Rockwood coach leading what he helped start

The journey has come full circle for 43-year-old Jerry Kaizen.

One of the early supporters of bringing football back to Rockwood Area High School, Kaizen was named the team’s varsity head coach earlier this summer.

Kaizen takes over after the departure of co-head coaches Adam Rullo and Jon Hale, who led the team for the past five years.

All-county baseball team headed by Meyersdale duo

Red Raiders shortstop and pitcher Matt Donaldson as well as coach Wayne Miller were the focus of the All-Somerset County baseball team.

Donaldson won player of the year honors while Miller was named the county’s coach of the year, according to a story in today’s Daily American.

South prevails again in Lantzy victory

North Star’s Cory Kaltenbaugh wasted little time doing what he did best in his three years as quarterback of the Cougars. He threw a touchdown pass just 18 seconds into the Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star football game, and his South squad cruised to another victory, 50-38.

District 5 stars proved their worth with a sterling performance from Berlin’s Brett Hankinson, a touchdown catch from North Star’s Luke Zellem and power up front by way of North Star’s Matt Caola, Windber’s Jarod Spinelli and a host of others.

Softball awards dealt out

It was a good day for Shade’s Erin Spinelli and North Star coach Christian Boyd as each claimed top honors on the All-Somerset County softball team.

The Daily American has the story.

Spinelli, Boyd claim top softball honors (The Daily American)

CT grad relishing spot in Yankees system

Ben Watkins was a 40th round draft pick of the New York Yankees this week, and both The Daily American and Tribune-Democrat have stories about the former Conemaugh Township standout.

Watkins is a standup guy and we wish him all the best as he begins a pro career in the not-too-distant future!

Yanks draft UPJ’s Watkins (The Tribune-Democrat)
CT grad Watkins drafted by Yankees (The Daily American)

Cougars sent packing by Mount Union

Three-time PIAA champion Mount Union got on the board early and often, opening up a sizeable hole and knocking North Star from the Class AA quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Trojans, the District 6 runners-up, scored five times in the first and three more in the fifth en route to the 9-0 victory.

North Star gears up for Elite Eight

The Cougars are headed to the PIAA Class AA baseball quarterfinals this afternoon with a first pitch at 1 p.m. at Veteran’s Field in Altoona.

Be sure to join QZ93 Sports live beginning at 12:30 this afternoon for complete coverage on the home of Somerset County sports, WQZS 93.3 FM!

The Tribune-Democrat and Daily American put out great previews of today’s action and you can read them here! [The Tribune-Democrat] [The Daily American]

North Star baseball stamps out opening-round victory

The Cougars are headed where only one North Star baseball team has been before: The PIAA quarterfinals.

Led by senior pitcher Cory Kaltenbaugh, the District 5 Class AA champ Cougars topped Redbank Valley 7-2 on Monday afternoon, just hours before one of the most talented classes to roll to Boswell donned caps and gowns to walk in graduation.

QZ93 Sports will be there Thursday as North Star faces Mount Union, the runner-up from District 6.

PIAA baseball and softball: First Round

The region was well represented in the first round of the PIAA baseball and softball championships.

The Bishop McCort and North Star baseball teams, as well as the Northern Cambria softball team all moved on with victories Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, Chestnut Ridge softball was knocked off, keeping the day from being a total success.

BREAKING: North Star baseball advances past Redbank Valley

The North Star Cougars are onto the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals after stopping Redbank Valley this afternoon 7-2 at Bedford high school.

Be sure to join QZ93 Sports on Thursday as we bring you all the action live on WQZS 93.3 FM. Keep an eye here at QZ93 Sports Central for updates as to the time of the broadcast.