Kansas State men’s basketball player Taj Manning will join the Athletes in Action international tour to the Czech Republic from June 28 to July 11.

Manning, a rising junior from Grandview, Missouri, will be part of a team made up of eight college players from across the country. The group will play exhibition games against the Czech Republic’s U20 and U23 national teams.

In addition to competing, the team will participate in community outreach, including a youth basketball camp and a coaching clinic during the trip.

Manning has played in 22 games for the Wildcats, including 14 starts during the 2023-24 season as a redshirt freshman.

Athletes in Action is a faith-based organization that partners with college athletes to provide sports tours and leadership development opportunities with an emphasis on service and cultural exchange.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — The family of Mekhi Courtney, a 22-year-old man tragically killed in a shooting last year, is turning their pain into purpose, a nonprofit youth sports league inspired by his dream.

On Sunday afternoon, family and friends of Courtney hosted the first-ever registration day for SETT Bidness, a new football and cheerleading league at Seven Oaks Park.

Before his death in May 2024, Mekhi and his best friend had started planning their own youth league to give back to their community and mentor young athletes. Sadly, Courtney was gunned down in the parking lot of The Landing Apartments in Forest Acres. Authorities confirmed evidence of a shooting, but say no calls were made to report it.

Now, Mekhi’s mother, Tamika Courtney, is taking the lead to ensure her son’s mission moves along.

“I just want to accomplish a lot of his dreams and goals,” said his mother Tamika. “With him passing at 22 he was unable to do those things, so I just want to do them now with him watching over us.”

SETT stands for “Setting Examples to Teach”, a motto the Courtney’s mother says he and his friends lived by. The program aims to provide not only athletic opportunities but also mentorship, structure, and life skills.

Registration for the 2025 season is still open, and SETT Bidness is actively seeking sponsors to help cover fees for children whose families may be struggling financially.

Click this link to the organization’s website

AABA

Altoona Area

Baseball Association

MAJOR LEAGUE W-L

Holsinger’s Plumbing 17-3

Sheetz 15-4

Park Home 15-5

Leonard S. Fiore 14-5

John Sisto Law Office 11-8

Masonic Lodges 9-10

Marana Electric 9-11

Locker Room 5-16

Drenning Delivery 5-16

ARC 0-20

MONDAY

Sheetz 3, Drenning Delivery 0: Multiple hits–Miller 2 (S); WP–Connolly, LP–Dryburg; SO–Connolly 14 (S), Dryburg 4, Ehredt 3 (DD)

Marana Electric 4, Masonic Lodges 1: Multiple hits–Gority 2 (ME), K. Replogle 2 (ML); WP–Hileman, LP–K. Replogle; SO–Hileman 7, Woodring 2 (ME), K. Replogle 2, Muth 2 (ML)

John Sisto Law 9, LS Fiore 3: Multiple hits–Irvin 3, Goodman 2 (JS), Matthews 2 (LSF); WP–Irvin, LP–Kraft; SO–Irvin 6 (JS), Kraft 3, B. Wolfe 2 (LSF)

Locker Room 10, ARC 5: Multiple hits–Pyzowski (LR), Anderson 2 (ARC); WP–Stere, LP–Dukeman; SO–Stere 7, Weyant 3 (LR), Dukeman 3, Berwager 7 (ARC)

WEDNESDAY

LS Fiore 8, Marana Electric 4: Multiple hits–Woodring 2, Gority 2, Ross 2 (ME); WP–Garcia-Hershey, LP–Pincin; SO–Kraft 3 (LSF), Pincin 5, Woodring 1 (ME)

Holsinger’s Plumbing 18, John Sisto Law 8: Multiple hits–Carter Klausman 3, Johnston 3 (HP), Cobbler 2 (JS); WP–Carter Klausman, LP–Goodman; SO–Carter Klausman 3, Perretta 1 (HP), Goodman 2 (JS)

Drenning Delivery 6, Locker Room 4: Multiple hits–Sprouse 2 (DD); WP–Carey, LP–Buechele; SO–Pincherri 6, Carey 3 (DD), Pyzowski 2 (LR)

Park Home 14, ARC 4: Multiple hits–Roland 2 (PH); WP–Gamber, LP–Britton; SO–Gamber 2, Nedimyer 1 (PH), Britton 1, Dukeman 2 (ARC)

THURSDAY

Holsinger’s Plumbing 12, Masonic Lodges 2: Multiple hits–Farabaugh 2, Johnston 2 (HP), Muth 2 (ML); WP–Johnston, LP–McGeary; SO–Johnston 6 (HP), McGeary 2 (ML)

SATURDAY

John Sisto Law 9, Masonic Lodges 7: Multiple hits–Irvin 2, Cobler 2, Goodman 2 (JS); WP–Pyo, LP–McGeary; SO–Kustaborder 6, Pyo 5 (JS), Muth 5, K. Replogle 3, McGeary 3 (ML)

Park Home 11, Locker Room 1: Multiple hits–M. Williams 2, Muccitelli 2 (PH); WP–M. Williams, LP–Lutz; SO–M. Williams 2, McMullen 2 (PH), Lutz 2 (LR)

MINOR LEAGUE W-L-T

Altoona Honda 14-0-0

Gority Brothers 12-1-0

ERA Sports 9-6-1

Reliance Bank 8-7-0

Altoona Kiwanis 6-8-0

Altoona Mirror 5-8-1

Begin With Us 4-6-2

Cabinetree 4-9-1

Underground Sports 4-11-1

Redline Nutrition 3-13-0

MONDAY

Gority Brothers 15, Altoona Mirror 8

Altoona Kiwanis 8, ERA Sports 6

WEDNESDAY

ERA Sports 10, Underground Sports 7

Altoona Honda 12, Altoona Mirror 3

THURSDAY

Gority Brothers 9, Altoona Kiwanis 1

ERA Sports 8, Reliance Bank 5

Altoona Honda 10, Redline Nutrition 0

Begin with Us 12, Underground Sports 2

SATURDAY

Altoona Honda 13, Altoona Mirror 3

Redline Nutrition 10, Begin with Us 8

Altoona Honda 11, ERA Sports 7

Reliance Bank 10, Altoona Kiwanis 7

AIYBL

ALTOONA INDEPENDENT

YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE

MAJORS DIVISION W-L

Sheetz 13-1

Sylvan Veterinary 10-4

Makdad 6-8

Cumming Motors 6-8

Fiore True Value 0-14

MONDAY

Sheetz 22, Makdad 9: Multiple hits–Burk 4, Murphy Lingenfelter 3, Leo Fanelli 3, Myers 3, Ryan 3, Luca Fanelli 2, Wilkins 2, Kaack 2 (S), Marchi 3, Thomas 2, McNair 2 (M). WP–Luca Fanelli (S). LP–Grealey-Nyce (M). SO–Luca Fanelli 2, Wilkins 1, Leo Fanelli 2 (S), Rhoa 2 (M).

Cumming Motors 6, Fiore True Value 2: Multiple hits–Lewis 3, Delasko 2 (CM), Tomchick 2 (FTV). WP–Delasko (CM). LP–Wilt (FTV). SO–Delasko 5, Novak 3, Giger 4 (CM), Wilt 4, Brawley 2 (FTV).

WEDNESDAY

Sylvan Veterinary 7, Fiore True Value 6: Multiple hits–Gunnett 2 (SV), Brawley 4, Weyant 3, Wilt 3 (FTV). WP–Schiappa (SV). LP–Tomchick (FTV). SO–Schiappa 7, H. Coble 3 (SV), Tomchick 4 (FTV).

Makdad 13, Cumming Motors 4: Multiple hits–Thomas 3, Shock 2, Marchi 2, Grealey-Nyce 2 (M), Delasko 3 (CM). WP–Baker (M). LP–Giger (CM). SO–Baker 3, Thomas 4 (M), Giger 7, Novak 1, Noel 2, Delasko 3 (CM).

MINOR LEAGUE (AAA) W-L-T

Makdad AAA 10-2-1

Altoona First Savings Bank 8-5-0

C&J Cabinets 7-5-2

Martin Oil 4-8-1

Cesare Battisti 2-11-0

RESULTS

C&J Cabinets 14, Altoona First Savings Bank 6

PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND

Martin Oil 17, Cesare Battisti 15

MINOR LEAGUE (AA) W-L

Stone Cellar 14-1

First Frontier Blair County 12-3

ERA 10-5

Subway 5-10

Stuckey Subaru 3-12

Sweet Frog 1-14

RESULTS

ERA 11, Subway 2

First Frontier Blair County 12, Sweet Frog 5

Stone Cellar 10, Sweet Frog 0

Stone Cellar 13, ERA 3

First Frontier Blair County 11, Subway 5

ERA 11, Stone Cellar 5

Subway 3, Stuckey Subaru 1

PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND

ERA 12, Sweet Frog 2

Subway 6, Stuckey Subaru 1

EAST END

EAST END YOUTH LEAGUE

MAJOR LEAGUE W-L

Greenwood Meadows 20-0

Cumming Motors 17-3

Burgmeier Hauling 14-7

Kabello Contracting 9-10

Penn Med 9-11

Dean Patterson 6-13

Sheetz 3-17

Caporuscio’s Plumbing 1-18

RESULTS

Penn Crest 11, Dean Patterson 8: HR–McDowell (PM), Multiple hits–McDowell 3 (PM), Ronan 2, Wentz 2 (DP), WP–McDowell, LP–Wentz, SO–McDowell 4, Nagle 4, (PM), Wentz 3, K.Pfahler 5 (DP)

Burgmeier Hauling 6, Penn Med 5: HR–Ritchey (BH), Multiple hits–Koehle 2 (BH), Bongiorno 3, McDowell 2 (PM), WP–Koehle, LP–McConnell, SO–Koehle 8 (BH), McConnell 4, Riley 3 (PM)

Cumming Motors 14, Kabello Contracting 10: HR–P. Holland (CM), Multiple hits–P. Holland 3, H. Holland 2 (CM), WP–H. Holland, LP–Tanneyhill, SO–H. Holland 6, McGraw 2, Nedimyer 3 (CM), Tanneyhill 2, Green 2, Hall 3 (KC)

Burgmeier Hauling 18, Caporuscio’s Plumbing 6: Multiple hits–Farabaugh 4, Chaplin 2 (BH), Rogers 2 (CP), WP–Judy, LP–Endress, SO–Judy 2, Irwin 4, (BH), Endress 6, Parshall 4, Rogers 3 (CP)

Cumming Motors 16, Dean Patterson 1: Multiple hits–H. Holland 3, Porta 2, P. Holland 2, WP–P. Holland, LP–Welch, SO–P. Holland 3 (CM), Welch 1 (DP)

Dean Patterson 17, Penn Med 13: Multiple hits–K. Pfahler 2, Ronan 2 (DP), McDowell 3 (PM), WP–Welch, LP–Nagle, SO–Wentz 1, Welch 4, S. Pfahler 1, (DP), McDowell 4, Nagle 1, (PM)

Greenwood Meadows 12, Sheetz 0: HR–Wentz (GM), Multiple hits–Pike 2, Wentz 2 (GM), Ulrich 2 (SH), WP–McGinnis, LP–Billotte, SO–Wentz 3, McGinnis 8 (GM), Billotte 3, Wyant 2, (SH)

Burgmeier Hauling 14, Kabello Contracting 5: HR–Ritchey (BH), Multiple hits–Koehle 3, Ritchey 2 (BH), L. Wolfe 2 (KC), WP–Farabaugh, LP–Bordack, SO–Judy 4, Ritchey 6 (BH), Bordack 3, L. Wolfe 4 (KC),

Cumming Motors 19, Sheetz 3: HR–Moyer, P. Holland (CM), Multiple hits–Moyer 2 (CM), WP–Coury, LP–Ulrich, SO–Coury 4, (CM), LE. Ulrich1, (KC),

Greenwood Meadows 15, Caporuscio’s Plumbing 0: HR–Wagner (GM), Multiple hits–Pike 2, Winterburn 2, Wentz 2, Wagner 2 (GM), WP–Thrower, LP–Endress, SO–Thrower 5 (GM), Endress 2 (CP)

MINOR LEAGUE STANDINGS W-L-T

Barton Plumbing 17-0-0

Furrer Beverage 14-4-0

Penn Crest 11-5-1

First Stop Shop 10-7-0

Mattas Motorsports 8-10-1

Reliable Tire 5-12-0

Kettle Inn 2-15-0

Grace Builders 2-17-0

RESULTS

Barton Plumbing 7, Penn Crest 2

First Stop Shop 6, Reliable Tire 1

Penn Crest 8, Reliable Tire 3

Barton Plumbing 10, First Stop Shop 7

Furrer Beverage 5, Kettle Inn 0

Mattas Motorsports 5, Grace Builders 0

Reliable Tire 13, Grace Builders 8

First Stop Shop 8, Kettle Inn 3

Mattas Motorsports 7, Kettle Inn 6

BELLWOOD-ANTIS

Bellwood-Antis Youth LEAGUE

MAJOR LEAGUE W-L

Martin Oil 15-4

Eagles 13-6

Caracciolo’s 11-9

Parson’s 7-12

Messner’s 3-15

MONDAY

Parson’s 3, Messner’s 2: Multiple hits–T. Hatfield (P). SO–Zendek 12, Wright 1 (M); Saylor 3, L Hatfield 5 (P)

WEDNESDAY

Eagles 3, Carraciolo’s 2: HR–Clabaugh (E). Multiple hits: none. SO–N. Burroughs 3, B. Burroughs 12, Pullara 1 (C); Clabaugh 9, D Learn 3 (E)

THURSDAY

Martin Oil 14, Parson’s 10: HR–L. Hatfield 2 (P); Schmitt (MO). Multiple hits–T. Hatfield, L. Hatfield, Saylor (P); Plummer, Schmitt, Hartman (MO). SO–Saylor 1, T Hatfield 3, L Hatfield 1 (P); Smith 2, Plummer 2, Schmitt 7 (MO)

Caracciolo’s 13, Eagles 3: Multiple hits–N Burroughs (C). SO–Gates 3, Crist 2, Peterman 3 (E); N. Burroughs 8 (C).

SATURDAY

Eagles 8, Carraciolo’s 1: Multiple hits–N. Burroughs, Showalter (C); Clabaugh (E). SO–B. Burroughs 7, Pullara 2 (C); Clabaugh 10, Peterman 1 (E)

Martin Oil 12, Parson’s 1: HR–Schmitt (MO). Multiple hits–T. Hatfield (P); Smith, Kelley (MO). SO–Smith 5 (MO); Wiser 4 (P).

We have transitioned from a play-based approach in youth sports to a competition-based approach, and it’s not because that’s best for our kids. I say this as someone who grew up playing club sports, and who has an 8 year-old son playing a year-round club sport. I revere sports for the lasting impact they have had on my life, but I also refuse to ignore the negative effects this shift toward elite sports is having on our kids. 

The need for unstructured play time for kids has been widely studied, and researchers agree that it’s paramount to child development. This wide open space helps children learn social skills, develop creativity and build resilience. But when we’re shuttling our kids to three practices a week and games on the weekends, we’re minimizing those blocks. 

These demanding schedules also affect the entire family. Family dinners are rushed (or nonexistent), vacation funds get siphoned into travel tournaments, parents’ friendships and hobbies fizzle and marriages become strained because they’re stretched too thin. 

In “Take Back the Game,” author Linda Flanagan emphasizes that, “until at least puberty, children should not specialize in one sport.” Early sports specialization is when kids dedicate more than eight months a year to one sport before adolescence. 

A recent National Council of Youth Sports report states that “athletes specializing early are more than twice as likely to experience injuries as their peers playing multiple sports.” 

Most club sports have shifted toward this year-round approach though, which makes it nearly impossible to balance out kids’ motor development with additional sports. 

For those of you who are mentally arguing that club sports provide important lessons that support child development, let me be the first to agree. Club sports teach kids valuable lessons in sportsmanship and cooperation. 

I believe that club sports should still exist, but should be limited to a season. This would help lower costs, which would democratize access to elite sports, and it would help establish balance for kids and families. 

The current “more, earlier, faster” model of youth sports is lucrative, but it’s not developmentally appropriate for our kids. The National Council of Youth Sports was created to establish safeguards for college athletes, but there are currently no comparable regulatory organizations overseeing youth sports. Each sport may have its own national governing body, but this disjointed approach lacks the authority to establish protections for all kids. 

As a parent, I want my kids to play club sports because they help build character, but the literal and figurative price tag is escalating. I’m afraid our kids are becoming the collateral damage of this panicked race to the top; unless universal limitations are established, the youth sports arms race is going to continue.

DAVID SOMERVILLE

David R. Somerville, 76, of Latrobe, passed away on June 19, 2025, at Independence Health System Latrobe Hospital.

He was born on Aug. 31, 1948, in Lock Haven, Pa., a son of the late Robert D. and Carol (Miller) Somerville.

David was a member of Latrobe Community Ministries, where he sang in the choir and attended Sunday School every Sunday. He loved music and enjoyed attending many summer concerts in Ligonier.

He was a model train enthusiast and was a member of the Train Collectors Association and had previously worked for Brady’s Train Outlet.

He was an avid sports fan, and enjoyed watching all Penn State sports and local youth sports, sharing old football stories, enjoyed golfing with his golf league and was proud of being able to participate in, and finish, the Presque Isle Marathon many years ago.

David loved getting to know others and having conversations with them. He was such an easy person to be able to talk to and within a few minutes of meeting someone he could have their whole life history.

Prior to his retirement, he had worked for Prudential, as well as served as a local District Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts. He also contributed his time and did volunteer work for CORE.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Kathy (Ritchie) Somerville; and his sister, Cindy Schick.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda (Campbell) Somerville; his children, Susan Glista (John), David Somerville (Tricia) and Mark Somerville; his step-sons, Giles Campbell, Justin Campbell and Douglas Campbell; his grandchildren, Noah, Xavier, Jonah and Amelia Somerville and Cameron Campbell.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., at the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home, Inc., 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe, Pa.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 26, at 11 a.m., at Latrobe Community Ministries, 440 Main St., Latrobe.

Everyone please go directly to the church. Private interment will take place in Unity Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas Starzl Transplantation Institute at 200 Darragh St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, the center where David had his liver transplant 24 years ago; the Boy Scouts of America, Westmoreland ­Fayette Council at 2 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601; or to the Latrobe Community Ministries at 440 Main St., Latrobe, PA 15650.

To post an online condolence, please visit www.hartman-grazianofuneralhome.com.