www.jeannettejayhawksfootball.blogspot.com

Terrelle's face graces a few magazines this month, like the one below from Athlon Sports Big Ten 2009 Preview...

You can also see him on Athlon's College Football magazine (also on the cover are Tim Tebow of Florida and Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame) and Sporting News College Football '09.

And in case you missed it or was out of town like I was last week, Terrelle was named one of seven, "Rookie's of the Year". More on that can be found right here.

It's a go!!

The booster's got the green light and are currently tying up some loose ends in preparation for ground breaking on the new weight room. I'm told that ground breaking should take place in a couple of weeks!

So you see...Hard work and determination, does come with reward!

Well I'm back, did ya miss me?....I didn't think so! :) I won't bore you with the hundreds of pictures I took while I was out there, but a couple won't hurt. Below is a shot of the new Minnesota Gophers stadium under construction. You can click on this image as well to view larger. More on the new stadium can be found right here. Not that I like the Gophers, you know!


And one more of The Cathedral of Saint Paul which was absolutely, beautiful.


See that didn't hurt, did it?

The PIAA will hold meetings Wednesday and Thursday of this week where officials will decide whether or not to create six classifications for football only. It is still unclear how the PIAA will vote but coaches and athletic directors in the WPIAL overwhelmingly oppose the move. There is a possibility that even if the PIAA approves the measure that the WPIAL could pull out of the state playoffs all together. But if the PIAA increases classifications to six and the WPIAL goes along with the move, where would the Jayhawks play??

Based on 2007 enrollment, Jeannette would have A numbers, as they do now, but they would once again likely play up in AA. The conference the Jays currently play in could look a little different though. Greensburg Central Catholic, Brownsville, and Charleroi each would also have AA numbers but all the other teams in the current conference would move to AAA. So The Hacker took the liberty of trying to create his own conference for the Hawks, based on location and past history. How does this new Interstate Conference sound??????

Jeannette
Greensburg Central Catholic
Ford City
Apollo-Ridge
Charleroi
Brownsville

The Hacker doesn’t like the idea of six classifications but I also want the WPIAL to remain in the state playoffs. Anyone who took the trip out to Hershey for those two years knows how special the state playoffs are and I for one would like to spend a few more nights at the Holiday Inn in Grantville with the Jayhawk Nation!!

Today's the day! If you would like your child to be the next Terrelle Pryor, then get him down to the Buster Clarkson field house for midget football sign ups today. From the hours of 5:00pm till 7:00pm.

The postings will be kind of slim this week guys, sorry. I have to go out of state for some job training for the entire week. If the Jayhawk Hacker is reading this maybe he'll drop by with some thoughts, who knows?

I'm heading to St. Paul Minnesota, home of the Mall of America so if anyone wants me to do some shopping for them while I'm out there, SEND MONEY!!

See ya when I get back!

Brandon continues to speed his way into the PIAA Championships set for May 22 and 23 at Shippensburg University. Here's the results from the 100 meter dash in the WPIAL finals, the top 5 automatically qualify for the state championships.

1. Tarrell Irwin, Monessen, 11.14
2. Chris Kimbrough, Center, 11.26
3. Brandon Hamilton, Jeannette, 11.35
4. Devin Polzot, Aliquippa, 11.46
5. Emmanuel Nwabougu, Monessen, 11.67
6. Cody Cook, Beaver Falls, 11.71
7. Marcel Ittner, Freeport, 11.84
8. Brandon Brock, Summit Academy, 11.85

It's been better than 30 years or so since the Jayhawks have made the WPIAL baseball playoffs, and that alone speaks in large volume, of how competitive and well coached this 2009 team actually is. But this length of time can also be a double edged sword in terms of lacking the playoff experience needed to remain that competitive through out the playoffs.

Today...unfortunately, the Hawks were on that side of the sword, losing to an impressive, playoff experienced Neshannock Lancers, by a final of 8-0.

As tough as this playoff loss is, it isn't a total loss.

The Hawks have gathered that much needed playoff experience, and will certainly carry it into next season with them, with most of the current team still intact. Brett Elliott, Nick Campbell, Ryan Ault and Cameron Baraziej will be the only departing seniors from the current line up. One Elliott departs but a "new & improved" Elliott (Garrett), should be able to pick up where brother Brett, left off.

So don't fret my friends, because baseball is alive and kicking in J-town. We got a good taste of the prize and we'll be returning to claim it, next season!

Congratulations to the Hawks and the coaching staff, on a remarkable and exciting season!!

Good luck to the remaining teams!

The Hawks will play Neshannock at Highfield Park in Butler, Pa. on field #1 at 4:00 on Thursday. Directions to Highfield can be found right here. Field 1 is by the road as you turn into the park.

The address for all you GPS geeks is: 235 Highfield Road Butler, Pa. 16001

Lets Go Hawks!!!!!

Hawks advance to the second round of playoff action with a 5-3 win over California today. Tom Paulone had a hand in all the Hawks runs today, driving in 4 of them (2 off an error), and scoring the 5th one, himself.

Jeannette will face Neshannock in round 2. Neshannock sprung Sringdale from the playoffs today, with a 3-2 win.

Let the playoffs begin!!!

Round 1 is set, the Hawks will play California (6-2 conference, 12-8 overall), at Mt. Pleasant tomorrow at 2:00

LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!

Coach Clarkson says, "Planning for the end-of-year banquet, will have to wait". I couldn't agree anymore with him! Full article, (not really about the banquet), from today's Trib, can be read here.

The loss the boys suffered to Serra was tough, no doubt about it, but I think the loss the Lady Jays suffered today to South Allegheny was even worse. South Allegheny beat the Lady Jays by a final of 5-3, and to throw salt on the wound, they knocked the Lady Jays out of the playoff picture all together.

The things these girls been through this season, with the delay in the new field, the weather handing them disappointments and more delays, the condition of the new field after a rain, forcing home games onto so called "neutral sites", is just unbelievable. This is a lot of garbage to pull through and stay focused for anyone, let alone young kids.

But there they were, battle after battle, struggle after struggle, and disappointment after disappointment, fighting for a chance at a playoff spot. And they were very close folks, very close!

So here's to the best damn softball team I've ever seen play, the 2009 Lady Jays, and to one hell of a season of softball! Great job coaches, thank you!!

Video just in of Brandon's qualifying time for the WPIAL finals, you can check it out right here. Brandon is the one leading the pack!

Thanks Brian!

I know you guys remember Brandon Hamilton, (the free agent senior from Georgia, that the Hawks picked up last year, lol). Well, it appears that Brandon wasn't only fast on the football field.

On Tuesday Brandon ran a 10.83 in the 100 meters to qualify 1st for the WPIAL finals this Thursday at Baldwin High School, edging out Beaver Falls speedster, Cody Cook. More on how he got there can be found right here.

Way to go Brandon!!!

This just in from McKeesport, Hawks lose 21-2 to Serra Catholic finish regular season at second place in section 5. The pitching just wasn't there today for the Hawks, so shake it off guys and get focused on the playoffs. Who knows, maybe we'll get another meeting with these guys!

The suspended game from yesterday with Serra and Jeannette will resume play today at 12:00 in McKeesport, weather providing! Not exactly sure which field though, sorry.

Well..., I'm not sure how to put this, but from what I gathered, we still don't have a section championship team just yet, or we're gonna end up with 2. Best case scenario: Serra and Jeannette will co-share the section title, worst case scenario: Serra can claim the title alone.

The culprit? Rain!

The suspended game from 4/20 went just how the Hawks had hoped, beating Serra Catholic by a final of 5-3. Brian Weightman got the Hawks going with a solo home run over the center field fence in the top of the sixth. Tom Paulone singled in an RBI in the top of the 7th inning to add the needed insurance to secure the win.


This win was hugh, because it tied the 2 teams for the section title with 8-1 records.

We finished one suspended game and created another though. Game 2 was called due to rain. Now here's the kicker: If these 2 teams don't resume this game tomorrow the season/section will end as it stands with both teams being co-section champs. Tomorrow's weather is calling for thunder showers all day long. Now I have to be honest and fair, and say that Serra would get the shorter end of this stick if that happens, and I'll explain why.

It took Serra until the top of the 4th to figure out Jeannette's pitching, and it took Jeannette an additional 2 more pitchers, to get themselves back out of it. Unfortunately the damage was already done. Serra scored 12 unanswered runs in the 4th, to jump out to a 14-0 lead. The Hawks managed to get back 2 of those runs off another Brian Weightman home run to bring the score to 14-2, Serra added another run in the top of the 5th, before the rain settled in over Buster Clarkson field forcing the suspended game. The score as of now, 15-2.

So here's your 2 options, one congratulate both teams for co-section championships or two, you can wait for the other outcome, if it happens at all.

Me? I'm gonna tip my hat to both teams, for providing some great action today and through out the 2009 season!! Photos from today's game can be seen right here.

The girls softball team is facing a similar scenario as the boys, except they were ahead of Steel Valley 7-5 and never even got a chance to play South Allegheny because of the rain. If all fails, the girls I believe would end up tied for 3rd with Mt. Pleasant in the section.

For those of you that live out of town: This is spring sports in Pa.!

The Hawks wasted no time getting Elderton out of the way in preparation for the showdown against Serra Catholic tomorrow.

Jeannette brought 13 batters to the plate in the top of the 1st to jump out to a 7-0 early lead, and eventually, inflicting the mercy rule one more time, this season. Hawks win by a final of 11-1 after 5 innings of play.

Serra travels to Jeannette tomorrow for a 3:00 start to finish the game from 4/20/09 first, and immediately there after, game 2 will kick off.

I'll put this as simple as I can: Get your asses down to Buster Clarkson field and support this playoff bound Jayhawk team, they need you more than ever right now!!!!

The Lady Jays split a double header today at Seton Hill. Losing the first to rivals GCC who have clinched a playoff spot with this win, by a final of 8-4, but rebounding nicely against South Park in the second game by a final of 10-4.

The girls return to Seton Hill tomorrow for yet another double header, first match up against Steel Valley and the second against South Allegheny to close out the regular season. For the Lady Jays to see any post season action, they've got to win both games tomorrow. So don't worry about the loss to GCC girls, (they always stumble in the playoffs at some point anyway), for now though, focus on the task at hand!

You can do this!!!

Photos from the South Park game can be seen here.

As most of you know already it rained rather heavily here in Jeannette today forcing the PPD games between Serra and Jeannette. These games will be made up on Wednesday now, providing mother nature cuts us a break. The Elderton game is still on for tomorrow at Elderton and the 2 remaining non-section games against Monessen and Riverview have been canceled all together.

So the tension continues to build as we await to see who will emerge as the section 5 champions, looks like Wednesday will be the day. Hang in there!!

Let's see if we can get you up to speed with the Jeannette teams, their remaining games, and where each team stands for the playoffs, as the regular season approaches the finish line.

The boys, as we already know, have clinched a playoff spot. This was achieved with the 6-5 win over Springdale on Wednesday. The Hawks are currently in 2nd place in the section with a 6-1 conference record. While Serra Catholic sits atop the conference, undefeated at 7-0.

These two teams will meet up on Monday at Jeannette to finish the game from 4/20, which is tied up at 3 a piece after 5 full innings. This one is set for a 3:00 start and will be directly followed with the second meeting of these two teams. If the Hawks can manage 2 straight wins on Monday, this will knock Serra off the top spot and give the Hawks their first section title.

But we'll be concentrating on one game at a time, for now though, you got that Hawks?

Over in the softball world, our Lady Jays are kind of flying under the radar, if you will. The girls are currently in 3rd place in their respectable section, and only 1 game behind GCC, who they lost to on Wednesday by a final of 6-5. In the top spot of section 4, is South Allegheny with a 11-1 record.

The top 3 teams in the section get to punch their own ticket to the playoffs, and the Lady Jays are battling to remain one of those three. Their remaining games include a double header on Monday at Steel Valley. The first game being against Steel Valley (3-9) and the second against South Park (6-6). On Tuesday the girls will be at GCC (8-3) and then finish the regular season off at home on Wednesday against South Allegheny.

The Lady Jays need to win 3 of their remaining 4, since they are all section games, to be able to punch that playoff ticket.

So rest up and enjoy your Sunday folks! Cause the rest of this week, will have no rest for the weary, sports fan.

MSA Sports and Kennywood have teamed up again to present the 2009 High School Baseball and Softball All Stars. All you got to do is vote for your favorites.

Mine were Brett Elliott for baseball and Kirstie Cortazzo and Lauren Maline for softball. These were the only 3 Jayhawks on the lists. Personally I could have thought of a few more like Mike Mash and Katherine Fey for pitching, Brian Weightman for outfield, Nick Campbell for catching, just to name a few. But I wasn't the one at MSA selecting them for the list.

Cast your votes here for the baseball nominations and then head here for the softball nominations.