The new school, a merger of Indian Valley and Lewistown high schools that was approved by the Mifflin County School Board last week, will be in place next school year if current Mifflin County School District plans move forward. At current, there is no indication that anything will interrupt those plans, but with school mergers, anything can happen.

But here is what has happened: Indian Valley and Lewistown, both members of the Mountain League, were booted out of the Mountain League in 2012-2013, although the new school will have Mountain League schedules in most, if not all, sports for the next school year.

With the new school, which will be a mid-sized Class AAAA school in football and basketball, thrown out of the Mountain League, it is highly likely that the Mid-Penn Conference will accept the new school as a full member at the start of the next cycle.

On Thursday, the Mid-Penn Conference, as anticipated, accepted State College as an all-sports member; the Little Lions had been a football-only member since 2004. With Mifflin County between State College and Harrisburg, it makes adding Mifflin County a little more palatable to the Mid-Penn.

So palatable, in fact, the conference has included the Mifflin County school in its 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 schedules as a league member, despite the fact that no formal action has been taken on the Mifflin County matter.

In fact, the Mid-Penn, meeting at the same time as the Mountain League and unaware of the ML’s actions, would likely have passed the alignments that included Mifflin County had it not been for requests by Trinity and Steelton-Highspire to change basketball divisions. The conference will vote electronically next Wednesday on the alignments once Steel-High and Trinity resolve the issue. Assuming the Mifflin County school is included in those alignments, as they were on Wednesday, that’s a pretty good indication Mifflin County will have smooth sailing to Mid-Penn membership.

Sometimes I just provide links.

Sometimes I make people mad with my rankings or opinions.

Sometimes I even have someone agree with me.

But always, always, I wish the very best for everyone – athlete or not, coach or not, parent or not – because to think anything less would make me less than I can and should be.

I thank everyone for their patronage of RodFrisco.com this year. But far more than that, I wish everyone – Christian or otherwise – a very happy, safe and wonderful Christmas and holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all.

Fairly light menu, to be honest. The biggest news of the meeting occurred on Thursday night when the Board passed, on a first-reading basis, a proposal to advance the start of fall sports practice and playing dates by one week from the current PIAA calendar. The measure, if eventually passed in full by the Board of Directors, would be implemented for the 2012-2013 school year.

First, let’s make one thing clear: The proposal has not become PIAA policy yet. The measure must pass a second reading in January by a majority vote and by a two-thirds majority vote in March if it makes it that far. Thursday’s vote was 18-13, which shows the measure has support, but not the kind of overwhelming support required to implement the change. Frankly, it’s an uphill fight for the proposal; it will take 21 affirmative votes to pass the proposal.

A quick look at the financial game reports for fall sports shows that PIAA gate receipts are well behind last year’s fall sports receipts. Compared to last year’s receipts, PIAA is more than $23,000 behind last year’s total (football is not included in that number).

Updates will appear below the bar. The most recent update is at the top

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As expected, not much going on. The Board is down to a discussion stage on a number of matters that will not require Board action. I’m off to Hersheypark Stadium. Frisky out.

Lots of discussion on an important by-law: How the PIAA will count enrollment toward cooperative sponsorships. The PIAA is proposing to count 50 percent of a sending school’s enrollment toward a co-op rather than the current 100 percent. This seems like a reasonable and a good step toward alleviating the problem of bumping a host school up in classification.

Some Board members are bartering for an even greater reduction in percentage – District 5 rep Virgil Palumbo is asking for 25 percent – in orderto bring the percentage more in line with the actual number of students to go from a sending school to a host school.

There is a counter-argument that such a move would give a competitive advantage to the small number of schools that can engage in co-ops. And the proposal is tabled.

District 5 rep Virgil Palumbo makes a new proposal to lower the percent of enrollment used in a co-op to 25 percent. The measure passes on a first-reading basis, 22-7. The original proposal remains on the table.
Back in regular session.

Just finishing up a hearing for a Danville athlete. Will return to regular session shortly.

Recently, I’ve made it a habit to attend the PIAA’s sports steering committees (that’s where the seed is planted for changes in PIAA championships), and had every intention to attend last week’s football steering committee, but some other business intervened and I skipped it. Wish I hadn’t.

At that meeting, the football steering committee voted 11-0 with two members absent to propose move up the first date of football practice starting with the 2012-2013 school year.

In short, there has been much cursing and gnashing of teeth about the 16-week football season in Pennsylvania: Too long, runs deep into December, affects boys’ basketball and wrestling. All true, IMO. But the 16-week season has also allowed all PIAA districts to conduct their respective football championships as they wish (with just a few exceptions) and especially allows the WPIAL to retain its one-day, four-game championship day at Heinz Field.

As District 3 football chairman John Ziegler said at Tuesday’s meeting, “There’s no putting the 16-week genie back in the bottle.” Actually, it was something even a little more folksy, but I forgot to write it down.

As a result, the football steering committee is making a pitch to move up the start of football practice by a week statewide. As the 11-0 vote shows, the issue, which has been raised before and mumbled (rather than shouted) down, now has some serious support. In 2012, that would change the starting practice date from Aug. 13 to Aug. 6 and the first playing date from Aug. 31 to Aug. 24.

Ergo, the question: What’s worse, football on Aug. 4 or football on Dec. 11? And the other question: What’s worse, affecting 8 football teams and hundreds or basketball and wrestling teams or all of the state’s football teams?

District 3 knows where it stands on the issue: Heck, no.

District 3 will vote against the matter when it it raised at Thursday’s PIAA Board of Directors meeting in Hershey. And remember, there are 8 PIAA Board members who either represent, are associated with or live in District 3.

District 3 committee member Don Seidenstricker, the head football coach and AD at South Western High School in Hanover, summed up District 3′s basic position with the following: “This is insanity.”

He’s right, of course. The entire football season should be 15 weeks max (I prefer 14 weeks by shortening the regular season to nine games and expanding classes to six or seven, which these days is a bigger pipe dream than scoring the Mega Millions jackpot).

But the reality is this: Until some folks on the PIAA Board are willing to say “no” to their own, 16 weeks is the present and the future for Pennsylvania football. And an early start to the season, distatseful as it might be to many, the early start is the only solution to this mid-blowingly political problem.

I spent the day refining and then actually giving a presentation to the District 3 Committee for a position with the district as its webmaster and director of corporate sponsorships.

I’m pleased to announce that the district, after some healthy discussion on the matter, has approved the job. I thank the committee, and especially chairman Sam Elias of Hershey and vice-chairman Ron Kennedy of Donegal, with deep gratitude.

In brief, I have been charged with upgrading the District 3 site and providing the site with daily content as well as establishing permanent features. In addition, District 3, much like District 7, is actively seeking corporate sponsorships for its championship events. I am thrilled to be the point man for this initiative. The district will be seeking everything from major sponsors (a la District 7) to low-cost sponsorships for specific sports.

I will have details soon on the new District 3 website, which I hope to have up by Christmas. In the meantime, if you are interested in sponsoring District 3 championships at any level or know of an individual or business that is interested in the same, please feel free to contact me at rod@rodfrisco.com or call me at 717-919-5144. I will be happy to explain District 3′s different levels of sponsorship that are designed to work with any budget.

Now, what does this mean for RodFrisco.com? Is this the end of the site? Hardly.

What will happen with RodFrisco.com is a shift in philosophy, but not in content. I’ll be less of a reporter / blogger (because of time), but still very heavy on daily information. I will have to streamline my time and some of the information. I’ll have shorter, to-the-point blog posts and more links directly to the information.

I still intend to cover PIAA championships andpost everything I can related to PIAA news. For example, I’ll cover Friday morning’s PIAA Board of Directors meeting as well as all four football championship games this weekend.

But are some things that will necessarily change. For instance, I know some readers are looking for District 3 wrestling rankings on the site, but unfortunately, I cannot so them for two reasons. Now that I am actively working for District 3, I do not believe it is ethical for me to post district rankings, which are an opinion. It could be construed as the official position of District 3, and that cannot ever be the case. In addition, I am doing the team wrestling power ratings, which will formally qualify and seed the District 3 team Championships. I cannot be in the position of putting up my own rankings while working the official ratings; it’s a conflict of interest, and neither District 3 nor I can be in that position.

So I have to back away from my own rankings, but I’ll be happy to post the rankings of others. As such, things will change a little, but not in a way that’s detrimental to the readers of RodFrisco.com, readers for which I am extremely grateful.

Thanks to all who have chosen RodFrisco.com since the site launched in February. The site isn’t going away. In fact, it will have a sharper focus as a result of my work with District 3.

Keep checking. There will be plenty of items on the site in the coming days, weeks and months.

Rod

Follow RodFrisco.com on Facebook and Twitter.

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Here is the blog for the PIAA Class AAA boys soccer championship game between Central Bucks East (18-5-3) and Landisville Hempfield (23-4).

The updates will appear at the top of the blog.

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It’s over! Hempfield’s Zach Hollinger finds a drop from Tro Barr and slams its past Donovan for the game-winner with just 13 seconds left in OT. Incredible finish.

3:20 left 1st Ot … 1-1

East gets two chances, but Worra makes two fine saves.

Going OT.

And Hempfield responds! Drew Skundrick manages to find a ball in a big scramble, wheels and slams a lefty past Donovan for the tying score at 77:01.

there it is! Kenny Haug pounds a header past Worra at 74:45 off a corner by Michael Gleason. East leads 1-0

Under 10 minutes now … still scoreless …

East just misses a great chance when Miguel Diaz gathers a loose ball in the corner and wheels one that Travis Worra has to leap and knock away … East is the aggressor now ..

East threatening … two restarts in a row … Hempfield beats back the East attack

15 minutes to play. Still 0-0

Much more action in the second half. Both East and Hempfield had strong strikes at the net, nice stops by both Travis Worra of Hempfield and Shane Donovan.

Sorry. Writing a story. Done now.

0-0 at the half.

Very little first half action, just five shots, none that really challenged the keepers.

20 minute mark, no score.

Already this is the best of the six games this weekend just because of the boisterous CB East student section, all dressed in red and making PLENTY of noise.

Follow RodFrisco.com on Facebook and Twitter.

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Here’s the blog for the PIAA Class AAA girls soccer championship game between Archbishop Wood (23-1) and Peters Twp. (22-2).

The updates will appear at the top of the blog.

Warrior Run defeated Sewickley Academy 3-0 to claim its first PIAA girls soccer championship Saturday.

No details are available at the time of this post.

New Hope-Solebury defeated Mercyhurst Prep 2-1 for the boys A championship.

—

Peters Twp. wins its first state championship in girls soccer after a 2-1 loss to Conestoga in the 2008 semifinals.

That’s it. Peters Twp wins the PIAA Class AAA girls soccer championship, beating Archbishop Wood 1-0.

Wood can’t get a decent shot on Hoffman ..

Down to a minute …

Wood pressing, but peters Twp. doing a great job of of keeping the ball at the 30 ..

Wood gets a corner with 3:45 left, but misplays it …

Wood pushing now, gets a shot left from Brianna heck on goal, but Hoffman handles easily. … 5:47 left, Peters Twp. leads Wood 1-0

Peters Twp. 1, Archbishop Wood 0 at 64:53

And there’s the first goal by Peters Twp. PT’s veronica Latsko gets loose inside the box, fires directly on Wood keeper Deanna Messner, who saves, but knocks the rebound directly to Danielle Hume, who plants it into the center of the net.

No sooner wrote that than Wood’s Kelsey Celine lofts one on net, but Peters keeper Brittany Hoffman makes a fairly soft save.

Haven’t had a legit shot in nearly 20 minutes

Clock down to 23:00

Most of the play remains between the 20s. Just two shots on goal this half, one each way.

Peters gets the first look, and Shelli Spamer just misses left, hitting the side of thenet at 34:50. Still scoresless.

Second half ready to begin, Wood to kick.

The half ends scoreless. Both teams with decent opportunities, primarily the shots that hit the post. Neither team was able to dominate possession or action. Pretty even game.

Still 0-0, 2:30 left 1st half.

Peters with its third corner of the first half, Danielle Hume heads it solidly but just high, kissing off the top of the crossbar at 8:14.

Peters’ Shelli Spamer actually controls the ball with her head, rips from the left side, and hits the post at 13:49 … Still 0-0

Lot of whistles in this game so far. Not great rhythm for either team.

Ooo, Wood just misses the first goal of the game when Monica Re rips one from the 20 and hits the right post at 20:15

No score, clock down to 27:00 .. no serious shots on goal although Peters Twp.’s Brooke Smith had to leave the game briefly with a minor head injury after colling with a Wood player in front of the Peters Twp. net

Hampton had the better possession play and better shots and earned the win. Wood goalie Aglira kept Wood in game.

It’s over. Hampton 1, Archbishop Wood 0

Wood pressing … Baker hits the side of the net with a minute left …

Oh, HUGE offside call on Wood after Tom baker makes a gorgeous toe pass to Dan madden … close call … 2;10 left

Down to 4:30 … Hampton 1-0

Wood misses a great chance. Wilt pulled out of goal on corner, ball gets behind bouncing, but ball trickles beyod the goal line to the right of the net … 5:35 left …

Another offside kills a Wood opportunity

down to 8 minutes, hampton retains 1-0 lead, but Wood playing with urgency now …

Wood with a corner at 10:13 … left side … Wood gets a head on it and Wilt dives to knock away … hampton able to clear with Wilt on turf … 9;15 left

Hampton continues to win the possessions … down to 10:30

Hampton still leads 1-0 with 11:30 to play …

Wood getting a little frustrated, have been hurt by severall offsides calls …

Hampton starting to hunker down a bit, sagging defense … Wood breakaway is blown offside, and the Wood fans are going nuts. But it was a definite offside.

Finally, Wood gets a shot to the low left post by Tom Baker, but Wilt smothers it

It’s all Hampton this half. Wood has only been in the Hampton end once, but it’s still just 1-0, Hampton. 22 minutes to play

Hampton keeps pressure on but misses wide right again … Hampton leads 1-0 with 25 minutes left.

Hampton comes right back, places two shots right on Wood keeper Nick Aglira, including a point-blank shot that Aglira had to block with his chest.

Wood, stymied offensively all 2nd half, gets a corner, but Hampton goal Ben WIlt fires out of the net to make the grab before Wood can get a head on it.

30 minutes left. Hampton leads Archbishop Wood 1-0.

Hampton just misses past the left post. Had that sneaked in, Wood would be in bad shape. Hampton taking the play to Wood in the second half.

Hampton goes up 1-0 at the 42:44 mark. Jonathan Mercier plants the ball in the center of the net after a very nice cross from the left side by Tyler Kurkiewicz.

Late start on the Archbishop Wood vs. Hampton blog, but no scoring in the first half.

Both teams had a good scoring chance each, but keeps Nick Aglira of Wood and Ben Wilt of Hampton made sharp saves to keep the nets empty.

Apologize for the late start; doing a story for a newspaper.

RodFrisco.com will provide continuous updates of tonight’s PIAA Class AA Girls Soccer championship game between South Park (19-2-3) and Mercyhurst Prep (21-0-3) and the PIAA Class AA Boys Soccer championship game between Archbishop Wood (17-7-1) and Hampton (24-1).

Both games will be contested at Hersheypark Stadium. Kick for the South Park-Mercyhurst Prep game is 5 p.m. while the Archbishop Wood-Hampton game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

These will not be live, play-by-play updates. Those are prohibited by PIAA policy due to its contractual arrangement with PCN, which will broadcast four of the six games live. The 3 p.m. Class AAA girls’ championship between Archbishop Wood (23-1) and Peters Twp. (22-2) and the 5 p.m. Class AAA boys’ championship game between Central Bucks East (18-5-3) and Landisville Hempfield (23-4) will also be broadcast live.

The other Saturday championship game – the 11 a.m. Class A girls’ championship game between Warrior Run (20-4-1) and Sewickley Academy (17-7) and the Class A boys’ championship between New Hope-Solebury (16-5-3) and Mercyhurst Prep (21-1-1) will be tape delayed at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively.

I will not be at either the Class A girls at 11 a.m. or the Class A boys at 1 p.m. on Saturday. I will update the Class AAA game from Hersheypark Stadium.

But fear not. I will be keeping my eye on playoff football throughout the state. After all, what’s else there to do between goals?

RodFrisco.com will also post scores as soon as possible on Saturday with the results of the PIAA Class AAA and Class AA Field Hockey championships from Whitehall High School’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

From bill on Contact us #

Rod, Wonderful effort—-a grand display by you to keeping good things going. Can we send a donation or tribute? …

Well, first of all, many thanks to the otherwise anonymous Bill. Comments like that help keep my enthusiasm level high.

But Bill did bring up that rather sensitive subject of money. This gives me an opportunity to make a little pre-emptive announcement.

As a dot com, I cannot accept donations toward the site. I run a (very) small business, subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and those fine folks at the Internal Revenue Service. So any income I derive through the website must come in the form of either sales or sponsorships.

I am on the cusp of seeking both. Soon – very soon – I will have some RodFrisco.com gear available for sale. No, you won’t have a slick, four-color brochure to peruse. I will have just one product to start: Simple, white T-shirts with the red-and-black RodFrisco.com logo across the front.

I will make those shirts available for sale via the website in a week or so; I still have to set up my PayPal account and install it on my site.

If you like the site, please consider purchasing one as a way of supporting the site. They will be sold a small profit, the monies of which will be used to support the site.

I do not plan on making RodFrisco.com a subscription site … ever. That’s not a great business decision, to be honest, but I have always believed that the information on the site should not be for sale. I just want readers throughout the state and beyond to have a vault of information that they can access 24/7 without the annoyance of logging in or even paying a small fee for the privilege.

The simple fact is I love covering and commenting on Pennsylvania high school sports and have since I wandered into The Progress of Clearfield 37 years ago looking for a job answering phones (thanks, Fred Kavelak!). It’s a passion, and passion doesn’t have a price.

The T-shirts will, though. But it will be a reasonable one. Look for the announcement soon.

And thanks to all who have viewed the site (just about 400,000 and growing since February).