Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Tim O'Brien is a junior forward at Bethel Park. Click photo for larger image. Selected by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff

SCHOOL: Bethel Park

WHO IS HE? A junior forward and one of the leading scorers on the Bethel Park hockey team that won the state Class AAA championship last weekend.

GAME-WINNERS: O'Brien scored the winning goal for Bethel Park in the Penguin Cup final and the state championship game. In a 1-0 victory against North Allegheny March 23 at Mellon Arena [Penguin Cup championship], O'Brien scored the only goal in the second period. In the state final Saturday against Malvern Prep in Hershey, he scored with 11:54 left in the third period to give the Black Hawks a 4-3 win.

SEASON: O'Brien finished with 24 goals and 17 assists.

A BEAVER FALLS MOTIVATION: Bethel Park coach Jim McVay had his players watch motivational film clips in the locker room before games. In the playoffs, McVay had his team watch some clips of the Beaver Falls boys' basketball team beating Aliquippa in triple overtime in the WPIAL championship on a last-second 30-footer by Lance Jeter.

"We just used it to show that you can do anything, but someone has to step up and do it," McVay said. "I guess O'Brien was our Lance Jeter."

COMING UP BIG: O'Brien is 5 feet 10, but weighs only 145 pounds.

"He's not the biggest kid and he had a tough time scoring against tough, physical teams during the season," McVay said. "I was on him about it, but we did some drills through the playoffs to help our quicker guys. When he scored [against Malvern Prep], he came back to the bench and said, 'Coach, that one is for you.' "

BELIEVERS: Bethel Park had won four state titles since 1997, but the Black Hawks weren't considered the favorite this season. North Allegheny played that role and came into the Penguin Cup final with a 26-1 record.

"I think only our 22 players and three coaches were the only ones who believed we could beat North Allegheny," O'Brien said.

FROM GREENS TO ICE: O'Brien was on Bethel Park's golf team as a freshman, but gave up the sport to concentrate on hockey.

"A golf swing and hockey swing sometimes conflict," he said, with a laugh.

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: Ellwood City.

WHO IS SHE?: One of the top softball pitchers in the WPIAL.

PAST WEEK: Ellwood City won its first two games thanks largely to Schuster, a right-hander. She allowed only one hit and struck out 18 Saturday in a 3-0 victory at New Brighton and was the winning pitcher Tuesday in a 10-4 decision against Neshannock.

The Wolverines are No. 3 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AAA rankings. They competed in Class AA a year ago, but moved up after the PIAA added Class AAAA for this season. Their Section 1 opener will be Monday against Hampton.

CAREER: A 5-foot-6 senior, Schuster is the Wolverines' starting pitcher for the third year in a row. She also started most of her freshman season. Her career record, through Tuesday, was 38-9.

Schuster was outstanding in 2004, finishing 17-3 with five no-hitters, including a perfect game against South Fayette in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. She had 13 shutouts and a 0.33 ERA for a team that reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA tournament.

CONTROL FREAK: Wolverines coach Bob Sudano calls Schuster "a power pitcher," and her 222 strikeouts in 128 innings last season reflect that. But she has much more than a dynamic fastball.

"Control has always been more important to me than speed," said Schuster, who walked only five batters in 2004.

"Her control has always been like that," Sudano said. "She also throws a curve, a drop and rise."

CHARGED-UP BATTERY: Robyn Blyth may wear a mask, but her identity is never a mystery to Schuster. Blyth has been flashing signals and catching fastballs for four seasons as Ellwood City's catcher. In recent summers, these two also have been teammates for a traveling team.

"When the catcher knows you and the two of you can communicate, it makes a big difference," Schuster said.

LOFTY AMBITIONS: Team goals mean more to Schuster than individual accomplishments.

"They're the same as last year -- win WPIALs and states," she said. "Hopefully, we'll do it this year."

FUTURE: Schuster, who has a 3.6 grade-point average, is certain she will play next year at California University of Pennsylvania, an NCAA Division II powerhouse.

-- By Rick Shrum