Briefs
Boys soccer
Senior forward Markello Apodiakos scored a pair of goals to become the all-time leading scorer at Belle Vernon as the Leopards defeated Trinity, 4-1, in a Section 3-AAA match.
Apodiakos has 70 goals for his career.
Daniel Sassak and Aaron Brown also scored for Belle Vernon (2-1, 5-1). TJ Watson saved eight of the nine shots he faced.
- Eli Schoedel scored three goals to become the all-time leading scorer at Ringgold as the Rams defeated Albert Gallatin, 6-0.
Schoedel has 57 goals in his career.
- A balanced scoring attack helped Charleroi to a 10-0 shutout of Beth-Center in a Section 5-AA match.
Eben McIntyre had two goals and Nick Laskey and Jace Kepich each had two goals and an assist for Charleroi (3-0, 3-0). Leo Iacovangelo had a goal and assist and Dominic Yocolano added a goal. Nick Goodwin made four stops for his third shutout of the season.
- Gavin Benson had a hat trick to lead Waynesburg too a 6-0 victory over Washington in Section 3-AA action.
Dan Layton scored twice and Dalton Woods added another for Waynesburg (2-1, 4-1). Dalton Watson stopped five shots for the save.
- The Bentworth Bearcats fell to Brentwood, 6-1. Bentworth’s lone goal was scored by Brian Hustava and assisted by Noah Spina.
Girls soccer
Rhea Kijowski’s hat trick sparked Waynesburg to a 4-0 victory over Southmoreland in a Section 3-AA match.
Alise Benke added a goal and assist and Abby Virgin and Bailey Fudala contributed assists for Waynesburg (2-0, 2-1)
Schwerha
ruled eligible
Former Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer standout Joseph Schwerha was ruled eligible to play at Belle Vernon.
Schwerha, a senior, was an All-WPIAL selection who had 13 goals and 14 assists last season for the Centurions. He was considering enrollment in the D.C. United Academy after being invited to participate in a training session run by the Major League Soccer program last month.
Since the transfer occurred after Aug. 6, Schwerha will not be eligible for the postseason per the new PIAA rules should Belle Vernon qualify.
At The Meadows
Pennsylvania champion Windy Corner showed no signs of resting on her laurels in Tuesday’s Keystone Classic at The Meadows, rolling to her third straight victory. The $97,699 stake for freshman filly trotters was contested over three divisions, with Sonnet Grace and Magical Beliefs taking the other divisions.
Windy Corner sprang a 12-1 upset in the Sept. 1 PA Sires Stakes final, but Mike Wilder steered the 3-5 favorite more aggressively Tuesday, sending her to the front at the quarter. She downed Navarone Hanover – the PA Stallion Series champ – by a length in 1:57.4, with Wizard Hawk third.
“She heard them coming and picked up the bit,” Wilder said. “I drove her a couple times this year and had her in bad spots. I didn’t want that to happen today. She really raced well.”
Erv Miller trains the daughter of Yankee Glide-Wind Stroll, who now boasts $192,805 in career earnings, for Tony Holmes and Walter Zent.
Sonnet Grace had a disastrous PASS championship when she tried to run through the draw gate from post 9 and ultimately broke stride. She rebounded nicely for trainer/driver Rod Allen and Rod Allen Inc. in the Keystone Classic, reaching the point at her leisure and scoring in a stake-fastest and career-best 1:56.1. Fast Reaction was second, 3-1/4 lengths back while early leader Keystone Abbey earned show.
After her tough beat in the PASS final – she lost to Windy Corner by a nose – Magical Beliefs looked the best on paper.
Indeed, the daughter of Cantab Hall-Frisky Magic was unhurried until Tim Tetrick moved her from third down the backside. She blew past the leader, Rush Lane, and prevailed in 1:57.2, 1-1/4 lengths better than Fate Smiled. Explosive Mel completed the ticket.
Linda Toscano conditions Magical Beliefs, a career winner of $151,686 who has finished first or second in all seven career starts, for Highland Green Farms, South Mountain Stables and R-And-I Farms.
$88,100 Keystone Classic – 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Captain Victorious and Volley Ball Beach captured divisions in Tuesday’s companion feature.
After his fourth-place finish in the PASS championship, Captain Victorious was hammered down to 2-5 – and he looked the part. The son of Captain Treacherous-Belclare idled outside until the field lined up, then bulled to the top and drew away, triumphing by 5-1/4 lengths for Andy Miller in 1:52.3. No Mas Amor and Actor Hanover were second and third, respectively.
Hall and Wilder each enjoyed a triple on the 13-race card.