College notebook: Zebrasky, Morran get hall calls from alma maters
It is rare that a local athlete achieves Hall of Fame status at the college or professional level, but in a period of one week two former standouts from different high schools in Washington will have added HOF to their athletic accomplishments.
Frank Zebrasky, a former standout athlete and successful coach at Washington High school, will be inducted into the West Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday. Ashley Morran, who was a feared softball hitter at Trinity High School and Point Park University, was inducted into the latter’s Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame last weekend.
Zebrasky was a three-year starting quarterback and an NAIA All-American. Zebrasky played a pivotal role in helping West Liberty to the 1979 West Virginia Conference championship.
A multi-sport standout at Wash High, Zebrasky made his starting debut at for the Hilltoppers at quarterback, punter and placekicker. West Liberty shook off a slow start that season to reel off seven straight wins. Ranked No. 15 in the nation, West Liberty battled No. 10 Fairmont State to a 6-6 tie in the season finale and shared the 1979 WVIAC title with the Falcons.
Zebrasky was voted WVIAC Offensive Player of the Year and honorable mention NAIA All-American after passing for more than 1,200 yards and leading the conference in scoring. In three varsity seasons, Zebrasky completed 348 of 687 passes for 4,196 yards. He left holding nine school records, including a 336-yard passing performance against W.Va. Tech in 1981.
After graduation, Zebrasky returned to Western Pennsylvania and spent more than three decades as a teacher and coach at Washington, Canon-McMillan and Carlynton high schools.
Morran was a standout player for Point Park’s softball team from 2011 to 2014, earning NAIA All-America honors two times. Morran was a power-hitter who also hit for average while possessing a strong arm and steady glove at shortstop and second base.
Morran put up eye-popping numbers in her career with a .363 batting average, 40 home runs and 174 RBI in 166 games. She was a four-year starter and a three-time all-conference selection including the KIAC Player of the Year in 2013, Point Park’s first year in the conference.
Morran was the star player in the lineup when Point Park racked with 105 wins during her four years. She was first-team all-conference in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Morran had a breakout sophomore season, hitting .402 with 10 homers and 45 RBI in 2012. That earned her the first of back-to-back NAIA All-America honorable mention selections.
Morran continued her torrid pace with career highs of 54 hits, 16 doubles, 13 homers and 56 RBI while hitting .388 in 2013. Her senior year included another 11 homers to go along with 14 doubles, 47 RBI and a .364 average.
In volleyball
Clarion’s Charlie Allison, a junior middle hitter from Washington and graduate of the Linsly School in Wheeling, W.Va., was named Monday as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Allison played an important role in the Golden Eagles’ two wins, averaging 1.13 blocks per set in victories over Pitt-Johnstown (3-0) and IUP (3-2). She added three blocks against UPJ and six against IUP. In the latter, one of those blocks came in a clutch moment late in the match. The Golden Eagles trailed IUP 14-9 in the fourth set but started coming back after a series of errors by the Crimson Hawks. Allison had a key block to tie the fifth set at 14-14, and two points later the Golden Eagles came away with the win.
In football
Duquesne kicker Brian Bruzdewicz was named the Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
A McMurray native and Peters Township graduate, Bruzdewicz secured Duquesne’s 31-28 over Long Island by making a 34-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The Sharks attempted to ice him with a timeout as he booted his first try, but Bruzdewicz was not bothered by the tactics as he split the uprights with plenty of leg to give the Dukes the win.
A graduate student, Bruzdewicz is 14-for-14 on extra points this season and 2-for-4 on field goals with a long of 39 yards.
Donovan McMillan is the leading tackler for Pitt.
A junior safety and a transfer from Florida, McMillan had racked up 44 tackles (22 solo), which leads the Panthers’ defense by 15 stops. The former Peters Township standout had a career-high 18 tackles, including nine solo, and one pass breakup against West Virginia.
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Riley Noble made his 28th career Saturday for Gannon last weekend in the Golden Knights’ 23-6 win over Seton Hill. Noble, a Canon-McMillan graduate, has started four games at right tackle after beginning the season at right guard.
Former South Fayette standout Landon Lutz has started the last two games at quarterback for Wheeling.
The redshirt freshman from McDonald has passed for 488 yards and three touchdowns in those games, a 44-27 win over Concord and 41-20 loss to North Carolina Pembroke.
In golf
Morgan Byers, a senior from Venetia, helped the Westminster women’s team to the team title and sweep of the top three places at the Grove City Invitational held at the Grove City Country Club.
A Peters Township graduate, Byers placed third in the tournament with a round of 87.
Byers is a three-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference second team selection.