Achieving athletes
Baun Wins
Ian Baun won the sprint distance during the Pittsburgh Triathlon. The 17-year-old Mt. Lebanon resident covered the course in 55 minutes, 53 seconds, beating his nearest competitor by four minutes.
In the race, Baun completed a 600-meter swim in the Allegheny River, rode 20 kilometers on his bicylce and ran a 5K or 3.1-mile distance.
A veteran of the event, finishing in the top three the past three years, Baun is competing in the USA Traithlon Sprint National Championships this weekend in Milwaukee.
A rising senior, Baun runs cross country and track at Mt. Lebanon. He also is a member of the swim team.
Bittel stars
Mike Bittel of McMurray helped the Rockville Express reach the playoffs in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. The Seton Hill University junior pitched for the Express, which posted a 24-16 regular season record and finished third in the playoffs.
Bittel owned one of the best ERA’s in the league and ranked in the Top 5 for strikeouts. The 6-0, 210-pound right-hander posted a 2-2 record with a 1.64 ERA. In 38.1 innings, he struck out 43 batters. The 20-year-old hurler also was selected to the league’s all-star team. He pitched the second inning of the game, facing three batters and getting them all out, including one by strikeout.
Ellis WIns
Jimmy Ellis edged Chuck Nettles by one stroke and earned medalist honors during the U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional qualifier held in Apollo. Both McMurray residents also earned the top two qualifying berths.
Ellis fired a 3-under-69 on the Links at Spring Church. Nettles covered the 6,785-yard course in 70 strokes.
Johnson Third
Tanner Johnson of Venetia fired a 37-37-74 and tied for third place during the West Penn boys’ golf championship played on the Par-72, 6,258-yard course at Montour Heights Country Club in Coraopolis.
Jason Yu Li from Cranberry Township won the event with a 68 while Evan Long of New Castle carded a 73. Johnson and Matthew DelRosso both shot 74 scores.
William Lusk of Venetia finished tied for fifth place with a 78.
McMurray’s Jw Cunningham, Brian Livolsi and Shane Hamschin as well as Upper St. Clair’s Louis Olsakvosky and Jack Steve participated in the competition.
During the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s 13-and-under championship, also held at Montour Heights, Parker Johnson of Venetia finished sixth overall.
Happ an all-star
Ian Happ of Mt. Lebanon was selected to the Cape Cod League 2014 All-Star Game, which was played at Doran Park in Bourne, Mass. The University of Cincinnati baseball player was picked to play in the game for the second straight season and will start in right field for the East Division.
The All-Star game featured 25 players from both the East and West Divisions with 10 starters and 15 reserves for each team.
Happ is playing his second season as a member of the Harwich Mariners and has been named an All-Star starter in each of his two seasons in the prestigious Cape Cod League. This season, Happ has recorded a .309 batting average with 34 hits in 110 at bats. He is tied for second in the league with 20 RBIs and has also accumulated 17 runs, 10 doubles, three home runs, 18 walks and eight stolen bases.
The sophomore is one of only three repeat all-stars on the 2014 roster, joining Kevin Newman (University of Arizona) and Jake Fincher (North Carolina State University) who will both start for the West Division.
Happ’s Mariners currently sit atop the East Division standings. The Cape Cod League playoffs begin Aug. 8 with the championship series beginning Aug. 11.
Lazur earns honor
Victoria Lazur of Upper St. Clair earned all-America honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association. The organization recognizes outstanding performances of rowers and coxswains on the national level in women’s rowing.
A coxswain for Ohio State University, Lazur netted first-team laurels. The daughter of Mark and Maria Lazur steered the Buckeyes to their second consecutive NCAA rowing title. She piloted the first varsity eight to victory. The win capped a perfect season for Lazur’s boat as the crew finished 12-0.
A three-year OSU scholar-athlete, Lazur has already been granted admission to the school’s prestigious John Glenn School of Public Affairs Master of Public Administration program.
She began her rowing carrier in high school as the coxswain at USC, where she captained her crew to several first-place finishes. Lazur also ran cross country in high school.