Hershey Aquatic Club's Vinny Tafuto won the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly at the Middle Atlantic Senior Championship Meet at Bucknell University. - (The Patriot-News File, 2012)

Hershey senior Meaghan Raab finished off a busy four days at last week's Middle Atlantic Long Course Senior Championships at Bucknell by finishing first in the women's 100 butterfly.

Raab, the three-time defending PIAA Class AAA champion and state record holder in the 100 freestyle, clocked a 1:02.03 in the 100 fly final to edge Warwick grad and incoming Georgia freshman Emily Cameron by .27 seconds.

Raab's intensive program will gear her toward the Speedo Junior National Meet the first week of August. It'll be another chance for the Trojans' standout to see how she stacks up on the national stage as she continues to contemplate her college choice.

RAAB'S INDIVIDUAL FINISHES (at Senior Championships):

100 breaststroke - 1:15.40, 5th

50 freestyle - 27.63, 8th

100 freestyle - 58.66, 8th

400 freestyle - 4:33.44, 15th

200 freestyle - 2:07.18, 5th

400 IM - 5:06.03, 7th

100 butterfly - 1:02.03, 1st

100 backstroke - 1:07.43, 7th

*Raab qualified for second swims in all eight individual events and made the championship final in seven of the eight events.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Hershey Aquatic Club's Vinny Tafuto, an incoming University of Michigan freshman, won the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly and took second in the 100 breaststroke. Tafuto, won the state title in the 50 free at the PIAA meet back in March, also took second in the 100 fly.

• Tafuto's younger sister, Vivian, made a strong showing by finishing second in the 100 breast and third in the 200 breast.

• West Shore YMCA's Caroline Finkbeiner, a Tennessee sophomore, just missed out on winning the 200 free. The Trinity grad clocked a 2:05.31 and finished just .05 seconds behind Mia Nonnenberg. Finkbeiner, the 2012 PIAA Class AA champion in the 500 free, added eighth place finishes in the 200 fly and 400 free.

• Finkbeiner also anchored a WSY 400 free relay team that finished fifth. Her relay mates were Becca Luft (Northern so), Cami Cook (Cedar Cliff so) and Samantha Shirtliff (Trinity sr). HAC's Mary Lee, Tafuto, Steph Maurer and Raab finished 12th.

• Other notable finishes: WSY's Sabrina Mortell (Cumberland Valley sr) was ninth in the 800 free, HAC's Will Drexler took seventh in the 200 back, eighth in the 400 IM, eighth in the 100 back and eighth in the 200 IM; HAC's Meghan Miller was sixth in the 200 fly.

<<<COMPLETE RESULTS FROM MIDDLE ATLANTIC SENIOR MEET>>>

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 25-28 - Middle Atlantic Junior Olympics @Penn State

July 29-Aug. 2 - YMCA National Meet @Georgia Tech

July 30-Aug. 3 - NCSA Summer Championships @IUPUI

July 30-Aug. 3 - U.S. Open in Irvine, Calif.

Aug. 1-4 - Speedo Super Sectionals in Buffalo, N.Y.

Aug. 5-9 - Speedo Junior National Championships in Irvine, Calif.

Aug. 7-10 - Long Course Age Group Championships in Richmond, Va.

Point guard Briana Betz-White will join older sister, Ashley, in the NCAA Division I ranks in the Fall of 2014. - (PA Media Group photo )

All Briana Betz-White wished for was the opportunity to showcase here dazzling ball-handling and ball-hawking skills at the next level. Turns out, that opportunity exists about 75 miles south of Trinity High School.

The Shamrocks 5-5 senior guard recently announced her intention to continue her budding basketball career at Loyola in Baltimore.

Not only will Betz-White join big-sister Ashley in the NCAA Division I ranks, but Trinity's inspirational leader will suit up for Philadelphia native Joe Logan and a familiar Trinity alum, Loyola assistant Jill Glessner.

“[Ashley] helped me a lot with my decision. I would call her and talk to her about school. She almost knows me better than I know myself,” said Briana. Ashley is gearing up for her junior season at Old Dominion.

“She gave me great advice and what I like, and she like Loyola for me, too. I went on a couple of visits and really liked the coaches, the atmosphere, and the style they play.”

Logan's preferred “style” is to push the tempo and crank up the pressure on defense, two areas where Betz-White has guided the Shamrocks for the last two seasons.

The Patriot-News Big 15 pick – Betz-White was a second-team selection as a sophomore – posted nearly 14 points a game and connected on nearly 30 triples last season.

Betz-White also will get plenty of pointers form Glessner, another Greyhounds alum who played professionally in England's premier Division I league and Norway's top league.

To boot, Logan's ninth season in 2013-14 with be Loyola's first in The Patriot-League. The Greyhounds will be tested alongside American University, Bucknell, Lafayette and Boston University, among others.

Ironically, Ashley Betz-White and the Monarchs became members of the massive Conference USA picture earlier this month.

“I really like [Glessner]. She's one of the main reasons why I committed to Loyola,” said Betz-White, who will officially sign her letter-of-intent in November.

“She's very charismatic. There's a lot of energy in the program. Coach Logan is a family guy, too. He knows how to coach his players.”

Betz-White said American and Mt. Saint Mary's were on her short list of schools, but the city of Baltimore also helped sway her decision. “I always told my mom that I wanted to live down there,” she said.

Loyola was 12-18 last season as Logan rolled his school mark to 121-123 overall. The Hounds were upended by Manhattan 50-49 in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament in Springfield, Mass.

Betz-White is hoping to elevate those numbers when she arrives.

“I think defense and my court vision,” said Betz-White, asked to list her best intangibles. “I feel like I'm able to see the court really well in my point guard role. I like to make my teammates look good and pressure the ball.”

Epler on Twitter: @threejacker

Susquehanna Twp. pitcher Laron Mitchell and Team PA pack up after defeating Maryland 9-1 Friday at the Big 26 Classic. - (PA Media Group/Eric F. Epler )

LEADING OFF

Pennsylvania's quest to return the Big 26 title to home soil began well enough Friday night at Metro Bank Park. Skipper Mike Welsh of Pottsville worked in nine pitchers, including West Perry starter Ben Dum and Trinity southpaw Andrew Scarpelli, and PA turned 13 hits into a 9-1 victory over Maryland in the best-of-3 opener. Twelve different all-stars on the winning side collected hits, including Oley Valley's Nick Distasio's fifth-inning home run that extended PA's lead to 4-0. In all, those nine pitchers shared 12 strikeouts.

TURNING POINT

Dum and Scarpelli set the tone from the opening pitch, each banking a pair of strikeouts in 1-2-3 innings. Welsh was determined to give his entire pitching staff one inning to shine. Did they ever. Susquehanna Twp. lefty Laron Mitchell picked up two strikeouts against one hit allowed in his session, while Central Dauphin's Nate Dickey, a late addition to PA's roster, rebounded from a lead-off single by Maryland's Gabe Maymon (3-for-4) before retiring three straight.

Maryland trailed 6-0 before posted its only run on Mike Hubbard's RBI double in the eighth. “At first it was nerve-racking because there are a lot of people here,” said Mitchell, operating under the watchful eye of a dozen college coaches and scouts. “After you throw your first strike, then it's easier. You work hard for the opportunity. There's lots of preparation in the weeks leading up to the tryout.”

NOTES AND NUMBERS

Susquehannock CF Sammy Miller, PA's Player of the Game, opened with a double and scored the first run on a RBI single by Ted Williams. Meadville's Williams later scored on a fielder's choice by Spring-Ford's David Gulati. Miller added a second-inning sac fly. …

Distasio's solo home off Maryland reliever Jeremy Stewart, landed about three rows up in the Ollie's Cheap Seats in left. … Red Land OF Jeremy Hileman turned in a brilliant at-bat in PA's three-run eighth. Hileman fouled off five pitches on a 2-2 count, and three-more on a full count, before slapping a RBI double off Maryland's Dave Stauffer. … Miller preserved a 3-0 lead with a catch-and-throw double play from center to home. … Lower Dauphin seniors Kaylor Kulina, Deon Stafford and Gio Torres of Susquehanna Twp. did not record a hit.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

“It's great playing with guys you know, of course, but it's always good meeting these new guys and just having a good time. Our Legion team just lost in regionals last week, so it was nice to get back on the mound.” – Scarpelli

WHAT'S NEXT

In an effort to overturn Maryland's 2-1 series victory in last year's inaugural Big 26 Classic, Welsh will try a more traditional plan during game 2 today at 1:35 p.m. “Our pitchers did a heck of a job. I think they kept their hitters off balance. They couldn't get any timing down,” said Welsh. “We'll change it up a little because some guys don't want to [pitch] back-to-back. We'll give some guys off and then have them come back to pitch Sunday.”

Epler on Twitter: @threejacker

Northern York Aquatic Club's Seth Wenner, a Cumberland Valley grad, finished second in the boys 15&O 50 free at Mid-Caps. - (John Tuscano | jtuscano@pennlive.com)

As Nathan Smith perched himself on the starting block for Saturday morning's 50 freestyle race, he looked to his left and saw both a high school rival and future teammate in Seth Wenner.

Smith and Wenner have spent their recently completed high school careers as standout sprinters in the Mid-Penn, District 3 and around the state.

For one more meet - Saturday's Mid-Cap Championships at Hershey Rec Center Pool - they went head-to-head in their specialty event. And while it didn't carry the same intensity of a high school meet, it still provided for a competitive finish.

Smith, competing for the Latshmere Lightning, clocked a 21.54 to win the boys 15-and-over 50 freestyle, holding off Northern York Aquatic Club's Wenner, who finished in 21.83.

In just a few weeks, both swimmers will be cheering on one another as members of the University of Pittsburgh men's swim program. Smith, Wenner and NYAC's Shane Hallett (Boiling Springs) give the Panthers three recruits from the Mid-Penn.

"This is kind of like wrapping up my whole swimming [high school] life here," said Wenner, who starred for Cumberland Valley High School in the 50 free and 100 free.

"I didn't do as many competitive meets, not because I wasn't up for it, but I wanted to enjoy this and be with friends and looking around, this meet is where it all started for me."

Wenner and Smith have been swimming against one another in summer age group, club and high school meets, so both swimmers are well aware of one another's sprinting abilities.

"The swim itself felt alright," said Smith, a former PIAA Class AA champ in the 100 freestyle for Susquehanna Twp. High School.

"It wasn't like it was a bad swim or anything, but the main goal was to come out here and have some fun."

Smith, who also won the 15&O 100 free, said he'll spend the remainder of his summer training with Latshmere coach Kurt Sprowls on weights, dryland and technique.

"I just want to make sure I'm in the best possible shape before I head to college."

Wenner echoed those plans.

"The main thing I want to do is get back in the pool and start with a clean slate after this meet and rebuild my technique," he said.

"My coach wants me in peak physical condition when I get there."

Follow @JohnnyTusc

MORE FROM MID-CAPS: 

Annville-Cleona's Katie Wingert turns in a focused and determined effort

Photo gallery of the Mid-Cap Swimming Championships from PennLive's Dan Gleiter

Complete results from the 2013 Mid-Cap Swimming Championships

List of meet and pool records broken at Mid-Cap Swimming Championships

Notes and Numbers from Mid-Caps

Annville-Cleona's Katie Wingert receives a congratulatory hug after the girls 15&O 50 fly at the Mid-Cap Championships. - (John Tuscano | jtuscano@pennlive.com)

Katie Wingert exited the Hershey Rec Center competition pool wearing a smile as loud as her colorful suit and cap ensemble.

"This is probably the best trained and rested I've felt for our competitive meet in over a year," Wingert said.

Sporting an unmistkable fuschia swim suit and pink cap, Wingert captured first place in the girls 15-and-over 100 freestyle Saturday at the Mid-Cap Championships.

Wingert, who was competing for the Annville-Cleona Otters, dropped from a 55.20 to a 54.27 in turning back challenges from Aquatic Club of the West Shore's Shannon Ball (Cedar Cliff) and Hanover YMCA Stingrays' Ashley Griffin.

"This is my big meet," said Wingert, who does not compete in high school swimming.

"I've been really blessed to be with a club team that has older swimmers that were able to mentor me and I have really benefited from that.

"And it's also given me the opportunity to set an example for the younger swimmers on our team."

Wingert, who has been dealing with asthma problems for the past year, had a solid start and two good turns and never wavered down the final 25 yards.

"I thought I was strongest with my underwater work," Wingert added.

Wingert is coached by her aunt and uncle, Mary and Jim Gardner, so when she hit the wall to win the 100 free, Uncle Jim was there to pull her out of the water.

"Getting out of the water and having him there waiting to hug me was the best part of the race," Wingert said.

Jim Gardner added that Wingert has those intangibles that you just can't teach.

"She's always been good under the water," he said.

"But the biggest thing she has going for her is that attitude to compete. She has that determination and that's the way it's always been with her."

After witnessing her focus from the 100 free race," Gardner said he "wouldn't be surprised if she pulled off a win in the fly."

He was nearly right.

Wingert dropped from a 27.51 to a 26.67 in the 15-and-over 50 butterfly, falling to Dover Area Aquatic Club's Aniella Janosky by .02 seconds.

Follow @JohnnyTusc

MORE FROM MID-CAPS:

Latshmere's Nathan Smith wins 50 freestyle in a battle of future Pittburgh Panthers

Photo gallery of the Mid-Cap Championships from PennLive's Dan Gleiter

Complete results from the 2013 Mid-Cap Swimming Championships

List of meet and pool records broken at Mid-Cap Swimming Championships

Notes and numbers from Mid-Caps

So far, Pennsylvania has outscored Maryland 20-2 at the Big 26 Classic. - (PA Media Group photo )

LEADING OFF

There's a certain amount of pressure to perform at full capacity when it comes to all-star events, although a couple of dozen Pennsylvania-bred baseball players are treating the Big 26 Classic like a neighborhood pick-up game. Pennsylvania added 15 hits to his two-day haul and five pitchers combined on a three-hitter as Mike Welsh's all-star assembly bounced Maryland 11-1 Saturday at Metro Bank Park.

Following Friday's 9-1 victory, Pennsylvania officially strips the title from Maryland, done in by six errors and the overall push from the host side. Central Dauphin's Nate Dickey and West Perry's Ben Dum were again spotless on the mound, while Lower Dauphin C Deon Stafford (2-for-5) and Red Land OF Jeremy Hileman (2-for-2) steered six PA players with two hits in the 10-run decision. PA recorded at least one hit in all nine innings.

TURNING POINT

It might have been the tryouts in late-June. Seriously, every managerial move by Welsh over two days has worked to perfection, including the decision to start Dickey and insert Hileman at the top of the order. Hileman belted a first-pitch fastball from Maryland starting pitcher Jack Hennessy (Gonzaga HS) into center and later scored on Stafford's bloop single to left. West York 3B Carson Fries added a sac fly that handed Dickey a 2-0 cushion.

Maryland struck for an unearned run in the home half of the first, but problems mounted down the stretch. Dickey allowed just one hit in two innings. Dum, meanwhile, relieved Franklin High's Zach Guth in the fifth and never flinched. Dum (two strikeouts) retired all six Maryland batters he faced on just 20 pitches.

“Our pitchers are definitely the top guys in the state. They're unbelievable,” said Stafford, who worked as Pennsylvania's designated-hitter Saturday. “It's hard to adjust from high school pitchers to these guys.”

NOTES AND NUMBERS

Susquehannock CF Sammy Miller, who replaced Hileman, cracked back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth and seventh innings. In all, Pennsylvania's lead-off position was a combined 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. … Dallastown LF Tanner Forry, Susquehanna Twp. SS Gio Torres and Cathedral Prep 1B Billy Fessler also joined the two-hit club. Torres scored Prep's Charlie Fessler with a fourth-inning double to right. …

Pennsylvania has outhit Maryland 28-10 in two games … West York C Cole Bixler chipped in a RBI double in the eighth. … Lower Dauphin's Stea Zumbo sang the national anthem following a six-minute exhibition from the U.S. Air Force 12 Rifle Drill Team. … Hileman will be recognized as Saturday's PA's Player of the Game after Sunday's finale. A hard rain hit City Island just after the final pitch, sending staff and game officials scurrying for the tarp.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

“I've been aggressive, jumping on first pitches and stuff like that. It's helped me a lot. We're very good. We have a lot of good players. Everyone has just bonded together and we're just doing our jobs.” – Hileman

VIDEO: Hileman discusses Pennsylvania win

“I've never played on a team with this much talent. We've got pitching for days.” – Torres

“Obviously, the final score tells what we did. Our kids came out and hit the ball really well. Our pitchers held them down. Our defense played superb behind the pitchers today. This area here, District 3, is very baseball rich, so I knew the kind of talent we had on our team.” – Welsh

UP NEXT

Pennsylvania has won the best-of-3 series, but now Welsh & Co. are committed to sweeping the weekend. The 2nd annual Big 26 Baseball Classic will conclude Sunday with game 3. First pitch is 1:35 p.m. at Metro Bank Park. And the strategy?

“I think they understand how the appearances work. You get five innings or four innings and the next day it flip-flops,” said Welsh. “This is how you dream it to happen. You just send the guys out there and they execute. And they support each other when they are in [the dugout] or out there playing. They meshed well in the last couple of days that we've been together.”

Epler on Twitter: @threejacker

The Mid-Cap swimming championships take place at the Hershey Recreation Center pool in Derry Twp. Spectators cheer on competitors in one of the freestyle swimming events. 07/27/2013 Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

As we close the book on the on the 2013 Mid-Cap Swimming Championships and the local age group summer season, here is quick look at some of the notes and numbers from Saturday's meet.

MULTIPLE WINNERS

THREE

Josiah Lauver, Latshmere Swim Team - 11-12 200 medley relay, 11-12 50 backstroke, 11-12 100 freestyle

Katie Luft, Northern York Aquatic Club - 11-12 200 medley relay, 11-12 100 IM, 11-12 50 backstroke 

Grant Wertz, Wildcat Swim Club - 13-14 200 medley relay, 13-14 50 breaststroke, 13-14 200 freestyle relay

Becca Luft, Northern York Aquatic Club - 13-14 200 medley relay, 13-14 50 freestyle, 13-14 50 butterfly

Jack Brenneman, Northern York Aquatic Club - 15&0 200 medley relay, 15&O 50 butterfly, 15&O 50 backstroke

Chris Paynter, Hershey Aquatic Club - 13-14 50 freestyle, 13-14 50 backstroke, 13-14 50 butterfly

Jillian Maher, Northern York Aquatic Club - 9-10 50 backstroke, 9-10 100 freestyle, 9-10 50 butterfly

TWO

Nathan Smith, Latshmere Swim Team - 15&O 50 freestyle, 15&O 100 freestyle

Matt Gao, Hershey Aquatic Club - 8&U 100 medley relay, 8&U 25 breaststroke

Kari Powell, Shippensburg Aquatic Club - 8&U 100 medley relay, 8&U 25 breaststroke

Tyler Distenfeld, Cumberland Valley Aquatic Club - 9-10 200 medley relay, 9-10 100 IM

Trevor Arms, Cumberland Valley Aquatic Club - 9-10 200 medley relay, 9-10 50 breaststroke

Julia Ciesielka, Palmyra Aquatic Club - 9-10 200 medley relay, 9-10 50 freestyle

Max Kasian, Latshmere Swim Team - 11-12 200 medley relay, 11-12 50 breaststroke

Javan Kelly, Latshmere Swim Team - 11-12 200 medley relay, 11-12 50 freestyle

Logan Brockyway, Wildcat Swim Club- 13-14 200 medley relay, 13-14 200 freestyle relay

Shane Hallett, Northern York Aquatic Club - 15&O 200 medley relay, 15&O 50 breaststroke

Summer Dacheux, Dover Area Aquatic Club - 15&O 200 medley relay, 15&O 50 backstroke

Aniella Janosky, Dover Area Aquatic Club - 15&O 200 medley relay, 15&O 50 butterfly

Glaucio Silva, Falcon Swim Club/Lebanon YMCA - 13-14 100 IM, 13-14 100 freestyle

Ben Johnston, Northern York Aquatic Club - 15&O 100 IM, 15&O 200 freestyle relay

Jacob Rudy, Annville-Cleona Otters - 8&U 25 freestyle, 8&U 100 freestyle relay

Oliviah Rachael, Willowood Swim Team - 11-12 50 freestyle, 11-12 100 freestyle

Sam Stoner, York YMCA - 8&U 25 backstroke, 8&U 25 butterfly

TEAM SCORES (TOP 10)

1. Hershey Aquatic Club 1246, 2. Northern York Aquatic Club 1160.5, 3. Latshmere Swim Team 1134.5, 4. Wildcat Swim Club 863.5, 5. Devon Crest Swim Team 716.5, 6. Heatherfield Hurricanes 702, 7. Falcon Swim Club/Lebanon YMCA 601.5, 8. Carlisle Swim Club 562, 9. Annville-Cleona Otters 491.5, 10. Palmyra Aquatic Club 447.5.

MOST WINS

Northern York Aquatic Club - 16

Latshmere Swim Team - 10

Wildcat Swim Club - 7

Hershey Aquatic Club - 5

Shippensburg Aquatic Club -4

MORE FROM MID-CAPS:

Annville-Cleona's Katie Wingert turns in a focused and determined effort

Latshmere's Nathan Smith wins the 50 freestyle in a battle of University of Pittsburgh recruits

Photo gallery of Mid-Cap Swimming Championships from PennLive's Dan Gleiter

Complete results from the Mid-Cap Swimming Championships

List of meet and pool records broken at Mid-Caps

The Mid-Penn celebrates Big 26 triumph. Back row from left: Ben Dum, West Perry; LaRon Mitchell, Susquehanna Twp.; Jeremy Hileman, Red Land; Kaylor Kulina, Lower Dauphin; Nate Dickey, Central Dauphin. Front row from left: Deon Stafford, Lower Dauphin; Andrew Scarpelli, Trinity; Gio Torres, Susquehanna Twp. - (Pennlive.com/Vicki Vellios Briner)

There are words to accurately describe Pennsylvania's overall performance in the 2nd annual Big 26 Baseball Classic this weekend. Direct and decisive seem to work.

Skipper Mike Welsh of Pottsville and hand-picked all-star team completed a Big 26 sweep Sunday as Deon Stafford's two-run jack in his only at-bat led PA over Maryland 4-0 in the best-of-3 series finale at Metro Bank Park.

Stafford, Lower Dauphin's ace backstop, pushed Maryland's deficit to 3-0 in the fifth, not that Welsh's unbelievably-efficient pitching stuff needed the help.

PHOTO GALLERY: PENNSYLVANIA SWEEPS MARYLAND WITH 4-0 WIN

Southpaws Andrew Scarpelli of Trinity, who drew the start, and Susquehanna Twp.'s LaRon Mitchell were two of five PA pitchers that combined on a nine-inning one-hitter. In all, Pennsylvania's stable allowed just 11 hits and one earned run in 27 innings.

TURNING POINT

Although Susquehannock OF Sammy Miller singled and eventually stretched home in Pennsylvania's opening inning, it took Stafford's shot into the Ollie's Cheap Seats in left to completely steal Maryland's air. Maryland starter David Stauffer was defiant before a lead-off walk to Red Land's Jeremy Hileman prompted skipper Larry Prange to make a move.

Lefty Garrett Wiles did induce a fielder's choice from Lower Dauphin's Kaylor Kulina, but Stafford too the next fastball over the wall. In the sixth, Southern Columbia DH Mason Peters made it 4-0 with a single to score Spring-Ford's David Gulati. Stafford, who also collected assists to first and second, was named PA's Player of the Game.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

Scarpelli allowed no hits in two innings and struck out a pair. Mitchell walked three during his two-inning session but did not allow a hit. … West York 3B Carson Fries was PA's lone multiple hitter, going 2-for-2. … Kulina was 0-for-2 with a run scored. …

West Perry's Ben Dum, who did not pitch Sunday, flew out to deep rightfield in his only at-bat. … Susquehanna Twp. SS Gio Torres, on the back end of Stafford's rope that caught Maryland base-runner Gabe Maymon at second, popped up in the seventh. … Miller was named the series MVP for Pennsylvania after going 4-for-7 on the weekend with three runs scored and three RBIs. Maymon (5-for-11), from Walkersville HS, earned Maryland's series MVP nod. …

Commonwealth Connections Academy, PA's premier tuition-free, fully-accredited cyberschool for grades K-12, donated $25 toward a Big 26 scholarship for every strikeout. CCA's contribution reached $900 with 36 total strikeouts in the series. ...

That unbelievable catch by Maryland CF Terrence Turner-Blair in Friday's game has been getting some air time across national sports networks. Here's the video of the Northwestern High prospect in action.

WHAT THEY SAID

“The offense was huge. It just takes all the pressure off the pitcher. You can pitch to contact and not feel like you have to get everybody out.” – Plymouth-Whitemarsh RHP Jon Fisher

“The experience was great, meeting all the buddies and then getting all the things the [Harrisburg Senators] get. The Maryland players, how nice they were to us. They treated us great. We just acted like we've been together for a year, even though we've been together for like four days.” – Central Dauphin RHP Nate Dickey

“I came in here trying, being that it's a showcase, to stand out a little bit. But playing on a team like this, it's hard to stand out. There's a lot of competition here, yet all of our guys played for each other even though it's a showcase. It's definitely an experience I'll keep with me forever.” – Fries

“Obviously, these [Mid-Penn] guys are our opponents throughout the year, so it was nice to finally meet them and talk to them. They're all great guys. That just shows how great our area is. There are good players everywhere and it definitely showed today.” – Kulina

Epler on Twitter: @threejacker

Teams square off in 7-on-7 football in preparation for the high school football season - (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com)

How will your favorite high school football team fare in 2013?

Our Countdown to Camp series is here to answer that question.

PennLive's Eric Epler, Andrew P. Shay, Jeff Reinart and Michael Bullock are here to answer that question and more.

Over the next few weeks until the start of two-a-day camps, our intrepid quartet will provide preview capsules breaking down players-to-watch, offensive and defensive outlooks, schedules, rosters and more.

When previews appear the link will go live and the school name will appear in bold. Click the below links for more.

Mid-Penn Conference
Commonwealth:

• CD East Panthers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Carlisle Thundering Herd:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Central Dauphin Rams:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Chambersburg Trojans:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Cumberland Valley Eagles:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Harrisburg Cougars:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Mifflin County Huskies:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• State College Little Lions:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Keystone:

• Bishop McDevitt Crusaders:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Cedar Cliff Colts:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Hershey Trojans:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Lower Dauphin Falcons:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Mechanicsburg Wildcats:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Palmyra Cougars:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Red Land Patriots:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Susquehanna Twp. Indians:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Colonial:

• Big Spring Bulldogs:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Gettysburg Warriors:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• James Buchanan Rockets:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Northern York Polar Bears:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Shippensburg Greyhounds:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Waynesboro Indians:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• West Perry Mustangs:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Capital:

• Boiling Springs Bubblers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Camp Hill Lions:   Preview | Schedule | Roster
• East Pennsboro Panthers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Middletown Blue Raiders:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Milton Hershey Spartans:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Steel-High Rollers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Susquenita Blackhawks:   Preview | Schedule | Roster
• Trinity Shamrocks:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Lancaster-Lebanon League
 

Section 1

• Cedar Crest Falcons:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Hempfield Black Knights:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Lancaster Catholic Crusaders:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Manheim Twp. Blue Streaks:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• McCaskey Tornados:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Penn Manor Comets:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Warwick Warriors:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Wilson West Lawn Bulldogs:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Section 2

• Cocalico Eagles:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Conestoga Valley Buckskins:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Elizabethtown Bears:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Ephrata Mountaineers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Lebanon Cedars:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Manheim Central Barons:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Solanco Golden Mules:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Section 3

• Annville-Cleona Little Dutchmen:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Columbia Crimson Tide:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Donegal Indians:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Elco Blue Raiders:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Garden Spot Spartans:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Northern Lebanon Vikings:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Pequea Valley Indians:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster

Tri-Valley League

• East Juniata Tigers:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Halifax Wildcats:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Juniata Indians:    Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Line Mountain Eagles:  Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Millersburg Indians:  Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Newport Buffaloes:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Pine Grove Cardinals:  Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Tri-Valley Bulldogs:  Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Upper Dauphin Trojans:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster
• Williams Valley Vikings:   Preview (Coming Soon) | Schedule | Roster 

Camp Hill quarterback Michael Shuster - (Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com, 2012)

The Class A Lions have 15 starters back from a team that started 4-2 but was blitzed by injuries and dropped their last four games. Sophomore QB Michael Shuster threw for nearly 1,800 yards last season as a freshman. Below is their Countdown to Camp preview.

School Name: Camp Hill Lions

Coach: Frank Gay

Last Year: 4-6 overall, 2-5 in Capital

Last 5 Years: 23-32 

Returning Starters: 8 on offense; 7 on defense

Key Players: QB Michael Shuster; RB-DB Khalil Ashby; RB-LB Bill Williams; TE-DE Marshall Durham; OL-DL Jared Kronitz; TE-DB Michael Hope; OL-DE Austin Simpson; RB-LB Kyle Remig; TE-LB Corey Becker; OL-DL Evan Greenwood

Offense Overview: In this wide-open, high-octane offense the Lions employ it makes sense to start with the quarterback, right? Sophomore Michael Shuster was thrown into the deep end of the pool as a freshman and performed. A completion rate of 50 percent and 1,744 yards are solid numbers. And he’ll be better in 2013. The biggest step for him out of the gate is cutting down those picks. Shuster threw 19 a year ago. His No. 1 target is gone, but this combination of backs and receivers gives the Lions depth. Love a 6-5 TE in this offense. And last year Marshall Durham averaged 9.1 yards a catch with three touchdowns. Keep an eye on him. How the running game as a compliment to the pass develops could be a turn-key ingredient for the offense. Up front there’s three returning starters including a pair of three-year starters in Austin Simpson at center and Evan Greenwood.

Defense Overview: According to coach Gay the Lions’ top goal is to make the District 3-A playoffs. To get back there in 2013 this will be the unit to keep an eye on. Look, injuries shredded this squad a year ago. And it hurt way more on defense than offense. Camp Hill was 4-2 after six games and went 0-for-4 the final month. In those final four games the Lions allowed 187 points. That’s 47 against per outing over the last four games. Overall, the final number was 32 points a game surrendered. No offense can overcome that number. Seven is a good number in terms of returning starters. How are they better?

Biggest Game: October 18 vs. Trinity
More Camp Hill Lions:  2013 Schedule | Tentative 2013 Roster

Shay’s Crystal Ball: When you commit to a wide-open offense you are basically saying we have weapons and want to use them to score points. And I don’t think 28-32 points a game on average is a stretch. Shuster is just getting started and most likely will throw for 2,000-2,500 yards during the regular season. Line has experience and the back and receiver by committee works in the spread. There are 11 seniors and 19 players with varsity experience. Great numbers for a Class A team. Defense and turnovers will tell the tale of the 2013 Lions in big games. A year ago Camp Hill averaged 3.5 turnovers a game. In big games, you lose with those numbers. One or two injuries can be tolerated and managed. Five or six for a small school and it is lights out.

More:Complete Countdown to Camp coverage

Susquenita quarterback Brett Morrison threw for more than 1,200 yards last season. - (Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com, 2012)

The Blackhawks have 10 starters back, but lost most of their offensive line and backfield from a team that simply overpowered opponents in 2012. Answering questions on defense will be the key and a solid passing attack is in place if the running game comes around. Below is their Countdown to Camp preview.

School Name: Suquenita Blackhawks

Coach: Bart Miller

Last Year: 7-4, 5-2 Capital

Last 5 Years: 20-34

Returning Starters: 5 on offense; 5 on defense

Key Players: QB-DB Brett Morrison; WR-DB Evan Miller; OG-DT Kyle Blose; RB-LB Kyle Kenny; OG-DT Chris Evans; RB-LB Dalton Jones; TE-LB Jeremy Sultzaberger; RB Evan Allison; OC-DT Chase Hare; OT-LB Josh Mann.

Offense Overview: One of the main attractions for running a Wing-T offense is simplicity in terms of personnel replacement from year-to-year. The Blackhaws surged to seven wins last year on the strength of a running game that averaged 37 carries and 175 yards a game in 2012. A big part of that success was an experienced offensive line that paved the way for Todd Mullen to plow for more than 1,110 yards and 15 touchdowns. Most of that line and Mullen are gone. So we’ll find out in Cove if the Hawks can make this cut-and-paste offense work again with mostly new faces. One familiar face who will be the key in 2013 is senior QB Brett Morrison. A top-shelf safety, Morrison made huge strides as a QB last season by throwing for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns. His favorite target, Evan Miller, is back as well. Miller had 32 grabs for 585 yards and six scores as a junior.

Defense Overview: Blessed with one of the better corps of linebackers in the division, Susquenita is searching for more answers on defense in 2013 than on offense. DT Kyle Blose, a three-way starter who also anchors the offensive line. LB Kyle Kenny and DT Chris Evans give the Blackhawks three veterans among the top seven. It was hard to run on this team a year ago because of those savvy backers. Filling those gaps leaves a huge question mark.

Biggest Game: October 4 vs. Steel-High

More Susquenita Blackhawks: 2013 Schedule | 2013 Roster

Shay’s Crystal Ball: On so many fronts 2012 was a huge step forward for the Blackhawks in Miller’s fourth year as the head coach. But turmoil overtook this club the final few weeks. Still, seven wins and a playoff berth helped the cause. Susquenita snuck up on teams a year ago with its simple, straight forward approach. That won’t happen in 2013. Morrison will be one of the on-field leaders of this club and his confidence should be high. How well the running game functions to set up the passing game is key in 2013. The Hawks averaged 4.7 yards per carry and had only 20 turnovers in 2012. And they averaged less than four penalties a game. Hello success. But with less overall talent and experience, expecting those key numbers over the long haul is unrealistic.

More: Complete Countdown to Camp coverage

SHAY ON TWITTER: @APShay

Cedar Cliff QB Andrew Ford threw for nearly 3,000 yards in 11 games as a junior. - (The Patriot-News, File)

Two weeks from today the 2013 high school football season officially kicks off with the start of preseason camp.

So get ready for a parade of preseason hype. It’s that time of the year.

National rankings are big during this period, but there shouldn’t be a Keystone state team in any Top 25. Preseason state rankings are already in the works, as well.

In terms of the top individual players in the state, MaxPreps revealed its 2013 preseason Mr. Football for all 50 states.

Based on recruiting, choosing J.J. Cosentino, a 6-4, 215-pound QB from Pittsburgh Central Catholic, as the preseason Pennsylvania Mr. Football isn’t too far outside the box.

Cosentino, from a recruiting perspective, is one of the top 10 players in the state. And he’s given a verbal declaration to Florida State.

Making him the top pick in the state, though, shows either a shallow ability do even basic research or laziness beyond comprehension.

If the MaxPreps Preseason Mr. Football has anything to do with performance Cosentino isn’t close to the top five after throwing for fewer than 600 yards last year.

Again, Cosentino is one of the top 10 players in the state in my opinion. No way is he No. 1.

I’m not going to throw out one name that should have been at the top. I’ll offer three – one from each part of the state – for comparison.

Staying in Western Pennsylvania, Washington running back Shai McKenzie rushed for 2,689 yards and 42 touchdowns last season. And he has in the neighborhood of 25-30 FBS scholarship offers.

Moving to central part of the state there’s Cedar Cliff quarterback Andrew Ford. As a junior he threw for 2,957 yards and 35 touchdowns. He was selected as an Elite 11 QB and has verbally committed to Virginia Tech.

One final drive down the Turnpike to the Southeastern corner of the state and there’s Coatesville RB-DB Daquan Worley. The 5-11, 185-pound two-way threat rushed for 1,779 yards with 20 touchdowns, plus had 45 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Worley is headed to Penn State in the fall.

If you’re going to name a Pennsylvania Mr. Football for the preseason, the choice should make sense in 50 or fewer words.

And most importantly is should be a name football fans around the state recognize.

SHAY ON TWITTER: @APShay