Mike Gross

3 weeks ago | lancasteronline.com | Mike Gross

Along, long, long, long time ago, I realized — and realized is a more accurate word than decided — I was going to be a sportswriter. As it all winds down and I consider the contents of This Space one last time, the word that keeps floating up is gratitude. To borrow from San Francisco columnist Jon Carroll, consider this a grat etude. I have written, by my very rough estimate, more than 8 million published words.

3 weeks ago | mahoningmatters.com | Mike Gross

HERSHEY - After decades in the second division of the Philadelphia Catholic League, Father Judge rose to the pinnacle Saturday, defeating Roman Catholic 71-60 for the Class 6A state boys' basketball championship at the Giant Center. Judge also beat Roman for the PCL title three weeks ago, and edged the Cahillites in the regular season. The Crusaders (24-7) got 29 points from senior guard Kevair Kennedy, who made 15 of 17 free throws. Junior slasher Derrick Morton-Rivera scored 19.

3 weeks ago | mahoningmatters.com | Mike Gross

Does it matter that Abdul Carter was three hours late for an appearance in Ephrata Saturday? Certainly not to NFL teams who are expected to make Carter, a Penn State all-American defensive end, a top-five pick in next month's NFL draft. It went over less well with organizers of the Ephrata Lions Club, who hired Carter to sign autographs at their 45th annual annual card show.

3 weeks ago | mahoningmatters.com | Mike Gross

HERSHEY - It started, six years ago, with a simple invitation. Somebody asked Mike Schatzmann and his wife, Gloria, to come watch a basketball game at a school they had never heard of. "Linville Hill, ... (Mike) was like, where's that?" Gloria recalled Friday, because that's what most everyone says when they hear about the little, remote school that could, and can, and did on the sport's biggest stage here Friday.

4 weeks ago | mahoningmatters.com | Mike Gross

By Mike [email protected] State's annual Blue-White spring game will be played April 26 at the newly-named West Shore Homes Field at Beaver Stadium. It won't be televised, head coach James Franklin said Tuesday.