Nate Antone

Kiski Area

The past week: Pitched a one-hitter, struck out 13, had a home run and four RBIs in a 10-0 victory Monday against Albert Gallatin.

Check this out: Antone, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior pitcher-infielder, is one of the top players in the WPIAL. He has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. A right-handed pitcher, he is 2-0 this season with 40 strikeouts in 191/3 innings. He also is batting .524 (11 of 21) with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Kiski Area coach Daryl Hixenbaugh, who also is a local scout for the New York Yankees, believes Antone has a good chance at being taken in the June baseball draft. Antone attended Greensburg Central Catholic until transferring to Kiski Area early in his senior year.

• Are you a better hitter or pitcher? Probably a better pitcher, but I like hitting more.

• Who taught you how to throw a curveball and how old were you? I watched people do it and kind of just did it on my own when I was younger. Then when I was at Greensburg Central Catholic as a freshman, the pitching coach there [Mark Henderson] really showed me how to throw it.

• Why did you transfer to Kiski Area? I went to Kiski schools all through eighth grade. There was just a bunch of financial stuff going on at Greensburg Central because you have to pay to go there.

• Who is the best baseball player in the world right now? Probably Derek Jeter.

• Country music is ... Pretty weak.

• Rap music is ... All right.

• People might be surprised to know that ... I like to fish.

-- By Mike White

Belle Vernon

The past week: A senior right-handed pitcher for the Leopards softball team, Nichols was just about perfect in three victories. In a 12-1 win against Derry Area, she yielded two hits and struck out 10. That would be her "worst" game last week. After that, she tossed back-to-back perfect games, striking out 12 in an 11-0 win against Laurel Highlands and then following up with a 15-strikeout performance against Gateway.

Check this out: Heading into this week, Nichols was 8-1 on the season with 97 strikeouts. She will make her college decision soon and said her choices have been pared down to California (Pa.) and Muskingum.

• Honestly, has a girl ever been scared to get into the batters' box against you? Some of them, yes, I think. You can tell when they don't get too close to the plate.

• Should the pitching rubber be moved back in high school softball? Yes, I think it should be. For those who want to pursue their softball career after high school and play in college, moving it back would get you more prepared.

• The fastest you've ever been clocked is ... I think it was around 57 or 58 mph. It was last year some time.

• Steelers linebacker James Harrison just signed a contract for $51 million. What would you do first if someone gave you that much money? I would probably give some of the money to charity. I am a big animal lover, so I would find a charity that the money would go to caring for animals.

• If you had to choose between the Internet and television, you could just have one, which one would you have and why? I would keep the Internet. I think because it is always updated, I would want to have it more than TV.