Salisbury Baseball Standout Brian Ernst Eyes the Major Leagues

Is Salisbury High School graduate Brian Ernst, who plays baseball at ESU, good enough for the Major Leagues?

Salisbury, the modern name of Stonehenge, may someday be known as the birthplace, the rock bottom beginning, of the baseball career of Brian Ernst. Ernst, a 2008 Salisbury High School graduate, honed his talents here, and now the pitcher/first baseman standout at East Stroudsburg University is on the radar of Major League scouts. The hope is this local athlete's formidable talents will get noticed by the Major Leagues during the draft the first week of June. ESU baseball coach John Kochmansky thinks Ernst has a decent chance to make it. "What is distinctive about Brian is how hard he works," Kochmansky said. "He not only works out everyday, he watches videos of himself pitching and analyzes ways to improve his motion." Several teams have …

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Salisbury Hires New Girls Soccer, Basketball Coaches

Richard Babyak will be the new Salisbury High School girls soccer coach and and Joseph Mladosich will be the new girls head basketball coach.

The Salisbury Township School District School Board recently approved Richard J.B. Babyak as the new varsity girls soccer coach and Joe Mladosich as the new varsity girls basketball coach.     Babyak, a 1977 Salisbury High School graduate, will take over for Mark Allinson after the spring season.  Allinson, the first and only head varsity girls soccer coach in school history, will remain head coach of the Salisbury boys soccer program.  Girls soccer moves from the spring to the fall beginning this August.   Babyak has been an assistant coach with the Salisbury girls program since 1999.  He also has assisted Allinson with the boys program since 1995.   “Salisbury soccer has always had a special place in my heart,” Babyak said in a news …

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Salisbury Baseball Wins Colonial League Title

The Salisbury High School baseball team beat Notre Dame-Green Pond 6-5, giving the Falcons their 11th Colonial League championship title.

The Salisbury High School baseball team defeated Notre Dame-Green Pond 6-5 Thursday, giving the Falcons their 11th Colonial League championship title. Salisbury's Nic Ampietro relieved starting pitcher Tyler Cooperman in the third inning against the Crusaders, according to The Morning Call. "I came in and wanted to throw strikes," Ampietro said in the article. "Try to get the batters out. Work the count and not throw any meatballs." Salisbury (20-2) rallied from behind in the fourth inning when they were down 5-2, the Express-Times said. With one out in the bottom of the eighth and bases loaded, Brad Vangeli's line drive past the reach of the first baseman propelled Salisbury to a 6-5 victory.

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Eagles Announce Training Camp Schedule

The Philadelphia Eagles will report to training camp at Lehigh University on Sunday, July 22.

The Eagles announced on Thursday that rookies, quarterbacks and injured players will report to training camp at Lehigh University on Sunday, July 22. The veterans will report to camp on Wednesday, July 25. Training camp is scheduled to end August 15. Exact practice times and autograph schedules will be announced at a later date. Spring practices kick off Saturday, May 12 with the rookie mini-camp at the NovaCare Complex. The full team mini-camp will be held June 12-14.

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Firefighter Wins Patch Sports Fan Contest

Bethlehem firefighter David Saltzer has been named "Patch's Greatest Sports Fan" in a Lehigh Valley Patch contest.

A Bethlehem firefighter known to family and friends for his passion for Eagles football has won Patch's Lehigh Valley "Greatest Sports Fan" contest. Patch readers were invited to submit photos that show off their sports fanatacism. Readers then voted for their favorite picture. David Saltzer showed his team colors from his Eagles jersey to his green-painted face. "I grew up watching the Eagles with my dad and have been to many games, including the last game at the Vet and most recently attended the draft party (last Thursday) at Lincoln Financial Field," he said. Saltzer, 36, is president of the Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735. He lives with his wife, Brandy, and 10-year-old stepson, Tylor, who plays football for the 2011 LCYA runner…

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The Phillies Philes

Rookie Galvis Immediately Impresses Phils

Natural shortstop is called upon to replace injured Chase Utley at second base to start the Phillies season.

During the long winter of their discontent, not many pundits envisioned Freddy Galvis in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform, let alone as the starting second baseman.  After all, Chase Utley finished 2011 in what was considered reasonably good health and for the most part, played nearly every day from mid-season throughout the playoffs. However, Utley reported to Clearwater and immediately announced that his knees were once more aching. Enter Galvis, a natural shortstop who was called upon to replace Utley. Since Galvis was signed as an amateur free agent at the age of sixteen in 2006, there has never been a doubt about his defensive wizardry.  Blessed with excellent speed, enormous range and an accurate arm, Galvis was major league caliber …

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Salisbury Swimmer Eric Tatum Honored for State Gold in Butterfly

The Salisbury Township School Board recognized Eric Tatum and other members of the Salisbury High School boys and girls swim teams for their winning performances in the PIAA state championships.

Members of the Salisbury High School boys and girls swim teams were recognized by the Salisbury School Board last week for their achievements at the PIAA state championships last month. Eric Tatum, a junior, was honored with special certificate for his first place finish in the 100 meter butterfly, the first gold medal in Salisbury's history. The boys team placed fourth overall, their highest ever at the meet. The boys team captured the school's first District 11 2A title.

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Readers' Choice

Schuylkill Valley Voted Best Place to Buy Sporting Goods

Readers voted Schuylkill Valley Sporting Goods in South Mall as the best place to buy sports equipment in the Salisbury area.

The results are in and readers voted Schuylkill Valley Sporting Goods in South Mall as the best place to buy sporting goods in the Salisbury area. Schuylkill Valley Sporting Goods received 66 percent percent of the vote, followed by A & H Sporting Goods. You can write a review of Schuylkill Valley Sporting Goods in our Patch Directory. Check back Monday for our next poll on the best place to buy French fries in Salisbury.

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Swain Student Wins Speedskating Championship

Speedskating champion Rachel Yoder, 12, is a sixth-grader at The Swain School.

Swain School sixth-grader Rachel Yoder took up the sport of speedskating little more than a year ago and has already earned some impressive wins. Competing earlier this month in Hartford, Conn., Yoder took first place in the novice division for her age group in the Mid-Atlantic Short Track Speedskating Championships. “I was really surprised because it was my first race ever,” says Rachel, 12. “I never thought I’d get the champion of the novice division. It was a happy day.” Rachel placed first in four of her races at the championships. In two more races, she came in second and fourth, even after tripping. More than 1,000 people competed in all races at the event. Yoder is a daughter of Annemarie and Samuel Yoder, both veterinarians who own…

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