Graduation may be months away at Mt. Lebanon, but mid-November was just as good a time for Frank and Victoria Badolato to throw a little party for their daughter, Geena, and a few of her friends.
At his pizza establishment on Beverly Road, they reveled because as many as six students will continue their athletic careers in college.
A softball starlet, Ms. Badolato signed her national Letter of Intent. There was no question this Lebo local would remain in the region, pitching for Robert Morris University.
Although she has traveled around the country--most recently this summer she ventured to Las Vegas--and was recruited by Rochester, Dickinson, James Madison and Cornell, Badolato settled on the Colonials because she liked the players and coaches.
Plus, she liked the fact that the college was close by.
"There's no place like home," she said.
Since age 9, home has been a pitching mound for Badolato.
In fact, last spring, she again led Lebo to the district semifinals as well as a 16-2 record. She struck out 166 batters and ranked No. 9 in the WPIAL. Opponents batted just .078 against her. They scored even less. Ba-dolato allowed just five earned runs for a 0.30 ERA.
"Geena is one of the best competitors I have ever seen," said Lebo manager Nikki Fajtak. "She gives it her all. Her best years are still to come though she's pitched phenomenally for us."
Before the prospective business major leaves Lebo for RMU, Badolato hopes to achieve one more amazing thing for her alma mater.
"My goal is definitely to get to a WPIAL final," said the 17-year-old senior.
"We've always been one game away. We all have that as our goal. Tired of being one game away."
Final destination
Badolato's buddies know no such sentiment.
Jessica Babe, Lauren Arbogast and Cecilia Woodyard have been to the big game more than once during their athletic careers.
All played basketball on last year's undefeated WPIAL and PIAA championship club. Plus, they had been to state finals only a season earlier. In addition, Woodyard has competed in a WPIAL final for lacrosse.
Each will continue their athletic endeavors in college.
While Woodyard will play lacrosse at High Point University in North Carolina, Arbogast and Babe will play basketball for Central Connecticut.
The nine-hour distance away from home, plus the diversity of the region, appealed to Babe, who had three other siblings who excelled in basketball at Lebo--Bill, Brandon and Jackie, who is currently playing at Duquesne University.
Of Central Connecticut, Babe said that she liked the coaching staff, the area was perfect because there were more things to do than just play basketball and it was a train ride to New York City. But the underlying reason she would be remaining a Blue Devil had to do with her personality.
"I wanted to go someplace where I had my own identity," said the 17-year-old daughter of Carla and Greg Babe.
"I have always been a little Babe. I still am," she explained. "Now I can be just Jess Babe."
The Babe that Dori Oldaker knows is a fiery competitor, who has run the offense for her Blue Devils.
In helping the Lebo ladies to a 31-0 season last winter, she led the team in assists with 161 assists for a 5.2 average a game. She also ranked No. 2 in steals with 96 for an average of three a contest.
Additionally, Babe averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.
According to Oldaker, the main factors that attracted Central Connecticut to Babe were "her ability to be a floor general and her never-say-die attitude. Obviously, she plays with a lot of heart and determination."
Babe is determined to hone her skills this season and at the next level.
"My goal this season is to lead my team. Be a capable leader. And have another state championship," she said. "That would be nice.
"When I get to college though, I'm going to have to improve. You can't get away with anything like you do in high school when not everybody is good. In college, they're all going to be good. So I'm going to have to make good, quick decisions."
Education a top reason
Meanwhile, Arbogast decided upon Central Connecticut primarily for the educational experience. The campus and the size of the school provided the perfect environment for learning.
Arbogast hopes to emulate her high school coach, pursuing an elementary education degree and incorporating her love for the game by coaching, too.
"I have never talked to Coach Oldaker about it but I think the fact that she can coach and she can teach is a great life."
Arbogast, who just as Babe was recruited by Mount St. Mary's in Maryland, Hofstra and St. Francis in Loretto, should have a great college life maturing into her abilities.
Although the 17-year-old daughter of Wendy and David Arbogast has played sports because she was always tall, has untapped potential says Oldaker.
"I am amazed at how much she has improved since her freshman year. I believe her best years are yet to come in college. She has not peaked yet."
Indeed, at 6-foot-2, the forward averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds a game last season.
As far as her scholastic career is concern, Arbogast, too, hopes Lebo hasn't reached the pinnacle.
"I'd like to accomplish what we did last year. One game at a time, one day at a time though," she cautioned. "You can't look to far into the future.
"But we're going to work at it every day. We're used to it. Our coaches have prepared us really well."
Next step, High Point
Oldaker, meanwhile, believes Woodyard is prepared for her next step even though she has not seen her play lacrosse.
"If her lacrosse IQ is like her basketball IQ then she'll do unbelievably well. Cecelia's so intelligent. We don't win without her on the team."
Neither did the Lebo lacrosse ladies. They reached the WPIAL finals last season. For years, they have traded places with Peters Township as champions.
While Woodyard has played basketball since first grade, she commenced her lacrosse career in eighth grade. She's a defensive midfielder for the Blue Devils.
"I like basketball as much as lacrosse but I had more of a chance to play lacrosse in college," explained the 17-year-old daughter of Gailya and Tom.
"I like how much you run and the involvement on a team. Eleven players all contribute," added Woodyard, who plans to major in sports medicine and psychology.
"It's most rewarding from the goalkeeper saving it to the defense and the midfield to the offense that scores the goal."
Because she selected High Point, Woodyard will get the opportunity to play in front of family members.
Both grandparents and an aunt--Gailva and Jim Miazzia and Gloria and Jack Brown, minutes away from the university.
"It's nice that they will be nearby," said Woodyard, who has two other older siblings, T.J. 24, and Genna, 21, as will as a younger brother, Blake, 14, who plays lacrosse and football at Mt. Lebanon.
"It won't be such an adjustment. I think the biggest thing will be getting used to the speed of the game and the amount of practice.
Pierce to Wagner
Since he picked up a basketball in Indianapolis, Ind., Evan Pierce has practiced hard to make it to this point in his career. He signed a letter-of-intent, committing to Wagner College in New York.
While Buffalo, Vermont, the Air Force Academy and Iona expressed interest in the 18-year-old son of Alvin and Sandra Pierce, Wagner shadowed him all summer. The coaches attended all of his AAU games.
"They showed that they were interested in me. That meant a lot to me," said Pierce, who has two younger sisters, Sarah, 7 and Grace, 10
Working with the right coaches has meant much to Pierce's development.
Besides being a good school district, Pierce moved into Mt. Lebanon in part because of Joe David's expertise. He played his college ball at the University of Pittsburgh.
From the get-go, David has been impressed with Pierce's talent and drive. "Evan has a great work ethic," he said. "Coming from another school, he's gotten better.
"The upside is that Evan has four years to gain more polish. He's surrounded by talented players and has all the right elements to do well.
"He will be fine. Evan found the right match. He'll fit in well. He's in good hands. He's going to a place that wants him and knows him, his pros and cons and strengths and weaknesses."
Currently, Pierce is working with new assistant coach, Steve Brodzinski, on some of those deficiencies.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6 and 7:30 a.m. Pierce trains to round into his game-time condition and hone fundamentals to help in high school and beyond.
"I believe, hard work pays off. It really does," Pierce said. "If you work to achieve something, then it does."
When he matriculates to Wagner, Pierce's mission is to help the Seahawks become the next Davidson.
"I want to help them make a run at the Final Four," he said.
However, Pierce has unfinished business at Mt. Lebanon. That's why he made his commitment early.
"That's why I signed early. I didn't want that to stand in the way of our focus. I want to help the team get back to the WPIAL finals and win title and get back to the states."
Last winter, Pierce averaged 17 points a game in helping the Blue Devils reach the district finals and the PIAA Final Four.
"We expect Evan will have a great season," said David.
"This year, we expect him to be a leader every day and every week. Win a section title, WPIAL and progress through the states.
"But first things first, be a senior leader off the court."