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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…

March 23, 2023

Ellwood Native, Rich Herman To Be Inducted Into Clarion University 2023 Sports Hall of Fame

Ellwood City native Rich Herman has been announced as one of seven new members that will be inducted into the Clarion University 2023 Hall of Fame Class next month. The Clarion “Sports Hall of Fame” committee announced the seven new members as Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (2011 – 12 Wrestling); Amanda Gough (2008 – 2011 Volleyball, 2012 – 13 Softball, 2012 – 13 Basketball), Matthew Guyton (2001 – 2005 Golf);, Rich Herman (1980 – 2015 SID; 1989 – 99 Baseball coach, 1981 – 87 Asst. Baseball coach), Dan Kohley (1976 – 79 Football), Lauren (Murgatroyd) Hasselquist (1977 – 79 Women’s Swimming), and…

March 23, 2023

Riv-Ell Series Kicks Off The Baseball Season For Riverside & Ellwood City

What better way to roll out the spring baseball season, than to have two rivals host a home-and-home series? The crosstown rivals, Ellwood City and Riverside, each will quickly get acquainted with one another beginning Monday, March 27th when the Wolverines will host the Panthers in Ewing Park to begin regular season section play. The teams will flip home fields as part of the mini, two-game tilt with Riverside holding home field on Tuesday, March 28th. For Ellwood City, a pitching staff will be a strength this season according to head coach Chris Weisz and, after back to back successful…

March 22, 2023

COACH TALK: Ellwood City and Riverside Softball Teams Each Look To Continue Playoff Streaks

Both Ellwood City and Riverside softball teams will enter their 2023 regular season campaigns with sights set on returning to the WPIAL Playoffs, continuing streaks for both teams. For the Lady Wolverines, a playoff streak currently rests at eight straight seasons, and the girls will look to it nine this spring. Head coach Gary Rozanski has an experienced group but will need contributions from all players and positions. “We have a great group of girls returning, their experience is going to be important to our success and continue to build on last year’s success,” says the 18th-year head coach. “It…

March 21, 2023

Ellwood City Boys Tennis Defeated By Blackhawk

The Wolverines boys tennis team dropped its first match of the season, falling to Blackhawk 4-1 in Ewing Park Monday afternoon. Grady Smith picked up the lone victory for Ellwood City. Smith defeated Aiden Terry 6-2 and 7-5 in singles play. The Cougars used victories by Ben Crefeld (6-1, 6-2 over Ryan Odom) and Luke Shope (6-0, 6-0 over Anthony DiBuono) in singles play and swept doubles. The Wolverines pairing of Ayden Frisk & Kaden Schlichtkrull and Hunter Rock & Quinn Smith were defeated in doubles. Ellwood City, now 1-1 overall (0-1 section) on the season will next host Beaver…