St. Mark's (Wilmington, Del.) senior pitcher Chris Murphy committed to Texas Christian University Saturday. Murphy, an incoming senior, was 6-2 during St. Mark’s 2010 state championship season.
"I chose TCU because it’s a great winning program that is devoted to developing pitchers," Murphy said. "The coaching staff is great. It was a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass on."
2. On the horizon: The dawn of a new school year is on the horizon and with it comes a few administrative and coaching changes in high school athletic departments.
Bill Legge has retired as athletic director at William Penn (New Castle, Del.) after serving in the position for eight years.
"It has been a great ride," said Legge, whose teaching and coaching career began at the former Conrad High School in 1969. "In addition to serving as athletic director, I had the pleasure to be involved coaching football at Penn with (former coach) Bruce Reynolds and all the other super guys that I was with. It has truly been my pleasure."
Sabrina Parialis, who served as assistant athletic director under Legge, has been named athletic director.
Wilmington Friends: Former University of Delaware soccer head coach Marc Samonisky has been hired as athletic director at the Wilmington private school. Samonisky, 61, coached the Blue Hens for a total of 32 years, 13 of them as head coach, before retiring following the 2005 season.
3. Coaching changes: Joan Samonisky (Marc’s wife) has retired as field hockey head coach at Sanford (Hockessin, Del.) after 22 seasons. Sanford alumnus Megan McGuin has been hired to replace Samonisky.
After a successful playing career at the University of Delaware, McGuin went on to become the field hockey head coach at Utica College and most recently was an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
“We are very fortunate to have Megan back at Sanford,” said Samonisky, who will remain in her role as athletic director.
Caravel Academy: John Berry has been named boys soccer head coach, replacing Tom Wiley, who will remain in his position as boys basketball head coach. Berry was most recently a soccer coach at McKean High School.
Angelo Gatinella has been named football head coach, replacing Mike Aruanno, who resigned to pursue business interests. Gatinella was previously the middle school football head coach at Caravel and also was running backs coach at Middletown High during its 2007 state-championship season.
Lake Forest (Felton, Del.): Katie Neeman has been named field hockey head coach. Neeman, who left her post as head coach at Campus Community High School after just one season, replaces Jordan Molohan.
Neeman was an assistant basketball and track coach last year at Lake Forest and will work as a long-term substitute at the school while finishing up her teaching degree. She is a 2005 graduate of Lake Forest.
4. Twelve schools receive sportsmanship award: The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Sportsmanship Committee has selected twelve schools as recipients of the 2009-2010 “State Champions in Sportsmanship” award. This is the highest honor for sportsmanship that can be bestowed on any of the 102 member schools of DIAA.
The schools are: William Penn High School (13th consecutive year); Tower Hill School (fifth consecutive year); Sussex Tech (Georgetown, Del.) (fourth consecutive year); Concord (Wilmington, Del.) (fourth consecutive year); Wilmington Christian (Hockessin, Del.) (fourth consecutive year); Caesar Rodney (Camden, Del.) School (third consecutive year); Cape Henlopen (Lewes, Del.) (second consecutive year); Lake Forest (Felton, Del.) (second consecutive year); Caravel Academy (second consecutive year); Phillis Wheatley Middle School (second consecutive year); Appoquinimink (West Middletown, Del.)l (first year); Conrad Science (Wilmington, Del.) (first year).
“The increase in the number of awards presented by the DIAA Board is a reflection of the importance placed on sportsmanship by our member schools,” DIAA executive director Kevin Charles said in a press release. “Winning this award means these schools have made sportsmanship a part of their school's culture.”
5. Newark Post 10 wins Legion crown: Newark Post 10 routed Stahl Post 30 (Dover) 16-5 to win the American Legion state championship Saturday night at the Dover Little League complex.
Lincoln Lamberton, a senior at Salesianum who was named to the second team All-State team as a designated hitter last season, went 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBI to lead Newark.
“Beating Stahl in the state championship after they beat us five times during the regular season is a great accomplishment for our team,” Lamberton said. “Hopefully we can take the momentum from the state tournament and perform well in regionals.”
All nine starters had at least one hit and scored at least one run for Newark, which started its season with a 3-9 record but now will play in the American Legion Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament Aug. 5-9 in West Lawn, Pa.
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n memory: Middletown (Middletown, Del.) High School athletic trainer Terri Schall was tragically killed when she was hit by two cars while attempting to cross the street on July 20. Middletown football coach Mark DelPercio has said the team will honor her memory by placing an empty chair with her medical bag and flowers on it on the sideline at the start of fall practice. School administrators and coaches also plan to have other tributes throughout the fall season.
Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and occasional color commentator for the 1290am The Ticket High School Football Game of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
