PSU game could be a special one

September 26, 2018

As both potent offenses presumably march up and down the field in what could be a shootout Saturday night, it can be easy to lose sight of how such a game could come down to a field goal. That actually has been the case for each of Ohio State’s past two close-call visits to Penn State. If it turns out that way again this time around, the Nittany Lions could be in some trouble. True freshman place-kicker Jake Pinegar has made just one field goal this season — from 32 yards — in three attempts. He has missed 44- and 45- yard attempts. Ohio State, on the other hand, has a ...

September means time for geese

September 20, 2018

The first day of September always has been circled on my calendar. That date ushers in the official start to my hunting season with the opening of resident goose and dove seasons. For years I counted on a great goose hunt during the opening morning. Farmers cut their fields earlier, geese were plentiful and fellow hunters were few and far between. Back then my free time was also very abundant. Those variables made for a month full of great honker hunts with some afternoon dove adventures mixed in. The last few years, quality goose hunts have been minimal on the first morning. In ...

Shoulder replacement surgery an option when golf, tennis have you down

September 14, 2018

If your golf or tennis game is on hold due to chronic shoulder pain and stiffness, you might find yourself considering joint replacement surgery. First performed in the 1950s, shoulder replacement surgery was invented to treat serious breaks in the ball or socket of the shoulder joint that could not be reset using traditional methods. Today, the procedure is less common than knee or hip replacement, though 53,000 people receive it each year. Beyond serious injuries, the most common reason your shoulder joint fails is advanced arthritis. Arthritis is a common inflammatory ...

Pitt’s failures masked PSU’s troubled spots

September 11, 2018

Through two weeks, I still have no idea if Penn State is a really good football team. And the next two weeks won’t tell us much, either. We’re all just going to have to wait until Ohio State visits on Sept. 29 to find out. The Nittany Lions barely won their opener in overtime against an Appalachian State team that looks decent, then destroyed a Pitt team that embarrassed itself, 51-6, Saturday at Heinz Field. The final score against Pitt was jaw dropping, but does anyone honestly believe Penn State played anywhere near as well as that score would indicate? If someone would ...

Baseball history is rewritten by the Babe Ruth class of 2018

September 6, 2018

Mifflin County Babe Ruth’s class of 2018 is history. Here is a look back at the team and the supporting players from the past three years: ¯ Colby Bodtorf — A local fan at the Mid-Atlantic Regional said, “That Colby Bodtorf is the spark plug that makes Mifflin County run.” And so he was. Bodtorf set the table for the big hitters behind him. He had a hit in 18 of the 22 games this year. And on the mound, he was the team’s top starting pitcher. His play at shortstop was a work of art. And who can forget that he had the save two years ago as a 13-year-old that clinched the ...

Lions bond despite poor fourth

September 4, 2018

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State opened its season with a wildly-entertaining 45-38 overtime victory Saturday over Appalachian State that anyone who witnessed had to enjoy. Well, almost anyone. “I started the game at 46 years old,” James Franklin said afterward. “I ended it at 51.” The Nittany Lions showed flashes of being a quality team — their defense didn’t allow a touchdown for the game’s first three quarters, and after halftime their offense again showed its quick-strike magic — but it was far from a dominant performance. Especially from a team predicted by ...