The Seneca Valley Film Festival...and Other High School Thoughts

Last night Marilyn and I ventured north to the Strand Theater in the heart of beautiful downtown Zelionople, PA to take in the first Seneca Valley Film Festival.  For over two hours we watched about two dozen short films and videos that were written, directed, produced, and starred students from Seneca Valley High School. We had a horse in this race as our nephew, sophomore Zach Stoner, had a hand in several of these offerings, both in front of and behind the camera. 

I suppose that at this point we shouldn't be surprised by such things, but we were once again blown away by the talent displayed by these young kids.  That was some absolutely amazing stuff that was on display last night.  Congratulations to all of these kids for putting their wonderful abilities, and congratulations to the Seneca Valley School District for making it possible for these kids to have the opportunity to develop and  fulfill the talent within them.

And, of course, special congratulations to Zach!

When I thought about it last night, I realized that attending this film festival put the cap on a school year where we saw an awful lot of positive efforts by a lot of kids:

• Varsity soccer games at Central Catholic
• Freshman and JV basketball games at Central
• Orchestra and Strolling Strings performances at North Allegheny
• The North Allegheny Spring Musical
• The Percussion concert at Mt. Lebanon High School
• The Mt. Lebanon High School baseball team
• The young film makers at Seneca Valley

Congratulations to all of these terrific kids.  It was a joy watching all of it!

My. Lebo Advances, A Pitcher for the Pirates, and Other Thoughts....

Cleaning out the Mental In-Box....

• I moseyed up I-79 today to the campus of Slippery Rock University to take in a first round game of the PIAA Quad-A Baseball Championship Tournament.  The Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, sparked by a two hit, two run performance by third sacker Anthony Paladino, defeated Erie Bishop McDowell, 7-4.  The Blue Devils await the results of another opening round game in Butler this evening, but it just could be that they will get another crack at the Seneca Valley Raiders.
• I may go all season long watching the Pirates and the rest of MLB in 2012 and not see a single runner picked off of second base by the pitcher.  Today, I saw that play not once, but twice.  Both the McDowell and the Mt. Lebanon starting pitchers turned that trick this afternoon.
• Many readers may not be aware of the fact that I spent my first year in college at Slippery Rock State College, as it was then known.  All I can say is that that campus has changed amazingly since that 1969-70 academic year.  Beautiful place these days.
• I just finished watching the first hour or so of the MLB Entry Draft to see whom the Pirates would select.  Hey, they took a pitcher with their first pick!  What a surprise.  Welcome to the Buccos, Mark Appel.
• If - and I emphasize the word IF - it all pans out, how long until a rotation of Jameson Taillon, Gerritt Cole, and Marl Appel toe the rubber in a three game series at PNC Park?  In their first full season of Class A ball, Taillon and Cole, seem to be progressing nicely.
• Not to be a spoilsport, but the fragility of "can't miss" prospects came to light today with the announcement that they were proceeding with plans to make pitcher Stetson Allie (selected in the second round after Taillon in 2010) into a position player.  Call it a "Reverse John VanBenschotten". 
• Man, isn't Bud Selig a real stiff up there at the podium announcing those draft selections?
• And who was the bald headed dude with Harold Reynolds and John Hart at the anchor desk?
• Got around last night to watching what has long been considered a classic western movie, Howard Hawks' "Red River" (1948), starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift.  Pretty good yarn about an epic cattle drive from Texas to Kansas.  Wayne was the definite star of the movie, but he was no simon-pure hero in it either, which I thought was interesting.  This was Clift's first movie, and he held his own sharing the screen with The Duke.  Clift is one of those much admired young actors from the 1950's who died young.  I haven't seen a lot of his movies over the years, but you can see how good he was in his role in "Red River".
• Regular readers will recall a post from last month about Marilyn and my trip to the Zoo. (http://www.grandstander.blogspot.com/2012/05/someone-told-me-its-all-happenin-at-zoo.html) As you can see, the post featured a picture of a baby gorilla with its mother.  The sad news came across today that that little baby ape died this past Saturday.  
• Getting back to the Pirates, how about that series win in Milwaukee?  Yeah, I know Prince Fielder is gone and that the Brewers had guys hurt, including Cryin' Ryan, but that takes none of the pleasure out of taking two of three at Miller Park.  Sunday's 6-5 win was especially satisfying with the Bucs hitting four home runs and holding off late rallies by the Brewers.
• Should be a fun series to watch with the Reds that starts tomorrow.  A three game sweep would put the Pirates in a tie for first place, but I'll happily settle for another 2-out-of-3.
• For a real inspirational story, check out this PG article from this morning about Robert Morris University assistant football coach, and former Colonials quarterback, Camdin Crouse:  http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/rmu/robert-morris-qb-coach-crouse-adapts-to-life-changing-events-638802/