Sep 3, 2019 4 min read

Wilder wins

No. 8,000 at MeadowsMike Wilder collected career win 8,000 Tuesday at The Meadows when he drove Music N Small Talk to victory in Race 13. He achieved his milestone in dramatic fashion, winning six on the day and sweeping the final three events on the card.

“You always dream about getting milestones and winning a lot of races, but it’s a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication and a lot of help along the way,” Wilder said. “I’ve worked for a lot of good barns that had a lot of good horses. I’m very blessed and fortunate to be able to do what I’ve done.”

A native of Springfield, Ohio, Wilder, 47, began jogging horses when he was 8 under the tutelage of his stepfather, David Ritter, who trained Standardbreds at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Wilder was a phenomenon at Lebanon Raceway, where he won 13 driving titles, and he captured two driving championships at Scioto Downs before moving his tack to The Meadows in 2001.

Throughout his career, Wilder has been a model of consistency. He’s piloted at least 198 winners in each of the last 26 years, and he’s earned more than $1.1 million in purses for the last 21 years consecutively.

Boys soccer

Zack Ankney scored in the opening 10 minutes off a Benett Bauer assist and Beth-Center defeated Brownsville, 2-0, in a Section 4-AA game.

Bauer doubled the lead for Beth-Center (1-0, 2-1) with a goal of his own 15 minutes into the second half.

n Waynesburg scored three first-half goals, including two by Gavin Benson, and blanked Yough 3-0 in the Section 3-AA opener on the Raiders’ home field.

Dalton Woods had a goal and an assist for Waynesburg (1-0, 2-1). Benson had an assist on the goal by Woods.

Chance Henkins was the goalkeeper for Waynesburg.

n Nate Witowsky scored two goals, powering McGuffey to a 4-1 victory over visiting East Allegheny in Section 1-AA match that was the Highlanders’ season opener.

Cameron Boley and Justin Shriver each had a goal for McGuffey, which led 2-20 at halftime.

n Tommy Samosky, Nino Civitate and Owen Maher each scored a goal and Canon-McMillan started Class 4A Section 2 play with a 3-0 road victory over Bethel Park.

The Big Macs improved to 3-0 overall. Bethel Park is 0-1, 1-1.

n Daniel Sassak scored his sixth goal of the season, from 30 yards, and with 14 minutes remaining, to give undefeated Belle Vernon a 2-1 victory over visiting Ringgold in the Section 3-AAA opener.

Tyler Kovatch scored in the first half to give Belle Vernon a 1-0 lead.

Goalkeeper T.J. Watson was busy for the Leopards (1-0, 3-0) as he had to make 16 saves.

Ringgold is 0-1 and 1-2.

n Brian Hustava scored four goals and Jerzy Timlin had a hat trick as Bentworth routed California, 11-0, in a Section 4-A game.

Josh Ambrose, Ryan Miller, Jason Hillberry and Jaxon Selvoski also scored for Bentworth (1-0, 2-1).

California is 0-1 in section and 1-2 overall.

n Chartiers-Houston scored the equalizer in the first half and the Bucs blanked visiting Brentwood in the second half to settle for a 1-1 tie in the Section 4-A opener.

Ben Betz’s goal gave a 1-0 lead to Brentwood, which was playing its season opener. Austin Arnold tied the score with a goal and Bucs goalkeeper Chris Rethage, who made seven saves, blanked Brentwood the rest of the way. C-H is 0-0-1 in section and 2-0-1 overall.

Girls field hockey

Veronica Schratz’s hat trick led Peters Township to a 5-0 shutout victory over Oakland Catholic.

Mia Pugliano and Cassidy King also scored for the Indians.