Amanda Palenchar

Derry Area

The past week: A vaulter, Palenchar won the pole vault at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships, clearing 11 feet 3. She will compete at the PIAA championships tomorrow and Saturday in Shippensburg.

Check this out: Palenchar also is a standout volleyball player, former WPIAL diving champion and four-time WPIAL and two-time PIAA place-winner in diving. She will pole vault at Penn State next season.

Diving and pole vaulting, what are the main similarities? Well, you are in the air a lot. I like the way that feels. Flying through the air is a great feeling.

Ever snap a pole while vaulting? No, but I have seen it done.

Ever take a bad spill while pole vaulting? Not anything really severe, but I have landed out of the pit. Just a sprained ankle, though, nothing too severe.

Finish this sentence, 'The toughest part of being a three-sport athlete is ...' Time management. Usually, I need to compartmentalize a lot and I don't work on any diving during track season and I don't practice volleyball when that isn't in season. I just stick to whichever sport is in season. If you were to work on other sports during one season, I think it would get very time consuming.

OK, you have a free ticket to a Steelers game or a Penguins game, which do you choose? The Penguins game. I love the fights.

-- By Colin Dunlap

Derek Law

Seton-LaSalle

The past week: Law pitched a two-hitter and struck out 18 in a 5-1 victory Thursday against Southmoreland in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. In the semifinals yesterday against Bishop Canevin, he pitched nine innings, gave up two hits, one unearned run and struck out 16 in a 2-1 loss in 11 innings.

Check this out: Law, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior who lives in Beechview, was one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL with a 6-0 record and a 0.67 ERA. His father, Joe, was a former standout pitcher at Langley in the late 1970s and spent nine years in the Oakland A's system.

Your team was undefeated in the regular season. Does that perfect record add any pressure in the playoffs? A little bit, but we really try not to think about it.

How much of an affect has your dad had on you? He has affected me my whole life. He's been teaching me how to pitch since I was a little kid. I've been throwing since I was about 5.

What's the biggest thing he's taught you? He taught me all my pitches and he taught me how to get my head in the game.

Do you watch American Idol or Dancing With The Stars? I actually watched Dancing With The Stars the other night for a little. My mom watches it and I might walk in on her and sit down with her a little bit.

-- By Mike White