Tomorrow on RSW, I’ll interview local writer George Guido. George has just released his highly anticipated book: “Alle-Kiski Sports History: A Century of Sports in Western Pennsylvania’s A-K Valley”. Tonight we’ll learn what’s in the book and where you can get a copy. It should be an entertaining show as George will tell us some details about the book. George has been involved in local sports since 1971. I’ll ask George about why he decided to write a book and what his favorite stories from the book are. He even has some book signings upcoming, and we’ll talk about those too. Remember if can’t watch the show live, you can go to the “Video on Demand” section of familylifetv.com to view past shows in their entirety.
Book Signings - Borders at Pgh Mills
2/12 - 2pm to 5pm & 2/14 - 1pm to 4pm
Once I get more information about the book, I’ll post it here.
Tonight will be a historic night for the Kittanning Basketball Program, as they name the gymnasium, Lt. Charles T. Hutchison Memorial Gymnasium. Hutchison is widely regarded as the best basketball player in Kittanning history. If you’re thinking about going I would recommend arriving before 7:00pm. A lot of members of the 1960 Wildcat Basketball Team will be in attendance. It will be interesting to see what the new signage looks like. It should be a proud moment for the high school.
The Wildcats are looking for their first section win tonight against Deer Lakes. You would think with all the festivities Kittanning will do everything possible to cap the night off with a win.
Kittanning will start the 2010 football season off in Ford City on Sept 3rd. The game is official, then the Wildcats host Quad-A school Plum, before going to Peters Township. Being paired with two Quad-A teams is a surprise. Kittanning will start section play at Highlands on 9/24. They’re the only section team with three exhibition games before the section starts. They only have 4 four home games - Plum 9/10, Mars, 10/1, Knoch 10/15, and Indiana 10/29. Ford City will travel to South Allegheny on the 9/10, before starting section play at Deer Lakes. The Sabers have four section home games – Shady Side 9/24, Freeport 10/1, West Shamokin 10/15, and Apollo Ridge 10/22. Feel free to give your comments about the schedules.
9/3 - @ Ford City
9/10 - Plum
9/17 - @ Peters Township
9/24 -@ *Highlands
10/1 - *Mars
10/8 - @ *Valley
10/15 -*Knoch
10/22 - @ *Hampton
10/29 - * Indiana
* Section Game
Post Your Thoughts on the Schedule!!!
9/3 - Kittanning
9/10 - @ South Allegheny
9/17 - @ *Deer Lakes
9/24 - *Shady Side
10/1 - *Freeport
10/8 - @ *Summit Acd.
10/15 -*West Shamokin
10/22 - *Apollo Ridge
10/29 - @ Burrell
* Section Game
Post Your Thoughts on the Schedule!!!
The best rivalry in Armstrong County since the turn of the millennium has with out question been Apollo Ridge vs. Ford City in girl’s basketball. Thursday Night’s overtime win by Ford City was best local game of the year. Apollo Ridge was 15-1 coming into the game, and they beat Ford City by 21 points earlier in the month. The Lady Sabers won Thursday’s contest 54-48 in overtime. Last year’s two meeting were both decided by a basket too. Each year we get a home and away game, and normally playoff positioning or a conference title is at stake in those games. There is just nothing like the longevity of this rivalry in local sports. It looks like it will continue well into the future.
Kittanning Hockey will a have very important home game tonight at 6:15 against Knoch. Kittanning will be looking to bounce back from a 4-3 loss Monday night to Serra Catholic. However more importantly, Kittanning is battling to have the top record in the 16 team Western PIHL. In theory Kittanning needs to win out and hope Mars drops a game. If the Wildcats finish as the second seed, they’ll more than likely have to go through both Serra and Mars for the title. Kittanning (13-2) defeated Knoch earlier in the year, but the Knights will have a lot confidence after defeating Mars. The game should show if gap between teams is starting to close.
Also don’t forget the Ford City girls will host an undefeated Apollo Ridge tonight too. It’s the biggest game of the year for the Lady Sabers
The last week in January often determines if your team is fighting for a post season birth or looking towards next season. In basketball the Ford City Boys really need a home win against Riverview on Tuesday to keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s even more exciting in girls basketball as Freeport, Ford City, West Shamokin, and Kittanning are all fighting for playoff spots. In wrestling Kittanning looks to be a team on the rise, and will meet Shady Side, Burrell, and Highlands on Wednesday to determine their seed for the WPIAL Team Tournament. While Kittanning Hockey is already in the playoffs, pay attention their game tonight at Serra Catholic. Serra and Mars are probably the only two teams capable of knocking Kittanning off in the playoffs.
Football Realignment for the 2010 and 2011 seasons couldn’t have gone better all things considered for Kittanning and Ford City. Starting with Kittanning, they do not have any far road trips, which is great for fans and the home gate. Secondly they’re in a section with only 7 teams meaning they only need to be better then three teams to make the playoffs. They already know Valley, then they’ll eye two from the Highlands, Knoch, Indiana group. As for Ford City, they lose two of their top competitors in Kittanning and Valley. They’ll almost a playoff team by default now. Kittanning and Ford City look set to play on the opening week. The WPIAL will assign crossover games against teams from another AAA section for Kittanning’s other two non section games. Since Kittanning’s section has an odd number of teams one of these games will be mid season and the other will be week #2.
Ford City if will probably be scheduled a cross over games against another “AA” school during week #2. The same principles will be applied to other WPIAL Schools.
Great news for Kittanning, no far road trips, and they missed the big power houses. Possibly the easiest AAA Section.
Kittanning
Hampton
Highlands
Indiana
Knoch
Mars
Valley
No new teams in the Allegheny Conference, just the lose of Kittanning and Valley. No local team can really complain about this. Ford City will have two open dates, so hopefully they’ll schedule Kittanning.
Apollo-Ridge
Burrell
Deer Lakes
Ford City
Freeport
Shady Side
Summit Academy
West Shamokin
More on WPIAL Re-Alignment to come in the following days.
Feel Free to post your thoughts!
