Spring sports coaches were winners
The balls bounced the right way in spring sports last year.
Games were won, titles were secured and champions were crowned. That’s what made this year’s Coach of the Year finalists in softball and baseball so special.
That’s why Don Hartman of Frazier, Bill Simms of West Greene and Bo Teets of Monessen the finalists in softball and Tim Bruzdewicz of Canon-McMillan, Don Roberts of Ringgold and Scott Roebuck of Brownsville are finalists in baseball for the Tri-County Athletic Directors Coach of the Year Banquet, which will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe.
Tickets for the banquet are $35 each and are on sale at Washington High School, 201 Allison Avenue, Washington, Pa., 15301. Reservations can be made by calling Washington athletic director Mike Bosnic at 724-223-5085, ext. 2091.
All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics.
Winners will be revealed at the banquet. Softball and baseball finalists are based on the 2018 season.
Hartman led Frazier to a 10-0 record in winning the Section 3-AA title. Frazier rolled past Brentwood, Neshannock and Mohawk to reach the WPIAL finals, where the Commodores were edged by Laurel. In the state tournament, Frazier fell to Mount Union to finish with a 16-7 record.
Simms led West Greene to a second straight Class A state title with an 11-7 win over Williams Valley. The Pioneers won all seven playoff games, including a 5-4 win over Monessen for a third straight WPIAL title. West Greene finished with a 23-4 record.
Teets guided Monessen to an 11-1 record and a tie with West Greene for the Section 2-A title. After disposing of Riverview and Leechburg, the Greyhound met West Greene in the WPIAL finals and came up one run short. The two teams met again in the PIAA semifinals, a 7-4 win by West Greene. Monessen finished 17-5.
Bruzdewicz propelled Canon-McMillan to the PIAA Class 6A title with a convincing 10-3 win over Bensalem in State College. The Big Macs won their last 10 games of the season, including a 2-1 victory over North Allegheny in the WPIAL championship game. Interestingly, C-M finished second to Bethel Park in the Section 3 race and finished with a 21-5 record.
With Roberts calling the shots, Ringgold won the state Class 4A title in State College, 6-4, over Valley View to complete a 20-4 season. Ringgold had one loss in the postseason, 4-1 to South Fayette in the WPIAL championship game. The Rams were the Section 3 champion.
Roebuck and the Falcons won the WPIAL Class AAA championship with a 5-2 victory over Avonworth. Brownsville made a good run in the PIAA playoffs with wins over Mercyhurst Prep and Bald Eagle before falling to South Side Beaver. The Falcons were Section 3 champions and finished the season with a 17-3 record.