Reirden let go Former Penguins assistant coach Todd Reirden was fred by the Capitals Sunday. B2 MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 Cougars to rely on strength of young players The Charleroi girls soccer team has eight freshmen on its fall roster. By JOSE NEGRON [email protected]

A few things stand out when tak- ing a gander at the Charleroi girls soccer team’s fall roster. First and foremost, the Cougars are dealing with a limited number of players for the fourth year in a row. They currently have 13 players on their roster and of those players, two are seniors, one is a junior and two are sophomores. A youth movement has come to Charleroi, however, as a whopping eight freshmen are set to join the program. All eight are expected to compete at a high level and serve as leaders almost instantly. “I’ve been looking forward to getting these girls up at the high school level for a few years now,” Charleroi head coach Traci Flem- ing said. “They’ve got four years to look forward to and they’re only go- Jenn Codeluppi / MVI Sports ing to get stronger, better and faster. Charleroi forward Bella Carroto (left) and midfelder McKenna “Boots” DeUnger are among the eight freshmen set They are just amazing to watch.” to join the Cougars for the fall season. Charleroi has 13 total players on its roster. Many of Fleming’s freshmen have been playing together for quite team, they have to bring some of past. Meanwhile, the young players and you don’t get to come out for midfeld. some time at the cup level. Because the older, less experienced girls up will be counted upon to soak up a a break,” Fleming said. “I’m just “A lot of (the scoring) is going to of their camaraderie and ability to to their level, so they have worked majority of the playing time, leav- worried about the injuries and keep- fall on Bella Carroto’s shoulders. play off one another, Fleming be- very well with them.” ing them more susceptible to inju- ing them safe and healthy through- She is a natural forward,” Flem- lieves positive results will come While Fleming is excited about ries and fatigue. out the season.” ing said. “McKenna’s nickname is sooner rather than later. the infux of young players ready to “No matter how strong we are, I This fall, the Cougars will be ‘boots’ and when you have that type “They know their moves before join the fold at the high school lev- feel like I’m always struggling to led offensively by the freshman of nickname, you know you already their teammate is going to make it at el, she doesn’t have a ton of depth get those two or three more players duo of Bella Carroto and McKen- have some big shoes to fll. She will this point,” Fleming said. “They all to rely on. to give us a more solid team be- na “Boots” DeUnger. Carroto will control the midfeld for me and I am work so well together and they’re A lack of numbers at the youth and cause these freshmen are going to have the opportunity to make her going to rely on her for scoring as very encouraging. Even though middle school levels have left the get beat up this year. It’s hard when presence felt at the forward posi- well. they are the younger girls on the Cougars looking for more in years you’re playing three games a week tion, while DeUnger will lead the COUGARS • B3 Yough girls still plan to contend in 2A Despite losing a plethora of seniors, the Cougars still have a ton of talent left on their roster. By JONATHAN GUTH MVI Sports

Yough lost a tremendous amount of scoring, defense and goalkeeping from last year’s team that played in the WPIAL championship game, but ninth-year head coach Dann Appolonia is confdent his squad can be just as solid this upcoming season. Appolonia, a Ringgold graduate, led the Cougars to the girls’ district fnal in EF football shut down Class 2A last year for the frst time in program history. Yough lost the match, 1-0, in double overtime to North due to potential Catholic, and then saw its magical season come to an end in the frst round of the COVID-19 exposure PIAA playoffs to Villa Ma- Ben Bamford / MVI Sports ria out of Erie by a score of Yough’s McKenzie Pritts returns for her sophomore season after The team will not be able are slated to begin today af- 4-2. The Cougars fnished scoring 25 goals last season en route to being named the Mon Valley to start heat acclimation ter the PIAA voted Friday to their season at 17-3-1 and Independent-BeeGraphix Fab 15 Newcomer of the Year. practices until Friday. allow fall sports to go on as were 10-1-1 in Section 3. scheduled despite Gov. Tom Yough, those girls would Yough had eight of its se- All-Section performer Sara “I think, in every class, By JOSE NEGRON Wolf’s recommendation to have been starters or heavy niors from last year’s team Krofchek graduated. Krof- we’ve had girls that had an [email protected] postpone all recreational and graduate, including Justine chek had eight clean sheets contributors. They are wait- experience of a deep run in interscholastic sports until Appolonia, who is the Cou- and made 95 saves last year. ing in the wing and chomp- the playoffs. Last year, it While the Elizabeth For- Jan. 1. gars’ all-time leading scorer “We did lose a lot of se- ing at the bit to step up.” was the frst time making it ward football team has shut EF won’t be able to start with 118 career goals. Ap- niors, but I am encouraged Despite losing fve key to the fnals, but it was our down practices due to a pos- its heat practices until Fri- polonia, who had 33 tal- by what I’m seeing in the pieces of a champion- third time in the past eight sible exposure to COVID-19, day and will have to continue lies and 21 assists last year, early part of the year here,” ship-caliber squad, Appolo- years of making to the semi- players are expected to return them into next week. PIAA is now playing soccer at coach Appolonia said. “We nia believes the newly-in- fnals. Yough has been in the to the feld later this week. rules state teams must go Youngstown State. lost those players, but by serted starters will be able playoffs 10 years straight, Superintendent Dr. Todd through fve straight days of Justine’s twin-sister, Gi- no means was the cupboard to jump right in where those so anytime you put that type Keruskin said a high school heat practices before being anna, was an All-WPIAL bare. We have some very players left off last year. of run together, that type of student recently tested pos- allowed to work in full pads. and All-Section perform- strong returning players who “I go into every year and expectation is there, and you itive for the virus, and pro- EF’s football team isn’t the er at midfeld. Yough also contributed last year, and we say, ‘There is going to be a are never just happy to get to tocols from the Allegheny only local team to have prac- needs to replace All-WPIAL have a lot of girls that, in my champion, and there is no the playoffs.” County Health Department tices shut down due to poten- and All-Section defender opinion, didn’t see a whole reason why it can’t be us,’” Yough had many talented are being followed. tial exposure to the coronavi- Amber Biros, who is play- lot of time last year, but it Appolonia said. “We want players that didn’t see as “There was a possible ex- rus. ing for Carlow University. was only because there were to make sure we not only get much action last year due to posure, so all the parents and Days after the Belle Ver- Hadley Sleith, who was on so many strong players in to the playoffs, but we make the team being loaded with coaches that could have been non Area cheerleading squad the backline, was named to front of them. a run. We have had years ability, but Appolonia gives exposed were contacted and and volleyball team canceled the All-Section team, and is “I think in my nine years where we were knocked out a great deal of credit to those we’re following a 14-day practice until Sept. 2, the girls continuing to play in college of coaching here, there was in the frst round. We never individuals for pushing the quarantine,” said Keruskin, soccer team also shut down for Clarion University. probably only one other year had a period where we were starters in practice. adding that the quarantine practices, according to BVA The Cougars will have where we had that strong knocked out of the playoffs “There were players who period will conclude Friday. Athletic Director Matt Hum- a new keeper starting, as of a team. In most years at multiple years in a row. YOUGH • B2 Heat acclimation practices bert.

KNOW YOUR TEAM To get your sports scores into the Mon Valley Independent, Jeremy Sellew José Negron call or email our Sports Department. Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor 724-314-0040 or [email protected]. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 - B3 Six Steelers players miss practice due to testing concerns James Conner, Maurkice tive results from teams using workout Sunday. Pouncey and Stephon the same laboratory in New The Browns said in a state- Tuitt were among the Jersey. ment that results indicated “We are working with our multiple “presumptive pos- players absent from testing partner, BioRefer- itive cases” that included Saturday night’s practice. ence, to investigate these coaches, players and support By JOE RUTTER results, while the clubs work personnel. to confrm or rule out the Buffalo Bills general man- Trib Total Media positive tests,” the NFL said. ager Brandon Beane was told “Clubs are taking immediate his team was one of “10 or Six Pittsburgh Steelers precautionary measures as 11” dealing with potential players were absent from outlined in the NFL-NFL- false positives because of practice Saturday night at PA’s health and safety proto- testing that had gone “hay- Heinz Field because of coro- cols to include contact trac- wire.” navirus testing irregularities, ing, isolation of individuals The Steelers placed four but general manager Kevin and temporarily adjusting the players on the reserve/ Colbert said Sunday that all schedule, where appropriate. COVID-19 list during the have been cleared to attend The other laboratories used initial testing phase at the team activities. for NFL testing have not had beginning of training camp. “None of those players similar results.” No player spent more than were required to be placed The NFL uses BioRef- a week on the list, and the on Reserve/COVID-19 and erence for all coronavirus Steelers haven’t had a play- will be returning to meetings testing, but labs across the er test positive in the ensuing today and practice on Mon- country handle the tests so two weeks of conditioning day,” Colbert said in a state- teams can get results within and practices. Padded work- ment. 24 hours. outs began July 28. The Steelers conducted a The New York Jets revealed “The league is doing a great night practice at Heinz Field. they had 10 false positives job,” veteran defensive end Among the players that did from testing, and the Chica- Tyson Alualu said. “I know not practice were running AP go Bears reported nine such they are learning from this. back James Conner, center Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is pictured during practice last week cases. The Jets canceled a It’s probably better that they Maurkice Pouncey, defen- in Pittsburgh. walk-through Saturday but catch this early on and kind sive end Stephon Tuitt, guard practiced Sunday after the of take care of it, which I David DeCastro, safety Ter- previously had missed prac- were “caught up in COVID here to it to the fullest,” Tom- previous positive tests results know they will. It’s tough. rell Edmunds and wide re- tice time because of injury. procedures,” but he did not lin said. were negative upon retesting. You never want to be a false ceiver Diontae Johnson. All Coach Mike Tomlin ac- provide specifcs. The NFL released a state- The Bears pushed back their positive and miss some of the but ouncey were on the feld knowledged Saturday night “We are going to exercise ment Sunday after the scheduled practice time a important reps, whether it’s during practice, and DeCas- that some of his players did all caution like we normally league’s daily coronavirus few hours, and the Cleveland at practice or especially on tro, Edmunds and Johnson not practice because they do and make sure that we ad- testing returned several posi- Browns canceled a planned game day.”

COUGARS FROM B1 “They work well together. I have never seen two players play off of Polanco leads Bucs to sweep of Brewers each other as well as I’ve seen these two girls work together. They just know where to be and where the other one is going to be 100% of the By JERRY DIPAOLA Polanco’s fourth single and by relieved time on the feld. Trib Total Media of the season and second Polanco to start the sec- rubaker in the ffth and Charleroi’s forward group also includes freshman Marissa Stiffy, in two days. ond. pitched out of trouble by sophomore Lesley Vasquez and junior Emily Bittner. Joining DeUnger When the rain moved The Pirates (7-17) swept That gave the Pirates getting Orlando Arcia to as midfelders on the Cougars roster are sophomore Sophia Iacovino out of PNC Park after an the three-game series, runs in six of the past sev- ground into a double play and seniors Madison Duhon and Shaley Barber. 85-minute delay to start their frst sweep of the sea- en innings after their 12-5 and striking out Christian Defensively, Charleroi is faced with having to replace former stand- the game Sunday after- son. Richard Rodriguez victory Saturday. Yelich on an 86-mph slid- out lexia ohnson. leming will do so with four frst-year high school noon, prospects looked worked a one-two-three Starter JT Brubaker also er. bright for another Pitts- ninth inning to earn his offered hope, getting 10 players. But a throwing error by Freshman Taylor Ramsdale is expected to lead a defensive unit that burgh Pirates victory. second career save. outs fve strikeouts be- third baseman JT Riddle also consists of classmates Camryn Musser, Ella Sypolt and Aralyn And after a mid-game Early in the game, the fore allowing a . Hartley. hiccup, Gregory Polanco, suddenly resurgent Pirates By the sixth inning, the and a two-run homer off “Taylor will fall right into (Lexi’s) spot. She is one of the best defen- whose bat has come alive bats opened a 2-0 lead Brewers had a 4-2 lead, the left-feld foul pole by sive backs I have seen come along in a long time,” Fleming said. “She in recent games, belted with single runs in the frst frst chasing rubaker Smoak gave the Brewers is strong with both her right and left foot, she’s smart and she knows a two-run homer off the and second innings. Adam with single runs in the their frst lead. how to get down and play good defense. She just has it all.” Milwaukee Brewers’ Da- Frazier and Jarrod Dyson fourth and ffth on an I The Pirates added a run In addition to her role on defense, Fleming noted that Musser will vid Phelps in the eighth in- provided RBI singles after double by Justin Smoak in the sixth when Riddle likely serve as a valuable asset in the midfeld, too. ning — the decisive blow a leadoff double by Erik and a run-scoring single doubled ahead of Bryan “She is a very skilled player with a lot of speed that I want to utilize,” in the 5-4 victory. It was onale in the frst and a by Omar Narvaez. Reynolds’ RBI single. Fleming added. or the third straight season, leming is faced with having to fnd a new goalkeeper. And she believes she’s found a good one in Addison Conrad, a fresh- man who has never played the position before. “When you’re looking for a keeper, it’s hard with girls because not every girl wants to get in net. Addison stepped up big time for us this summer, leming said. I hate to lose her speed on the feld, but when you have a kid looking at you saying, ‘I’ll go in the net, coach,’ you have to try and put them in there.” Conrad has benefted this summer from the tutelage of former Charleroi standout Sydney Toth. Toth, who has joined Fleming’s staff as an assistant coach, has worked with Conrad as the young keeper prepares to make her debut in net. The mental toughness is the frst step, but Syd has been working with her on the basics,” Fleming said. “It’s a lot to catch up on at the high school level and we have been working her hard, but she has hung in there with us. I think we are going to be very surprised with how well she does.” Last season marked the end of an impressive streak for the Charleroi girls soccer program. The Cougars fnished the year with a 4- overall record and 4- mark in Section 2- before missing out on the playoffs for the frst time since 2009. Now, Charleroi is looking to play postseason soccer once again. Standing in its way are Section 2 foes Bentworth, Beth-Center, Chartiers-Houston, Geibel Catholic, Monessen, Seton LaSalle and Steel Valley. “It’s always my goal to get to the playoffs. It was disheartening last AP year to not make it even though the girls put everything they had into Gregory Polanco, right, celebrates with (19) after driving him in with a two- it,” said Fleming. “I’m excited to get back into play this year because I think we have a good shot.” run home run against the Brewers in the fourth inning Sunday.