This site is about the sports doings -- mainly football -- of the high schools in Venango County, Pa. Contact:
STAYIN' ALIVE
Danica Wenner picks up the Cranberry staff
with a two-hit shutout against Keystone.
Jadyn Shumaker dons the "tools of ignorance"...
Photos by Kelly Malek
Cranberry routs Keystone, qualifies
for interdistrict softball playoffs
Danica Wenner hurled a two-hitter and Jadyn Shumkaer delivered the big blow with a three-run homer as Cranberry stayed alive in the Class 2A softball playoffs with a 10-0 six-inning rout of neighboring Keystone.
The Berries rebounded from their loss to Brockway in the District 9 championship game Monday by unleashing 14 hits in a game to determine a "true" second place in District 9 -- and the right to advance to interdistricts.
(Cranberry beat Moniteau and Brockway defeated Keystone in the semifinals, but since the Keystone ousted Moniteau in a consolation game Monday, this game was played to figure out the "true" runnerup team.
Complicated, but, anyway, it was Cranberry, which also received a four-hit, two-RBI day from Gracee Hess, who had two doubles in her stash. While Shumaker's homer broke the game open (8-0), it was Kennedy Stewart who stroked a run-scoring single that ended the game.
Meanwhile, Wenner struck out five in her six innings in the circle. She walked three and hit a batter.
The Berries (17-6) will play District 5 champion Everett (18-4) at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Everett Elementary School. Everett is located in Bedford County.
​
...when she's not drilling three-run homers.
BIDDING GOODBYE TO TRACK 2026
Cranberry thinclads happily pose for the photographer -- well, except for the young lady with her nose in the phone, tsk, tsk. Sign of the times.
Franklin's Logan Knight gets the big sendoff to the state track meet from his mom, the former Jackie Craft of OCHS hoops fame back in the '90s. Logan stars in the shot and discus.
Morris Woodhouse takes the handoff from Carter Thompson
Cranberry thinclads happily pose for the photographer -- well, except for the young lady with her nose in the phone, tsk, tsk. Sign of the times.
Click on photo to get full effect.
THIS 'N THAT
Keegan Kirkwood, son of Mark and Jamie Kirkwood, signed a letter of intent to continue his athletic career at Slippery Rock. Keegan will participate in cross country at the Rock. An injury sidelined him for most of the track season in 2026. He's also the grandson of Larry Kirkwood, an Oil City and Slippery Rock grad who was a highly successful cross country and track coach at Titusville in the 1970s and 1980s.
Cranberry Awards​
Zofia Earp, a member of the cross country team, received the Keith Siverling Memorial Scholarship. She plans to attend Clarion, where she will major in early childhood education.
Baseball player Jake McCloskey, another senior, received the Eric Meade Memorial Award for his play on the diamond this spring.
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Jake Riddle, 6-2, 285-pound tackle from Franklin, has signed a letter of intent to play football at Geneva. He is the son of Chad and Amy Riddle. Riddle was a two-way second team all-region pick last fall.
OCHS athletic director Bundy Fulmer sent these photos along -- a gift from the Steelers.
Bundy said he had to Google Pleger. Actually, many people are probably not familiar with him, so, here's a little something.
Ken Pleger
Football
Halyday Street resident scored six touchdowns and 40 points for 1952 Oilers. The 225-pound tackle tallied three TDs on short runs against Warren, a 27-12 victory. Pleger delivered a key block on a 71-yard TD run by Bobby McFadden against North East...Pleger also scored on a 27-yard run, setting up the TD with a 17-yard dash on a reverse, and averaged 45 yards on three punts…Had a 53-yard run called back by a clipping penalty against Hickory in 1952…
Basketball
Scored 261 points for the 1952-53 Oilers, and 150 points as a junior in 1951-52. Apparently missed significant time as a senior due to illness…Teammates included Pete Burch (Dutch’s younger brother), Ron Black, Bosco Hajduk and Jim Enos…Scored 28 points in a loss to Meadville in 1953…Played center AND guard on the basketball team
Track
Took fourth in the shot put in the state track meet in 1951 and 1952. Undefeated in the shot going into the D-10 meet in 1952 when he threw 47-51/2 to win the title. Threw 46 feet in the state meet…Eligibility apparently ran out after the 1952-53 basketball season…​
College/Pros
Voted greatest tackle ever at Capital University in Ohio...Little All-American...Drafted in the 16th round (#185) by the Chicago Bears in 1958...released by the Bears in 1958...played "minor league" football with Ottawa Rough Riders and Columbus Colts through 1962...Grew to 280 pounds as a pro...
