mkovak@observer-reporter.com

When it comes to competing in rugged Section 1-A, wins over Connellsville and Brownsville won't mean anything for the Carmichaels High School baseball team.

For a youthful roster riddled with injuries to upperclassmen, those wins might end up meaning an awful lot.

Last week, the Mikes shut out its non-section competition as a pitching staff led by juniors Joby Lapkowicz and Chuck Gasti struck out 31 batters over a 14-inning span.

"It was a very big surprise. I think our whole season could be like that," said Carmichaels coach Dave Bates, who guided the Mikes to WPIAL Class A championships in 2003 and 2005. "To beat Connellsville means nothing but, at the same time, to play a program as strong as they've been and then to beat Brownsville, maybe that's a good sign."

Carmichaels (2-0), which opens section play Wednesday against Geibel, has four starters out with various injuries. Senior outfielder Cody Andrews underwent reconstructive knee surgery and his availability is questionable. Senior third baseman Ethan Virgili, a PIAA wrestling runner-up at 171 pounds, recently had a knee scoped. Senior first baseman Zach Durbin, counted upon for his big bat, dislocated a patella and senior second baseman Zack Crutchman, a first-year starter, suffered a season-ending hip injury

"I'm not an amazing tactician as far as coaching goes, but I do know I've got a group of fiery guys. I have freshmen, sophomore and juniors chomping at the bit to get in," Bates said. "We're gonna play them one game at a time and, good Lord willing, things will work out."

If things work out for Carmichaels in Section 1, which annually produces several of the top teams in Class A, pitching will likely played a significant role.

Lapkowicz is the Mikes' lefty ace, while Gasti is a hard-thrower with the tools to be a top-flight pitcher. Combined with senior Marcus Robinson and sophomore Bill Musgrove, the Mikes' closer, it's a talented, versatile staff.

"There are two firsts on this team," Bates said. "I've never had a staff this deep and I've never had a team so beat up."

In a hitting-heavy section, Carmichaels' staff may be the envy of other coaches but teams like Bentworth, California and Jefferson-Morgan are capable of double-digit runs.

"I see our section not being quite as strong at the top as in the past," Bates said. "At times, it's been California, us or Geibel but I think everybody is at the same level. Everybody has a good number one (pitcher) and a pretty solid two. ... There's five teams, maybe six, that are pretty good."

Coaching opening

McGuffey is searching for a boys basketball coach following the departure of Tom Alrutz, who spent the past four years with the Highlanders.

Competing in Section 4-AAA, McGuffey struggled to a 3-19 record in 2007-08 and went 0-10 in section play. The Highlanders lost their final 16 games.

Alrutz coached at Avella before taking the McGuffey job and led the Eagles to four WPIAL Class A playoffs appearances. At McGuffey, which has one section title (2001-02) in its history, Alrutz went 17-77.

Hockey stars

The Pittsburgh Viper Stars 16U Tier I AAA hockey team qualified for the USA Hockey National Championships after winning the Mid-Am championship.

The championships are held April 2-6 in Buffalo.

The Viper Stars, which also won a state championship in early March, feature several local players.

Goaltender Casey Curtain is a junior at South Fayette. Defenseman Nilan Nagy is a sophomore at Canon-McMillan and sophomore forward Vincent Nicolella is an East Washington resident who attends Bishop Canevin.

From Waynesburg

to Waynesburg

Nikki Coleman, the starting first baseman on the Waynesburg High School softball team, along with pitcher and teammate Lauren Minor will continue their playing careers next year at Waynesburg University.

Coleman was named to the all-district team during her sophomore year, while Minor will join her sister, and pitcher, Autumn on the Yellow Jackets' roster.

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