Westmoreland campus clippings: Former Seton Hill coach to lead Berry softball team

Jess Strong stepped down as the head softball coach at Seton Hill after four seasons.

The “other coaching endeavor” mentioned last week turns out to be an opportunity with one of the nation’s top Division III programs.

Strong will be the head coach at Berry College in Mt. Berry, Ga.

Strong was 110-56 at Seton Hill, where she helped to shape the Griffins into a national contender.

Strong said it was not an easy decision to leave Seton Hill.

“I know I have left a great group of leaders on The Hill,” she said. “There is no doubt they will do me proud next year as they continue to make their mark in the PSAC and on the national stage. Chattanooga, Tenn., the D-II national tournament site for 2023, is only an hour and a half from my house in Georgia. So I told them it wasn’t goodbye, just see you again in May.

“I am beyond grateful for the memories and relationships I built while at Seton Hill. It is something special when another person puts their faith in you to lead them to the ‘promised land’ and even more magical when you see that dream come to fruition.”

Berry athletic director Angel Mason believes Berry has found a winner.

“Jessica is a tremendous coach with a passion for softball that is matched by few,” Mason said. “She is someone that I believe will help our softball program continue to achieve the high standards that it has reached and look to build upon the success of recent years.”

Strong, who guided Seton Hill to the NCAA Division II World Series after Region and Super Region titles, and a No. 7 national ranking, played and coached at Armstrong State in Savannah, Ga.

“I have always known that if the right fit presented itself, I would find myself back down south to be closer to my family members,” Strong said. “It was just the right timing for me to capitalize on an opportunity to coach an equally formidable team found within the Vikings softball program at Berry College. The overall support and investment in the student-athlete experience radiates through all parts of campus. Overall, I felt Berry’s mission resonated with what I hope to bring my future teams as we all continue to navigate the evolving dynamics of NCAA oversight and legislation.”

Football

Delaware: The Brose brothers had a hand in the Blue Hens’ 14-7 win over Navy to begin the season.

Fifth-year tight end Braden Brose (Hempfield) and junior offensive lineman Fintan Brose (Hempfield) made the start together. Braden Brose had a pass reception for 21 yards, and Fintan Brose helped the Blue Hens throw for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Duquesne: Gianni Rizzo (Norwin), a sophomore linebacker, had four tackles and broke up a pass for the Dukes in a 31-14 loss to Youngstown State, his former team.

Grove City: Freshman Ian Demeri (Penn-Trafford) had an 8-yard touchdown run and rushed for 54 yards on six carries as the Wolverines thumped Juniata, 63-6.

Marshall: Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Trent Holler (Latrobe) started the Herd’s season opener and helped the team pile up 612 yards of total offense, including 380 on the ground, in a 55-3 win over Norfolk State.

Mercyhurst: Redshirt junior Dustin Shoaf (Yough) rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in a 45-28 victory over Alderson Broaddus. Shoaf scored on a pair of short runs to help the Lakers pull away.

Old Dominion: Redshirt junior safety Robert Kennedy (Jeannette) scooped up a fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown as Old Dominion opened the year with a 20-17 win over Virginia Tech.

Kennedy also had six tackles and two pass breakups.

He played in four games last season and redshirted after transferring from East Carolina.

St. Francis (Pa.): Redshirt junior quarterback Justin Sliwoski (Hempfield) completed 11 of 17 passes for 162 yards and an interception and ran for 60 yards in a 30-23 season-opening loss to Akron.

The Red Flash used two quarterbacks, alternating Sliwoski and Coyle Doyle every other series.

Sophomore Wylie Spiker (Ligonier Valley) made his 12th career appearance for St. Francis on the offensive line.

Saint Vincent: Despite a 25-21 loss to Stevenson in the opener, the Bearcats set a pair of team records. Senior quarterback Brady Walker became the program’s all-time leader in pass completions (337), and junior Molayo Irefin had the longest punt return touchdown the Bearcats have seen (85 yards).

Seton Hill: Jaylen McDuffie was a bright spot in the Griffins’ 25-11 loss to Wheeling in the season opener. The grad student linebacker had 14 tackles, 2 1/2 for loss.

Washington & Jefferson: Sophomore tight end/H-back Zach Cernuto (Southmoreland) scored two touchdowns in a 35-26 win over John Carroll. Cernuto capped the Presidents’ opening drive of the season with a 1-yard run on a direct snap, then scored from 2 yards to push the lead to 27-7 in the third quarter.

Junior Justin Huss (Derry) caught an 8-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.

Junior linebacker Justin Johns (Franklin Regional) and senior linebacker Adam Rudzinski (Franklin Regional) led the defense with seven and four tackles, respectively. Rudzinski had a sack and a forced fumble.

Waynesburg: Senior running back Justin Flack (Derry) ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 34-yard scoring pass as the Yellow Jackets took care of Gallaudet, 52-14.

Western Michigan: Redshirt freshman Jack Salopek (Norwin) went 21 for 36 for 193 yards in his first collegiate start, a 35-13 loss to Michigan State. He also ran for 65 yards on 11 attempts.