Blankenhorn hits RBI double in win
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Entering the Gulf Coast League game at first base in the eighth inning, Pottsville High graduate Travis Blankenhorn doubled home a run in the GCL Twins’ 8-5 win in 11 innings over the GCL Orioles on Wednesday.
Blankenhorn doubled and scored during the Twins’ three-run ninth inning that forced extra innings.
In the 11th, Blankenhorn, who was walked intentionally, then scored one of the Twins’ three runs when Robert Molina homered for the walk-off victory.
The Twins will visit the GCL Orioles at noon today in Sarasota, Fla.
Area youths go to national meet
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Four Schuylkill County youths, all members of Fearless Barbell Club, Deer Lake, are competing this weekend at the USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships.
The youths, with hometowns and weight classes, are Sam Sterns, 12, Deer Lake, in 31 kilogram boys; Taylor Szczecina, 13, Orwigsburg, in 44 kilogram girls; Allison McDonald, 13, Schuylkill Haven, in 53 kilogram girls; and Erin McDonald, 17, Schuylkill Haven, in 63 kilogram girls.
The four, who qualified for nationals at a meet in Easton, will compete in the Olympic disciplines — snatch and clean and jerk.
The meet, which begins today and continues through Sunday, also serves as the United States’ Youth Olympics Trials.
Pottsville grad
Stoner to run
at junior nationals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lipscomb’s Paige Stoner will be competing in the USA Junior Track and Field Outdoor National Championships today through Sunday in Eugene, Oregon.
“We are excited for Paige ... to get U.S. Junior National Championship experience,” Lipscomb Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Bill Taylor said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will help in (her) development.”
Stoner, a Pottsville High graduate, qualified for four events: the 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters. However, she will be entered in just the 5,000 and the 3,000, opting to focus on two.
LVC’s Patrick earns
academic honors
ANNVILLE — Lebanon Valley College’s Kelsey Patrick has been named a CoSIDA/Capital One Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-American for the second time, the university announced Wednesday.
Patrick earned a spot on the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America second team following an outstanding junior campaign after being named an academic All-America third-team selection a year ago.
She earned a silver medal as the MAC cross country runner-up at the conference’s championship meet last fall and was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection for the third time in her career as she qualified for NCAA Championships. The junior was 12th at the NCAA regional meet in November and a three-time MAC Runner of the Week this past season.
Patrick has also excelled as a member of LVC’s physical therapy program, earning a 3.93 in the major through her junior year.