As we move away from high school sports for summer vacation, there is no break for the athletes and families of baseball and softball players. Little league all-stars will kick into gear next week. Those remembering last summer will recall the success of the Titusville area softball squads winning three district and regional championships. They will be looking to build on that success again this summer. Between Rec league ball and travel ball teams the boys and girls will have a lot of talent to draw from. We got a sneak peak this past weekend with all age groups in softball stayed home to host teams from all around the region. The Oil Valley Lightning hosted a 45 team softball tournament at the Ed Myer complex. Though weather wreaked havoc on the final day preventing completion, the fields were loaded and very active on Saturday. |
Want photos for your walls? Click here sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p116337634
0 Comments
To view even more photos visit:sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p925028680
To view even more photos visit:sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p925028680 To view even more photos visit:sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p925028680
File photos Titusville’s Brett Schmidt was solid on both sides of the plate Friday in the Rocket’s 5-2 win over Girard in the Class 3A District 10 playoffs at Slippery Rock University.
Schmidt had three hits and drove in a run while going six innings on the mound and only giving up five hits and striking out just as many. His younger brother Blake Schmidt, Brody Sellen and Coleman Knapp also knocked in a run apiece. The win puts the Rockets in the D10 championship game against Fairview. The two teams will face each other at noon on Monday at UPMC Park in Erie.
Titusville drew the number 1 seed in the AAA bracket and thus a first round bye in a field of seven. Sharon will play North East on Tuesday on the other side of the bracket along with Fairview who will take on Corry.
The goal is a district title and a trip to the state tournament.
Dress rehearsal will begin at the end of this week and beginning of next week.
NOTE: This is the story we wrote for Titusville News-Journal this week.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door or online at https://cur8.com/26144/project/127893. "I'm really proud of this show. It's not typically a show that is done by high schoolers," Licht said. "And these kids deliver." View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p862844506 View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p862844506
It's not hard to imagine the Titusville football players are feeling pretty happy after accomplishing something only one other Rocket's team had done 35 years ago - they won a playoff game. They shutout Fairview a week after the Tigers cancelled on the Rocket's senior night game. They are hoping to parlay that into second win with an upset over Sharon this Friday night at Franklin High School. The two squads met in week nine with the state ranked 10-1 Tigers running all over the Rockets 63-22. Sharon's only loss came in an early matchup with perennial powerhouse Cathedral Prep. Their high powered offense averages nearly 40 points per game. Titusville is also a prolific scoring machine only being held under 30 points three times this season. All three of those were their only losses. "There were a lot of mistakes we made that we can fix," Titusville's star running back Jaxon Covell said about the first meeting with Sharon, "It's a playoff game now, anything can happen. We can reel this game in and hopefully bring home the win." Coach Mike Reynolds knows this is going to be a mountain to climb, but repeats how this team rises together and performs beyond expectations. "That kid... holy smokes... makes a lot of kids right," Reynolds said about his punter Kameron Mong. Yes his punter. "If I could show you just a highlight reel of his punting. Its doesn't matter if the snap is left, right or over his head he he tracks it down and still kicks it 40 yards down the field." Mong's name is mentioned over and over again on defense, as a leading blocker, often the second leader in total yards behind Covell, he has caught many passes and even thrown for a touchdown or two. But it was his punting, which he hasn't done a lot of this season, that really made a difference in last weeks win. Pinned deep with Mong twice punting from the endzone, Fairview was looking at good field position when Mong boomed a 76-yarder and later a 41-yarder that was closer 60 yards in the air. He also added another 36-yarder to push Fairview back. Kickers, like lineman, don't always get the press. Besides Mong, Max Chatham has had a solid year with almost a guaranteed extra point after ever touchdown, but more importantly his kickoffs well placed often lead to no return and often pinned behind the 20. To beat Sharon they will need all aspects of their game working, including clock management and keeping the Tigers high powered offense off the field. The Rockets are hoping for big community turnout with the game just down the road in Franklin. The game starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Franklin High School. The Rocket Football Facebook page also put out a message to the community for support of Stream TV (www.facebook.com/oilregionstream) that has broadcast the Rockets all season. Playoff broadcasting is more expensive making it more difficult for small businesses to do what they did all season. If you missed last week's historic playoff win, you can read the story at the Titusville News-Journal. See more photos from this season at www.weebly.com/editor/main.php#/ As Covell put it earlier this season when his team was cruising and he was taken out in the fourth quarter after another monster game. "Our goal is bigger (than just one game.)"
They achieved one of their goals and now this next game is huge for them to extend their goal further. With one game left in the regular schedule, Titusville was ready to make a statement before heading into the District 10 Class 3A post season. Their opponent was to be Fairview, a team with a similar record and also headed to the playoffs. Both are class 3A schools and have a strong potential of facing each other the first week of the playoffs. So, citing some banged up players and it not being a region game the Fairview Tigers decided not to play the game even though it is Titusville's senior night. Rocket coach Mike Reynolds was trying to find a replacement, but as of Sunday afternoon he hadn't and plan B was already being hatched to honor their seniors. "I didn't see this coming," said Reynolds who was looking forward to coaching this senior class's last regular season game. "Next year we won't schedule senior night in the last game," Reynolds said. "It's frustrating." Reynolds said Sunday that they will plan to have a senior night celebration with the band and cheerleaders hoping the community will come out to support the team and give thanks to the talented senior class.
There will be more details to come, but as of now they are planning a 6 p.m. start. |
Archives
June 2025
CategoriesAuthorEight & 27 focuses on stories centered around Titusville, PA. With the sad end of The Titusville Herald, we're hoping to pick up the slack. |