Titan goes pro (in soccer); Gilmore signs as Slider

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A couple of former Westminster College athletic standouts have signed contracts with professional teams.

Blake Ordell, who helped lead the Titans to the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship in 2006, signed with the Cincinnati Kings of the United Soccer League Second Division, while Brenton Gilmore, a resident of New Castle, signed with the Slippery Rock Sliders, a first-year member of the independent Frontier League.

Ordell, of Clinton Township, Mich., became the first Westminster soccer player to sign with a professional team.

Weeks to go

Ordell signed with the Kings March 22 but only recently received clearance from the league office. He missed the first four games due to an ankle injury. The Kings' regular season, however, runs through mid-August.

A two-time first-team all-conference selection at forward, Ordell led the Titans with 67 shots last season and ranked second on the squad in assists (8), goals (6) and points (20). During his four-year career as a member of the Titan soccer team, he scored 24 goals.

Gilmore, a left-hander from Blairsville, Pa., pitched for the Titans for four years, appearing in 37 games, including 26 starts. He finished his career with an 11-10 record, one save, and 4.69 ERA. He was a history major with a 3.51 grade-point average.

Last year, Gilmore was Westminster's Senior Scholar-Athlete for having the highest cumulative grade-point average of any senior male varsity athlete.

The Sliders' regular season runs through the first week of September. They play their home games at Slippery Rock University.

More Titans

Two New Castle-area athletes on Westminster's baseball team were selected to the All-Presidents' Athletic Conference team.

Junior outfielder Brandon Drespling (Laurel High) was voted to the first team, while sophomore first baseman John Izzo (Union Area) received a second-team nod for the second straight year.

Drespling, who started all 38 games, ranked in the top 10 in the league in batting as he led the Titans with a .388 average (50-for-129). He hit four homers, two triples, and 12 doubles for a .605 slugging percentage and 20 RBIs.

Izzo, who started 34 games, batted .333 (37-for-111) with five homers, four triples and nine doubles for a .622 slugging percentage and 20 RBIs.

The Titans were 17-21 overall and 8-10 in the PAC, finishing in fourth place.

Hall of Fame golf

The Mercer County Hall of Fame Golf Scramble is June 27 at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in West Middlesex. A shotgun start will begin at 9 a.m.

The four-person event will benefit the Tom Burns High School Academic Scholarship Fund. The Tom Burns Award is a scholarship awarded for academic and athletic excellence to a boy and a girl from each of the 13 high schools in Mercer County.

This year's scramble, sponsored by Taylor Made and Erme Distributors, will offer a prize list of over $4,000. The list includes Taylor Made golf clubs and Tam O'Shanter logo shirts and golf balls. There will also be four skill prizes on the Par 3s.

Golfers age 65 and over will be permitted to use the white tees. Cost is $65 per person or $260 per team, which includes 18 holes, cart, dinner, beverages, golf balls and towels. A silent auction will also be held.

Checks should be mailed to Tam O'Shanter Golf Course, c/o John Kerins, 2961 South Hermitage Road, Hermitage, Pa. 16148. The check must accompany an entry form. Hole sponsorships are also available for $50 and can be sent to Mercer County Hall of Fame, c/o Denny Eckles, 23 Canal St., Greenville, Pa. 16125.

Sunday, June 3, 2007