LSPORTS

SHORTS

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The official newsletter of the Pittsburgh Sports League

Spring 2007

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hello, PSLers! This summer we introduced PSL’s newest sport: Cornhole.

Cornhole, born and raised in Ohio, is most easily classified as a “tailgating game.” You may have seen it played in Gold Lot 4 or even at a picnic. Or you may have seen the 20 PSL teams gathered in

the back of Buffalo Blues this past June, crammed in, tossing bags with the fierce concentration of a second grader trying to write cursive.

What is Cornhole? (As you can imagine, due to the name of the game, the innuendos are non-stop.) Cornhole requires two ramps, each with a hole on the high end, set up about 27 feet across from each

other. Each team has two players, one at each ramp. Players from opposing teams take turns tossing four beanbags to the ramp with the goal of putting the beanbag through the hole (ahem, a “cornhole”) or at least getting the beanbag to land—and stay—on the ramp. Bags through the hole are worth three points; bags on the ramp are worth one point. After all the bags have been thrown, the team with the higher number of points gets the difference of the points. The first team to 21 wins.

There are many variations of the game, starting with the name. I’ve heard it referred to as Baggo or Bean-bags, and the boards I bought for the league sport the nomenclature “Tailgate Toss.” Some versions include the rule that if you don’t reach 21 by exact count, you lose points and restart at 11 or 15. Other versions assign the point values differently, such as 4 points for a cornhole. As with most games, players must adjust to the house rules and refrain from criticizing them. Those who cannot keep their mouths shut will be known as “THAT guy,” and nobody wants to be that guy. Or girl.

So we took Cornhole to the PSL labs and gave it a three-week, cheap as free, test run. Overall, it was a huge success. HUGE. I had been chastised by some early on for holding it indoors, but we had no rainouts and there was an endless supply of reasonably priced food and beverages on hand, not to mention storage for the boards. The participants gave positive feedback, smiled a lot, and were understanding about the location choice. Next time, we’ll invest more in the boards and make sure the bags are filled with beans and not sand (sorry teams, they were eligible for free shipping).

Official Summary of the Test Results (on a scale of 0 – Huge)Fellowship: HugePrice: Not very huge at allSpace: Notably un-huge, but manageableClarity of the Rules: Pretty huge, once you got a game in

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Why did you join the PSL? I was looking for an adult soccer league. A friend of mine found a PSL team and asked me to play. What has been your favorite PSL experience? Winning the bowling championship with two of my good friends and my fiancé. My fiancé had never bowled before joining the PSL, but improved throughout the season. Everyone pulled through at the end and bowled great.

What one thing would you change to improve the PSL? Ban Andy Johnson from playing any PSL sports!

What is your favorite sport that we offer? Soc-cer, of course, but I really wish racquetball would be offered soon.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love to stay active and spend time with my family.

Best PSL Male Athlete? Andy Johnson. He’s amaz-ing at banking bowling pins at low speed.

Best PSL Female Athlete? Chelsea Kline. She’s the best.

Who is your favorite pro sports team? The mighty, mighty ‘guins.

TV show(s) you try not to miss? Law and Order: SVU, or sadly, The Real World.

Something your best friend doesn’t even know? My first date with my future husband was at a Backstreet Boys’ concert.

Callee Suvak, 24, grew up in Castle Shannon and currently lives in Brent-wood with her fiancé, Bill. A graduate of Duquesne University, Callee works at Pennatronics, Inc. as a program manager. She’s been playing sports in the PSL since 2002.

Why did you join the PSL? I was looking for a com-petitive basketball league. A couple of guys who I played with in another league told me that the PSL was one of the more competitive leagues around, so I signed up.

What has been your favorite PSL experience? I have experienced several great moments during the various seasons that I have participated, in-cluding winning a few championships. However, my favorite experiences have been meeting and play-ing with and against new people, including some very good basketball players.

What is your favorite sport that we offer? Bas-ketball

What one thing would you change to improve the PSL? I think that the PSL is very well organized, so there is not much that I would change. One sug-gestion would be to stop providing small gifts or trophies to the winners. Rather, I think you should be able to win discounts for future PSL leagues. This would encourage people to continue to partici-pate in the PSL .

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy working out, playing basketball, reading and spending time with my wife.

Who is your favorite pro sports team? Steelers.

Best movie about sports? It’s a tie between Rocky and Hoosiers.

Favorite Web site? Espn.com.

TV show(s) you try not to miss? Lost.

Favorite Primanti’s sandwich? Capicola and cheese.

Jeff Robinson, 30, is married and lives in Cran-berry. He is a corporate attorney for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, special-izing in mergers and ac-quisitions. Jeff has been playing in the PSL, pre-dominantly in the men’s basketball league, since 2002.

PSL’s Participant Spotlight

Spring 2007

Spring 2007

Front Row (left): Rick Kraula, Kristen Hischar, Courtney Curotola, Lora Merritt, Alyssa DeLuca, Jill Danish, Ashli Podrosky Back Row (left): Valerie Ducour, Jay Peffer, Bryan Durkin, Brian McKenna, Tom Medvitz, Becky Rickard, Joe Saversky Not shown: Jerry Danish, Reid Odom, and Matt Swanson

When Jay Peffer joined the Fried Green Pierogies softball team last spring, he was told by his new team-mates to come up with an at-bat song.

“I thought they were joking,” he recalls. “I didn’t know any of these people and didn’t know what prec-edent had been set with music in the past.”

For days, Jay agonized over his pick, wanting to choose something that would get him pumped up, and at the same time, indicated his good taste in music.

“I wondered what the team would think of me if I didn’t joke around with it or make it adrenaline-pumping enough,” he says.

After sorting through several gigs of MP3s, he finally found his song, “Man with the Hex” by Atomic Fireballs.

“I show up at the first game and our leadoff hitter has “Barbie Girl” has his song,” says Jay. “First, I knew that I definitely over thought this and secondly, I thought that these guys were all right.”

Fried Green Pierogies, captained by Courtney Curotola, is unique like this in many ways. In addition to the at-bat music, they also have a 50-50 raffle during the “3 ½ inning” stretch and a cowbell that team mem-bers clang when someone makes a good play. The team also comes up with a clever team nickname based on the color of the shirts they receive.

But it’s their at-bat music that put the team on the PSL map. Before the season begins, each player chooses their own song which is compiled on a CD.

“We play each player’s song as they come to bat, like they do at the Pirates’ game,” says Courtney, who comes to the plate to the tune of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”

The softball team was started five years ago by tenants of the Wellington Apartment Building in Mt. Washing-ton. The team was originally called “The Wellington”. Becky Rickard is one of the few remaining original members.

Featured Team - Fried Green Perogies

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Spring 2007

PSL Sport Short Contributors:Daniel Casciato, EditorJacky Randazza, Designer

PSL StaffBecky Reitmeyer, PSL Director

PSL Referees and UmpiresMatt Grove Mike McLaughlinJoe SlezakTom HarmelNate SmithDerek RossoErin OrahoodChristian MarinoDawn MarinoStephanie HullEric GarverRick PavliskoJohn JenkinsDoug TravisChuck PrussDoug BrooksAldene LaCariaMike FrySteve VeverkaJeff JonstoneTommy Adrian

PSL CommitteeJacky RandazzaDan CasciatoMarcy SlezakBurtCourtney CurotolaSteve MalliardAJ LapikasAndreas BeckPatrick O’TooleDwight ChambersTom HarmelKim WolfDave Gostic

(continued from page 3)

“I think that our team has a lot of fun,” says Becky. “We know that we aren’t the best team out there, but we know that this is supposed to be for fun, not to win the championship or to be the best.”

Reid Odom, who just joined the team in the spring, agrees.

“Even though we play hard, we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” says Reid. “It’s more about having fun and enjoying the game than anything else.”

The team plays in the recreational league in the fall, spring and summer seasons. They have a preseason party at a bar in Mt. Wash-ington before every season begins to meet any new teammates and receive their shirts. “Any chance that we get, we play,” says Courtney. “We carry a full team and we also have a waiting list.”

The team has made the playoffs only once in its existence, but that’s okay with the players

“Everyone seems to have a good sense of humor and no one takes themselves too seriously,” says Rick Krauland, another player who recently joined the team. “We’re out there for fun, and I think we definitely accomplish that.”

“Everyone is here to have a great time,” adds Courtney. “We all have a little competitive spirit but the overall enjoyment of play-ing in the league takes precedent over that. Our drive is to have a good time and not to win every game.”

(continued from page 1)

Required Math Level: 1st Grade Number of Teams: 20Number of Babies in the Bar: 1Number of Goldfish Crackers Thrown on the Floor: 4Intensity of Playoffs/Championship: HugeNumber of Rainouts: 0Number of Rain Delays: 1Champions: The team known as Pink Taco

I look forward to growing and improving Cornhole as a PSL sport and hope that people will consider trying it. I’d like to give “props” to Becky Prosser for giving the final push to make this dream a reality. I considered it for awhile, but she really assured me that if PSL made it, they would come.

Enjoy the rest of the summer season. Play nice!

- Becky ReitmeyerDirector of PSL

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Spring Champions

Broomball

Team 1 (Red)Jason Gidas *Laura Gidas Kristina Kletch Allyson Connover Ben Aiken John Marchetti Dave Palascak Chris Dattalo Brian WenzellKraig Kletch Mike Thompson Fred Rihn Laura Capp Laurie GidasChrissy Capp

Bowling

Kingpin: Brian SeanorQueenpin: Allison Engel

Team 2, Mon 9:15Allison EngelCammie VandenBergAmy BairSean Daley

Dek Hockey

Team 1 (Red)Kent BroadwaterJD HaugerJim StancampianoGlenn BirkenfeldDave McFaddenRon LangerNate SuccopDoug JohnstonScott SmithKim WolfTara BonarotiMelissa McEvoyAmy DemmlerGwen DavisonMarcy Slezak-Burt

Dodgeball – Tues.

Hit the DeckMathew Calland**Stella Petraglia **Chris CoxSheryl CollinsMartin SpitznagelMark SpitznagelDavid WilsonPaul AgostinelliTara TucciJulie PezzinoMatt Anderson

Dodgeball – Thur

Ball BustersAnne Gilson**Helen Speed**Ali EberhardtEmily LipskyBridget ButlerMike GilsonBrendan MalonePat KennedyJay BlickNick VongiovaniJon Bridge

Flag Football

Divson ATeam #7, RoyalMike McCabe*Matt McCabe Bill Isbir Justin LibretoreJustin LawrenceNick BachofskiJason YarosikRyan YarosikDale McCallMichael RatesicMichelle RatesicRobin JohnstondiAmanda McCardleTiffany DijeneroLindsay WeimerMegan McCabeDerek Liberatore

Flag Football

Division BTeam #16, GreenMatt Stasko*Casey PhillipsAnnie BaldassariKim LacknerJacky Randazza Becky ReitmeyerJT KirkSean GrubbsBrian McKennaPat CallaghanDan SimbeckJeff BeltzCourtney Curotola

Flag Football

Division CTeam #23, GreenHeather KozloskyMissy BeHannaJason BeHannaRobert BeHannaHubert TseKevin MachenTiffany DoyleAlexis McCuneNicole NorkinDavid DoyleTom MedvitzMichael PealerMark RivettMalcolm Meredith

Co-ed Hoops – Tues

Team #3, RedMatt Stasko *JT KirkLindsay QuarantaMelissa TusickLindsey Pagano Dan SimbeckMike StadlerTim Cirincione Brandon RenziSarah Kirk

Co-ed Hoops – Wed

Team #4, RoyalRaelynn Miles*Kristin KramarikBecky JoyceLaura GrafPeter FreyRoy KingMatt WinansChris EisenhuthBrad StotskyMark KatarskiSarah SpeakmanKevin Byrne

Co-ed Hoops – Thur

Team #4, GreenErin Stoughton* Damon ClaytonJohn Stanley Matt George Wes MorganSarah StefanchinSteph Pollock Nick Kotun Eric Lang Jason Stanley Rich AbbottHeather Wiederstein

Men’s Hoops

Magee Rec CenterMotorboatin’ SOBsJim Dietz*Jamie Stilley Tyler Kelly Danny Hunter Brad Anderson Brad Shaffer Tim Madigan Mike GrabowskiAndy Dickson

* Captain** Co-Captain

Spring 2007

Men’s Hoops

Carnegie LibraryTeam #3, GreyJeff Robinson*Jason D’AlesioTobin NelsonJohn DiMascioEvan GelicekConor FarleyMatt PetersonAaron ThomasJason RobinsonAndy Super

Rec Kickball

Magee FIeldButtercup JoeMike Geier*Adam BuczynskiDebi BuffalariJen CarlinChris CrosbieSarah EmanuelChris HarrisonAlice HollandSam KilgourBeth MarhefkaRon McGarveyMario NazarethTJ O’DonnellKai ParrishSteve ReinselSusie ShinGeno Veltri

Comp Kickball

Buck NakedDrew CramerMichael Haas*Mike CurrykoskyBrian OswaldBrian NeiportPatrick LacavaJeremy BlythTim NealAndy KuhnChristian LongChrissy PaganelliMichel MarianTiffany TiptonAngel TiptonElizabeth Campedel

Indoor Soccer

WednesdaysWe’d Rather Be DualingJosh Mycoff *Shawn Dugan Paraic McCague Mark Conklin Chris Griffin Ross Chambers Brian Blasiole Dave Polk Steve LaurenceLuke Leskovic Lindsey Pagano Amy Williams Erin McKasson Melanie Stawartz Sara Gutty Katie Miller

Softball – Sat

Division ATeam #2, GoldLiz Speicher*Mike ChambersJoe DePhillipsCraig FowlerBrandon GoodRon HilemanKevin KeeganPaula Kuhn Mark LupinacciTim MattockDan RusinAdam ScuilliJean Marie Sloat Steve Speicher Kate SteppBrian UranowskiDoug WilliamsAnne Yust

Softball – Sat

Division BTeam #10, RoyalAndrew Rupert*Ron LangerRyan SammelLonnie PetrillWill LowryTom IfftMike AblaufBrent KrysinskiJon WassovichMark MichnaMike LoebigCale Kyper Ellie GuttillaSara NemmerSarah WivellLori LaneKerry McKinney

Comp Volleyball

Team UsMarianne Marcantonio*Angela LattanzioKim ChieraMichael GrembaTrey BarbourJosh WynkoopBob MuchenskiLindsay OliverTC CollinsJack Becker

Comp Softball- Wed

Team #2, WhiteJeremy Kraus*Tom Straw Tom Baker Ray Jones Meredith Patik Erin Baker Kent BroadwaterLaura Marcolina Kim WolfJennifer SpanbauerNate SuccopMarc Rubin Aaron Webb Mike Burdick Jennifer Kennedy Ann GraffJacob HerrlyRyan Rearick

Softball – Tue

Jerry’s KidsJerry Wienand*Curt LoyAndy JohnsonCallee SuvakDarcy NakonecznyJenn HallKevin McDonaldGrant TymanRich SismourMeredith Patik

Volleyball – Rec

Team #2, Black

Softball – Thurs

Team #2, WhiteTom Baker *Erin Baker Jeremy Kraus Ryan Rearick Ray Jones Meredith Patik Kim Wolf Mike Burdick Jenna Spanbauer Marc Rubin Tim BradleyTom StrawNate Succop Ann Graff Jen Kennedy

Spring 2007

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Spring Champions (continued)

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Spring 2007

FANS COME FIRST!

WWW.FOXSPORTS.COM/PITTSBURGH

www.hennejewelers.com

P S L SPonsors‘S

Special Announcement

Kickball for Hope is a charity kickball tour-nament raising money in support of the

young women of Girls Hope and for PUMP

Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Mellon Park

5th ANNUAL

About the tournamentTeams will play in round robin lightning tournaments in the morning & early afternoon. Winners of the round robin brackets advance to a playoff bracket later in the day. Teams are co-ed and may have up to 18 players.

Team fees:Teams may enter the tournament for $400 on or before August 1st, and for $475 after August 1st. To register or make a donation visit www.pump.org.

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