May 4, 2016 4 min read

As the high fly ball headed for shallow left field, everyone at Burkett Complex in Robinson Township thought it was a routine play – either the ball would be caught for the second out of the inning or it would drop for a base hit.

What happened that April 22 afternoon was unlike anything Scott Henson witnessed in more than 25 years of coaching. McGuffey shortstop Dakota Wilkinson and left fielder Jared Whirlow – both seniors – collided going for the fly ball hit by Montour’s Aaron Crist.

Both laid on the ground hurt and bleeding.

“They arrived at the same time at the ball, and it was absolutely one of the worst noises I’ve heard in my entire athletic career, not just my coaching,” said Henson, the Highlanders’ head coach. “I’ve never been on a field and saw something or heard something like that.”

As soon as the two players collided, Montour third base coach Dale Vietmeier, who is police chief of Robinson Township, ran to check on the players before calling for an ambulance.

The game was delayed 45 minutes as everyone anxiously waited for ambulances to arrive. Montour’s coaches and parents provided blankets as the two teams stood quietly, looking toward the outfield where the players were being treated.

When Henson went to check on his two senior captains, he couldn’t contain his emotions. Whirlow tried to stand up, insisting the collision had no ill effects on him. The fear of not knowing what lies ahead is nothing new for Whirlow. He lost sight in his right eye two years ago when a piece of wood flew into his eye during shop class.

“Honestly, I don’t exactly remember what happened,” Whirlow said. “I remember the trainer putting gauze on my face and once they said an ambulance was on the way, it was scary. I was more concerned about Dakota.”

The two were taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where Whirlow received 65 stitches in his face and lip, and was diagnosed with a concussion. Wilkinson broke his orbital bone, needed stitches to his forehead and also was diagnosed with a concussion.

After the players were taken from the field by ambulance, the two teams gathered for a moment of silence. Montour scored six runs in the inning and held on for a 12-4 win.

“It seemed like an eternity that they were laying on the field,” Henson said. “It was heartbreaking. Those kids are my kids. It’s even hard to talk about it. I couldn’t even talk to them. For our boys to come back and play four more innings … I don’t know if anyone wanted to be there.”

That day is a distant memory for Whirlow and Wilkinson. Whirlow returned this week in McGuffey’s 2-0 win over Trinity and Wilkinson is back practicing with three games remaining in his senior season.

The two were discharged from the hospital late that night and both attended McGuffey’s game at PNC Park the next day – a loss to Bethel Park.

“We joke about it now,” Whirlow said. “We’re such close friends. We’re going to be roommates and play baseball at Waynesburg (University) together. It’s crazy how it happened. We say that stuff happens, we’re over it and we’re ready to play.

“You have to forget about it and get over it.”

Three local schools hired new varsity boys basketball coaches in recent weeks.

Dave Mislan, who coached Brentwood for the past 11 seasons, was hired to replace Rich Bonnaure as South Fayette’s head coach. Mislan led Brentwood to the WPIAL playoffs in six of 11 seasons and resigned with a 113-131 overall record.

Dwayne Canton was hired to take over as Fort Cherry’s head coach. He replaces Rob Baier, who led the Rangers to a 15-53 record and did not reach the playoffs during that span. They were 3-19 last season.

Avella hired Greg Papson to replace Drew Denham, whose job was opened after he led the Eagles to the postseason in his only year as head coach.

Most recently, Papson was a girls assistant coach at Wash High and Trinity. He resigned as McGuffey’s boys basketball coach following the 2012-13 season.

The WPIAL Individual Track & Field qualifiers will be held next Thursday at five different sites.

The Class AA Southern Qualifier will be held at South Side Beaver, the Class AAA Southern Qualifier at West Mifflin and the Class AAA Central Qualifier is at Norwin.

Each is set to start at 2 p.m.

The top eight finishers in each event qualify for the WPIAL Championships, to be held May 19 at Baldwin.