Plum’s Kirilloff joins elite ranks as Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year

Kirilloff is a possible firstround pick in the MLB draft, and he was using a wooden bat for about half the season. But Kirilloff hit a little “cold spell” at the plate during the season, so he switched to a metal bat.

Kirilloff is hitting .550 for the season, but here is a most interesting statistic about the left-handed hitter. In 60 at-bats, he has struck out only once.

Too much time

Andy Maddix resigned as North Allegheny’s baseball coach Tuesday, and had an interesting comment about one of the main reasons he stepped away. Maddix was highly successful at North Allegheny, going 142-54 in nine seasons with two WPIAL titles, and he claimed family reasons were the main reason for his resignation.

“North Allegheny has had a few coaches leave lately, and the last couple years,” said Maddix, 45. “They’re all about the same age and the same family situations. I think coaching has changed the last 10 or 15 years. This is not necessarily a negative thing, but the thing that coaching really requires now, if you want to keep up with the Joneses, is that it’s a 12-month job. It takes a lot of time. The job deserves you put in that time and that passion. And when you start to waver on those, it’s time to step away.”

Maddix’s comment gives an indication of what high school coaching has become to some, at least in the highprofile sports. Maddix’s point is well taken. But really, it’s the coaches themselves who have created this “12-month” idea. It’s still OK to take some time off during the year – and to also give the kids time off.

Top player to Central?

As if the Central Catholic football team didn’t have enough talent (three juniors already have committed to major colleges). The Vikings might be getting another top player.

Grant Carrigan is a 6-foot7, 235-pound tight end at Weir High School in Weirton, W.Va. Carrigan might be coming to Central Catholic for the next school year. A family member has cancer and the Carrigan family might be coming to the Pittsburgh area for treatment.

Central Catholic coach Terry Totten said Carrigan has applied to the school. Division I colleges are interested in Carrigan and Rivals.com lists Kent State as a school that has offered.