|
Class
of 2006
L
to R: Spencer Turner, Andrew Heeter, Zach Clouser,
Josh
Gaffney, Joey Kopchick, Cole Barninger
Individual
Profiles
|
|
Joey
Kopchick #5 — plays
outfield. He plans to attend Lebanon Valley College to
major in Accounting. His favorite sports memory is
beating Eastern York in the first round of district
playoffs for basketball. Joey would like to thank his
parents, coaches and, most notably, Coach Shirley for
providing extra motivation to work hard in anything he
does. He wants to thank his teammates for believing in
him and always being there for him. |
|
Josh
Gaffney #45 — plays
1st base. He plans to attend Penn State University to
major in Public Relations/Marketing. His favorite memory
is beating Zach’s little league team in playoffs. Josh
would like to thank his family, Coaches Shirley, Cmac,
Hancock & Sassaman, his teammates over the years,
Mrs. Teeter, Andy Clay, Harty, all the fans and, most of
all, Coach Jason Altieri. |
|
|
|
Andrew
Heeter #11 —
pitches and plays 3rd base. He plans to attend the
University of Virginia to major in Economics. His
favorite sports memory is when he made a hole-in-one in
the first golf match of the season. Andrew would like to
thank his family for their support, the coaches, the
fans and, of course, his teammates. |
|
Cole
Barninger #4 — plays
catcher and outfield. He plans to attend Kutztown
University to major in Business Management. His favorite
memory is traveling to North Carolina for baseball camp.
Cole would like to thank his coaches, Mrs. Teeter,
Sandy, Harty, his family, friends, teammates and, most
importantly, Coach Shirley. |
|
|
|
Zach
Clouser #1 — plays
short stop. He plans to attend Eastern University to
major in Political Science/Pre-Law and to play baseball.
His favorite memory is hanging in the locker room and on
the practice field, joking around with all the guys.
Zach would like to thank his family for coming to all
his games, his coaches and all the fans. He also wants
to thank Coach Shirley for always being a role model and
setting an example. |
|
Spencer
Turner #27 — plays
outfield. He plans to attend West Virginia University to
major in Agriculture & Extension Education. His
favorite sports memory is the 14-inning game against
Cumberland Valley. Spencer would like to thank his
family, Coach
Shirley, and Coach Gaffney and the rest who made him who
he is today. |
|
The
2006 Season
'Cats
to play Spring Grove
Due
to the new format of the Mid-Penn playoffs, Waynesboro was
forced to cancel the game scheduled for next Wednesday.
With the hard work form AD Andie Teeter, the 'Cats baseball team
will play the Spring Grove Rockets on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.
The Varsity will play the Rocket's at home while our JV's will
travel to York County. Both games start at 4:00 pm.
'Cats
win BIG vs. Middletown and get a well earned day
off!
May
3, 2006: From the Sentinel....
Mechanicsburg
17, Middletown 1 (5 inn.)
A seven-run fifth inning helped Mechanicsburg put away Keystone Division
foe Middletown Wednesday in five innings.
Dan Knapp scattered two hits in a complete-game effort to earn the win for the
Wildcats. Spencer Turner and Kyle Wolf (4-for-4) each hit two doubles, and
Zach Clouser added a double.
Mechanicsburg (4-12) hosts Cumberland Valley Monday.
The
JV Cats win big 12-2!
Varsity
completes comeback vs. Tribe 6-5, while the JV's fall to Township, 5-1
May
1, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Mechanicsburg
edged Susquehanna Twp. 6-5 when a Greg Bretz bunt single scored the winner in
the seventh. Bretz had three hits and Joe Kopchick added two, including a
two-run double in the first. The Indians owned a 5-2 lead through 51/2 innings
on Chris Burton's homer and a two-run single from Sam Phillips.
State
College nips 'Cats, 13-11 while JV's continue to roll 8-3
April
29, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
At
Rickenbach-Shirley Field, Mechanicsburg erased an 8-0 deficit before
falling to State College 13-10. Freshman Ben Anderson's two-run single in the
second started the comeback before two hits each from Greg Bretz, Cole
Barninger and Zach Clouser pulled the Wildcats even in the fifth. Mike Hellam,
who struck out four in a complete-game, suffered the loss....
In
the JV game, Matt Champi threw a complete game, while Devon
Hensel getting 3 hits from to stop previously undefeated State
College. Matt Morell went 2 for 3 adding 3 RBI's for the JV 9.
Varsity
falls hard at Hershey, while the JV's fall 9-6
April
28, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Hershey
pounded 16 hits and scored six times in the second inning to erase
Mechanicsburg 11-1. Luke Moyer led the hit parade with a 3-for-3 effort that
included two doubles. Chuck Faust had three RBIs, and Nick Allwein had three
hits and scored twice.
Cats
fall to McD in a wild game while the JVs in again!
April
26, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Bishop
McDevitt, leading 9-1 through 51/2 innings, survived a late Mechanicsburg
rally to pocket a 10-8 victory. Vince Comasco tagged two home runs, Mike
Comasco added three hits, and Taylor Wheaton plated three runs for McDevitt.
Mechanicsburg used Tyler Chubb's solo blast and three-run homer from Aaron
Jones to pull within 9-8 before Vince Comasco added his second home run in
the bottom of the sixth...
From
the Sentinel....
Bishop
McDevitt 10, Mechanicsburg 8
Mechanicsburg battled back from 9-1 deficit to get within two, 9-7, but
couldn’t muster the extra runs in a 10-8 loss to Bishop McDevitt in a
Keystone Division game Wednesday.
Wildcat Greg Bretz went 2-for-3 from the plate with one run scored. Joe
Kopchick, Kyle Wolf, Mike Hellam and Zach Clouser each recorded a double for
Mechanicsburg. Tyler Chub and Ben Anderson each hit a home run in the loss.
Mechanicsburg (2-10) travels to Hershey Friday.
JV's
beat Palmyra 5-2, while the varsity 9 falls to the Cougars 4 to 1
April
24, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Dom
Fritelli followed Bret Harmony's leadoff homer in the fifth with a two-run
single, lifting Palmyra over Mechanicsburg 4-1. Harmony and Eric Hoffsmith
each had three hits, aiding Ryan Dove (10 strikeouts).
In
the JV contest, the 'Cats were lead by starting pitcher Mat Koveleski who
threw a complete game. Matt Morrell went 2 for 4 & made some great
plays in the field.
Next
up for the 'Cat are the Crusaders of Bishop McDevitt.
'Cats
Fall to G-burg, JV's win again!
April
21, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Gettysburg
pitcher Phil Walter gave up 10 hits, but balanced that with nine Ks and two
hits and two RBI of his own for the Warriors, who defeated Mechanicsburg 9-4.
Chris Pabody was 3-for-3 and Sean Manahan 2-for-3 for Gettysburg while Joe
Kopchick was 4-for-4 for Mechanicsburg.
LD
gets by 'Cats 3-1, JV's hit the ball
to
a 14-7 win over the Falcons
April
19, 2006: From the Patriot News.....
Doug
Bream's two-run double in the fifth helped Lower Dauphin secure a 3-1 win over
Mechanicsburg. Ian Dell added a first-inning RBI single for LD while
Mechanicsburg fired back in the bottom half. Bream's heroics lifted righty Jim
Miller, who scattered just five hits, to victory. Dan Knapp fanned six and
allowed just one earned run in the setback.
Mechanicsburg
SS had long road back
Wednesday,
April 26, 2006
He
declared himself 100 percent, and although Mechanicsburg and its senior
shortstop are fighting an uphill Mid-Penn Keystone battle this season, Zach
Clouser's edict is fantastic news.
Yesterday
marked the one-year anniversary of Clouser's pregame mishap at Palmyra, when a
routine ground ball hit the infield edge and caught Clouser's right cheekbone
near second base.
Although
shaken, Clouser completed the seven-inning affair with a single and three
walks, according to his teammates. Less than 24 hours later, Clouser was
diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
"I
remember the bus ride to the game, but after that, nothing," said Clouser,
who missed the remainder of the 2005 season. "The next day, they told me
I had a serious concussion. I guess I had a pretty good game, one of my better
ones, actually."
While
his memory wavered, Clouser's summer was interrupted almost daily by therapy
sessions in Wormleysburg, where he performed tasks that "seem pretty
silly now."
Included
were five months of memory cards and strategy games with individuals nearly
four times his age.
"Therapy
really helped. All the people were very nice, and they kept me occupied,"
Clouser said. "It was pretty much learn everything over again, and it
wasn't easy at the time. There were some stroke victims, and everyone was
helpful. I was just part of the group."
"It
was scary, because he had no short-term memory," said Sherry Clouser, who
remembered her son's therapy sessions lasted from May to September. "He
never got down at all and he just kept saying he was going to get better. He's
fine now, back to playing baseball."
Today,
Clouser is easy to spot as he takes a little more precaution by wearing a John
Olerud-like helmet in the field. Aside from inheriting the obvious nickname,
Clouser's teammates, who he admitted were instrumental during his recovery
period, use the helmet as a backdrop for intimidating tales.
"Yeah,
they call me Olerud and it's funny," laughed Clouser, who has started
every game this season for first-year skipper Clay McAllister. Clouser is
hoping to continue his playing career in the fall at Eastern University near
Philadelphia.
"It's
great, because [first baseman] Josh Gaffney and [catcher] Cole Barninger tell
crazy stories when opposing players ask about me and the helmet. They test
something new every time."
MASH
BASEBALL Would Like to Thanks OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
This
past Saturday, MASH Baseball held an all-u-can-eat fund raiser at our local
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE on the Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. Tickets were
sold @ $10.00 and the outback staff volunteered to serve all those who
attended. Besides all of the great food, MASH baseball raised
approximately $1,800!
All
of us involved in MASH Baseball would like to Thank the OUTBACK staff
for a great day, great food, and a great fund raiser!
MECHANICSBURG
4, MIDDLETOWN 3
Seniors
lift Wildcats in close game, JV's win 17-5
Tuesday,
April 18, 2006
For
The Patriot-News
While
the wanting patrons scattered about Soldiers & Sailors Field
still digest these growing pains, Mechanicsburg leaned on its
diminutive senior class yesterday for a needed Mid-Penn
Conference baseball victory.
After
slapping a one-out, seventh-inning single and advancing to third
on senior Joe Kopchick's well-executed hit-and-run, senior
catcher Cole Barninger charged home on Zach Clouser's fielder's
choice, handing the Wildcats a 4-3 Keystone Division win over
visiting Middletown.
Clouser's
seemingly harmless grounder found pitcher Kyle Bennet, who
stared down Barninger before relaying to first. However,
Barninger broke on Bennet's throw and first baseman Dave
Bracht's toss home arrived late.
Bennet's
eight strikeouts paced the Blue Raiders, who despite a handful
of baserunning mistakes fought back from a 3-0 deficit with a
big fourth inning. Instead, righty Mike Hellam, without his
Sunday best, pocketed Mechanicsburg's second win of the season.
"[Bennet]
did a nice job delivering his curveball against us,"
Wildcats skipper Clay McAllister said. "We're a very young
team, and just like Middletown, made a ton a mistakes. But we
were fortunate Cole got us a single in the seventh and got us
going."
An
Arron Jones double and a Middletown fielding error had
Mechanicsburg up 2-0 in the second before the Wildcats (2-6,
2-5) added a single run in the third. Middletown (3-6, 1-6) used
a two-out double from Nick Peters and Jon Bower's RBI single to
inch within a run.
Seconds
later, Bower trotted home on Zack Smith's mammoth RBI triple to
left. Hellam absorbed Middletown's final threat in the fifth
before retiring six straight....
Susquehanna
Twp. get by varsity 3-2, JV's win 9-5
Susquehanna
Twp. bagged a wild 3-2 victory over visiting Mechanicsburg that
ended with an obstruction call in the bottom of the eighth. With
his team trailing 2-0, David Caruso's two-out, two-run single
forced extra innings before the Indians, with no outs, put
runners on first and second in the dramatic eighth. Matt
Skulsky's sacrifice bunt was then relayed wide of third, where
runner Sam Naugle and Wildcats shortstop Zach Clouser collided.
Twice attempting to spin free, Naugle was eventually awarded
home by plate umpire Pete Bowman. Kyle Ward, in relief, held the
Wildcats hitless over the final three innings.
Hershey
unloads on the Varsity, 14-4, while the JV's beat Hershey
11-10
Varsity
9 battle past McDevitt to gain their first win, 2-1 - JV game
canceled
April
10, 2006: From the Patriot News......
Dan
Knapp's RBI single in the fourth came minutes before Sam
Burkholder raced home on a wild pitch that led Mechanicsburg
over Bishop McDevitt 2-1. Mike Hellam's five-hitter included six
strikeouts..
From
the Sentinel.....
Mechanicsburg
2,
Bishop McDevitt 1
Mechanicsburg defeated Bishop McDevitt 2-1 in a Mid-Penn
Keystone baseball tilt Monday.
The Wildcats got seven innings of five-hit, one-run pitching
from Mike Hellam for the victory. Sam Burkholder singled and
scored once out of the designated hitter spot for Mechanicsburg.
Palmyra
drops the 'Cats, the JV fall 9-2
April
7, 2006: From the Sentinel.....
Palmyra
10, Mechanicsburg 1
Palmyra jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and cruised to a 10-1
win over Mechanicsburg Friday in a Keystone Division baseball
game.
Dan Knapp went 2-for-3 for the Wildcats, Aaron Jones was 1-for-1
and Sam Burkholder finished 2-for-3.
Mechanicsburg (0-3, 0-4) hosts Bishop McDevitt Monday.
Box
Score
COUGARS
10, WILDCATS 1
Mechanicsburg 000 010 0 — 1
Palmyra 022 006 X — 10
WILDCATS (1)
Joe Kopchick, cf, 3/1/1; Greg Bretz, 2b, 4/0/0; Zach Clouser, ss,
3/0/1; Kyle Wolf, lf, 3/0/0; Sam Burkholder, dh, 3/0/2; Cole
Barninger, c, 1/0/0; Mike Hellam, 3b, 2/0/0; Spencer Turner, rf,
2/0/0; Dan Knapp, p, 3/0/2; Logan Zugay, ph, 1/0/0; Tyler Chubb,
ph, 1/0/0; Aaron Jones, p, 1/0/1; Andrew Heeter, ph, 1/0/0.
TOTALS 28/1/7.
COUGARS (10)
Brett Harmony, ss, 4/2/3; Tom Davis, lf, 4/1/2; Nate Shearer, rf,
4/0/0; Derek Fackler, dh, 3/0/0; Eric Hoffsmith, p, 3/1/2; John
Garver, 1b, 2/1/1; Dom Fritelli, cf, 3/2/0; Brad Goss, 3b,
3/2/2; Matt Faust, 2b, 1/0/0; Kyle Weber, ph, 1/0/1; Brandon
Teahl, ph, 1/0/0; Ryan Dove, ph, 0/0/0; Jan Jamilson, ph, 1/0/0;
Doc Bragovich, ph, 0/1/0. TOTALS 30/10/11.
Errors: P-3; M-5. Doubles: P — Harmony. Triple: P —
Hoffsmith. Home runs: P — Goss. Winning pitcher — Hoffsmith
6 inns., 7 hits, 1 run, 2SO, 1BB; Shearer 1 inn., 0 hits, 0
runs, 0SO, 0BB. Losing pitcher — Knapp 4.1 inns., 9 hits, 9
runs, 3SO, 3BB; Jones 1.2 inns., 1 runs, 2 hits, 1SO, 1BB.
Gettysburg
Drops MASH, 8-5 while the MASH JV'ers win in 11 innings, 7 to 6
April
5, 2006: From the Patriot News......
Elsewhere,
Gettysburg edged Mechanicsburg 8-5. Pitcher Mike Pritt watched
his offense slug 13 hits, including Travis Parone's two-run
single in Gettysburg's six-run, fourth-inning. Zach Clouser led
the Wildcats with two hits.
From
the Sentinel
Gettysburg
8, Mechanicsburg 5
Gettysburg’s six-run fourth inning was too much for
Mechanicsburg to handle Wednesday, as the Wildcats fell 8-5 to
the Warriors in a Keystone Division baseball game.
Zach Clouser went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for
Mechanicsburg, while teammate Joey Kopchick finished 0-for-3
with two runs scored.
Mechanicsburg (0-3, 0-2) travels to Palmyra Friday.
LD
powers over the varsity 11-3; JV's game suspended tied at
11
April
3, 2006: From
the Sentinel....
Lower
Dauphin scored all 11 runs in the first three innings to power
an 11-3 win over Keystone Division opponent Mechanicsburg
Monday.
Wildcat Joey Kopchick finished with two hits and scored one run,
while teammates Sam Burkholder and Zach Clouser each recorded a
hit in the loss.
Andrew Hetter pitched 2.1 innings in a losing effort, giving up
five runs and five hits. Hetter struck out two batters and
walked four.
Mechanicsburg (0-2) hosts Gettysburg Wednesday.
'Cats
fall to Red Land
March
28, 2006: The
varsity fell at Red Land in a good ball game 3-2 while the JV 9
lost 7-5 at home. More info coming soon.
'Cats
pick 5th in the tough Keystone Division
Eric
Epler, of the Patriot News
March
28, 2006
KEYSTONE
1.
Lower Dauphin | Don't need an 8-Ball to predict this.
2.
Hershey | These guys love to compete.
3.
Palmyra | Once Cougars find the switch, look out.
4.
Bishop McDevitt | A hunch says Crusaders find answers.
5.
Mechanicsburg | Can never totally dismiss this program.
6.
Susquehanna Twp. | Believe it, Indians could travel north.
7.
Gettysburg | Stripped clean, but still kinda scary.
8.
Middletown | Fast start would help confidence.
Wildcats'
McAllister begins daunting task
Sunday,
March 26, 2006
Eric
Epler
History
that coincides with Babe Ruth's first season in Boston.
A
knowledgeable and often impatient following. And the shadow cast
by legendary Don Shirley that stretches well beyond the deep
borders of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park.
Clay
McAllister will battle it all as the West Perry alum and
longtime assistant begins his first high school baseball season
as Mechanicsburg's head coach.
"I
would say definitely, his philosophies will remain," said
McAllister, hired in December, nearly two months after Shirley
died from symptoms related to kidney cancer. Shirley was just 55
years old.
"He
was a guy who did so much through discipline and fundamentals
and we've worked a ton on that," McAllister said.
"I
guess being younger I may approach some things a little
differently, but I loved that guy and want to work harder at it
than he did, which is not so easy."
While
Shirley's coaching credits include 471 wins covering 34
memorable seasons, McAllister was lucky enough to share a
front-row seat for the skipper's final nine.
In
perfect on-the-job training, McAllister served as the Wildcats'
assistant pitching coach for that term, this after enjoying four
playing years under another noted disciplinarian, former West
Perry coach Larry Frederick.
"Those
are two pretty good guys to learn from," said McAllister, a
four-year starting pitcher at McDaniel College, the former
Western Maryland University.
"Pitching
is my background and that's something that is going to have to
work for us this season. But I understand the perception of this
position is you have to win and we're going to play hard. We're
going to get after it and hopefully that happens."
Like
his mentor, who continued to build relationships and trust with
his players during the academic hours as head of the school's
English department, McAllister's teaching chores are not limited
to the field.
In
addition, the 'Cats just returned from a weekend of workouts and
intrasquad scrimmages in Durham, N.C., in preparation for
Tuesday's opener at Red Land.
"Coach
was great with the kids and we put a lot of time in on
fundamentals because we have to find a way to scrap,"
McAllister said.
"I
know the kids want to win, so they don't need me to tell them
that."
MORE
TRANSACTIONS:
Aside
from McAllister, a half-dozen new faces will call the shots
throughout the Mid-Penn Conference and Tri-Valley League this
season.
At
Carlisle, Brett Livingston inherits a solid Thundering Herd
program from his former coach, Harry Mundorff. Mundorff, who
sacrificed his energy and salary to construct posh George Bowen
Field, retired after 37 seasons.
Under
similar circumstances, 10-year assistant Dan Watkins replaces
John Bartholow at Shippensburg. Retiring after 32 years at the
helm, Bartholow pocketed 346 wins in 549 games, won 14 division
titles and led the Greyhounds to last season's District 3-AAA
quarterfinals.
Former
James Madison stopper Casey Brookens takes over at
Greencastle-Antrim for departed Chris Sellers. The latter owned
a .572 winning percentage covering 17 seasons, his best in 2000
when the Blue Devils lost to Huntingdon 9-7 in the PIAA Class AA
championship.
Although
openly critical of the Mid-Penn's newest postseason structure,
Sellers offered his resignation in January for various reasons.
Topping the list is having the latitude to watch his son, former
Big 11 infielder Brett Sellers, perform as a JMU sophomore.
Other
first-year coaches include Scott Deitrich at Upper Dauphin, Ken
Hultzapple at Newport and Bryon Wilson at Susquenita. Wilson
left Newport after seven seasons, where he compiled a 78-45
overall mark.
CLASS
NOTES:
Based
on his 2005 performances at the Team One East Showcase at St.
John's University and the IBC World Series in Clearwater, Fla.,
Trinity senior outfielder Brett DePalma was named to the Puma
Preseason All-America team.
Tabbed
as Team One's top outfield prospect in Pennsylvania, DePalma,
who spun a 6-0 record with a 1.71 ERA during the Shamrocks'
District 3 run, signed with Division I Elon University in
November....
Another
early signee was Waynesboro senior Andrew Caron, who chose
Campbell University of the Atlantic Sun Conference. A first-rate
catcher, Caron collected 21 RBIs and hit .400 last season to
gain Mid-Penn all-star status....
Two
Hershey seniors, catcher Matt Kulbacki and outfielder Nick
Allwein, recently announced their college intentions. Kulbacki,
a member of the '05 Big 11 team, will attend Kutztown while
Allwein picked PSAC partner California....
Cumberland
Valley senior righty Kris Mengle, expected to anchor the Eagles'
staff this season, made a verbal commitment to George Mason....
West
Perry senior first baseman Ken Reisinger will matriculate to
Shepherd University, a member of the West Virginia
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while senior outfielder
T.J. Reisinger will play at Shippensburg.... Cedar Cliff
infielder Zach Ullrich will continue his baseball career at
Mansfield.
Rosters
Online Now!
Cold
Day for a Scrimmage
March
22, 2006: The
Big Spring Bulldogs came for a COLD visit Memorial Park
yesterday for the final scrimmage of the preseason. Both
the JV & Varsity teams got some good action in. First
game is next Tuesday vs. Red Land!
'Cats
scrum CD East
March
20, 2006: Both
the JV's and varsity teams hosted our former conference rival CD
East in the first of two scrimmages this week. It was a
good workout for both squads. The varsity recieved some
timely hitting & solid pitching, while the JV's hit the ball
very well while scoring 10 runs. Big Spring visits M-burg
today for the second scrimmage of the week.
'Cats
enjoy trip to North Carolina
March
20, 2006: This
past weekend 20 members of the MASH baseball program traveled
south 364 miles south Durham, NC for a warm weekend of workouts.
With temps in the 70's, the 'Cats worked out several times &
had "The Battle of North Carolina" - a series of
inter-squad scrimmages. We also caught some
great ACC baseball action watching Maryland upset UNC, 15-8
& then saw Miami survive Duke 4-3.
At
UNC, we also got a tour of the football facilities, locker room,
and weight room, and the old basketball arena We could not
get into the Dean Dome due to a Care Bear Convention. At Duke,
several member of the team & a few coaches got into Cameron
Indoor Stadium where Coach Stickler got to be Coach K &
shoot a layup!. We tacked back into the cold on Sunday
afternoon. Can't wait for next years trip already! Click
here for some more pictures of the weekend!
|
|
|
|
Coach Sassaman's
team heckling Coach Cos's team! |
North
Carolina Trip 2006
This
past weekend 20 members of the MASH baseball program traveled
south 364 miles south Durham, NC for a warm weekend of workouts.
With temps in the 70's, the 'Cats worked out several times &
had "The Battle of North Carolina" - a series of
inter-squad scrimmages won by Coach Costello's team.
We also caught some great ACC baseball action watching Maryland
upset UNC, 15-8 & then saw Miami survive Duke 4-3.
At
UNC, we also got a tour of the football facilities, locker room,
and weight room, and the old basketball arena We could not
get into the Dean Dome due to a Care Bear Convention. At Duke,
several member of the team & a few coaches got into Cameron
Indoor Stadium where Coach Stickler got to be Coach K &
shoot a lay up!. We tacked back into the cold on Sunday
afternoon. Can't wait for next years trip already!
Here
are some picture form the weekend. Please click on the
picture to make them bigger.
Lift
for Life a huge success
March
4, 2006: This past Saturday, 9 female
& 21 male teams comprised of students from Mechanicsburg,
Boiling Springs, West Perry & Bishop McDevitt High Schools
completed in the 2nd Annual MASH Lift for Life. The
team competed in a 10-event weight lifting course. This
event was raised over $10,000 for the Kidney Cancer
Association.
MASH
Baseball would like to thank all of the teams & volunteers
for an outstanding day in remembering Coach Shirley.
Thursday,
January 26, 2006
Coach
Shirley named to West Shore Sports Hall of Fame
West
Shore Hall will induct seven this weekend
Some
midstate sports legends will be honored at 6 p.m. Saturday at
the Radisson Camp Hill.
That's
when the West Shore Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of
Fame will hold its 23rd annual induction banquet.
The
guest speaker for the ceremony will be former Philadelphia
Phillies player Greg Gross, a graduate of Red Land. More
January
25, 2005
Lift
For Life Scheduled
The
2nd Annual MASH Lift For Life to benefit the Kidney Cancer
Association has been scheduled for March 4, 2006 in the MASH
Fitness Center. Click
here for a registration form! Please come out to
remember our former head Coach Don Shirley & support a great
cause!
December
14, 2005
McAllister
named Head Baseball Coach
Asst.
Baseball Coach Clay McAllister was approved last night by the
School Board as the new Head Baseball coach. A West Perry
& a Western Maryland College grad, Coach McAllister has been
an assistant coach for the past 9 years under Don Shirley
serving as the varsity pitching coach.
MASH
Baseball is extremely sad to announce the passing of Head Coach
Don Shirley. Coach was an outstanding roll model for the
hundreds of student athletes he lead during a 34 year career on
the baseball field and in the classroom. Our thoughts
& prayers are with the Shirley family during this time.
Remembering
a legend
Tuesday,
October 18, 2005
For
The Patriot-News
With
a passion for baseball rivaled only by his commitment to
education, legendary Mechanicsburg coach Don Shirley passed away
last night at his Enola home from symptoms related to kidney
cancer. He was 55.
"He
was certainly a role model and not just for the students, but
the teachers as well," said Mechanicsburg principal Dave
Harris. more
 |
| Don Shirley
played baseball in Shippensburg and went on to coach at
Mechanicsburg Area High School. Services for Shirley,
who died Monday, will be held today. (file photo) |
Coach
Shirley ‘touched lives of thousands’
By
Joseph Cress, October
22, 2005
Cole
Barninger wasn’t doing so well when he joined the
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School baseball team last spring.
Inexperienced
at varsity level play, he felt down on himself.
All that changed when Don Shirley, the Wildcats head baseball
coach, pulled the young catcher aside. The 34-year coaching
veteran had big plans for Barninger — challenging him to step
up to the plate.
“He told me to keep my head up and keep trying no matter what
happened,” says Barninger, now 17 and a senior. “He said
‘Listen, I am looking at you being a top player.’”
From that point on, Barninger’s attitude changed. “I became
more of a leader than a follower. He put it all in perspective
for me.”
Now the teen athlete is among the many people coping with the
loss of an icon in Mechanicsburg baseball.
Shirley, 55, died at home about 5 p.m. Monday after a 12-year
battle with kidney cancer, says MASD Athletic Director Andi
Teeter.
Hard
time for co-workers
The last few days have been hard for those in the school where
Shirley also taught English, mostly to seniors.
“When you walk around and look at the teachers, you don’t
see smiles on their faces,” Barninger says. “You know they
are missing him.”
Barninger was especially inspired, knowing Shirley was a star
catcher both at Shippensburg High School and the former
Shippensburg State College.
“The coach took me under his wing. He taught me the whole
position.” For those who knew and respected Shirley, it is
hard to sort through all the fond memories.
Senior Zach Clouser was hit in the head with a baseball midway
through the 2005 season, putting him out of action with a
concussion.
Shirley sent the infielder a get-well card every week until his
own battle with cancer this summer made it hard to continue. The
cancer that first flared up in 1993 came back with a vengeance
and Shirley went on medical leave.
“He helped to bring my spirits up,” says Clouser, 17, who
remembers a coach who was confident but never arrogant.
“It is not as though he demanded respect,” Clouser says.
“It just came to him naturally.”
Shirley did demand a lot from his players, but did not make the
goals so outrageous they could not be achieved, Clouser says.
Clay McAllister, the team’s assistant baseball coach, says it
has been a tough week as players both past and present remember
Shirley. “He certainly touched the lives of thousands of
kids,” says McAllister, a history teacher, describing Shirley
as a tough yet compassionate leader who made students want to
play and win for him.
Just getting to see the coach at the annual team banquet was a
big thrill for former players, says Doug Erney, junior varsity
head coach who played baseball under Shirley in the late 1980s.
“You knew how hard he worked at being successful,” Erney
says. “As a kid, you did not want to disappoint him.”
Erney adds Shirley had a knack for telling stories and recalling
key plays from the many major games he coached in his career.
“Everybody is feeling the pain of losing him,” says Erney,
now a physical education and drivers education teacher at MASHS.
Harry Mundorff, Carlisle High School’s former baseball coach,
had known Shirley since they played on the same baseball team at
Shippensburg High. Shirley was a few years ahead of Mundorff,
and “a little better than me,” but it wasn’t the last time
the pair would cross paths.
Both gravitated to coaching, and the duo spent many a spring
afternoon sitting in opposing dugouts, schooling their players
on everything from batting stances to life lessons.
“As a coach he was very good,” Mundorff says. “I thought
he was well organized. His kids were disciplined and
fundamentally sound. They liked to play for him, just the way
that he handled himself and I thought he got a lot out of his
talent. I couldn’t say enough good things about him as a
coach.”
“I can’t just believe he’s gone,” he says after a pause.
“I mean, I still expect to see him again.”
Athletic Director Teeter thought she was superstitious until she
met Shirley who, during baseball season, always parked his car
in the same spot.
It was always the last spot in the back front row closest to
Williams Grove Road, and “he would get very upset if anybody
parked there,” she says.
She also remembers a man who had to be the last person to leave
the locker room and followed the same procedure every time in
turning off the lights in the hallway.
Shirley was an outstanding role model and a fighter in the
classroom, on the baseball diamond and against his cancer, she
says. “He was totally dedicated to his profession, coaching
and his family. He gave 150 percent on everything. He fought for
what he believed in.”
David Harris, MASH principal, recalls, “Shirley demanded so
much of himself that you could not help but to be caught up in
that.”
Last
Hurrah for a Hero
|
|
Don
Shirley at the 2005 LFL Media Challenge.
|
|
A round of applause for Don Shirley, the man who
served as the inspiration for Lift For Life.
more.....
|
Edwards
#7 Jersey Retired
January
31, 2005: Mike Edwards with Head Coach Don Shirley
|
