Coaches Corner Celebrates 30 Years Of Broadcasting With A Trip To Kelly’s Riverside Saloon

Beaver County Radio has been covering sports in Beaver County for over 70 years, and over the last 30, Coaches Corner has become an integral part of that tradition. Every week during the football and basketball seasons, hosts like Bob Barrickman, Tom Hays, Bruce Frey and Jason Colangelo would interview coaches, players, and even the occasional referee to get insight into that week’s games, key strategies, and overall outlook on the games and life itself.

It’s a tough task to incorporate three decades (and more) of Beaver County sports history into one night, but Beaver County Radio did just that on August 26 at Kelly’s Riverside Saloon in Bridgewater.

The aforementioned Bob Barrickman and Jason Colangelo were the anchors for the evening’s festivities at Kelly’s, featuring over two hours of conversation with some of the most storied coaches in County history, players who have performed at the highest levels of competition during their careers in WPIAL & PIAA action, and the men in stripes who kept everything in line for decades as referees on the game’s biggest stages.

Along with the sports figures who came down to Kelly’s, a few broadcasting titans made the trip down for the Coaches Corner celebration. Gene Steratore (longtime NFL referee and current CBS Sports analyst) and Mary Ours (KDKA-TV meteorologist and Beaver Falls native) joined Bob and Jason to talk about their beginnings in Western Pennsylvania and how they got to their current positions. Plus, longtime Beaver County Radio broadcaster–not to mention Beaver County Sports Hall Of Famer–Tom Hays stopped by to reminisce about his favorite memories calling and covering games, including many of the nights he was co-hosting Coaches Corner.

Kelly’s Riverside Saloon provided the food for the dozens of radio guests and patrons alike, under the guise and guidance of manager Amanda Yerage, who–along with her father Ed (longtime WPIAL referee) and owner John Kelly–played a crucial part in allowing Beaver County Radio and all of the guests on Coaches Corner have a night of unforgettable memories…a night itself that will never be forgotten.

Part of the reason that it will never be forgotten is the fact that it is archived on our Facebook page and can be seen by clicking below:

Pictures from the 30th Anniversary Reunion show can be seen here:

VIDEO: Coaches Corner Is Celebrating 30 Years In Bridgewater At Kelly’s Riverside Saloon On Wednesday

Many an athlete has come out of Beaver County, and the journey that each of them has taken is different from one another…but the roots and bonds from which they began are never to be broken or forgotten.

It is in that spirit that Beaver County Radio, along with Kelly’s Riverside Saloon in Bridgewater, will be hosting a 30th Anniversary celebration of broadcasting Coaches Corner from Bridgewater on Wednesday, August 25, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Former coaches, players, referees, and other Beaver County celebrities will join the Beaver County Radio Sports Crew for what is being called a “big Beaver County reunion”.

The brainchild of this event was former WPIAL referee Ed Yerage, who along with longtime Coaches Corner host Bob Barrickman joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to discuss the ins and outs of the event, as well as the historical and familial contexts of mutual respect and sharing experiences that will be showcased throughout the two-hour broadcast.

To watch the full video with Matt, Ed, and Bob…click on the Facebook feed below.

VIDEO: National Champion U15 Girl’s Soccer Squad Features Several Beaver County Athletes

The toils and tribulation of hard work and matches against top-tier competition can be exhausting and draining, but they instantly become worth it when the gold is earned.

With their 1-0 win over Utah in the President’s Cup finals, the Century West U15 girl’s soccer team did just that.

Head coach Chris Lantzy joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about Century West’s national championship, coming after a season that started back in March and took a year’s worth of preparation to fully achieve. Coach Chris talked about the levels of talent, discipline, and sportsmanship that these young ladies showcased while climbing the ladder towards their golden victory earlier this month.

Seven players on the Century West roster hail from Beaver County Schools:

* Morgan Keller (Freedom/Sophomore)
* Gabriella “Gigi” Finch (Riverside/Freshman)
* Emerson Connelly (Beaver/Freshman)
* Lilia Battalini (Beaver/Freshman)
* Sydney Chontos (Beaver/Freshman)
* Dionna “Tiger” Santia (Hopewell/Sophomore)
* Bella Gold (Hopewell/Sophomore)
For more information on Century West or to get involved with the program, visit their website at centurywestsoccer.org.
To watch the full interview with Matt and Coach Chris, click on the Facebook feed below!

PIAA Baseball & Softball First Round Schedule: June 7, 2021

BASEBALL

Class 4A
3:30 pm Blackhawk vs. Erie Cathedral Prep at Mercyhurst University
5:00 pm Montour vs. Clearfield at Showers Field, DuBois
5:30 pm Harbor Creek vs. New Castle at North Allegheny High School
Class 3A
3:30 pm McGuffey vs. Hickory at Slippery Rock University
5:30 pm Mercyhurst Prep vs. Hopewell at Neshannock
6:30 pm South Park vs. Martinsburg Central at PNG Field, Altoona
Class 2A
3:00 pm Mount Union vs. Shenango at North Allegheny High School
3:30 pm Serra Catholic vs. Southern Huntingdon at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson
4:00 pm Carmichaels vs. Johnsonburg at Kuntz Field, Punxsutawney
6:00 pm Seton LaSalle vs. Sharpsville at Slippery Rock University
Class 1A
1:00 pm Riverview vs. Kennedy Catholic at Slippery Rock University
2:00 pm Eden Christian vs. DuBois Central Catholic at Showers Field, DuBois
3:00 pm Elk County Catholic vs. Union at Neshannock

SOFTBALL

Class 4A
2:00 pm Highlands vs. Clearfield at Heindl Field, DuBois
2:00 pm Eastern York vs. Beaver at Norwin
5:00 pm Elizabeth Forward vs. Franklin at Slippery Rock University
Class 3A
12:00pm Ellwood City vs. Punxsutawney at Heindl Field, DuBois
3:00 pm Bald Eagle Area vs. Mount Pleasant at Peterswood Park, Peters Township
5:00 pm Avonworth vs. Jamestown Area at Penn State-Behrend
Class 2A
3:00 pm Ligonier Valley vs. Sharpsville at Slippery Rock University
4:00 pm Shenango vs. Chestnut Ridge at Bedford High School
4:00 pm Frazier vs. Laurel at North Allegheny High School
Class 1A
1:00 pm Shade vs. West Greene at Peterswood Park, Peters Township
2:30 pm Union vs. Glendale at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson
4:00 pm Leechburg vs. DuBois Central Catholic at Heindl Field, DuBois

Stallings’ Hit Lifts Pirates In 12th, Bucs Third Win In A Row

Stallings’ hit lifts Pirates, Marlins’ 8th loss in row
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jacob Stallings hit a game-ending single in the 12th inning that lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over Miami 8-7 and extended the Marlins’ longest losing streak in six years to eight games. Automatic runner Adam Frazier advanced to third on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ flyout leading off the 12th against Adam Cimber. Bryan Reynolds was intentionally walked, and Stallings lined a single to center. Clay Holmes pitched a perfect 12th. Miami has lost eight in a row for the first time since May 15-22, 2015, and has lost nine of 10, dropping a season-low nine games under .500 at 24-33.

Two Golden Opportunities Tonight For Hopewell Baseball & Beaver Softball

Hopewell goes for the 3A WPIAL Baseball title tonight against South Park at 4:30 with a 4:00 pregame on Beaver County Radio. Then Beaver takes its shot for gold in the 4A WPIAL Softball championship against Highlands at 6:45. Pregame for Highlands/Beaver is slated for 6:15, following the coverage of the Hopewell/South Park match.

BASEBALL
Championship Games at Wild Things Park in Washington
Consolation Games at Washington & Jefferson College

Class 3A Consolation
1 pm McGuffey vs. Avonworth
Class 2A Championship
1:30 pm Shenango vs. Seton LaSalle
Class 3A Championship
4:30 pm South Park vs. Hopewell (4:00 pregame)
Class 5A Consolation
5 pm Peters Township vs. West Allegheny
Class 4A Championship
7:30 pm New Castle vs. Montour

SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ALL games at California University

Class 1A
12 pm Union vs. West Greene
Class 3A
2:15 pm Ellwood City vs. Mount Pleasant
Class 5A
4:30 pm Armstrong vs. North Hills
Class 4A
6:45 pm Beaver vs. Highlands (6:15 pregame)

Jarry Rebounds With 37 Saves, Pens Even Series with Isles


Jarry rebounds with 37 saves, Pens even series with Isles
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tristan Jarry stopped 37 shots and the Pittsburgh Penguins evened their first-round series with the New York Islanders with a taut 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. Jarry struggled in a 4-3 loss in Game 1, but bounced back to pick up the first postseason victory of his career. Bryan Rust and Jeff Carter scored in the first period for the Penguins. Josh Bailey drew New York within a goal late in the second period, but the Islanders couldn’t draw even. The series shifts to New York for Game 3.

Arenado, Edman lead Cardinals to 5-2 win over Pirates

Arenado, Edman lead Cardinals to 5-2 win over Pirates
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer, his fourth in four games, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Tommy Edman added three singles and drove in two runs for St. Louis. The Cardinals returned home after dropping three straight at San Diego to win their fourth consecutive game this season against Pittsburgh. John Gant threw 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. Alex Reyes pitched the ninth to record his 12th save in 12 chances. JT Brubaker, who had been charged with two earned runs or fewer in six of his first seven starts, gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

 

Longtime Pirates 2B Stennett Dies at 72 After Cancer Fight

Longtime Pirates 2B Stennett dies at 72 after cancer fight
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman Rennie Stennett has died following a fight with cancer. He was 72. Stennett spent nine of his 11 big league seasons with the Pirates, helping the team win the 1979 World Series. Stennett hit .274 for his career and twice received votes for the National League’s Most Valuable Player award. He started at second base on Sept. 1, 1971, when the Pirates fielded the first all-Black starting lineup in MLB history. Stennett is also the only player in the modern era to go 7 for 7 at the plate in a nine-inning game. He left the Pirates after the 1979 season, signing a five-year contract with San Francisco. The Giants released him in April 1982.