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Busy, exciting week ahead for local athletes

Youngsville's Jocelyn Taydus and her teammates host Eisenhower on Tuesday before the Warren County Track Meet on Thursday.

The rain has finally gone away, so the teams will play.

Last week’s wet weather forced a number of schedule changes, with athletic directors scrambling to squeeze games in during the final two weeks of the regular season.

The good news is that the forecast is calling for dry skies all week. That will set the stage for some exciting action with significant implications.

Here’s a look at some of what is to come.

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Big week for

Warren baseball

The Dragons have a region title within reach, as they currently stand at 11-3 overall and 7-1 in Region 6, 1/2 game ahead of second place Harbor Creek (7-2)

By week’s end, they could clinch at least a share or win it outright depending on what Harbor Creek does. It won’t be easy though, as they have four-straight road games this week – the first three of which are against region foes, beginning on Monday against General McLane, which handed them their only loss in region play. They follow that up with a trip to Corry on Tuesday and Fort LeBoeuf on Wednesday before finishing out the week with a non-region game against Oil City on Thursday.

Pitchers Matt Leonard (4-0, 1.14 ERA), Seth Baldensperger (3-0, 0.37 ERA) and Colby Johnson (3-1, 0.95 ERA) have formed a formidable rotation, along with their battery mate, catcher Aidan Morrison. The first time through the schedule, Johnson started on the mound against McLane and Corry and Baldensperger vs. LeBoeuf.

Adam Irwin (1.50 ERA) and Braidy Blair (2.62 ERA) have also posted strong numbers for the staff.

Austyn Cummings leads the team with a .459 batting average, while Nate Betts checks in at .400 and Derek Knapp .381. General McLane is one game back at 6-2, while Fort LeBoeuf is 4-3.

Eisenhower baseball will also play four straight games Monday through Thursday, while Youngsville will play on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Warren County Track Meet Thursday

By and large, this meet doesn’t really mean anything in terms of regular season region standings. But any coach or athlete will tell you that it may be the most important.

Bragging rights are naturally on the line and it always seems as if we see some of the best performances of the year in this meet, which will be held at War Memorial Field.

Already, a pair of school records have been set this year – Eisenhower’s TerryLee Talasky in the 400 and Youngsville’s Naomi Swartzbaugh in the 110 hurdles.

There was the exciting race between Youngsville’s Brooke Messinger and Naomi Hahn in the 1600 at the McDowell Invitational last weekend, leaving no doubt they they are two of the premiere distance runners in northwestern Pennsylvania. For Warren, its girls cross country that went to states in the fall makes up a strong core in the 1600 and 3200.

Defending District 10 high jump champion Lydia Latimer has soared to new heights this season, clearing 5-3 at McDowell.

And that’s just SOME of what’s going on for the girls, not to mention what some of the male athletes have been doing.

It should make for fun, competitive action on Thursday, beginning at 3:30.

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Region 6 title within reach for Warren softball

The Dragons (5-2) sit just 1/2 game back of Harbor Creek (6-2) and are 10-2 overall.

This region has been as competitive as any in District 10. The top five teams also including Titusville, Corry and Franklin, are separated by just two games, while sixth place Fort LeBoeuf (5-6, 3-5) owns a win over Warren.

They will get a chance to avenge one of their two losses this season on Monday when they host Corry, while traveling to Titusville on Tuesday and Franklin on Thursday.

Megan Wortman leads four players hitting over .400 at a blistering .525, while Kiersten Hoffman’s (.429) four home runs are tied for the District 10 lead.

On the mound, Ellie Lobdell 9-2 with a 1.72 ERA.

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Local battle

Before the Warren County meet, Eisenhower travels to Youngsville for a county clash.

The Eisenhower girls currently are unbeaten in Region 4 and have their sights set on another title.

Youngsville, while not boasting a big roster, has posted some very positive results on both the boys and girls sides, led by the likes of Messinger, Swartzbaugh, Jocelyn Taydus, Owen Engstrom, Aaron Morris and Noah Myers, just to name a few.

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