A trio of sophomores and a freshman led the area contingent at Saturday’s PIAA Cross Country Championships in Hershey.

ä Farrell 57, Kennedy Catholic 6 — At Butala Stadium, Hermitage, coach Jarrett Samuels’ visiting Steelers scored at will in building a 51-6 bulge by the break of the Region 1-A contest.

Any win over arch-rival Hickory normally would jump-start a celebration for Sharon High and head football coach Bob Fromm. But the 6th-year Tigers’ taskmaster’s tears told the real story following Friday night’s 14-7 success at Hornet Stadium.

The Mercer Mustangs and Greenville Trojans locked up probable spots in the District 10 football playoffs with victories Friday night.

By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor

OHSAA grid playoffs commence this weekend, and in a sense, so do the Buckeye State’s commonwealth counterparts.
Though the PIAA playoffs do not officially begin just yet, a handful of Mercer County clubs will play pivotal postseason preludes — particularly those hoping to be invited to the District 10’s parity, er, party.

By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor

WITH THE annual District 10 Cross Country Championships in the books, November’s first weekend means Mercer County’s contingent will head to Hershey in hopes of building on past performances at the PIAA Championships.

By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor

THE BATON has been passed, at least metaphorically. Mike McWilliams, who gained greatness at Grove City High, then the University of Notre Dame as a cross country runner, and current standout Jake Kildoo have connected.

At Meadville’s “House of Thrills,” the Sharpsville Blue Darlings split a pair of matches Wednesday night, sweeping Mercer, 25-8, 25-3, but bowing to Maplewood, 28-26, 20-25, 15-25.

By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor

IT’S THE small school that boasts a big heart. What speed is to football, hand-eye coordination is to baseball and core strength is to hockey, you have to have heart to compete in cross country.
And when it comes to developing harriers with heart, there’s none in Mercer County better than Jamestown High.
During the recent District 10 Championships the Muskies’ Derrick Mausser became the tiny hamlet’s latest harrier to qualify for the annual PIAA Championships.

Area soccer teams went 0-2 on Tuesday in the District 10 playoffs. In Class A boys, the Mercer Mustangs suffered a 2-0 loss to the Lakers of Mercyhurst Prep. In Class AA girls, Wilmington suffered a 9-1 loss to Harbor Creek.

Area teams went 1-for-3 on Monday as the District 10 soccer playoffs kicked off. The lone winner was the Hickory boys, who notched a thrilling shootout victory over the Warren Dragons.

The pairings for the District 10 Volleyball Championships have been announced with 3 Mercer County teams in Class A action and Wilmington in AA play at Meadville High School.

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

MOST NFL TEAMS look forward to their “bye week.” The banged-up Pittsburgh Steelers can use one this weekend.
The Steelers showed their resolve when they defeated Minnesota last week, turning key turnovers into victory. While Pittsburgh appears to be the luckiest team in the league, returning a fumble and interception for touchdowns, a lot of it has to do with their great ability to take advantage of their opportunities.

Some of the great nicknames in team sports include the Mud Hens and Mud Dawgs. So, perhaps now the appropriate moniker for West Middlesex High’s harriers should be “Mudders.”