The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters. The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial. The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009. Link 15
The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
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Manheim Central’s boys volleyball team is simply sizzling. Caution: Flammable. There has been no slowing down the Barons over their previous five matches, which have all ended with dominating 3-0 victories. Three of those came in the District 3 Class 2A tournament, when Central slayed Northern Lebanon, Linville Hill Christian and York Suburban by a […]
Manheim Central’s boys volleyball team is simply sizzling.
Caution: Flammable.
There has been no slowing down the Barons over their previous five matches, which have all ended with dominating 3-0 victories.
Three of those came in the District 3 Class 2A tournament, when Central slayed Northern Lebanon, Linville Hill Christian and York Suburban by a combined 9-0 to nab their second district title, and first since 2019.
That district crown came on the heels of Central winning its third straight Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 championship, before the Barons reached the league finale for the third year in a row. But after winning two straight L-L crowns, they were tripped up by Cedar Crest in the title match this time around.
That loss has motivated Central, which has been sharp in all facets since that setback against the Falcons. Defense in the back? Check. Setting prowess? Check. Serve game? Check. Front-row play, including piling up kills and blocking everything left and right? Check and check.
The Barons bagged a pair of PIAA Class 2A playoff wins last week, both via shutout, over Academy at Palumbo and Dock Mennonite Academy. Saturday’s victory in the quarterfinals against Dock Mennonite served as some payback for the Barons, who were knocked out by the Pioneers in the state quarterfinals in 2022.
Central (22-1 overall) is set to square off against a familiar foe in Tuesday’s state semifinals; the Barons will clash with York Suburban for the third time this season, and for the second time in 13 days. The Barons and the Trojans will duke it out at 5 p.m. at Penn Manor in Millersville.
Central held off Suburban 25-23, 27-25 and 25-22 in a hotly contested nonleague match back on May 5 in York. In the rematch, on May 29 in Manheim, the Barons scarfed up a 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 win for district gold.
“We’ll have a lot of confidence going into the game,” Central defensive wizard Colin Rohrer said. “You always want to be confident, and I’d say we’re pretty confident right now. As long as we can stay consistent — getting our serves in, playing good defense, hitting the ball — we feel like we can probably beat any team in the state.”
In Central’s first encounter with Suburban this spring, Dylan Musser teed up 35 assists, Reagan Miller blasted 14 kills and Landon Mattiace had seven blocks to spearhead the Barons.
In the district finale, Musser was everywhere with 34 assists, eight kills, five aces, five digs and a pair of blocks; Miller waffled 11 kills with 11 digs; Mattiace had 10 kills and a couple of blocks; Rohrer had 18 digs; and Weston Longenecker (8 kills, 9 digs) and Caleb Groff (5 kills, 8 digs) came up big from their outside hitter spots.
That kind of balance has been the Barons’ calling card.
MC-YS III will be for a spot in Saturday’s state championship match, set for 11 a.m. inside Penn State’s esteemed Rec Hall.
Central and Suburban are both 0-2 in PIAA championship matches. The Trojans bounced the Barons 3-1 in the state semifinals in 2019.
Tuesday’s other Class 2A state semifinal is another dandy matchup, with District 10 winner and reigning PIAA champ Meadville taking on District 7 champ Shaler.
Meadville, which features 6-foot-7 junior middle Luc Sorensen, a Team USA member and a Penn State recruit, beat Central 3-1 in last year’s state finale. Shaler won the PIAA Class 3A crown last spring compliments of a 3-0 win over Parkland — after the Titans eliminated Warwick in the semifinals.
Shaler dipped down to Class 2A this season, and finds itself right back in the state semifinals.
Central is in the state playoffs for the eighth season in a row; the 2020 campaign was canceled because of COVID-19. Since 2017, the Barons are 15-7 in PIAA matches, with finals trips in 2018 (a loss to Northeastern York) and last spring (a loss to Meadville).
Central reached the quarterfinals in all eight trips, with semifinal appearances in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024 and this spring. The Barons are a chiseled bunch, piloted by a veteran coach, Craig Dietrich, who knows how to steer a team through a playoff bracket.
“It’s an exciting time,” Central middle Blake Neiles said. “We got to play in the state finals last year, and not many people get to experience that. Now we want to go back.”
It is chalk across the board in the PVCA Class 2A state rankings; Meadville is first, Central is second, Shaler is third and York Suburban is fourth.
TRIPLE TROUBLE IN TRIPLE-A
Three of the four teams still standing in the PIAA Class 3A bracket call District 3 home. That’s pretty impressive.
Tuesday’s semifinals will pit undefeated District 3 champ Cumberland Valley against District 3 third-seed Governor Mifflin, and District 3 runner-up Central York against WPIAL kingpin North Allegheny, which is angling for its 10th state crown.
Central York, which has captured 25 District 3 and seven PIAA titles, KO’d Governor Mifflin, the Berks County champ, in the district semifinals.
North Allegheny was tripped up by Warwick in the first round last spring, so the Tigers are plenty motivated to get back in the winner’s circle this time around.
It is also chalk in the PVCA Class 3A state rankings; Cumberland Valley is first, North Allegheny is second, Central York is third and Governor Mifflin is fourth.
X: @JeffReinhart77
MORE L-L LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE
Bermuda’s teams started competition on the opening day of the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association [ECVA] Under-21 Beach Championships. Bermuda’s men’s duo, Kyle Mello and Anijahe Dos Santo Martin, lost both of their initial matches in Men’s Pool D. They were defeated 2-0 [21-8, 21-16] by Julian Bristol and Komarr Fraties of Saint Kitts and […]
Bermuda’s teams started competition on the opening day of the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association [ECVA] Under-21 Beach Championships.
Bermuda’s men’s duo, Kyle Mello and Anijahe Dos Santo Martin, lost both of their initial matches in Men’s Pool D. They were defeated 2-0 [21-8, 21-16] by Julian Bristol and Komarr Fraties of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Their second loss was 2-0 [21-8, 21-13] against Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton of Grenada.
In Women’s Pool C, Bermudian players Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss achieved two victories. They secured a 2-0 [21-4, 21-10] win against Azarraha Amritt and Shaylee Pinney of Saint Kitts and Nevis. They followed this with another 2-0 [21-8, 21-9] victory over Gereliva Spanner and Gercia Brown of St Eustatius.
Category: All, Sports
The age of amateurism in college sports is officially over. On Friday, June 6, a federal judge granted final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. This landmark decision reshapes the landscape of collegiate athletics by allowing schools to pay athletes for the first time. The 10-year agreement, which resolves three major […]
The age of amateurism in college sports is officially over.
On Friday, June 6, a federal judge granted final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. This landmark decision reshapes the landscape of collegiate athletics by allowing schools to pay athletes for the first time. The 10-year agreement, which resolves three major antitrust cases, allows universities to share up to $20.5 million annually with athletes, beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.
“This is a new beginning for Division I student-athletes and for the NCAA,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a public letter. “Opportunities to drive transformative change don’t come often to organizations like ours. We must make the most of this one.”
The settlement comes nearly five years after former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and former Oregon basketball standout Sedona Prince filed suit, challenging the NCAA’s prohibition of athlete compensation related to name, image, and likeness (NIL). Two other suits—Carter v. NCAA and Hubbard v. NCAA—were consolidated into the case.
The result is unprecedented: not only can schools now pay athletes for NIL, but the NCAA and the Power Five conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC) will also pay $2.8 billion in back damages to Division I athletes denied NIL opportunities dating back to 2016..
Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement despite resistance from some objectors, who raised concerns about new “roster limits” replacing scholarship caps. After Wilken intervened, lawyers revised the terms to include voluntary “grandfathering” for walk-ons and partially funded athletes whose spots were cut.
Within hours of the ruling, San Diego State University announced the launch of its Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund, a forward-looking initiative designed to strengthen its competitiveness as it transitions into the Pac-12 Conference in 2026.
“This fund is a vital step in ensuring we continue to compete for championships while also aligning SDSU Athletics with the future of college sports,” said John David Wicker, SDSU Director of Athletics, in a release from the university. “Our student-athletes deserve the very best, and this initiative allows us to directly invest in their experience while sustaining the proud tradition of Aztec excellence.”
The initiative complements the ongoing work of the MESA Foundation and Aztec Link, two organizations central to SDSU’s NIL efforts in recent years. Both collectives will remain integral under the new model, offering student-athletes opportunities through business partnerships and community engagement while the university prepares to offer direct revenue-sharing agreements.
Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible, and SDSU encourages fans to support in a variety of ways—from donations and pledges to purchasing season tickets and continuing NIL contributions through MESA and Aztec Link.
The ruling and SDSU’s swift response mark a dramatic turning point. Until now, NIL payments came exclusively from third parties, including boosters and collectives. But with schools now cleared to pay athletes directly, institutions are bracing for a new reality—one governed by spending caps, oversight commissions, and a greater emphasis on compliance.
The College Sports Commission, a newly formed regulatory body staffed by executives, including those from Major League Baseball, will oversee enforcement of the $20.5 million cap and monitor third-party NIL deals. Any payment over $600 will now go through a clearinghouse to verify business purpose and fair market value.
That enforcement shift mirrors the NCAA’s new posture: step back, let the conferences lead. According to Baker, the NCAA will now focus more on core academic standards, athlete well-being, and eligibility while relinquishing much of its historical authority around financial rules.
“This new framework… marks a huge step forward for college sports,” Baker wrote in his letter. “Student-athletes at many schools will be able to receive nearly 50% of all athletics department revenue. That is a tremendously positive change and one that was long overdue.”
While SDSU gears up for Pac-12 competition and establishes its financial foundation, national legal threats still loom. Ongoing cases like Johnson v. NCAA, which argues student-athletes should be classified as employees, could disrupt even this new system. Title IX implications, antitrust lawsuits, and state laws also remain in flux.
Nonetheless, for Aztecs and athletes across the country, the message is clear: this is no longer the old NCAA.
And starting July 1, it’s officially game on.
Sherando’s Micah Carlson pulled out his best throw at the end to finish second in the discus at the Class 3 and 4 Track and Field State Championships on Saturday at Liberty University in Lynchburg. Carlson was ninth going into the discus finals, with his top throw being a 139-07. On his fifth throw he […]
Sherando’s Micah Carlson pulled out his best throw at the end to finish second in the discus at the Class 3 and 4 Track and Field State Championships on Saturday at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Carlson was ninth going into the discus finals, with his top throw being a 139-07. On his fifth throw he threw it 161-05 to move into second place, where he finished the day. Carlson, a senior, has placed in the top eight every year but this was his best finish.
“I didn’t think it was going that far, but it did go that far [for the 161-5 throw],” Carlson said. “I got lucky. I got close but not close enough to the [school record of 164-7]. It hurts a little bit [that I didn’t get it], but it is what it is. I got second at the state. I can’t complain. I’ve been here for four years, and I was tired of just placing in the top eight. I wanted to get top three. Today was the day.”
“What a way to end a career,” Sherando track and field coach Brad Symons said. “I’m really happy for him, because he wasn’t always throwing as great this year as he has in the past.”
Carlson also finished tied for sixth in the high jump (6-0).
Warren County junior Blaise Skube finished fourth in the 300 hurdles in 40.14 at the Class 3 state meet.
Skube said Warren County hurdles coach Jeffrey Koletsky helped him a lot this season.
“Coaching is the main factor,” Skube said. “You’ve got to have a great coach to do good in all your events. My coach told me what to do, and I did it, and I PR-d [in the 110s]. In the 300, I wasn’t in the fastest heat, but I came in with all my heart, and I ran my heart out and PR-d.”
Skube was seeded 11th in the 300 hurdles and won the second of the three heats.
“He did great,” Warren County track and field coach Pati Heniff said, “It is tough to be at the meet all day in the heat and compete at the end. At the beginning of the season he had a quad injury, so he kind of came into it slowly. But every single meet, his times got faster and faster. He set PRs in the 300 hurdles and in the 110 hurdles. He didn’t make the finals in the 110s, but he did have his fastest time [in Friday’s prelims]. We’re pretty excited about that.”
Jamestown won the Class 4 boys state title with 63 points, followed by Atlee (59) and Sherando finished 15th (17.5). Blacksburg won the Class 4 girls title with 111.5 points, followed by Atlee (59.5) and Sherando finished 28th (3).
Fauquier won the Class 3 boys title with 63 points, followed by Western Albemarle (47). Warren County finished tied for 30th (5) and Skyline finished tied for 33rd (3). Heritage (Lynchburg) won the Class 3 girls title with 99 points, followed by Abingdon (65) and Warren County finished tied for 37th (1).
Sherando’s Sunil Dutt finished fifth in the 110 hurdles (14.93). Sherando’s boys finished eighth in the 4×400 relay (Noah Harris, James Bryant, Tristan Hantute-Abebe, Ryan Maki, 3:25.68) and finished seventh in the 4×800 relay (Tommy Miles, Maki, Jed Bell, Hatcher Smith, 8:11.18). It was a school record for the 4×400 team.
“This is the team we wanted,” Symons said of the 4×400 team. “Noah just busts his tail and does what he needs to for us. I think they all ran pretty good splits. I’m happy for them. They got the record. They’re going to have their names up there now [in the gym].”
Sherando’s girls were led by McKenna Hardy (triple jump, sixth, 34-10.75).
Skyline’s Grady Kramer finished eighth in the 300 hurdles (40.63). Skyline’s 4×100 relay team finished seventh (Kramer, Brady Kaufman, Zayden Burks, Ahsan Abul-Qasim, 43.54).
“We had some kids who were not seeded very well, but they came on and did a good job,” Skyline boys track and field coach Dick Allanson said of the boys team. “Our 4×1 team was seeded next to last, and we finished eighth and broke a school record. Grady Kramer finished eighth in the 300 hurdles and was seeded 12th. We had a couple of kids learn a lesson that it’s not where you’re seeded, it’s how well you perform. We had some kids perform above where they’ve been performing, and that’s what you’re supposed to do at this time of year. So we were pleased with what we did.”
Warren County’s Tegan Melish finished eighth in the Class 3 discus (100-07).
“She wasn’t expected to make finals, but she did,” Heniff said. “She didn’t throw her best. I think the heat was affecting all the disc throwers. We were excited very with her coming down to states for the first time and placing eighth in the state. Her dad, Mike Melish, coaches her, so it’s pretty exciting for the family.”
Despite not scoring points in the meet, Skyline girls track and field coach Misty Bordner was pleased with her team.
“They did good,” Bordner said. “It’s been a tough season. Some of them came with higher expectations and didn’t get the results that they wanted. But to be here is an honor, and I think that they know that. It’s an experience for them. Audrey [Lacombe has] committed to Lynchburg, so she’s just getting started. I told her to keep her head up. Jeneah [Maldonado] will return next year, and most of our 4×8 will return as well. We have one person graduating. I’m proud of the girls. It was a good year, good season, good group of kids. It’s fun to coach them.”
Winchester Star Sports Editor Robert Niedzwiecki contributed to this story.
On the verge of dropping a set, Brookline players refocused. With senior Kris Vaivars leading the offense and classmate Conor Christopher stepping up defensively, the top-seeded Warriors got back on track, coming back from down 21-17 in the second set and finishing off a 25-13, 25-23, 25-17 Division 1 quarterfinal victory at home over No. […]
On the verge of dropping a set, Brookline players refocused.
With senior Kris Vaivars leading the offense and classmate Conor Christopher stepping up defensively, the top-seeded Warriors got back on track, coming back from down 21-17 in the second set and finishing off a 25-13, 25-23, 25-17 Division 1 quarterfinal victory at home over No. 9 Acton-Boxborough.
“We took some time and pulled through,” Vaivars said. “The fact that we came back from that deficit helped us, but also was a wake-up call. This team wants to win, they’re fighting for their season. We have to bring energy.”
First-year coach Lexi De La Cruz said it shows the depth of the team that the players were able to take the second set despite 17 errors, and that the “kids are ready to fight until the last point.”
Previously Wellesley’s coach, De La Cruz never advanced past the round of 32. His Brookline squad has its sights on two more wins and he credits the players and assistant Justin Soohoo, who has been with the program over a decade, with accepting his changes and making his strategies work.
“I wouldn’t be able to do my job this season if the kids didn’t trust me,” he said. “I came with new game plans, new style of play. This makes my job way easier. It makes me want to fight harder for them, work hard at practice, so we can win the state championship.”
Brookline’s victory sets up an all-Bay State Conference semifinals in D1, to be held on Tuesday at Concord-Carlisle High. The last time the Warriors reached this point, they lost a five-set thriller to Newton North. This time, it’s Brookline coming in as the higher seed.
“It’s definitely something in the back of our minds,” Vaivars said. “That was the furthest we’ve gone the past couple years. To have that rematch is great, even though the teams are very different.”
AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com. Follow him on X @aj_traub and Instagram @ajt37.
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