Haas lowers her own course record to 18:18.

25 — In Week 10 high school football, North Schuylkill beats Pottsville 29-7 to clinch the Schuylkill League Division I title, but Spartans quarterback Jaden Leiby suffers a severe neck injury.

26 — County rallies around injured North Schuylkill quarterback Jaden Leiby, who suffered a broken neck in win over Pottsville. … Pat Morgans steps down after three seasons as Marian’s head football coach.

29 — Nativity sweeps Mahanoy Area in Class A and Panther Valley tops Notre Dame-Green Pond in Class AA to capture District 11 girls’ volleyball championships. The titles are the Green Wave’s second straight and the Panthers’ fourth in a row.

 

November

1 — Nate Boyle rushes for 382 yards and five TDs as Tamaqua defeats Notre Dame-Green Pond 49-28 in a District 11 Class 3A football semifinal.

2 — Blue Mountain’s Olivia Haas places fourth and North Schuylkill’s Cori McCormick takes fifth in the Class AA girls’ race at the PIAA Cross Country Championships. … Elsewhere, Schuylkill Haven’s Kobe Brish scores the 116th touchdown of his career, moving him past former East Stroudsburg great James Mungro atop the District 11 career list.

5 — Nativity sweeps Sacred Heart and Panther Valley sweeps Science Leadership Academy in the first round of the PIAA volleyball tournament.

6 — Stan Dakosty comes out of retirement to take over again as head coach of the Marian football program.

8 — Williams Valley defeats Tri-Valley 36-7 (District 11 A), Tamaqua shuts out North Schuylkill 20-0 (District 11 3A) and Upper Dauphin dumps Delone Catholic 36-28 (District 3 AA) in district championship football games.

9 — Pottsville’s football team knocks off Bethlehem Catholic 18-13 to advance to its first District 11 final since 2011. … Samantha Heenan smacks 20 kills to lead Nativity to a sweep of Lititz Christian in the PIAA Class A volleyball quarterfinals.

11 — Kevin Keating Sr. steps down as Shenandoah Valley’s head football coach due to health reasons.

12 — Nativity outlasts Berlin Brothersvalley in five sets to advance to the PIAA volleyball finals for the first time in school history.

15 — Nate Boyle shreds Pope John Paul II for 243 yards rushing and four TDs as Tamaqua advances with a 47-21 win in the PIAA Class 3A football playoffs.

16 — Nativity settles for silver, falling to Northern Cambria in the PIAA Class A girls’ volleyball final. … Kevin DiCello rushes for 154 yards and a touchdown as Pottsville defeats Allentown Central Catholic 34-7 in the District 11 Class 4A championship game.

20 — Pottsville wrestler Shane Quick signs to continue his academic and athletic careers at Division I Campbell University.

22 — Nate Boyle rushes for 206 yards and two touchdowns as Tamaqua defeats Wyomissing 20-10 to reach the PIAA Class 3A football semifinals for the first time in school history. In other state quarterfinal football action, Pottsville falls 42-35 in triple overtime to Jersey Shore, and Upper Dauphin loses 63-22 to eventual state champion Southern Columbia.

27 — Jim Thorpe’s C.J. Selby and Schuylkill Haven’s Kobe Brish are named Most Valuable Players as the North defeats the South 28-17 in the annual Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game at Rotary Field.

29 — Wyoming Area shuts out Tamaqua 21-0 in the PIAA Class 3A football semifinals. The Warriors go on to win the state championship.

 

December

9 — Nativity’s Samantha Heenan, Panther Valley’s Jenna Dubosky and Mahanoy Area’s Emily Lawrence become three-time All-Staters on the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s list.

18 — North Schuylkill teammates Tyler Elsdon (Penn State) and Jake Green (Villanova) sign national letters of intent to continue their academic and football careers at the Division I level.

19 — Muhlenberg offensive lineman and former Marian standout Ryan Malarkey makes the second team of The Associated Press Division III All-America Team.

27 — Ten local players are named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ All-State team: Tamaqua quarterback Brayden Knoblauch, running back Nate Boyle, offensive lineman Bronson Strouse and wide receiver Matt Kistler; North Schuylkill athlete Jaden Leiby, linebacker Tyler Elsdon and defensive lineman Jake Green; and Jim Thorpe offensive lineman Cobe Frycklund in Class 3A; and Williams Valley quarterback Bryce Herb and wide receiver Bo Raho in Class A.

28 — Six more local players are named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ All-State team: Schuylkill Haven running back Kobe Brish, Upper Dauphin quarterback/linebacker Macklin Ayers and Minersville wide receiver Gabe Davis in Class AA; Pottsville linebacker Joey Ferraro and Crimson Tide defensive back Mason Barnes in Class 4A; and Pine Grove defensive back Colin Luckenbill as a late addition in Class 3A due to a clerical error. Brish made the team for the third straight season.