Guido: Cappa always made his point
It was upsetting to learn of Jake Cappa's death late Monday night after getting to know him from covering so many of his games as Riverview's football coach over the years.
One reason he was so popular with the media is that he was to the point and didn't mince words in postgame interviews. Cappa always had something interesting to say.
Cappa became a media person himself briefly. After he retired as Raiders coach, he did some announcing work on msasports.net.
He was the first local coach to guide his team to eight consecutive WPIAL playoff berths and made the finals at Three Rivers Stadium three times in a four-year span from 1994-97.
I'm sure the Jake Cappa stories will be abundant Thursday at the Burkett-Truby Funeral Home in Oakmont, where viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m.
The moment that Cappa is most associated with is “The Miracle at the Park” game in the opening round of the 1994 playoffs.
Justin Pappa recovered a fumble at the Riverview 6. Amid all the excitement, center Andy Flaherty ran over to Cappa and said the team needed a play to run.
Cappa called a play known as “On2.” It worked as his son Jeff threw a 94-yard touchdown pass to Ben Erdeljac to tie the game.
Riverview won 34-28 in overtime when Jeff Cappa threw a pass to Jason Cappa.
It was voted the most exciting moment in local history in a 1998 Valley News Dispatch readers poll.
Soon after, Cappa got a dog and named him “Ontwo.”
Our sympathies to Jake Cappa's family and their many friends.
McKay continues on
One of the coolest things about covering high school sports is watching athletes before they become famous.
Valley's Tom Pipkins and Jeannette's Terrell Pryor are among those that immediately come to mind.
Baseball-wise, it's Neil Walker of Pine-Richland, Mickey Morandini of Leechburg and New Brighton's Terry Francona.
But tonight, Blackhawk's Brendan McKay will not only try to pitch the Cougars to the WPIAL Class AAA baseball title, but he could edge closer to the national record for consecutive scoreless innings.
McKay has 69 consecutive scoreless innings in a streak that dates to last year.
It's the third longest streak in U.S. history, just 11 innings short of the national record of 80 straight scoreless innings set by Joey Porter of South Natchez (Miss.) High School in 1973.
It's worth taking the one hour-plus ride from the Alle-Kiski Valley to Consol Energy Park in Washington for Wednesday's 8 p.m. games when Blackhawk faces West Allegheny for WPIAL honors.
Many local fans will be next door where Riverview will take on Sewickley Academy at Washington & Jefferson's Ross Memorial Park for the WPIAL Class A consolation game.
But watching McKay is a treat. He's a tall left-hander with a fastball that hits the low 90s, which is excellent for the high school level.
50-year streak ends
One of the more remarkable high school baseball streaks in Pennsylvania ended last week.
Chambersburg High School's streak on 50 consecutive winning seasons came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Lower Dauphin in the opening round of the District 3 playoffs.
The Trojans finished the season 10-11.
Another remarkable aspect of the streak was that it came of the guidance of the same coach — Bob Thomas.
Chambersburg was determined not to see its streak end without a fight.
The Trojans took Central Dauphin into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and third with one out, a batted ball hit off the Chambersburg pitcher toward second baseman Jesse Helman.
Helman tagged second base, but threw to first from his knees and couldn't get the batter as the winning run scored from third.
George Guido is a Valley News Dispatch scholastic sports correspondent. His column appears Wednesdays.
