Spring Sports Preview

Silver Knights Putting Last Season Behind Them

By CODY TOMER Staff Writer SISTERSVILLE — The great thing about spring is that every team gets a fresh start and the way last season ended is history. A fresh start is important for the Tyler Consolidated baseball team and fifth-year coach Robby Jones as the Silver Knights dropped a heartbreaker in last year’s sectional championship and finished the year with a 15-9 record. Tyler held a 9-4 advantage over St. Marys, but surrendered seven unanswered runs and fell to the Blue Devils in a game the Knights would love to have back. But now the focus turns to the 2017 ...

Ujcich, Brooke Looking to Younger Players to Fill Holes

By TRACY WATSON WELLSBURG — Coming off a 17-11 campaign, Brooke baseball coach Ron Ujcich has some holes to fill, but some nice young players to fill them with. Graduated from a Bruins team that was ousted by Wheeling Park in the sectional are four-year starter Chad Harper, a catcher and pitcher that has taken his talents to West Liberty, and three-year letterman Fargo Camerlengo at short stop and pitcher who is playing at Wake Tech. Another infielder, two-year letterman Drew Garrett will need replaced at first base and on the mound while outfielder Matt Lazear, a two-year award ...

Lamantia Continues to Build Bruins Softball Team

By TRACY WATSON WELLSBURG — In her third-year at the helm, Brooke softball Coach Tricia Hays Lamantia continues to build the Bruins program. Brooke is coming off an 11-17 campaign, in a tough region that includes rival state powers Wheeling Park and John Marshall, with seven returning lettermen and only one senior on the roster. That senior should be counted on heavily with Courtney Elliott seeing heavy playing time at both first base and in the circle. Juniors coming back include Jenna Cooper (utility), Noelle Lamantia (second base, outfield) and Krissa Lusk behind the ...

Newcomers Look to Restock Cupboard for Track Squads

By TRACY WATSON WELLSBURG — There is good news and bad news for Coach Paul Julio’s Brooke High boys’ and girls’ track teams. The bad news is that the Bruins graduated a ton of seniors last year, wiping out a lot of three and four-year athletes had had lent experience to younger athletes. However, the good news is that there is a boatload of newcomers to both squads that can begin the growing process this season. While the boys’ have a roster jam-packed with 34, the girls are loaded up with 20. “We were hit very, very hard by graduation last year,” Julio said. “But ...

Beall, Cerullo Seeing Improvement From Tennis Teams

By TRACY WATSON WELLSBURG — Brooke tennis coach Emily Beall returns for her 12th season with the Bruins, her fifth with the girls after coaching the boys for seven campaigns, and is excited about her team, even after losing her top three players. Gone from last year’s squad after graduation are Katie Conaway, Maddie Marks and Morgan Zopp, all major contributors. “We started out in a bit of a timid slump last year, but then came out swinging mid-season,” Beall said. “But after losing the top three players from that team I was a little worried about what the turnout might ...

Dons Look to Three-Peat

By KYLE LUTZ WEIRTON — When facing the Madonna softball team last year, a team knew that it was going to have to play its ‘A’ game. A senior-laden group compiled a 17-7 record in 2016 and also secured a second consecutive 1A OVAC championship. Even though seven players are gone from that team due to graduation, and the Blue Dons only having 11 players, teams will still need to bring their ‘A’ game. That’s because one of the best batteries in the state of West Virginia is back. With the graduation of Courtney Kaczmarek, Sarah Travaglino, Taylor Thompson, Dekota McCombs, ...