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April 5, 2023

PART 1: Spring Sports Q&A – Baseball

This is part one of a two part series featuring area athletes in Spring 2023 sports. The start of spring sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. Tomorrow’s article will feature softball and track. Last week the Riverside Panthers defeated Ellwood City in both games of a mini home-and-home series. Chase Wilson Grade? I am a senior at Ellwood How many years have you have…

April 4, 2023

Riverside Routs Beaver Falls, Remains Unbeaten

Five Panthers collected doubles in a 15-0 rout of Beaver Falls on Monday afternoon. Sam Barber, Bo Fornataro, Mitch Garvin, and Darren McDade swatted two-baggers while Sean Hayes collected two doubles in the offensive attack. Garvin finished with three RBIs to lead the Panthers who are now 4-0 on the young season. Ron Harper pitched a perfect three innings on the mound, striking out two while not allowing a hit or walk over the mercy-rule shortened performance. The victory, combined with last week’s mercy rule victory over Knoch, has the offense collecting 35 runs over its last six innings. Riverside…

April 4, 2023

Ellwood City Softball Drops Section Opener, Lady Panthers Stay Unbeaten

Ellwood City Softball Drops Section Opener The Lady Wolverines came out on the losing end of a 3-2 score Monday at Hopewell High School and lost their section opener. In a pitchers dual that saw 21 strikeouts between pitchers, the Viking had more timely hitting as all three of their runs came with two outs. Ellwood City rallied in the seventh inning, but fell short. Kiley Leviere scored as Aliya Garroway’s soft line drive was misplayed by the third baseman and Amber Mcquisition brought Julia Nardone in with a deep sacrifice fly to left field. Garroway led the Wolverine sticks…

March 31, 2023

EC Softball Stays Unbeaten, Boys Earn First Victory; Riverside Baseball/Softball Both Win Big

Wolverines Softball Stays Unbeaten, Defeats Shenango 4-1 The Lady Wolverines finished their pre section tune up with a record of 3-0 after a victory over Shenango Thursday evening at Steifel Park. Junior Ellie Kalantzis staked the team to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as she tripled into the right field corner and scored on a wild pitch. Ellwood City expanded the lead to 3-0 in the third as Kiley Leviere reached on an error, stole second and scored on a double by Kalantzis. A walk to Aliya Garroway put runners on first and second. After both runners moved…

March 31, 2023

PHOTO: Ellwood City Boys Track & Field Sweeps Season Opening Meet, EC Girls Split

The Ellwood City boys track and field team swept its season opening meet this week, earning victories over Riverside and Union. The girls track team split their meet, with a victory over Union, but were bested by rival Riverside. “It’s a great start to the season and having the win against the cross-town rivals who have long been known for success on the track simply adds to the celebration,” said head coach Nate Brown. Ellwood City defeated Riverside 101-49 and Union 131-18 on Tuesday. For the Panthers, their coach knows improvements will need to be made. “The boys know where…

March 29, 2023

BOMBS AWAY: Garvin Homers Again, Panthers Rally To Sweep Wolverines

Hunter Garvin hit his second home run in as many days, this time a pivotal fifth inning blast during a five run rally for the host Panthers as they pulled away and defeated Ellwood City 7-5 Tuesday afternoon. Riverside defeated Ellwood City on Monday 9-2 in Ewing Park in the first game of the home-and-home RivEll series. On Tuesday, centerfielder Bo Fornataro homered for Riverside with a first inning to stage the Panthers to an early 2-0 lead. Ellwood City responded with five runs over its next three innings, powered by RBIs from Isiah Lutz, Jordan Keller, Nick Magnifico, Will…

March 29, 2023

COACH TALK: Ellwood City & Riverside Track & Field Teams Each Looking Forward To Seasons

Ellwood City is hungry for more. With mostly freshmen and sophomores helping to lead the way with an all new coaching staff, Ellwood City has an appetite for more this spring on the track. “We were a young team last year,” says second year coach, Nathan Brown. “Many of those kids saw successes they weren’t expecting and now they’re hungry for more.” The team was uprooted from its home track last year due to Helling Stadium rennovations, forcing practices to be held at neighboring Riverside’s track facility and all meets to be on the road. The boys team finished 3-6…

March 28, 2023

Riverside Downs Ellwood CIty 9-2 In RivEll Series Opener

Soggy and cold conditions met the Ellwood City and Riverside baseballs teams as they squared off in Ewing Park Monday afternoon in the first game of a home-and-home series this week. The visiting Panthers came out ahead on Monday, winning comfortably 9-2 behind a balanced offensive attack, a two run bomb, and stout pitching. Riverside (1-0 Overall) used multi-hit games from four starters and impressive starting performance by pitcher Ronnie Harper to earn its season opening victory. Harper, a Slippery Rock University commit, did not allow an earned run over six innings, striking out three and allowing only two hits….

March 27, 2023

Game Of Inches: Wolverines Place Third In PIAA Unified Bocce Championships

Ellwood City’s Unified Bocce team earned a third place finish at the PIAA Interscholastic Unified Bocce State Championships last week in Hershey, PA. The Wolverines captured bronze with a thrilling 6-4 win over Pennridge. “When football talks the game of inches, bocce is truly the game of inches,” says head coach John DiBuono. The Wolverines’ efforts came down to a last shot, in the third match, with no time left on the clock. Ellwood City had to make the shot for the third place finish. Fortunately, the shot was made and Ellwood City placed. The team is comprised of Joy…

March 25, 2023

Ellwood City Softball Starts Season 2-0 With Two Impressive Victories

The Ellwood City Softball team started their 2023 campaign with two impressive wins this week over Steel Valley on Tuesday and Keystone Oaks on Wednesday. Both were five inning mercy rule victories. On Tuesday, Ellwood City opened their season with a convincing 12-1 victory over Steel Valley behind freshman Amber Mcquistion who earned her first varsity victory on the mound and swatted two hits at the plate. The offense got things started in the second inning as Sara Schwarz and Ellie Kalantzis led off with back to back walks and both later scored to push the Wolverines out to an…