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Thursday, April 26, 2001

Kevin Ricciuti

SCHOOL: Ellwood City.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-1, 165-pound sophomore who has turned into one of the dominant pitchers in the WPIAL.

THE PAST WEEK: Last Thursday, Ricciuti had 15 strikeouts in a 6-5 victory against Mohawk. He came back on three days rest, pitched a three-hitter and struck out eight in an 11-0 victory against Riverside Monday.

THE LEADER: Ricciuti is No. 1 in the WPIAL in wins and strikeouts. He has a 7-0 record with 55 strikeouts in 37 innings and has allowed only 22 hits. His ERA is 1.31, and he has pitched most of Ellwood City's big games. He is one of the main reasons Ellwood City is 11-1 overall and 8-0 in WPIAL Class AA Section 6. The Wolverines are the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked Class AA team.

STILL PERFECT: Ricciuti was Ellwood City's No. 2 pitcher as a freshman but still logged a 7-0 record. He is 14-0 in two seasons.

"I didn't expect to play very much last year," he said. "But I got seven games in, and I was fortunate enough to win them all. We had a really good team last year, but I think we came back this year with an even better team."

KNUCKLING DOWN: As a freshman, Ricciuti used a fastball and a curveball. He is not an overpowering pitcher, usually hitting the low 80s on a radar gun. But he is using a knuckleball more this season.

"At the beginning of the season, I really didn't throw it at all," he said. "Lately, I've been throwing it a lot more. When it's not working, I don't throw it. My dad taught me it."

HEY, WALDO: Ricciuti's teammates have given him the nickname "Waldo."

"Have you ever seen that book 'Where's Waldo?' " Ricciuti said. "They say I look like him. I just laugh about it."

--By Mike White

Patricia Price

SCHOOL: Schenley.

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-6 senior and one of the top sprinters in Western Pennsylvania.

LAST WEEK: Price was selected Most Valuable Performer in track events at Hempfield's Lady Spartan Invitational, one of the largest girls' meets in the district. She won the 200-meter dash in 25.7 seconds, the 100 in 12.4 and ran the anchor leg on Schenley's 400 relay team that set a meet record with a time of 50.1 seconds. The other relay team members were Kamilah Goodrich, Danesha Dixon and Kim Jackson.

ONE OF THE BEST: A few weeks ago at the Tri-State Coaches Meet, Price won the 200 in 25.78 seconds and the 100 in 12.28 (the 100 was wind-aided). The only sprinter with better 100 and 200 times in Western Pennsylvania is Rochester star Lauryn Williams, who has an 11.6 in the 100 and 25.2 in the 200. Schenley's relay team has run a 49.93, the best time this season.

"I set goals for myself in the beginning of the year of breaking 12 seconds in the 100 and 24 in the 200," Price said. "I'm keeping those goals in mind."

SHORTER IS BETTER: Price ran cross country in eighth grade but found out she did not like distance races. Last year, she ran the 400 most of the year because of a left hamstring injury.

"Every time she'd try to give that little extra in the sprints last year, she'd get that twinge in her hamstring," said Schenley Coach Mark Lazur. "That's why we kept her in the 400 most of the year. But now that she's healthy again, her natural races are the 100 and 200."

DANCE FEVER: In sixth through eighth grade, Price attended Rogers School for Creative and Performing Arts. She studied dance, and those years might have helped her in track. "I did a lot of tap ballet," she said. "I think maybe it helped me a little bit with my flexibility."

THE FUTURE: Price wants to compete in track in college and is considering attending Kent State. She also has her sights set on winning City League and possibly PIAA Class AAA championships. The only City League girl to win a PIAA title in the 100 was Peabody's Tonja Stevens in 1985. The only City League girl to win the 200 was Kim Martin of Schenley in 1994 and Stevens in 1985.

-- By Mike White