Leading off today: Clarence swept the large-school classes, but that most certainly was not the big news coming out of the 62nd annual Baldwinsville Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.
The Post-Standard reported the 53-member Baldwinsville boys team was suspended Friday and required to miss the meet pending an investigation by school officials for an alleged hazing incident earlier this week.
Baldwinsville Superintendent Jeanne Dangle said the incident was brought to the school’s attention Friday afternoon. The boys team, scheduled to compete next on Wednesday, is suspended until the competition of the investigation.
The Baldwinsville girls did compete and placed fourth in the large-schools race, which Clarence won with 47 points. Rachel Fairbanks of Jamesville-DeWitt was the top individual in 18:09.7. Fifth-place finisher Katrina Patterson led three Clarence runners -- all in eighth or ninth grade -- in the top 10.
The Clarence boys edged Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 62-70, led by overall winner Daniel Huben, whose 15:10.1 performance put him more than 100 yards ahead of the field.
Following up: The Pennsylvania quarterback who beat an opponent on the head last week with that player's own helmet may be in even more trouble. The district attorney in Berks County is examining a video that shows Hamburg (Pa.) High player Joey Cominsky repeatedly throwing a football at a teammate, apparently at the direction of his coach, according to media reports.
The tape shows Cominsky throwing a football at full speed at a teammate pressed against a wall behind a table. Cominsky hit the teen in the chest with his pass, leaving him to crumple in pain. Media reports said the action was reportedly orchestrated by Hamburg head coach Joe Sinkovich, who actively encourages Cominsky.
That follows the on-the-field episode this month in which videotape shows Cominsky pulling the helmet off an opposing lineman and striking him in the head. Authorities are investigating that episode, and Cominsky sat out his team's game last weekend due to a mandatory one-game suspension connected with his ejection.
"The kid who is most at risk here is Joe Cominsky, because of what the Lebanon County district attorney has chosen to do," Hamburg principal Chris Spohn told a local newspaper. "We are confident that our community believes we are doing what's best for our kids, and that's who we're beholden to. We have a responsibility to our community. As for all of the stupid emails and rude comments I've received from people across the country, I owe them nothing."
(See earlier blog.)
It's over: The nation's longest active football winning streak ended Friday night as Monessen defeated Clairton 42-24 in a matchup of Pennsylvania schools. The loss ended Clairton's 66-game streak.
Monessen raced to a 28-0 lead and fought off Clairton's comeback attempts. Clintell Gillaspe finished with 163
