Ambridge

Recently: Goodell helped the Ambridge boys' volleyball team place fifth at the State College tournament this past weekend. Ambridge is a Class AA team and the tournament included many AAA teams. Two weeks ago, Goodell was one reason Ambridge won the Central York tournament, beating Penn Hills in the final. Penn Hills is one of the top AAA teams.

Check this out: Goodell, a 6-foot-4 junior outside hitter, is considered one of the WPIAL's top players. He has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and is one reason Ambridge is considered the No. 1 team in WPIAL Class AA. Goodell's brother, Charlie, was an all-WPIAL player a few years ago.

• Could Ambridge be the best team in the WPIAL, regardless of class? Yeah, I'm pretty sure we can. We can compete with the Triple-A teams.

• Who is better, you or your brother? I think me. He still tries to fight me about him being better.

• What's the worst thing that can happen to you in volleyball? A back injury.

• What about a spike in the face? I'd be able to take that.

• Who is the most famous volleyball player ever? I'd say Matt Anderson [former All-American at Penn State]. He went pro after his junior year at Penn State.

• What will you do for Mother's Day? Get my mom a present and probably take her out to eat at Olive Garden.

• For a day, you'd like to be ... Matt Anderson.

• People might be surprised to know that ... I'm afraid of spiders.

-- By Mike White

Ally Vrcek

Franklin Regional

The past week: Vrcek pitched a one-hitter with 17 strikeouts in an 8-0 victory Monday against Knoch. She had 10 strikeouts in a 5-0 victory Saturday against Hampton.

Check this out: Vrcek, a 5-foot-81/2 junior right-hander, is 14-0 with a 0.25 ERA. She has allowed only 22 hits in 85 innings and struck out 163. She also is batting .373 with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs. Franklin Regional has a 17-0 record.

• Could you ever imagine your team would be undefeated at this point? I can't believe the regular season is already over, and I still can't believe we're undefeated. It's really incredible. It still hasn't hit me yet.

• What are your chances of winning the WPIAL? We have the talent to win it, I know that. We're such a close team, too. This is like my second family.

• How do you like slow-pitch softball? I never played it. I don't think I could hit in slow-pitch.

• If you could change anything in fast-pitch, what would it be? The dropped third-strike rule. If the ball is out of the catcher's reach and the batter swings, that's very hard for the catcher. I could never be a catcher.

• If you could take anyone in the world to your prom, who would it be? Sidney Crosby.

• What will you do for Mother's Day? We'll probably take my mom out to dinner at Red Lobster. She likes that restaurant.

• Food you can't stand? Peas. My parents used to make me eat them when I was younger. I can't even look at them. They can't even be near me.

• People might be surprised to know that ... I can sing. I'm in the choir.

-- By Mike White