Timko makes coaching debut in exhibition
(Photo courtesy California University) California University pitcher Meghan Uher was one of 21 players at the Rebellion tryout Friday afternoon at Consol Energy Park.
(Photo courtesy California University) California University pitcher Meghan Uher will return to Consol Energy Park today to try to win a roster spot with the Pennsylvania Rebellion.
It might not be the way they do things at Rider University but Jaci Timko didn’t mind.
Timko, a standout at Robert Morris and Chartiers-Houston High School, was asked by Pennsylvania Rebellion head coach Craig Montvidas to coach an all-star team against the Rebellion Friday night at Consol Energy Park.
Timko, who was named head coach at Rider earlier this year, got the lineup card out about 20 minutes before game time for a nine-inning scrimmage, and had a blast in the Rebellion’s 7-2 win.
“I’m getting married in August and this is a rite of passage (for coaches),” Timko joked. “I was actually tending to some wedding details and Craig asked me if I wanted to come and help out. It’s crazy. By day, I’m doing wedding plans and at night, I’m coaching softball. It’s really fun coming back and seeing familiar faces.”
Gia Zeremenko, a sophomore at Pitt and a graduate of Canon-McMillan, and Olivia Gray, a freshman for the Panthers and graduate of Trinity High School, joined Morgan Matetic, a senior at George Washington and a graduate of Peters Township High School, on an All-Star team that played an exhibition game against the Pennsylvania Rebellion Friday.
“It was a little hectic. I didn’t know who was playing until 20 minutes after I got here,” said Timko, who participated in a Rebellion tryout two years ago. “It was like sudden impact. They just went out and played some ball. This is a fun atmosphere.”
Zeremenko had the All-Stars’ first hit, a single to center field in the fourth, and Matetic got on twice with a walk and single. Gray grounded out twice.
“It was a lot quicker pace,” said Zeremenko. “A lot of the girls, you played against them before. It was cool to compete against them.”
Gray and Zeremenko were recruited for the game by the Pitt coaches.
“It was a really cool experience,” said Gray. “It’s a higher caliber of play, so getting a taste of that is amazing. It’s exciting to play against those type of players.”
Montvidas felt the Rebellion played like, well, the first organized game of the season.
“There are some to-do things on our list,” said Montvidas. “We have some speed. Good result. I was just looking for no injuries. It’s the first game and we have a long way to go.”
The two teams play again tonight. First pitch is 7 p.m.
Uher makes pitch for roster spot
Meghan Uher brought more than her spikes and glove to Friday afternoon’s tryout for the Pennsylvania Rebellion.
She brought a rather unusual pitch: an underhanded knuckleball.
Uher, a senior at California University and a right-handed starter on the Vulcans softball team, was one of about 21 players who participated in this two-day event hoping to earn a spot on the Rebellion.
“My knuckleball was working really well,” said Uher. “Me and my dad used to throw it in the backyard and he would throw it overhand. I realized I could throw it as well.”
Uher finished up a productive career at Cal, going 14-2 with a 2.02 ERA and striking out 54 in 93 2/3 innings on a team that went 38-6 and advanced to the regional tournament.
“I don’t want my career to end,” said Uher, a graduate of Connellsville High School. “That’s why I came here.”
Uher began her college career at Pitt-Greensburg but transferred to Cal after two years. She was 10-3 as a junior with a 2.30 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings. Her go-to pitch was the knuckleball.
“I saw some good players,” said Rebellion head coach Craig Montvidas. “I saw players who were good athletes and some who are good softball players and some who were both.”