MAX SUTER

SCHOOL: Greensburg Central Catholic.

WHO IS HE? One of the top running backs and kick returners in WPIAL football, and a force in the Centurions' rise to No. 1 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL and PIAA Class AA rankings.

PAST WEEK: Suter accounted for 432 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns Friday -- all in the first half -- as the Centurions (3-0, 2-0) hammered Brownsville, 69-7, in an Interstate Conference game. He carried the ball nine times for 217 yards and four scores, caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 97 yards.

SEASON: A 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior, Suter has gained 422 yards on 34 carries (12.4) and has seven receptions for 82 yards. He has scored at least four TDs in every game and has 15 overall: 10 rushing, one receiving, three on punt returns, one on a kickoff return.

CAREER: This is Suter's fourth year as a starter -- he also plays linebacker. He has rushed for 3,431 yards and, barring injury, should top the vaunted 4,000 mark.

SPLITTING TIME: Suter's numbers are almost unfathomable, considering he hasn't played much after halftime -- Greensburg Central has outscored its opposition, 168-7 -- and that he alternates at running back every other snap with Akeile Day, a senior and first-year transfer from Jeannette.

CENTERPIECE: Football isn't the only sport in which Suter is in the middle of things. He plays center field for the Greensburg Central baseball team and made first-team All-Section 4-AA the past two seasons.

FUTURE: Suter, who lives in rural Ruffs Dale in southern Westmoreland County, made a verbal commitment to Syracuse in May.

-- By Rick Shrum

CHRISTY BALDESBERGER

SCHOOL: South Park.

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-7 senior, Baldesberger is one of the top defenders in WPIAL girls' soccer who has helped the Eagles to an impressive string of shutouts.

JUST FOR NOTHING: When it comes to defense, nothing matters to Baldesberger and her South Park teammates as the Eagles have shut out six opponents in a row. The only goal they have given up came in a 1-1 tie against Penn-Trafford in the season opener. Defense is one of the main reasons South Park is the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked WPIAL Class AA team. And Baldesberger is one of the main reasons for the Eagles' zero tolerance.

"I think she's one of the best defenders around, in Double-A or Triple-A," said South Park coach Shelly Thropp.

AYE AYE, CAPTAIN: Baldesberger has been a South Park captain the past three seasons and a varsity starter since her freshman year. "Being a captain since her sophomore year tells you a lot about her leadership ability," Thropp said.

MAKING HER PRESENCE FELT: Thropp believes one of Baldesberger's top attributes is her physical style of play. "If you ever watched her play, she plays like a linebacker on a football team," Thropp said. "She's not a dirty player. She's just very physical."

Baldesberger doesn't mind the comparison to a football player.

"I take that [football comparison] as a compliment," Baldesberger said.

STOP CHEERING: Baldesberger believes people would be surprised to know she was a cheerleader in her pre-teen days. "I'm the furthest thing from a cheerleader now," she said with a laugh.

THE FUTURE: Baldesberger hopes to play college soccer and a few Division I colleges are showing a little interest. She plans to major in elementary education.

-- By Mike White