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MMA fighters reunite, find new home at Unrivaled Athletics

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:37:40 -0400

CAMP HILL -- A group of mixed martial arts fighters have reunited at a new gym in Cumberland County after their former training facility closed last year.

Fighters from Blackman MMA at the Harrisburg Mall are now training at Unrivaled Athletics in Camp Hill under the direction of Jeff Smith, who used to be the head instructor for Blackman.

"It's always funny to say, 'There's a bond you get when someone punches you in the face,' but its true," said Mark Krumrine, a light heavyweight fighter.

Unrivaled Athletics (UA) is the perfect name for this place.

No gym, perhaps in the entire state, has any many professionals training in one place. UA has at least eight -- and they were all in limbo when Blackman's place closed.

"It was really tough because at the time I was under contract for the biggest fight of my career," said Darrell 'The Saint' Horcher, who 7-1 as a light heavyweight.

Enter Smith. He helped open this new facility in February. A fighter himself, he believes having so many pros under one roof makes everyone better.

"If you don't have a variety of people, its hard to get better when you know exactly what the other guy is going to do," said Smith, who lost his last fight on June 14, a decision to Jerrod Sanders in Las Vegas at WSOF 3.

Unrivaled Athletics also offers classes to beginners, women and children.

While most of us see just mats and tattoos, these fighters look at this as a brotherhood. "There's more time invested," said Mike Diggs, another instructor at UA who's also 9-4 as a featherweight. "I care more about the guys that I'm training and they care more about what I'm doing."

Once out on their own, this group now has a place to call home again.

"I (just) really wanted to bring some high quality MMA back to the Harrisburg area," said Smith.

City Islanders fall to Philadelphia Union 4-2 in exhibition

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:47:08 -0400

HARRISBURG -- Brian Carroll, Sebastien Le Toux, Antoine Hoppenot each scored goals as the Philadelphia Union defeated its USL PRO affiliate Harrisburg 4-2 on Tuesday at the Skyline Sports Complex.

Leo Fernandes tip-toed along the right goal line in the 69th minute and found Hoppenot to give Philadelphia a 3-2 lead.

Harrisburg substitute Sainey Touray immediately made his mark in the second half; striking the crossbar and three minutes later scoring on a pass from Lucky Mkosana in the 60th minute to tie the score 2-2.

The Union started a predominantly first-choice lineup and Brian Carroll and Sebastien Le Toux each scored first half goals. Steven Basso also scored for Harrisburg.

Hershey Bears hire Mike Haviland as head coach

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:32:12 -0400

HERSHEY – The Hershey Bears have hired Mike Haviland as the team's new head coach.

Haviland, 45, spent this past season with the Anaheim Ducks organization as an associate coach with the Norfolk Admirals. He won the 2007 Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the American Hockey League's Coach of the Year after leading Norfolk, then a Chicago Blackhawks affiliate, to a 50-22-0-8 record.

“The Hershey Bears have long become synonymous with competing and winning,” Bears President/General Manager Doug Yingst said in a statement. “Mike Haviland has coached his teams to compete and win, and we look forward to having him do the same in Hershey.

"Of the numerous candidates who applied for this position, we felt Mike was the best man to help our team push toward a 12th championship and we welcome him.”

Haviland also served as an assistant coach with the Blackhawks for four years .

Prior to his time in the AHL and NHL, Haviland spent four seasons with the ECHL’s Trenton Titans (2004-05) and Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (2001-04).

He led the Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup championship in 2003 and won another title in Trenton, as well. His cumulative record in four ECHL seasons was 172-81-35.

Haviland is a native of Middletown, New Jersey.

Former Orioles OF Fiorentino retires, replaced by Teahen on Revs roster

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:33:17 -0400

YORK -- Former major league outfielder Jeff Fiorentino has retired and has been replaced on the York Revolution roster by Mark Teahen, the Revolution has announced.

Fiorentino was hitting .328, good for fifth in the Atlantic League, and hit three home runs and drove in 21 runs in 37 games. He batted .320 with four home runs and 27 RBI in 62 games with York in 2012 after joining the Revolution from Oakland's Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

Fiorentino, according to the Revolution, is a soon-to-be father and is already back at his home in Florida. He played parts of four major leagues seasons with Baltimore and Oakland and made his big league debut in 2005.

Teahen, a first round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2002, has played so far this season at both Triple-A Reno (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Triple-A Round Rock (Texas Rangers). He enjoyed his finest big league season with the Kansas City Royals in 2006, batting .290 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI.

Dietrich dedicates Grove win to Leffler; Cisney celebrates Port Royal victory

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:09:21 -0400

HARRISBURG -- Danny Dietrich scored a flag-to-flag victory over the All-Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars Friday at Williams Grove Speedway and dedicated the win to the late Jason Leffler.

With the win, Dietrich became the first repeat 410 sprint car winner of the season at Williams Grove. He earned $5,000 for the 30-lap victory.

"This was was definitely for Leffler; it hit home," said Dietrich, referring to Leffler's death following a sprint car accident in New Jersey last Wednesday. "We were going for it from the get go. I wanted this one pretty bad.

"The impact that he left is pretty remarkable on everybody."

Shawn Jackson led all 20 laps of the ARDC Midget feature for the victory over Brett Arndt.

Hometown boy Dylan Cisney won the first 410-sprint car race of his career Saturday night and he did it at home: his home track of Port Royal Speedway, beating Lancaster's Doug Esh for the $3,000 victory.Esh nearly caught drove Cisney with 10 to go. Chad Layton finished third followed by Blane Heimbach and Joey Hershey.

Jeff Miller Jr. held off Logan Wagner to win the 305-sprint feature, which was also marred by a violent multi-car crash. Several cars flipped down the front stretch and the racing was resumed after a long delay.

Port Royal officials also announced fans, drivers, and race teams had collected $4000 for Leffler's son Charlie. USAC Racing has set up a Charlie Dean Leffler USAC Benevolent Foundation Fund.

Brad McClelland claimed the 25-lap 358 sprint feature Friday at Trail-Way Speedway after passing pole-sitter Joe Trone Jr. on lap twelve. McClelland earned his second straight victory but and 29th career 358 sprint victory at Trail-Way, the most all-time.

Stan Wanner won the Blazer's Body Shop Super Sportsman feature Saturday at Williams Grove.

Information used in this story was provided by Trail-Way, Williams Grove, and Port Royl Speedways. Video used in this report is courtesy of www.SportsPlusVideo.com and Lynn Schaeffer Productions.

Hogue, Layton win Father's Day features at SSP

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:55:13 -0400

NEWBERRYTOWN - Harrisburg's Chad Layton claimed his first SSP Super Sprint Car feature of the season and Austin Hogue won his first 358 main Sunday at the Susquehanna Speedway Park.

Layton, the pole-sitter, held off Tim Shaffer for his fourth career SSP victory. Brent Marks challenged for the lead on lap 9 but mechanical issues forced his car out of the race.

Hogue passed Kevin Nouse for the lead with two laps remaining in the 358 feature. Nouse had grabbed an early lead over Dale Hammaker, another heat race winner, as well.

Video used in this story provided by Dave Zortman/FASTRAX Video.

Shippensburg HS grad Travis Ott joins Nationals

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:52:37 -0400

HARRISBURG -- Shippensburg High School graduate Travis Ott has agreed to terms with the Washington Nationals, the team announced.

Ott, a 6'4" left-handed pitcher, was chosen in the 25th round of the June draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Washington agreed to terms with 21 others players selected in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, as well: right-handed pitcher Jacob Johansen (second round), third baseman Drew Ward (third round), right-handed pitcher Austin Voth (fifth round), third baseman/catcher Cody Gunter (sixth round), first baseman Jimmy Yezzo (seventh round), left-handed pitcher David Napoli (eighth round), right-handed pitcher Jake Joyce (ninth round), shortstop Brennan Middleton (10th round), shortstop David Masters (14th round), center fielder William Ballou (15th round), left-handed pitcher Cory Bafidis (18th round), left-handed pitcher Niko Spezial (19th round), left-handed pitcher Justin Thomas (21st round), shortstop Cody Dent (22nd round), right fielder Garrett Gordon (23rd round), right-handed pitcher Matt DeRosier (24th round), left-handed pitcher Joey Webb (28th round), right-handed pitcher Michael Sylvestri (29th round), right-handed pitcher Ryan Ullman (30th round), shortstop Willie Medina (31st round), left-handed pitcher Jake Walsh (34th round).

Brooks Robinson tees off at Revolution's Brooks Classic

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:50:01 -0400

YORK -- Brooks Robinson did more than just share his name, he also took some swings at York Revolution's Brooks Robinson Classic.

Robinson, former Revolution manager Andy Etchebarren and current members of the York Revolution hit the links with other foursomes Monday at Springwood Golf Club to benefit York City Little League and the YMCA of York County. The golf tournament is run in conjuntcion with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to raise money to put back into the York community, and especially to help at-risk youth," said Robinson in a statement last April, when the tournament's date was first announced. "York helped me get started on my baseball career, and I've enjoyed many special relationships there over the years," "I enjoy being able to stay involved through my role with the Revolution. It's exciting to see the way the Revolution has become a vehicle for promoting not just baseball, but a real sense of community in York."

"With Brooks being involved in our organization, the connection to partner with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation was so logical to help bolster youth baseball and outreach programs in our city," added Revolution President & General Manager Eric Menzer. "But I want to emphasize that baseball, softball and other recreations programs are just the vehicle - the real point is to give kids structure, role models, fun and hope for their future. It's amazing to bring two legendary baseball names in our region together with these local organizations to do this."

Robinson is a part-owner of the Revolution.

Video used in this story provided by the York Revolution.

Lenny Moore, Kilmer swap stories at York Special Olympics' golf event

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:40:59 -0400

YORK -- The York County Special Olympics Celebrity Golf Classic lived up to its title one again.

The 25th annual tournament, held Monday at Out Door Country Club, featured some of pro and college football's greatest players, including Lenny Moore, Billy Kilmer, and Lydell Mitchell.

The tournament has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the York County Special Olympics, according to organizers.

Among the other celebrities that were scheduled to attend: Billy Ray Barnes, Maxie Baughan, Dick Bielski, Frank Bolick, John Bunting, Barney Cable, Duke Edsall, Dan Ficca, Scott Fitzkee, Carl Gersbach, Sam Havrilak, Stan Hixon, Dave Johnson, Carlton Kammerer, Eddie Khayat, Bruce Laird, Tom Luken, Mike McBath, Lou Michaels, Mark Moseley, Jim Nemeth, Jimmy Orr, Joe Paglia, Glen Ressler, Pete Retzlaff, Glen Robinson, George Tarasovic, Stan White, Joe Wilson, Bob Windsor, and Jon Witman.

Former Penn State players offer support for lawsuit

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:08:22 -0400

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - About 325 former Penn State players have signed a statement supporting the lawsuit filed by the family of former coach Joe Paterno and other former players seeking to overturn NCAA sanctions against the football program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Former player Brian Masella released the letter Monday in support of the lawsuit, which was also filed last month by some coaches, trustees and faculty. Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny, and former NFL quarterbacks Kerry Collins and Todd Blackledge are among the notable names who signed on to the statement.

Masella said he and a few other former players organized the statement on their own after some of the plaintiffs explained their position in a letter to former players and sought their support. He stressed the statement had no connection to the official Football Letterman's Club.

The ex-players in the statement said they stood with the others in the case in demanding "fairness, due process, truth, and a just outcome. Everyone - Sandusky's victims, Penn Staters, and the public at large - deserves to know the complete truth."

As in the lawsuit, the former players in the statement took issue with the NCAA basing its strict sanctions on what they called the flawed report by former FBI director Louis Freeh on the scandal for the school.

Freeh concluded that Paterno and three former school officials concealed allegations against Sandusky, a retired defensive coordinator found guilty in June 2012 on dozens of criminal counts covering allegations on and off campus. Sandusky, 69, was sentenced to 30-to-60 years in prison.

Paterno died in January 2012. Freeh's report was released the following July, and the NCAA issued its sanctions less than two weeks later. The landmark penalties included a four-year bowl ban and steep scholarship cuts.

Paterno's family and the school officials have firmly denied there was a cover-up. The family earlier this year commissioned a critique which called Freeh's report a "rush to injustice."

The lawsuit filed several weeks ago argues the NCAA sidestepped its own rules with uncharacteristic speed in levying sanctions, and sought to raise fresh questions about Freeh's report.

"In speaking with a couple former players, we wanted to do something to support the (others) involved in the lawsuit," Masella, a 1975 graduate who played tight end and punter, said in a phone interview. "We had to start somewhere. It basically started to snowball."

When asked, Masella also said their actions don't take away from the full support that former players have for coach Bill O'Brien and the current team.

They backed O'Brien "100 percent," and that they wanted what was best for the current players in hoping to reverse the sanctions, he said.

The NCAA has not filed a response yet to the lawsuit. NCAA president Mark Emmert - named as a defendant in the lawsuit - declined comment on individual cases last month.

"I'm perfectly fine to have an opportunity for us to state our case and have it heard in a court of law, then we'll let a legal system do its work," Emmert said in Irving, Texas at a Big 12 meeting on May 30.