Peters Twp. players on Pa. team for lacrosse showcase
James Minton stumbled upon lacrosse as a fourth-grader after he attended a high school game with a friend. One year later, he signed up to play the sport. The speed, physicality and unique skill set intrigued Minton.
Maxwell Buzzelli had a neighbor in Annapolis, Md., who introduced him to the sport when he was only 6 years old. Lacrosse’s need for a balance of athleticism and intelligence grabbed his attention. He has spent the past 12 years playing organized lacrosse, while attending camps and showcases.
The two are examples of how lacrosse is growing in Western Pennsylvania. The WPIAL adopted girls lacrosse in 2004 and began sponsoring the boys in 2009. The number of girls teams has grown from 23 to 38 for next season, and the boys have added 11 teams over the past six seasons.
In its most recent survey, US Lacrosse named Pennsylvania as one of the fastest-growing states in terms of participation at all levels. Though more kids are playing the sport, finding a way to compete in college is a challenge.
Minton and Buzzelli – both seniors at Peters Township High School – have spent countless hours practicing, playing in AAU games and marketing themselves to colleges with the dream of playing at the next level.
The pair will have a chance to show their skills in front of NCAA coaches next week after they were two of 25 players selected to represent Pennsylvania at the 2015 Brine National Lacrosse Classic in Midlothian, Va., June 29-July 2.
The event brings together the top high school lacrosse players across the country to compete in a tournament, where regional teams compete in front of college coaches.
Minton, a defender for the Indians, competed in the event last year when Pennsylvania lost its two play-in games to Washington D.C. and Virginia, two lacrosse hotbeds.
“Playing last year was exhilarating for me,” Minton said. “Getting to play with guys from Maryland to see players who have been playing for 10 years was great. Then it came to the guys from Pennsylvania, and we’re all fairly new to the sport. It’s just great to get the opportunity to play with and against good players.”
Buzzelli, an attacker, was encouraged by Minton to try out for this year’s tournament. He did not know what to expect, but made the cut after area and regional tryouts.
“It was nerve-racking at first, but once we got on the field, it was fun,” Buzzelli said. “I think if we go out there and beat some of these teams that it will get college coaches looking at Pennsylvania more and at some of these kids who want to play at the next level.”
Both carry a resume of at least two years playing in WPIAL Division I, including the 2015 season that ended with Peters Township losing to Pine-Richland in the playoffs. Despite the district’s growing participation for lacrosse, it is not at the top of NCAA coaches’ list for finding talent.
Philadelphia is now highly regarded, and states across the Atlantic coast draw the most interest; but Minton and Buzzelli are hoping to help put Pittsburgh-area lacrosse on the map.
“Lacrosse is a lot different for getting recruited,” Minton said. “You almost have to force your way into the coach’s mind. You have to say, ‘I’ll be here at this time, doing this, here’s my information and look at me.’ You almost have to bug them to look at you.”
Playing at one of the top showcases for high school lacrosse players should speak volumes.
Virtue resigns from C-M hockey
For the second time in two years, the Canon-McMillan Hockey Association is searching for a new varsity head coach.
Terry Virtue, who led the Big Macs to the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup, resigned after two seasons with Canon-McMillan to relocate to Worchester, Mass., the city in which he made the biggest impact during his professional career. He was inducted into the Worchester Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
Virtue had a 28-14-2 record in his two seasons with Canon-McMillan and won the second Penguins Cup championship in the organization’s history – the first was 2010.
Virtue played 888 games in 14 seasons in the American Hockey League between 1993-2007, ranking 17th all-time in games played. He won a pair of Calder Cups, the league’s championship trophy, and retired following the 2006-07 season. He appeared in five NHL games with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins over two seasons.
Before taking the job at Canon-McMillan, Virtue was an assistant coach with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League
PT softball players to PSAC
Two Peters Township softball players will continue their academic and athletic careers in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Athletic Conference.
Carly Konopka, a pitcher/left fielder, will play softball at Mercyhurst University in Erie. Konopka averaged seven strikeouts per game this spring, while batting .345 with two home runs, 14 RBI and 19 runs.
Kellyn Perich won’t be far from her teammate. The pitcher/center fielder will attend Gannon University to play for the Golden Knights. Perich, a second team selection on the Observer-Reporter All-District Team as a junior in 2014, batted .321 with nine RBI, 13 runs and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per game as a senior.