Briefs
In high school baseball
Avella held off a rally in the seventh inning to emerge with its first win of the season, 12-11, over Burgettstown in a non-section game played at Wild Things Park.
The Eagles, now 1-4, scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 12-5 lead but Burgettstown (4-6) scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh before Avella got the final out.
Avella scored nine of its 12 runs over the final three innings and Burgettstown scored 7 runs over the last two.
Noah Taylor drove in three runs for Avella and Tyler Derciello had a triple and drove in two runs.
Shaine Carnes had a double and Hunter Ayers tripled and drove in two runs for Burgettstown.
In high school softball
Canon-McMillan won a game Tuesday without taking the field.
In the second game of Monday’s doubleheader with Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan was leading 6-0 after six innings when the game was suspended because of darkness.
The game was deemed official Tuesday.
C-M pounded out 10 hits and Katelyn Greaves tripled and drove in 3 runs. Erica Haught went 3-for-3 with a double and scored twice.Olivia Ulam went 2-for-3 with a double and 2 runs scored.
Lauren Duke struck out 3 and walked 5 but did not allow a run.
- Chartiers-Houston High School softball player Kasey Scears had a day to remember at the plate Monday.
Scears went 4-for-4, hit a pair of home runs and had five RBI to lead the Bucs to a 14-1 victory over Serra Catholic in a non-section game Monday afternoon.
Chartiers-Houston (5-1, 9-1) scored six runs in the fifth then followed with a five-run sixth inning. The second home run for Scears drove in three runs and gave the Bucs a 14-1 lead.
Karlyn Bayer and Ella Brookman combined for five hits, five RBI and scored five runs. Bayer went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Brookman finished 2-for-3 with a triple.
Kaitlyn Dittrich pitched five strong innings for the Bucs, striking out eight to earn the win.
Nina Grandey led Serra Catholic (4-1, 6-2) with three hits.
At The Meadows
Refreshed by a second-quarter breather, Fox Valley Charm blazed the back half in 55.1 over a sloppy surface to score decisively in Tuesday’s $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace at The Meadows.
Fox Valley Charm left the gate in a fury, pocketing Magic Forces rather than turning her loose to the lead, yet Aaron Merriman still was able to slow the second-panel pace to 29.2. From there, Fox Valley Charm easily repelled the first-over thrust of Camera Lady and drew off to win in 1:52.1. Magic Forces used that pocket trip for second, 3-3/4 lengths back, while Albany Girl rallied for show.
Dirk Simpson trains Fox Valley Charm, a 6-year-old daughter of Yankee Skyscaper-Fox Valley Cherub who extended her career bankroll to $256,750, for Peter Karras.
Draft in doubt
Former Florida receiver Antonio Callaway failed a drug test at the NFL combine, a mistake that could damage his draft status.
A person with knowledge of the situation says NFL teams were made aware of the result Tuesday.
NFL Network first reported Callaway’s failed test.
It was the latest misstep for a talented but troubled receiver who was once considered a lock to be a first-round draft pick. Now, some teams surely will take the 21-year-old Callaway off their draft board. Failing a drug test at the combine, a place prospects know they’re going to be tested, is widely considered one of the more head-scratching results of the pre-draft process.